The Insider
As always, the Insider is here to provide you with some expert guidance ahead of another hectic weekend of Championship football. With teams at both ends of the table in desperate need of points, we take a look at all the games and give you the best betting tips, with our partner www.pnebetting.com
Bristol City 5/6 Draw12/5 Norwich City 7/2*
Both sides have been struggling for form of late. Bristol's promotion push is stuttering with a winless streak of five games. Jamie McCombe is available for selection after a hip injury whilst Lee Johnson is rated 50/50. Before last weeks 5-1 win over bottom club Colchester, Norwich had been on a five game winless streak of their own. Jamie Cureton will be hungry for more goals after a hattrick in that game.
Verdict: Draw
Burnley 4/5 Draw 5/2 Barnsley 7/2
Burnley boss Owen Coyle has said his team need to win every game to have any chance of making the playoffs following the defeat to North End last week. Barnsley may have one eye on their FA Cup semi-final next week with Cardiff but are not completely safe from relegation yet.
Verdict: Home Win
Cardiff City 10/11 Draw 12/5* Southampton 3/1*
Cardiff have beaten Wolves, Hull and Bristol City at home in recent weeks and have games in hand to make the playoffs. Meanwhile Southampton are in freefall, winning just once in the league since mid January. They have signed Chris Perry on loan to shore up a leaky defence.
Verdict: Home Win
Charlton 11/10 Draw 12/5 Wolves 12/5
After holding a playoff place for much of the season Charlton have slipped to 10th place and Alan Pardew has targeted the next two games as key to their season. Wolves are a point and a place above the Addicks but are still without Michael Kightly, who will probably not feature again this season.
Verdict: Home Win
Coventry 7/5 Draw 15/8 Plymouth 23/10*
Coventry have scored just three goals in their last seven games in the league as they fight to stay in the division. Michael Mifsud did however score five goals for Malta in midweek's international friendly with Liechtenstein. Influential midfielder Peter Halmosi is suspended for promotion chasing Plymouth.
Verdict: Draw
Crystal Palace 5/6 Draw 5/2* Blackpool 10/3
Palace signed three players on loan on Thursday including exciting winger Scott Sinclair. Neil Warnock is an experienced manager at this level and has the know how to get his team into the playoff mix. Blackpool are winless in five games but four have been draws and they welcome back Michael Jackson to their defence after an hour in the reserves at Deepdale on Wednesday.
Verdict: Home Win
Hull 11/8 Draw 9/4* Watford 2/1*
Hull are flying at the moment, scoring ten goals in three games including a 5-0 demolition of Southampton. That form has lifted them to third and within a sniff of the Premiership. Watford are up there themselves and have the best away record in the division, with ten wins. The Hornets have stuttered recently with four successive draws.
Verdict: Away Win
Ipswich 10/11 Draw 13/5* QPR 14/5
Ipswich lie outside the playoffs on goal difference and have the best home record in the league, with 13 wins and just one defeat. Pablo Counago is suspended after being sent off at Scunthorpe last week so Dean Bowditch could be recalled after a hattrick for the reserves in midweek. QPR are the team to watch if you want to see goals. They have scored three in each of their last three league games.
Verdict: Home Win
Leicester 10/11* Draw 12/5 Scunthorpe 3/1
Leicester are in deep trouble at the bottom of the table but could help their plight with a win against their relegation rivals. They will have to do it without Ian Hume and Jamie Clapham however, who are both injured. Scunthorpe, six points behind their opponents, should have Martin Paterson and Jack Hobbs available after illness for the must win game.
Verdict: Home Win
Preston 6/5 Draw 9/4* Sheffield United 9/4*
Preston have eased relegation fears with a terrific run of form that has seen them win four of the last five games. They have no new injury worries after eight first team players came through a reserve game in midweek. Sheffield United have also been on a good run to keep their feint promotion hopes alive. Billy Sharp has scored in their last three wins.
Verdict: Draw
Sheffield Wednesday 13/8 Draw 23/10* Stoke 8/5
Both sides need the points in this game for differing reasons. Sheffield Wednesday are in relegation trouble despite last weeks 2-2 draw against Crystal Palace. They signed Bartosz Slusarski on loan from West Brom this week. Stoke are hanging onto top spot despite just one win in six games. Shola Ameobi signed on loan late on Thursday to bolster their forward line.
Verdict: Home Win
West Brom 4/11 Draw 7/2* Colchester 8/1
West Brom remain favourites for promotion despite a league position of only fifth. They do however have two games in hand and the easiest fixture of the weekend on paper, with bottom club Colchester visiting The Hawthorns. Colchester are 11 points from safety and last weeks 5-1 defeat at Norwich will have been hard to take.
Verdict: Home Win
The twelve-fold accumulator on these tips pays out £18,460.99 from a £1 stake. You could be the lucky winner with The Insider, just visit our official betting partner, www.pnebetting.com and place your bets.
*Indicates biggest price available (source: oddschecker.com)












