Championship Betting: Back Birmingham to blunt Brentford's sting

Mike fancies Lee Clark's Birmingham to win at Brentford

Mike Norman salvaged a poor few days with a 2.9 best bet selection of Middlesbrough in midweek, and now our man is confident of going on a good run starting with a wager on one of last season's best aways teams in the Championship...

Brentford 2.0621/20 v Birmingham 4.1n/a; The Draw 3.55/2

It's amazing how quick punters have forgotten how good Birmingham were when they played away from St Andrews last season, and although I completely agree that teams can be very different from one season to the next, I'm not willing to let Brum go unbacked here at 4.1n/a against a newly-promoted club.

Only four clubs won more away games than Lee Clark's side last term, two of those clubs are now Premier League outfits while the other two both finished in the top seven, highlighting just how good Birmingham's away form really was.

Brum have played away from home just the once this campaign, and that was on the opening day of the season where they lost 2-0 to a Middlesbrough side now expected to be in the promotion hunt. Birmingham's home form however has been impressive; winning two and drawing one of the three games that they've played in front of their own fans.

I fancied Brentford to win their season-opener at home to Charlton but they needed a last minute equaliser to snatch a point from that game, and although they then scored six at Dagenham in the cup and won at Blackpool in midweek, I fear that Mark Warburton's men will be in and around the bottom half for most of their Championship campaign.

At the prices I find it difficult to understand why The Bees are strong favourites to win this game, so given Birmingham's decent start to the season, plus their incredible away form last term, then I have to make them my best bet of the day.

Recommended Bet
Back Birmingham to Win @ 4.1n/a (best bet)

Millwall 2.0421/20 v Rotherham 4.216/5; The Draw 3.55/2

It's been an excellent start to the season for Millwall, and although they didn't quite get the job done when I selected them to win in midweek they'll be happy with a point given that they missed a penalty in the game.

But seven points from a possible nine, a comfortably victory in the Capital One Cup, and just one goal conceded in 360 minutes of football, more than vindicates Ian Holloway's bullish claims that the Lions can challenge for promotion rather than be involved in another relegation fight this season.

Millwall have three consecutive games at The Den within the space of a week, with Premier League outfit Southampton visiting in the cup in between Rotherham and Blackpool going to the capital city. And it's those two Championship games that could really give Holloway's men a terrific start should they win them both.

First up is The Millers, newly promoted from League One and a side that have lost two of their opening three games without scoring. In fact Steve Evans' men have scored only one goal so far - at home to Wolves - in this division. It may take Rotherham time to find their feet at this level and I believe Millwall can take advantage.

Recommended Bet
Back Millwall to Win @ 2.0421/20

Wigan 1.444/9 v Blackpool 9.617/2; The Draw 4.84/1

My faith in Blackpool is dwindling fast - four consecutive defeats has seen them hit rock bottom of the Championship at this very early stage and eliminated from the League Cup.

While I still believe they'll improve, and that there was no disgrace in narrow defeats to Nottm Forest and Blackburn, it's hard to defend Jose Riga's men after a home defeat to Brentford in midweek. The Tangerines took the lead in that game but were pretty ordinary after that and didn't really deserve anything from the game.

Blackpool now face one of the pre-season favourites for the title, Wigan, and while Uwe Rosler's men haven't made a great start they've had a tough set of fixtures (Cardiff away, Reading for example) to contend with.

The Latics have plenty of goals in their side, which is good news ahead of the visit of a Blackpool side who can't seem to hold on long enough in games to give themselves a fighting chance (first half goals conceded in all four of their games this term).

This is a glorious opportunity for Wigan to get their first win of the season; I believe they'll do it, and I fancy them to have it sewn up by half time.

Recommended Bet
Back Wigan HT/Wigan FT @ 2.1411/10

Championship 2014/15 Season P/L

Staked: 12 pts
Returned: 10.6 pts
P/L: - 1.4 pts

*based on 1pt each bet, 2pts best bet