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QPR - Preston (X) @ 3.46 Pinnacle SportsDifficult to seperate these two; both in good form, Preston in particular with 5 wins and a draw in last 6. QPR not too shabby themselves with 1 defeat in 6 and plenty of impressive looking results last few months. And both sitting on 53 points and realistically safe from any relegation threat. I think. Would they be happy to play out a draw? Probably. It's difficult to envisage any other result truth be told. So let's wish them well, may the best side not win, may chances be few and far between, yadda yadda. Next! Actually, we could also consider this for the old under 2.5 - I'm praying they'll just be stroking the ball around, too fearful of committing. You never though I guess.
Sheffield Utd - Leicester @ 2.05 Tote Sport
I'm willing to go with Diomed from the betting forum on this one (if only to save time, haha) so here's the post:
Sheffield United were relegated from the Premiership and their coach Robson never got them going in the Championship. They are playing a poor season, no doubt about that. Robson was finally sacked (too late) and Kevin Blackwell has taken over. He needed a bit of time but the Blades have found great form recently. Their run of 4 straight wins came to and last Saturday away to the other form side Preston North End. That defeat all but ended any outside chance of reaching the play-offs. Nevertheless I strongly fancy them to finish that disappoining year in style.
Leicester City on the other hand won an important home tie against Scunthorpe last weekend but still are in danger of relegation. Already today coach Ian Holloway announced that his side will be down to the bare bones at Bramall Lane on Saturday. Definitely out are Stephen Clemence, Lee Hendie and Barry Hayles. Iain Hume, Jamie Clapham and Kelvin Etuhu are all receiving treatment for injuries and are doubtful. Leicester have a lot more to play for than the hosts but that is of minor importance in Great Britain. Small stakes are recommended on special bets here as well. 7 units for this one!
Southampton - Bristol City @ 2.93 Betsafe
Poor Southampton. 3rd bottom and looking in real danger of plummeting to league one unless they can pull something out the bag against a Bristol City side sitting proudly atop the Championship table and hunting automatic promotion. Could the Saints have asked for a tougher game tomorrow? Maybe not. Can they at least snatch a point? Maybe. They seem surprisingly difficult to beat. But how do we resist the 2.93 on offer for the away win at Betsafe? That seems incredibly generous all things considerded. I'm just reading about some injury concerns for City at the BBC site though so let's hold for a minute: Bristol City boss Gary Johnson has kept his injury problems under wraps but says two or three players have knocks. "We won't give any details publicly," Johnson said. "They are borderline and we will wait to see if they come through."
Doesn't sound too serious but it makes things that little more dodgy. I still think that 2.93 is too generous though. Ok. Let's flip a coin and see... or let's stick a quid on City.
Watford - Coventry @ 1.90 Bet365Man, I'm not a fan of this Coventry side at all. They keep screwing me. Firstly beating a fine Plymouth side and then drawing at my other favourites, Sheffield Wednesday. Watford is a different proposition though! Well, no they aint. Not really. No wins in 8 for Watford and that is pretty poor going for a team looking to make it to the Premier League. Although they were unbeaten in 12 before turning in a poor performance in the 3-0 defeat at Hull in their last game. Perhaps it's the nature of this league and it's overall tightness but Watford appear to be toiling a bit.
I'm just looking over their most recent results and they really all do look difficult games against sides either looking for automatic promotion or in the playoff hunt. All solid sides to be honest: Hull, Plymouth, Stoke, Bristol City, Burnley, Preston, Charlton - the last side to be beaten by Watford in fact is Leicester who are struggling mighty close to the relegation zone. What chance of them finally finding another win? Especially with their top scorer, Henderson, suspended tomorrow? Gulp.
Coventry as I said, I don't like. Not just because they're unbeaten in 4 but because... well, just because. They're in the bottom half for a reason - because they're rubbish and one of the lowest scoring sides in the league. Can I seriously take Watford to put them away though? There's 16 points between them in the league and Watford a fair few goals better off but... but...
Yes. Damn it. I think I will go against Coventry one more time (glutton for...) and if they nick something I will finally admit defeat and wish them well (no I won't). Aidy Boothroyd (Watford manager) was apparently seething after their last performance and with the league being so bloody tight up there in the playoff positions, I'm expecting them to bounce back and see off stuffy, Coventry before finally relaxing a little. As The Beatles once sang, "Don't let me down Watford... just flippin' don't.."
