Championship Predictions: Saints to down league leaders?

We’ve got a jam-packed weekend of Championship action coming our way, and after a decent week, I’m looking to close the gap further.

Below you can find my Championship Predictions for Gameweek 22, as Nick and Conor also give their picks. 

Swansea 2-1 Wrexham @ 8/1

A Welsh rivalry to enjoy on Friday night. Wrexham have been on a good run lately, but are drawing too many games, while Vitor Matos is starting to get Swansea moving in the right direction. They’ve won two of their last three and were unfortunate to lose at Stoke last time out. Back on home soil, I’ll back them to make it three on the bounce.

Nick: 2-2

Conor: 2-2

Preston 1-1 Norwich @ 11/2

Preston are up to third and keep impressing under Paul Heckingbottom. Another win at Oxford has them right in the promotion picture, and they’ve only lost four games this term. However, Norwich have improved under Philippe Clement, picking up eight points in their last five games, and I think their improved form will continue at Deepdale.

Nick: 1-1

Conor: 2-1

Championship Odds

Blackburn 1-2 Millwall @ 10/1

Millwall were well beaten at home to Hull last time out, but Blackburn haven’t won in their last five outings, losing at Portsmouth at the weekend. They are struggling to finish home games at the minute when it starts raining, so hopefully we get a complete game of football, and if we do, I think Alex Neil’s men will edge it.

Nick: 0-1

Conor: 0-2

Southampton 3-2 Coventry @ 16/1

Arguably the game of the weekend? Southampton have looked really good at home under Tonda Eckert, scoring three goals in each of their last four home matches. As a result, I’m going to back them to bag three goals again, while Coventry should also fancy a couple of goals on the road. The leaders lost 3-0 to Ipswich and drew 1-1 with Preston in their last two away games, and I think another defeat could be on the cards.

Nick: 2-3

Conor: 2-2

Hull City 2-2 West Brom @ 11/1

Goals, surely? Hull have won their last two and can’t stop scoring right now, putting three past Millwall last time out, while West Brom earned an impressive 2-0 win over Sheffield United to give themselves a boost. With plenty of attacking talent on show, I’m going to back a high-scoring draw.

Nick: 2-1

Conor: 2-2

Bristol City 0-2 Middlesbrough @ 12/1

Four wins in a row for Kim Hellberg at Boro, and I’m confidently backing them to make it five at Bristol City. The new 4-2-2-2 system has given Boro a new attacking impetus, with Morgan Whittaker, David Strelec and Tommy Conway all scoring at the weekend. Bristol City were narrowly beaten by Coventry, and I think they will find Boro too strong. 

Nick: 1-2

Conor: 1-3

Sheffield United 2-1 Birmingham @ 15/2

Birmingham’s away form is appalling as they have only picked up eight points from 11 games on the road. They’ve lost their last two on the road, and I think a trip to Bramall Lane is a tough test, given the Blades have improved lately. I’ll back the hosts to edge it. 

Nick: 3-2

Conor: 3-1

Football Odds

Watford 3-1 Stoke @ 14/1

Stoke got back to winning ways on home soil against Swansea, but I think their performance levels have dropped off slightly in recent weeks. Meanwhile, Watford have the fourth-best home form in the league, and both teams have scored in their last eight. I’ll back them to get a big win. 

Nick: 2-2

Conor: 2-2

Derby 2-0 Portsmouth @ 15/2

Despite a weekend win, I’m still concerned about Portsmouth, and a trip to Derby looks tough. The Rams eased past Sheffield Wednesday on Monday night and should be able to use that confidence here to land another victory. 

Nick: 2-1

Conor: 3-1

Ipswich 5-0 Sheffield Wednesday @ 18/1

Sheffield Wednesday got hammered on Monday and are midway through a long season. The last thing they want is arguably the toughest away test in the league against a side with an embarrassment of riches in terms of their squad, several of whom did reasonably well in the Premier League last term. I’m going big. 5-0.

Nick: 6-0

Conor: 4-0

Charlton 1-0 Oxford @ 5/1

Nathan Jones' Charlton earned a decent point at Birmingham and will be desperate to get back to winning ways after a difficult run of form. Both of these teams are in the relegation conversation right now, but with Oxford currently in the bottom three, I think the Addicks will edge it. 

Nick: 1-0

Conor: 1-0

QPR 2-2 Leicester @ 11/1

Leicester got a good result at home to Ipswich, beating them 3-1, and Abdul Fatawu is certainly a special talent. I’d like to see them back it up with a win here, but QPR pose plenty of attacking threat of their own, so I’ll back a Desmond.

Nick: 1-1

Conor: 1-2

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