Football Tips: Our tasty 12/1 double for Saturday’s TV Championship games

Our tipster Colin Harvey has rummaged through the markets to bring you a big-value double for Saturday's TV Championship games.

* All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.

This is what it’s all about – for neutrals at least. Saturday’s televised Championship games should be tense, thrilling events with plenty of ramifications for some grand old clubs in the second tier.

We’ve got Sheffield Wednesday v Nottingham Forest first up at 12.30pm with Swansea City hosting Derby County at 3pm. The equation is simple. Well, kind of. If Wednesday lose to Forest they are down. However, if they avoid defeat their result will still be redundant if Derby match or better them later in the day and League One will be calling.

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A draw or victory for The Owls and defeat for Derby would set up an absolutely mouth-watering clash between the two on the final day with The Rams currently holding a four-point advantage over the Hillsborough side and an identical goal difference with two to play. Whatever happens, Wednesday have to get at least a point to stave off relegation – for a couple of hours at least.

Rotherham could still see both relegated as they have a game in hand but their form is as bad as Derby’s so I won’t hold my breath for that eventuality. If Wednesday can get something in the early game I suspect we’ll be in for a thrilling final day in the second tier.

Darren Moore

12.30pm: Sheffield Wednesday v Nottingham Forest – The Draw

Sheffield Wednesday can set up a grandstand finish to the Championship season with a win in Saturday’s early game. However, as mentioned, if they fail to secure at least a point they will be relegated at the final whistle. The stakes can come no higher for Darren Moore’s men and the added carrot is that they face 21st-placed Derby in a potential winner-takes-all contest on the final day.

But they have their own job to do on Saturday and that is beating Nottingham Forest at 12.30pm. Neither side in the early kick-off is in great form with both winning one game each in their last five.

Wednesday have lost three, drawn one and won one while Forest have three draws, a win and a loss over that period. Wednesday sit 23rd and the Tricky Trees are finally safe in 17th after a shaky season.

Saturday 12.30pm: Sheffield Wednesday v Nottingham Forest
Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Football

This is a tough one to call as both sides are stumbling across the line. Wednesday desperately need to win but their 3-1 loss to Middlesbrough last time and the ongoing absence of Moore because of Covid complications isn’t giving me any real confidence that they will get the job done. Forest are solid if unspectacular but could take advantage if The Owls start to lose their heads as this one drags on.

Under 2.5 Goals is the play when Chris Hughton’s men take to the field but Paddy knows this and the price is way too short to recommend here. Instead, I’ll side with The Draw at a juicy price.

Wednesday have to go for it now. Time is running out and they’ve got to make things happen if they are to stay up. However, I just think Forest will be too wily for them. They are hard to beat these days and I think we’re in for an action-packed stalemate.

3pm: Swansea v Derby – Swansea Win and Over 2.5 Goals

Derby are in appalling form and, from a position where they looked fairly safe, are now clinging on for dear life, seemingly hoping the teams below them fail to pick up the four points needed to overtake them. They’ve lost five on the bounce and have won just once in the last 14 games.

Swansea are still licking their wounds after blowing a decent chance at automatic promotion and have two wins, two draws and a loss in their last five, with their last three points coming four games back. They are safely in the playoffs, though, and will be hoping to move up at least one place from their 5th position to secure a home game in the second leg of the post-season party.

You can certainly argue that is no motivation compared to what Derby have on their plate. The Rams are hovering above the drop zone in 21st with a four-point cushion to Rotherham and Sheffield Wednesday with the Millers having a game in hand. The delicious twist is that final-day home meeting with Wednesday.

Saturday 3pm: Swansea City v Derby County
Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Football

If Derby win here they will be on the cusp of safety, but it’s hard to see them getting out of this with anything other than a heavy beating. The Swans are not in barn-burning form but Derby are in complete disarray at the moment.

County have shown they’re not handling the pressure well and there’s no argument for them getting anything out of this other than end-of-season madness. I think the smart play is Swansea to Win and Over 2.5 Goals.

Over 2.5 Goals has landed in three of Swansea’s last five and four of Derby’s games over the same period. These two have seen an aggregate of 2.8 goals per game in their last 10 matches combined and I’m happy to throw that element in to pump up the price here.

Our Saturday TV Championship double

12.30pm: Sheffield Wednesday v Nottingham Forest – The Draw
3pm: Swansea City v Derby County – Swansea to Win and Over 2.5 Goals

* All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.

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