Championship Betting: Expect goals galore at the Macron

Dougie Freedman's Bolton side can't stop conceding

After a superb best bet selection at odds of 4.5 in midweek Mike Norman's Championship column is showing a healthy profit for a third consecutive season. Here's our man's three recommended wagers from Saturday's action...

Bolton 3.613/5 v Bournemouth 2.26/5; The Draw 3.55/2

It's still early in the season but Bolton have already been involved in two 3-2 victories at the Macron Stadium, a 2-2 draw, and 1-2 and 0-2 defeats. That's 19 goals in five games, and even allowing for the Trotters 'out-of-character' goalless draw with Sheff Wed in mid-September their home games have still averaged over three goals per game.

Dougie Freedman's men suffered a humiliating 4-0 defeat at Fulham in midweek (yet another game to have plenty of goals) so they'll be desperate to bounce straight back at home to Bournemouth on Saturday.

The problem is, the Trotters can't defend and no matter how desperate they are to win they're always likely to concede a few.

League and cup games involving Bournemouth this season have averaged 2.6 goals per game, and away from home they've averaged almost three goals per game. The Cherries have already scored four at Huddersfield, three at Cardiff, and two at Blackburn this term.

I'll be amazed if this game doesn't contain goals and I'm happy to wager that we'll see at least four on Saturday afternoon.

Recommended Bet
Back Over 3.5 Goals @ 3.39/4 (best bet)

Watford 2.466/4 v Brighton 3.39/4; The Draw 3.412/5

We opposed Brighton last Saturday away to Nottingham Forest but they did well to come away from the City Ground with a point thanks to a goalless draw.

Sami Hyypia's men remain in relatively poor form however having gone six league games without a win and they now also own the unwanted tag of being the only side to lose a league game at Birmingham in the last 12 months.

So for the third away game in a row I'm happy to oppose the Seagulls given they face an in-form, promotion-chasing rival.

Watford have won five and drawn two of their last eight Championship games and they've been particularly strong at Vicarage Road, taking 13 points from a possible 15 and scoring a very impressive 14 goals in the process.

Billy McKinlay has been appointed head coach after Oscar Garcia had to stand down because of health reasons, so under the circumstances the Hornets did very well to beat Brentford in midweek. McKinlay has a wealth of attacking talent at his disposal and a side who are scoring for fun and appear full of confidence on home soil.

I don't see this game being a repeat of the 4-1 and 4-2 romps Watford have already recorded over Leeds and Huddersfield respectively, but I certainly expect them to eventually get the better of Brighton and record another three points.

Recommended Bet
Back Watford to Win @ 2.466/4

Wolves 2.0621/20 v Wigan 4.47/2; The Draw 3.412/5

Ignore Wolves' 1-3 loss to Huddersfield in midweek, that's the Championship in a nutshell for you!

On Tuesday night we saw top-of-the-table Norwich lose at home, and we saw in-form Middlesbrough fail to beat hapless Blackpool on home soil also. And then on Wednesday night Wolves - who have been flying at Molineux this term - blew their chance to go top by losing at home to the Terriers.

In other words, backing short-price favourites in this division is a recipe for disaster and one of the major reasons that I rarely back at odds-on. Always expect the unexpected in the Championship.

Now that Wolves have suffered their first home league defeat it's very likely that they'll make immediate amends by beating out-of-form Wigan this weekend.

As I've already alluded to, Kenny Jackett's men have been strong on home soil this term, winning four from four before Wednesday night's set-back.

The Latics on the other hand have been very disappointing this term. Uwe Rosler's men sit just above the relegation zone following a run of five games without a win. Their six away games this season have resulted in five defeats and a goalless draw at Huddersfield.

Another way to profit in this division is to regularly oppose out-of-form sides so backing Wolves here has to be the call.

Recommended Bet
Back Wolves to Win @ 2.0621/20

Championship 2014/15 Season P/L

Staked: 40 pts
Returned: 55.34 pts
P/L: + 15.34 pts

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