There are two rounds of Championship action taking place this weekend as the Easter bank holiday weekend offers some context into a competitive season.
Friday sees the first set of matches take place and there are several teams that could really benefit from key victories. We’ve got all the info you need ahead of gameweek 40.
Championship Fixtures
Championship Table
Championship Gameweek 40 tips
We’ve been crunching the numbers ahead of the Championship action on Friday and come up with two singles that could see profit this weekend as well as an accumulator that we think stands a good chance of coming in.
Oxford come into this game their recent good form coming to an end. They had won three games in a row but a draw against Charlton and loss to Southampton has seen them drop back into the relegation zone.
Conversely, Hull seem to have found their feet again after a recent wobble. They’ve won two of their last three matches to solidify their place in the Championship playoffs and still have one eye on bridging the gap to automatic promotion to the Premier League.
Their price of 9/5 represents real value for a side that are fifth up against a team fighting for their lives at the bottom of the table
This looks like one of the safest bet of the weekend with both sides struggling for form and, crucially, goals. Charlton are the second lowest scorers in the Championship this season, with 36 goals, but have also kept things relatively tight at the back. Their games have averaged just 2.1 goals per game this season.
Bristol City have fared a little better in front of goal, mainly owing to their good early season form. They’ve scored 49 times but only have 12 in their last 13 Championship games. Their games have averaged 2.5 goals per game but have failed to beat the 2.5 goal line in their last four games, with the same being said about the last five games featuring Charlton.
Three potential winners in the Championship on Friday
Millwall
There’s a huge clash in the early kick off on Friday when Millwall travel to Middlesbrough. Middlesbrough currently occupy the second automatic promotion place but are only two points ahead of their opponents this weekend.
A win for the Lions would throw the promotion race wide open, seeing them leapfrog Boro and move into second place. With Ipswich, the other team in the race for second, not playing in the first Championship window this weekend, it would be a huge psychological boost for Millwall if they were able to claim the three points.
Derby County
Derby have been on the fringes of the playoffs for some weeks now and a victory in their game against Coventry could see them jump right back into the promotion picture.
It certainly won’t be an easy task, as they take on the league leaders, but Coventry have shown they have vulnerabilities to losses to Norwich, QPR and Southampton. The Rams will be going full throttle to collect the points and could be the real benefactors this Friday if they pick up the victory.
Zan Vipotnik
The race for the Championship golden boot is a tight one, with Vipotnik currently sitting top of the list with 17 goals. Coventry’s Haji Wright is just one goal behind but the USA international is unlikely to play this weekend as he continues to struggle with injury.
It could prove to be a profitable weekend for Vipotnik, who takes on Sheffield United on Friday, if he manages to get his name on the scoresheet. This is a real chance for him to create some separation from his rival in the top goalscorer race.
Three potential losers in the Championship on Friday
Southampton
The Saints are one of the sides that don’t feature in the first set of games in the Championship weekend and, with Southampton occupying the final playoff place, they could see their position weaken without even stepping foot on the pitch.
Wrexham and Derby are their closest challengers in the table and, if the Welsh side pick up at least a point, they will move above the south coast club into sixth place. Derby need something truly miraculous against league leaders, Coventry, to move into the playoffs places but a win would put them level on points with Southampton and really put the pressure on.
Ipswich Town
Ipswich are the other side that don’t have a game on Friday and, with the automatic promotion race so closely contested, they could see themselves drop as low as fourth if results go against them.
The Tractor Boys do already possess a game in hand, which could come in handy later down the line, but having points on the board is the most important thing at the moment and Ipswich could be lagging behind.
John Mousinho
Portsmouth are really struggling at the moment, and it’s at just the wrong time. They’ve picked up a single point from their last possible 18 and now sit one point above the drop zone.
Another loss here could see them drop into the bottom three and give them an uphill battle when it comes to securing their Championship status this season. Pressure is growing on Mousinho and Pompey must be close to thinking about making a change to try and avoid relegation. Could a loss to Norwich this weekend force their hand?
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