Championship Betting: Molineux to witness goals when in-form Boro arrive

Expect goals when Kenny Jackett's Wolves host Boro, says Mike

Our resident Championship columnist Mike Norman enjoyed another profitable weekend thanks to two good price away selections on Saturday, and now our man is back to preview three games from Tuesday night's action...

Blackburn 1.845/6 v Birmingham 4.84/1; The Draw 3.9n/a

Birmingham done this column a huge favour when they landed the 4.57/2 best bet away to Millwall three weeks ago, and again on Saturday when this time we opposed the Blues with a 3.55n/a best bet of Bolton to triumph at St Andrews.

It's not that the Midlands club are my lucky team, it's simply down to a bit of logic - you oppose Birmingham at home and you consider backing them away from home.

In the last 12 months laying Brum at home in the league would have seen you profit 23 times from 24 games, which is quite incredible to be honest, while they've triumphed eight or nine times away from home at decent odds in the same period.

While I'm not as confident as I usually am regarding Birmingham, given what I've mentioned above I simply can't let them go unbacked at 4.84/1 away from home to a side that has won just one of their last six league games.

The news on Monday afternoon that the club sacked Lee Clark could also be a positive. I mean that in the nicest way possible as I like Clark, but how many times do we see a club's form improve as soon as a manager departs or a new one arrives.

Blackburn sit mid-table after that poor run of form and at Ewood Park they've won just two of seven league and cup games this term, drawing 0-0 with Huddersfield the last time they played in front of their home fans. Centre-back Matthew Kilgallon will be absent for Tuesday night's game after picking up two yellow cards against Ipswich on Saturday.

Birmingham followed that good win at Millwall with an excellent draw at then unbeaten Charlton, so given the circumstances - a relatively out-of-form home side against a team that performs much better on their travels - 4.84/1 about an away victory looks too big to me.

Recommended Bet
Back Birmingham to Win @ 4.84/1

Huddersfield 2.8415/8 v Brighton 2.727/4; The Draw 3.412/5

One of the ways to profit in the Championship is to continually oppose teams when the market is pricing them up on reputation rather than poor form. Brighton are a perfect example.

Sami Hyypia's men may win at Huddersfield on Tuesday night - after all, anything can happen in this division - but there's no way in my opinion that they should be favourites to do so.

The Seagulls are 20th in the table after a run of eight league games without a win, hardly the form of a team that should be favourites to win away from home against an improving side. They are also the only team in the last 12 months to lose a game at the home of Birmingham, so what does that tell us about their ability?

Huddersfield have improved significantly since Chris Powell took over at the club in September and the Terriers have taken 10 points from the last 12 available to them. They beat high-flying Wolves away from home three weeks ago and on Saturday they put four past struggling Blackpool to record their third win in four games.

As I said, absolutely anything can happen in the Championship and often does, but on current form I can't for the life of me understand why Brighton - without a win in eight league games remember - are favourites to win at the John Smith's Stadium on Tuesday night.

Recommended Bet
Back Huddersfield to Win @ 2.8415/8

Wolves 2.56/4 v Middlesbrough 3.1511/5; The Draw 3.412/5

Being a Middlesbrough fan I'll obviously be delighted to see them go to Molineux and win in midweek but I'll probably kick myself for not putting them up as a selection.

As I've said a number of times this season I feel Aitor Karanka's men are the best counter-attacking side in the division (just take a look at their second goal against Brighton on Saturday) and therefore playing away from home really suits their style. They now have the best away record in the Championship.

But what I'm a little surprised to see is that Boro also have the best defensive record in the division; they've chopped and changed their defensive line-up quite a few times and they do look vulnerable at the back sometimes.

That leads me to believe that goals are certain in this game.

Wolves' last four league matches make for crazy reading - 3-3, 1-3, 2-2, 3-3 - and I'm expecting something similar when they entertain the Teesside club. Kenny Jackett's men are right in the promotion picture having lost just one of their last 10 games and I can see them giving it a real go against Boro.

Middlesbrough will look to hit Wolves on the counter and I think we're set for a ding-dong affair. If an early goal is scored we'll be set-up for a mouthwatering encounter and I truly believe that 2.245/4 about witnessing at least three goals to be scored is over-priced.

Recommended Bet
Back Over 2.5 Goals @ 2.245/4 (best bet)

Championship 2014/15 Season P/L

Staked: 48 pts
Returned: 65.64 pts
P/L: + 17.34 pts

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

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