Championship Betting: Promotion chasers set to serve up a goalfest

Expect Karanka's men to be involved in a high-scoring game

It was close but no cigar for Mike Norman's Championship column in midweek, but our man has been in good form of late and he's looking to bounce back with some winners on Saturday...

Middlesbrough 2.0621/20 v Watford 4.03/1; The Draw 3.55n/a

This column endured a frustrating midweek, not least when Middlesbrough were involved in a game that contained just two goals despite over 30 shots being recorded at Molineux. The crossbar was rattled, there were some great saves, and some last ditch defending, but we couldn't get that third goal to land the best bet.

But we move on quickly and we repeat the Over 2.5 Goals bet now that third-place Boro host free-scoring Watford. Again, I'm amazed that our recommended bet is available to back at 2.111/10 here so let's take advantage.

Aitor Karanka's men have been in great form recently and they'll aim to bounce back from Tuesday's defeat immediately. The key to this game containing goals however is the belief that Watford will go to the Riverside Stadium and attack the hosts.

The Hornets are the highest scorers in the Championship and I expect them to cause Middlesbrough lots of problems. So maybe Karanka's men might be able to play this game in the style that they do away from home and hit Watford on the counter-attack. However it's played I expect it to be very entertaining and end-to-end.

Approximately 70% of Watford's league and cup games this season have gone over the 2.5 goals mark, while Opta tell us that Middlesbrough have scored in 15 of their last 16 home games against Watford.

Recommended Bet
Back Over 2.5 Goals @ 2.111/10 (best bet)

Nottm Forest 2.245/4 v Blackburn 3.55/2; The Draw 3.613/5

Forest have seemingly struggled of late but they've still lost only one league game this term and that came against a club that was Premier Leauge material six months ago and who had just changed their manger - and we all know about 'new manager syndrome' don't we? I refer you to last week's best bet of Bolton if you're still in the dark.

Stuart Pearce's men earned a well deserved 2-2 draw with highflying Watford in midweek which means that they've now scored five goals in their last three league games following that run of three consecutive goalless draws.

So it's quite conceivable to believe that Forest are rediscovering their mojo and that a win is on the horizon. Hopefully against Rovers on Saturday.

Blackburn beat a poor Birmingham side by a single goal in midweek and were benefited by the opposition going down to 10 men. That win was the Lancashire side's first win in five games and my gut feeling is that they're in no better form than Forest, and certainly if Jordan Rhodes misfires then they are their for the taking.

I don't usually put my faith in a side that has failed to win in six league games but as I've already mentioned Forest are extremely difficult to beat and they're now finding the back of the net. I don't think we'll get many more opportunities this season to back Pearce's men on home soil at 2.245/4 against a mid-table side so let's take advantage.

Recommended Bet
Back Nottm Forest to Win @ 2.245/4

Reading 1.728/11 v Blackpool 5.79/2; The Draw 4.03/1

Following a run of six games without a win Reading have been presented with a great opportunity to get their season back on track and I'm backing them to do so by leading at the interval also.

Despite the Royals poor form they remain a difficult side to beat at the Madejski Stadium and they certainly don't lack for goals. In fact Nigel Adkins' men have scored exactly three goals in three of their last four home league games against the likes of Fulham, Wolves, and Millwall.

Reading are certainly capable of scoring three or more against Blackpool then, and if they do then fingers crossed they get one or two in the opening 45 minutes.

They have a fantastic record against Saturday's opponents, Opta telling us that they've won their last five home games against the Tangerines. In addition, Blackpool have never scored more than a single goal in games away to Reading.

Josa Riga's men have taken just two points from a possible 18 away from home, they conceded four at Huddersfield last weekend including three in the first half, and they've managed to hit the back of the net just four times on the road all season.

Recommended Bet
Back Reading HT/FT @ 2.89/5

Championship 2014/15 Season P/L

Staked: 52 pts
Returned: 65.64 pts
P/L: + 13.34 pts

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

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