Championship predictions and greatest bets: Middlesbrough to take a step nearer to Premier League with Good Friday win

Our soccer betting skilled and prime tipster Jones Knows affords up his perception on each Sky Bet Championship match on Good Friday and shares his greatest bets.

Middlesbrough vs Millwall, Friday 12.30pm, stay on Sky Sports

Are Middlesbrough wobbling on the worst attainable time?

They’ve received simply two of their final seven Championship matches, that means a seven-point hole to Ipswich now stands at simply two. And who is that this arising on the rails? It’s solely Millwall, who can leapfrog Middlesbrough by taking three factors. It’s getting critical up there.

One key facet to Boro’s type of late is that the underlying knowledge throughout the final seven video games continues to be very robust. Over these seven video games they’ve received each anticipated targets battle very comfortably and their xG supremacy determine is +1.4 per sport which is a mighty return. One you’d affiliate with a crew profitable a title.

With slightly little bit of variance due of their path they need to get again on the promotion practice right here.

SCORE PREDICTION: 2-1

Birmingham vs Blackburn, Friday 3pm, stay on Sky Sports+

If you are in search of a punchy angle into this one, the first-half markets could possibly be the place to play, particularly with Birmingham’s tendency to come back flying out of the traps at St Andrew’s.

There’s a extremely robust knowledge angle right here that makes the 6/4 with Sky Bet on Birmingham to be profitable at half-time stand out as a wager value your consideration.

No crew within the Championship can higher their anticipated targets determine earlier than the break, which sits at a chunky 18.58. And it isn’t simply underlying knowledge doing the speaking. Only Hull City and Ipswich have scored extra dwelling targets earlier than half-time, placing Birmingham proper on the prime desk with regards to turning that intent into precise strain.

This is not about backing Birmingham outright over 90 minutes, the place inconsistency can creep in. It’s about isolating a transparent power of quick begins and attacking a selected market that performs proper into it.

SCORE PREDICTION: 2-1

Charlton vs Bristol City, Friday 3pm, stay on Sky Sports+

There are some appointments in soccer that make you sit up and take discover. Then there are some that make you scratch your head and surprise what on earth is occurring.

Enter Roy Hodgson.

His arrival at Bristol City – 44 years after he first left the membership – has all of the hallmarks of a transfer designed to generate headlines fairly than instant outcomes.

Hodgson himself has admitted he would not know a fantastic deal concerning the present squad, which is hardly splendid preparation heading right into a aggressive Championship fixture. Add the very fact he inherits a gaggle stretched by accidents and you have a supervisor bounce that appears weak fairly than revitalised. Home win it’s at 23/20 with Sky Bet.

SCORE PREDICTION: 2-0

Leicester vs Preston, Friday 3pm, stay on Sky Sports+

Motivation is all the pieces at this stage of the Championship season and you will not discover a greater distinction than what we have right here.

On one facet, you’ve got bought Leicester City scrapping for his or her lives. On the opposite, Preston North End drifting in the direction of the ending line with little or no left to play for.

Leicester’s scenario is straightforward: outcomes are all the pieces.

Performances can take a again seat if wanted: it is about digging in, discovering moments and getting factors on the board. That’s the place the affect of Gary Rowett may show pivotal. Throughout his profession, he is constructed a popularity for setting groups as much as grind out outcomes, significantly in high-pressure conditions similar to this one. It’s not at all times fairly, nevertheless it’s usually efficient.

A low scoring dwelling win please.

SCORE PREDICTION: 1-0

Norwich vs Portsmouth, Friday 3pm, stay on Sky Sports+

No crew has earned extra Championship factors since Christmas than Norwich City, posting 12 wins from 17 matches as Philippe Clement has overseen a outstanding turnaround.

The Canaries have stored seven clear sheets in 12 league video games, conceding simply 5 targets in that run. The outcomes have been backed up by the info.

Yet the market is dangling Evens with Sky Bet in opposition to struggling Portsmouth, who’ve misplaced three on the spin, 5 of their previous six and have simply been pumped 6-1 by QPR. Ebou Adams, Pompey’s key man, can be out with damage for the journey to Carrow Road. The dwelling win is a really beneficiant worth.

SCORE PREDICTION: 3-0 | JONES KNOWS’ BEST BET: Norwich to win (Evens with Sky Bet)

Oxford vs Hull, Friday 3pm, stay on Sky Sports Football – PLAY SUPER 6 HERE!

This is an effective match-up for Oxford when it comes to set-pieces. They’ve created 3.6 value of anticipated targets from set-pieces of their final 5 video games – accounting for over 65 per cent of their complete xG output. So this can be a crew that provides you a fantastic run on your cash whenever you’re backing the same old set-piece based mostly markets.

Hull have conceded the second most xG from set-pieces this season at 18.05 and have conceded 15 targets through that route. Michal Helik is the person to again then at 10/1 to attain with Sky Bet.

