Championship Betting: Back excellent travellers Middlesbrough to tame the Lions

Aitor Karanka's men look a good bet to beat Millwall on Saturday

A further two winners from three selections last week for Mike Norman keeps the season profit ticking over nicely, and our man is confident of adding to his tally with Saturday's three recommended Championship wagers...

Blackburn 2.0421/20 v Sheff Wed 4.3100/30; The Draw 3.613/5

Blackburn, unbeaten in nine Championship games, host Sheffield Wednesday, just one win in 12, on Saturday and we can back the home side at a shade over evens. Seems extremely fair to me.

Rovers are perhaps a little lucky to be unbeaten in nine after requiring a 95th minute equaliser at Middlesbrough at the weekend, but Gary Bowyer's men should be full of confidence as they go in search of a fourth straight win at Ewood Park.

In fact only Derby have won at the home of Blackburn in the league this season and the Lancashire outfit sit just four points off top spot. And encouraginly, while Jordan Rhodes hasn't been hitting the net with regularity during Rovers' good form (just three goals in his last 11 games), his strike partner Rudy Gestede has netted six times in his last six outings.

The Owls meanwhile ended a run of 11 league and cup games without a win when narrowly getting the better of Wigan on Saturday, but as I've often said, it takes more than one win to prove that a team has returned to form.

Stuart Gray's men don't lose often admittedly (just two defeats in their last 10 matches, seven draws), but they struggle to score goals and I beleive they are at the mercy of a very in-form Blackburn side in this encounter.

Recommended Bet
Back Blackburn to Win @ 2.0421/20

Millwall 3.412/5 v Middlesbrough 2.3611/8; The Draw 3.55/2

This match has a very similar makeup to the above game in that the team out of form, Millwall, have won just one of their last 14 outings while the team in form, Middlesbrough, have lost just one of their last 15 league and cup matches.

And anyone who reads this column on a regular basis will know that I rate Middlesbrough as one of the best, if not the best, away teams in the division. So no prizes for guessing where my best bet wager is going this weeekend.

The Lions have been struggling to keep the goals out in recent weeks - 10 conceded in their last five matches - but when Ian Holloway's men have managed to keep a clean sheet they've failed to get on the scoresheet themselves.

At the Den, Millwall have conceded 11 goals in their last four league games and on current form I can't see how they won't concede against Boro.

Aitor Karanka's men have already won six games away from home this term, and while they've now recorded three consecutive draws in the Championship they faced a trio of decent sides in Bournemouth, Wigan, and Blackburn. Prior to that Boro had thrashed Norwich 4-0 and comfortably beat Rotherham 3-0 away from home.

With Millwall desperate to end this dreadful run of form they may see this game as a free shot against one of the division's better sides and go on the attack, and if that's the case then that should play right into Middlesbrough's hands who are devastating at this level on the counter.

Recommended Bet
Back Middlesbrough to Win @ 2.3611/8 (best bet)

Reading 2.1411/10 v Bolton 3.711/4; The Draw 3.711/4

I put up both Reading and Ipswich pre-season as clubs to finish in the top six and possibly challenge for promotion. While the Tractor Boys, currently in second place, are doing me very proud the same can't be said of the Royals.

Nigel Adkins' men have lost a very worrying six of their last nine Championship games, two of which came on home soil. Take a closer look at Reading's results at the Madejski Stadium and you will see that the only two teams they have defeated in almost three months were out-of-form Blackpool and Rotherham.

The Royals are a very capable team on their day but like most mid-table outfits they are struggling for consistency, and that should give in-form Bolton an excellent chance of recording another win under their new boss.

Neil Lennon has started really well in charge of the Trotters; Saturday's win over Huddersfield was their fifth victory in eight games, taking them out of the relegation zone and incredibly looking up towards the play-off places given how compacted the Championship is currently.

Bolton need to start winning away from home if they are to move into the top half of the table, and I'm willing to take a chance on them at 3.711/4 at struggling Reading.

Recommended Bet
Back Bolton to Win @ 3.711/4

Championship 2014/15 Season P/L

Staked: 72 pts
Returned: 83.92 pts
P/L: + 11.92 pts

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