Championship Tuesday

With the weather claiming so many of the ties scheduled for Saturday, clubs will be eager to make up for lost time and bank some points on Tuesday night.

Fulham were one of the sides who did manage to get a weekend run-out, and will have been glad Derby got the match on as they travelled back to London in high spirits after banking all three points, courtesy of another winning goal by the prodigious Ryan Sessegnon. That took their recent tally to 33points from a possible 39, and they are now 13 unbeaten in the division. Their last four have been especially impressive, with wins over Derby, Wolves and Aston Villa, and a draw at Bristol City.

Tuesday’s opponents Sheffield United have certainly fallen off from their early season form which saw them top the table in the weeks before Christmas. The absence of draws has certainly helped them this season, with just four stalemates all season, but the concern has been their recent away performances – losing three of their last four without scoring a goal. They are now outside the play-off spots, and in danger of throwing away a tremendously promising season.

While they remain a decent side, Fulham are the class of the division on current form, and should be backed at 19/20 to win this one in our view.

3pts Fulham to beat Sheffield United at 19/20

Regular followers know how highly we’ve rated Preston this season, and whilst we’re not convinced they are at the very top of their game right now, neither are we certain that Bristol City are back into gear based on a single commanding victory against Sheffield Wednesday.

Starting with Preston, they have now lost just three times in their last 21 outings, so much be doing something right. They showed some real spirit to fight back against Bolton on Saturday, and have also taken credible points against Brentford (a), Wolves (h) and Aston Villa (a) recently.

Bristol City’s run to the League Cup semi-finals has arguably taken it’s toll on the clubs league form, and they have won just two of their last 14 in all competitions now. Of course three of those matches came against Premier League sides in the cups, but more recently they have failed to beat Sunderland at home, and lost at Bolton and Cardiff.

This isn’t a big bet, but the early quotes of 7/5 looks a shade long about the hosts who have found a worthy back-up keep in Declan Rudd, and seem to have settled striker Sean Maguire in nicely at the other end.

1pt Preston to beat Bristol City at 7/5

Finally, Sunderland’s home form hasn’t improved much for a season in the Championship, and they are now staring hard at the League One. They’ve won just twice from 17 home matches this season – losing nine, and it’s hard to see where things are going to change for them. They’ve collected just six points from their last 10 Championship fixtures and have won just once at home since Christmas, including tame defeats to Barnsley (0-1), Ipswich (0-2) and Brentford (0-2).

This week’s visitors are Aston Villa, and only Wolves have won more games on the road than their local rivals, who come into this in a rich vein on form. Eight wins in their last ten league matches is a fair return, and the only defeat in that run was to equally high flying Fulham.

Bet Victor have shown 23/20 on the opening odds, and they look worth snapping up. 11/10 would also be acceptable if the early prices go before Tuesday.

2pts Aston Villa to beat Sunderland at 23/20

#Football