Football Tips: Three punchy punts for Wednesday’s Championship relegation showdown

It's the end of the line for some of these sides.

By / Championship, Football News / 4 years ago

Luton vs Blackburn: Luton to win

Luton deserve huge credit for giving themselves a fighting chance of staying in the Championship since they have looked dead and buried for much of 2020. Their win over Hull was absolutely colossal and has effectively relegated the Tigers. Another win on Wednesday would surely secure their Championship safety.

Charlton, who sit one place above them by virtue of goal difference, will struggle to take anything from a trip to Elland Road where Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds side will be keen to sign off an excellent season with a win. But back to Luton.

How about the Championship promotion race?

Their opponents Blackburn have endured a patchy return to competitive action since the restart, beating Cardiff and drawing with West Brom but also losing to Barnsley and Wigan. Luton have been excellent since the restart, losing just once, albeit a 5-0 drubbing at home to Reading.

The Hatters have struggled at home, however, and have failed to win at Kenilworth Road since February. That simply must change on Wednesday and, with Blackburn’s minds sure to be elsewhere, we’re going for a Luton win.

Grant McCann

Cardiff vs Hull: Cardiff (-1)

Hull technically still have a chance of survival thanks to Wigan’s 12-point deduction, but there is more chance of Norwich picking up 14 points in their last Premier League game and surviving in the top flight.

The Tigers have been utterly appalling since beating Sheffield Wednesday on New Year’s Day. That result left them two points off the play-offs and now they lie rooted to the foot of the Championship table having collected just one win in their last 19.

(-1)

They have also failed to keep a clean sheet in those 19 games. If Cardiff didn’t need a result to secure their place in the top six, Hull may have had a slim chance, but Cardiff do need a result, so Hull have absolutely no chance.

The Bluebirds cannot relent out of fear that they will be overtaken in sixth-place by near rivals Swansea and we’re expecting a big win with potentially a big score against Hull so are backing Cardiff (-1). It’s tempting to say that the Tigers are going down to League One with a whimper but that would be harsh on whimpers.

More top tips for Wednesday

Birmingham vs Derby: Derby to win

Similar to Hull, it is staggering that Birmingham find themselves in a relegation scrap on the final day of the season. The Blues have failed to win in 13 games, a run of results that has precipitated a dangerous slide down the table.

They would be in even further trouble had they not nabbed a 93rd-minute equaliser against relegation rivals Charlton last week. They should be just about OK thanks to Charlton’s trip to Leeds and Wigan’s potential points deduction, but that doesn’t disguise how pathetic their form has been.

They must take at least a point at home to Derby on Wednesday to secure their Championship status and, based on Derby’s form, there can be no excuses for not winning the game. The Rams have picked up just one point from their last five having previously hoisted themselves within touching distance of the play-off picture.

Granted, they played five sides in the top-six in their last five games, but their season is undoubtedly drifting towards an unsatisfying conclusion. That said, Birmingham have been so bad that Derby will fancy finishing with a statement win on Wednesday night.

Tips for Wednesday’s relegation battle in the Championship

Luton vs Blackburn: Luton to win
Cardiff vs Hull: Cardiff (-1)
Birmingham vs Derby: Derby to win

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