He’s had six photographs in his final 5 begins, together with opening the scoring in Oxford’s 3-1 win at Preston. Helik has additionally scored thrice in seven begins in opposition to Hull.

SCORE PREDICTION: 2-2 | JONES KNOWS’ BEST BET: Michal Helik to attain (10/1 with Sky Bet)

QPR vs Watford, Friday 3pm, stay on Sky Sports+

Both groups to attain and over 2.5 targets charges as a cracking wager right here at Evens with Sky Bet.

Loftus Road is the highest-scoring Championship venue this time period, averaging 3.47 targets per sport with 79 per cent of these contests producing over 2.5 targets.

Both groups to attain has clicked in all 4 of Edward Still’s matches accountable for Watford on the street with the per-game common coming in at a wholesome 3.25 targets. Both groups are anticipated to deliver the noise and attacking intent in what could possibly be a enjoyable and goal-heavy encounter.

SCORE PREDICTION: 2-2 | JONES KNOWS’ BEST BET: Over 2.5 targets & BTTS (Evens with Sky Bet)

Sheffield United vs Swansea, Friday 3pm, stay on Sky Sports+

There’s a robust case for opposing clear sheets at Bramall Lane proper now and that leads us properly right into a juicy goalscorer angle.

The hosts have gone 9 video games at dwelling with out a clear sheet.

Whether it is structural points or lapses in focus, groups are discovering methods by means of them with alarming regularity. So, in case you’re buying within the anytime goalscorer market, it is smart to latch onto the highest goalscorer within the division at 11/4 with Sky Bet to fireside once more in Zan Vipotnik.

The Swansea striker has 17 targets this season and there is nothing fluky concerning the return. His motion within the field is sharp, he will get repeat probabilities and he is proven he could be medical when these alternatives fall his manner.

SCORE PREDICTION: 1-2

Stoke vs Sheffield Wednesday, Friday 3pm, stay on Sky Sports+

Stoke City have quietly was one of many extra watchable – and backable – groups within the division over the previous few weeks, and a whole lot of that may be traced again to the return of the fashionable Million Manhoef.

Since he got here again into the fold seven video games in the past, Stoke’s attacking output has discovered a brand new gear. The numbers inform the story: these seven matches have averaged a hefty 3.7 targets per sport, with six of the seven clearing the over 2.5 targets line. That’s not coincidence, that is a crew enjoying with extra intent and threat. It’s resulting in cumbersome targets outputs.

The key right here isn’t just backing targets blindly, however aligning that development with a Stoke facet who’ve the sting in high quality and momentum over a rudderless Sheffield Wednesday.

That’s why the ten/11 with Sky Bet for a Stoke win and over 2.5 targets makes loads of enchantment.

SCORE PREDICTION: 3-1

West Brom vs Wrexham, Friday 3pm, stay on Sky Sports – PLAY SUPER 6 HERE!

Backing centre-backs to get on the scoresheet stays an actual favorite punting pastime of mine.

George Campbell is enjoying with confidence and arriving within the field with intent to attain on the minute – as seen by his return of three targets in his final six video games. It’s a sample pushed by elevated attacking duty from set-pieces and a crew enjoying with renewed vitality beneath new boss James Morrison. He has breathed life right into a facet that regarded destined for hassle not too way back. Suddenly, West Brom are enjoying with function, perception and have given themselves a real shot at survival.

Campbell is 10/1 with Sky Bet to attain.

SCORE PREDICTION: 2-1

Coventry vs Derby, Friday 8pm, stay on Sky Sports Football – PLAY SUPER 6 HERE!

There’s a time in each promotion push the place the equation turns into crystal clear: simply win video games and the remaining takes care of itself.

That’s precisely the place Coventry City discover themselves. Charging in the direction of the Championship title, they know 11 factors from their last seven matches can be sufficient to seal a return to the Premier League for the primary time in 25 years. It’s a goal that sharpens the thoughts and, most of the time, brings out decisive performances.

Friday third April 7:30pm


Kick off 8:00pm

Derby will level to a strong away file of 9 wins on the street within the Championship. But dig slightly deeper and there is a clear pink flag.

None of these victories have come in opposition to groups beginning this spherical within the prime half. They are inclined to lose their manner up in opposition to the perfect groups on this division. At 11/8 with Sky Bet, backing Coventry to win and over 2.5 targets appears just like the candy spot. If they do get on prime, historical past suggests they will not simply edge it, they’re going to look to place the sport to mattress in model.

SCORE PREDICTION: 3-1 | JONES KNOWS’ BEST BET: Coventry to win & over 2.5 targets (11/8 with Sky Bet)

Jones Knows’ greatest bets…

1pt treble on: Norwich to win, over 2.5 targets & BTTS in QPR vs Watford & Coventry to win & over 2.5 targets (8/1 with Sky Bet)

1pt on Michal Helik to attain (10/1 with Sky Bet)

1pt on George Campbell to attain (10/1 with Sky Bet)

0.5pt double on Helik & Campbell to attain (100/1 with Sky Bet)