Championship Betting: Lennon to get his Bolton career off to a winning start

New Bolton boss Neil Lennon can start with a win at St Andrews

Mike Norman is licking his lips at the prospect of 'new manager syndrome' kicking in for Bolton as the Trotters go to Birmingham who he says are quite frankly, dreadful on home soil...

Birmingham 2.265/4 v Bolton 3.55n/a; The Draw 3.613/5

This week's best bet in the Championship literally leapt off the page.

Bolton were always going to be of interest to me this weekend whoever their opponents because of the fact that it will be Neil Lennon's first game in charge, and how many times do we refer to 'new manager syndrome' after an out-of-form club suddenly starts winning after changing the boss?

So the fact that Lennon takes his Trotters side to St Andrews for his first game as the new Bolton manager really does have me licking my lips.

Put simply, Birmingham are dreadful on home soil. Since the beginning of October 2013 Lee Clark's men have won just one league game in front of their own fans and laying them at St Andrews, whoever they've faced, has been a punter's dream - especially this punter.

For whatever reason the layers simply choose to ignore Brum's home form and they continue to make them favourites. I'll say it again, they've won just one of their last 23 home league games!

True, Bolton are bottom of the table and they've lost five from five away from home. But that form is so easy to ignore now that they have a new manager, and not just any manager either. I rate Lennon highly and I expect him to make a winning start against the country's worst home side.

Recommended Bet
Back Bolton to Win @ 3.55n/a (best bet)

Brighton 2.56/4 v Middlesbrough 3.211/5; The Draw 3.39/4

I keep opposing Brighton, so when I tell you that it's now seven league games without a win for Sami Hyypia's men you'd think I'd be on my way to retirement. Sadly there's none of that because the Seagulls keep on drawing.

So while we can't exactly say Brighton are in awful form because of their high draw percentage the fact remains that they've failed to win a league game since they beat bottom-of-the-table Bolton in mid-August.

On home soil Hyypia's men have drawn their last three league games including a very disappointing goalless draw with hapless Blackpool. And now they face who I believe to be one of the best away teams in the Championship in promotion-chasing Middlesbrough.

Aitor Karanka's men have conceded just two goals on their travels this season, taking an impressive 10 points from a possible 15. Their only defeat - which I still can't work out how it actually happened - was a 1-0 reversal at Leeds when the Teesside club dominated possession, had a perfectly good goal chalked off, and somehow conceded a late goal to thier fierce rivals.

But Middlesbrough are easily one of the best passing sides in the division and they love to get the ball on the floor and pass with speed and accuracy. They are an ideal counter-attacking side away from home and I'm not convinced at all that they should be the outsiders to win this game.

In fact I'll go a bit further and say that I don't understand why Middlesbrough aren't favourites, so as you can imagine I'm delighted to be able to back them at 3.211/5 here.

Recommended Bet
Back Middlesbrough to Win @ 3.211/5

Ipswich 2.26/5 v Blackburn 3.711/4; The Draw 3.55/2

Ipswich are in flying form, Blackburn aren't - and that combination alone makes the Tractor Boys an appealing bet here at 2.26/5.

Mick McCarthy's men are unbeaten in seven league games, winning four consecutive matches in the middle of that run, and at Portman Road they've won four of their five games, conceding just two goals in the process. Their only reversal was a narrow loss to highflying Norwich, not a result to be worried about at all.

Rovers on the other hand have been largely disappointing of late, winning just one of their last five outings.

Gary Bowyer's men lost, without scoring, to a a Fulham side who were massively out of form at the time, and in recent weeks they've failed to score against both Rotherham and Huddersfield in a 0-2 defeat and 0-0 draw respectably.

I said before the season started that Ipswich were promotion candidates and a decent bet to finish in the top six (mind you, I also said Fulham would win the title!) so I've been more than happy with the start they've made. I'd love to see them cement their good start with a win over Rovers and on current form I'm backing them to do so.

Recommended Bet
Back Ipswich to Win @ 2.26/5

Championship 2014/15 Season P/L

Staked: 44 pts
Returned: 55.34 pts
P/L: + 11.34 pts

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