Saturday Championship betting preview
Football Free Bets
Coventry City v Derby County, 12.15pm
It’s been a reasonable start to life as manager of the Sky Blues for Adrian Boothroyd, with his Coventry team having collected four points from two matches. City’s 2-2 draw at Watford saw them score twice late at the death and they are 13/10 (Paddy Power - £20 free bets) to kick on from result with a win against the Rams.
However, the bookies might be estimating Derby by giving them odds of 9/4 (Sky Bet - £15 free bets). Yes, they lost at home to Cardiff last weekend, although County did win at Leeds on the opening day of the season and have one of the most potent strikeforces around. Rob Hulse (6/1 William Hill - £25 free bets) could easily score 20 goals plus if he steers clear of injury, while Kris Commons is 8/1 (Paddy Power - £20 free bets) to break the deadlock.
For Coventry, Freddie Eastwood will be looking to add to the brace he scored against Portsmouth in the opening game and he’s 11/2 (bet365 - £200 free bets) to score first. Another 2-0 win in the home team’s favour is 11/1 (William Hill - £25 free bets).
Leeds United v Millwall, 12.30pm
An early kick-off but no Sky cameras in sight – it can mean only one thing! Two of the most ‘passionate’ sets of supporters will be turning up at Elland Road en masse to watch this game and it’s the Lions who are absolutely flying at the moment. A 3-0 win at Bristol City was followed by a 4-0 win over Hull and 9/4 (Sporting Bet bookmaker) is surely too big about Millwall winning this game.
After all, Kenny Jackett’s team seem to have the Indian sign over Leeds, winning home and away against them in League One last term and Steve Morison is a striker that’s going from strength to strength. Plucked from Stevenage, he’s taken well to the Championship and is a tempting 8/1 (Paddy Power bookmaker) to score first in this match.
Simon Grayson will have been relatively encouraged by his team’s 1-1 draw at Forest last Sunday, although the visitors did ride their luck somewhat and are still looking for a first win in this division since being promoted. It’s a 5/4 chance (bet365) that they manage this in front of an expectant home crowd, with Luciano Becchio on offer at 13/2 (Paddy Power) to score first.
Reading v Nottingham Forest, 3pm
Both of these teams were well fancied at the start of the season, although it’s been a slow start for the Royals and Forest. In fairness to the Tricky Trees, they have created more than enough chances to win both of their opening matches and you can get 21/10 (Paddy Power) that they win at the Madejski Stadium on Saturday.
Reading had a blinding second half to the season under Brian McDermott, although a home defeat to Scunthorpe followed by a draw at Portsmouth was not what the doctor ordered. Still, its early days and bet365 go 5/4 that the Royals are up and running with a victory which would keep Forest down the wrong end of the table.
