Championship Betting: Murphy can help fire Ipswich to another win

Daryl Murphy can help fire Ipswich to a win over Reading

Mike Norman drew only his second blank of the season last weekend thanks in large to Blackpool throwing away a 2-0 lead, but undeterred our man is back with three more selections from Saturday afternoon's action...

Ipswich 2.111/10 v Reading 4.03/1; The Draw 3.55/2

We drew a blank last weekend, and there's no denying that the Championship is becoming harder to predict as every week passess.

The main title-chasing teams - Derby, Middlesbrough, and Bournemouth - are always going to be very short in the Match Odds market now, so until they are playing a team that has been underestimated by the layers then they are best left alone.

Some of the promotion/playoff-chasing sides still look of interest however, expecially this weekend.

Ipswich are right back in both the title and promotion picture following back-to-back 2-1 wins last week with that man Daryl Murphy adding a further three goals to his impressive tally. The rule is simple when you're backing the Tractor Boys - check if Murphy is injured or suspended. He isn't, so that makes Mick McCarthy's men the call here.

Ipswich have lost just once in the league at Portman Road since August, and that was against highflying Derby, so no disgrace there. They've defeated excellent sides like Middlesbrough and Watford on home soil so I don't see why they should be odds against to beat lowly Reading.

True, the Royals have improved under Steve Clarke but they've lost to struggling Leeds and Wigan already this month and before that they failed to beat hapless Millwall. Ipswich, and Murphy, should have no problems getting over the line in this one.

Recommended Bet
Back Ipswich to Win @ 2.111/10 (best bet)

Watford 2.6613/8 v Norwich 2.8615/8; The Draw 3.55/2

Watford are perhaps another promotion-chasing team that still appeal in the Match Odds market, but this weekend's opponents Norwich will be a tough nut to crack and I much prefer to wager on goals in this crucial encounter.

Sitting fifth and sixth respectively in the Championship a win for either the Hornets or the Canaries will significantly enhance their chances of promotion while slightly denting those of the losers, so we can expect a game where both sides go for the win, and one that will hopefully result in goals.

But despite the urge to win the game you only have to look at the recent goal scoring exploits of these two in-form sides to see why we fancy the net to bulge here.

Norwich have netted nine times in recording three straight wins, and 15 goals in total from their seven Championship games in 2015. Watford on the other hand have won five of their last six league games, those five wins producing a remarkable 19 goals scored - 13 coming at Vicarage Road.

We can get matched at 3.39/4 to see at least four goals in this game, and going on the recent trends of these two then that has to be worth a wager.

Recommended Bet
Back Over 3.5 Goals @ 3.39/4

Wolves 1.981/1 v Rotherham 4.47/2; The Draw 3.613/5

Wolves are typical of most Championship sides in that they are generally inconsistent, yet if able to string a decent run of results together could easily challenge for promotion.

Kenny Jackett's men are five points behind the play-off places going into this game despite winning just one of their last five Championship fixtures. Their last 15 league games have produced six wins, six losses, and three draws, highlighting the inconsistency that I've already spoke about.

It will only take a minor upturn in results for Wolves to reach the play-offs however, and a home game against Rotherham affords them an excellent opportunity of picking up three further points.

Steve Evans' men have won just a single game away from home since August, and that came at struggling Wigan, so they are a side that don't travel well at all.

At Molineux Wolves aren't exactly world beaters, but amongst their victims on home soil are the likes of top-of-the-table Middlesbrough, and promotion-chasing Brentford and Norwich. Given Rotherham's poor away record you sense that a home win should be easily achievable.

Recommended Bet
Back Wolves to Win @ 1.981/1

You can follow me on Twitter - @MikkyMo73

Championship 2014/15 Season P/L

Staked: 112pts
Returned: 131.04pts
P/L: +19.04pts

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