Football Tips: Saturday’s Best Bets in the Championship

EFL expert Matthew O'Regan has some sizable selections for Saturday's round of Championship fixtures.

By / Championship, Football Tips / 2 days ago

After a busy Festive period, Matthew O’Regan is back with his five best bets from Saturday’s Championship action, with picks spread across the day.

EFL Championship Best Bets

12:30pm Blackburn v Burnley – Under 2.5 Goals and Over 4.5 Cards
12:30pm Swansea v West Brom – Josh Maja To Score
3:00pm Bristol City v Derby – Bristol City to win
3:00pm Hull v Leeds – Leeds to win and Both Teams To Score: No

Blackburn v Burnley – Under 2.5 Goals & Over 4.5 Cards

TV: Sky Sports Main Event / Sky Sports Football

Blackburn and Burnley lock horns in the East Lancashire Derby in one of three early kick-offs in the Championship. The last two meetings between the sides have seen explosive second halves, so we could see a repeat in front of a packed-out Ewood Park.

John Eustace’s side currently sit seventh in the league despite failing to win in their last four matches. However, they will take solace from their performance when drawing 1-1 at Leeds, with Danny Batth scoring a last-minute equaliser.

It was another low-scoring game involving Rovers, with their games averaging just 2.08 goals. Of Blackburn’s 24 league games this season, 16 have seen under 2.5 goals, including 13 of their last 15.

Burnley failed to break down Stoke on Wednesday, making it back-to-back 0-0 draws. The Clarets trail leaders Leeds by three points and know a win in the early kick-off would put pressure on Daniel Farke’s side.

Scott Parker’s side have been low-scorers, scoring just 30 times in 25 games, but have conceded an astounding nine goals. They top the league for games with three or fewer goals, with this bet landing in 20/25 times, including 11/13 away games.

Burnley have been involved in seven 0-0’s this season, and it would not be a surprise to see an eighth on Saturday. While referee Andy Kitchen only averages just over four cards a game, a ferocious derby could be in store – especially with the return of the controversial Ashely Barnes to Burnley.

Blackburn average 2.6 cards per game while drawing 2.25 cards per game from the opposition. Burnley average 2.54 cards per away game, drawing 2.3. The last meeting between the sides saw four first-half yellows, seven second-half yellows and a red, while the meeting before saw eight yellow cards.

Swansea v West Brom – Josh Maja To Score

TV: Sky Sports+

Josh Maja struggled for game time last season, but has taken the Championship by storm this year. The 26-year-old is currently the second top scorer in the league, three goals behind Norwich’s Borja Sainz. Before his brace against Preston last time out, Maja had gone seven games without scoring, so he will be delighted to end his drought.

He averages 0.54 goals per 90, similar numbers to the 0.51 he scored for Bordeaux. Swansea come into this game on the back of a dismal 4-0 loss at Portsmouth, making it 29 goals conceded for the season. With a fragile defence, and uncertainty over the future of manager Luke Williams, West Brom and Maja may fancy their chances of getting on the scoresheet at least once in South Wales.

Bristol City v Derby – Bristol City to win

Bristol City are in their tenth straight year of Championship football, failing to reach the playoffs in any campaign since promotion from League One. The Robins feel they have a good chance of a playoff finish this year and sit just five points off West Brom.

A 90th-minute equaliser from Plymouth prevented Liam Manning’s side from winning a third straight game, but the 39-year-old will take pride in recent performances. They have won their last two games at Ashton Gate, losing just twice in their 12 home matches. While the five draws may concern Manning, the talented attacking duo of Anis Mehmeti and Scott Twine can transform draws into wins.

Derby are the visitors to the South West – and come into the game after a 4-2 loss to Sheffield Wednesday – their eighth away defeat of the campaign. The Rams have won just once on the road this season, in a smash-and-grab 2-1 win at Coventry, as Paul Warne’s side registered just three shots.

Hull v Leeds – Leeds to win and Both Teams To Score: No

A 90th-minute Batth equaliser thwarted Leeds’s attempts to win four straight games, but the Whites remain top of the league, with just three defeats to their name. Daniel Farke’s side looks the strongest in the league, with an abundance of talent in attack, with the German showing the necessary pragmatism to see out games.

Leeds have conceded just 16 goals this season – the joint second fewest in the league, plus 13 clean sheets. They travel to Yorkshire rivals Hull looking to extend their lead at the top.

Despite just missing out on the playoffs last year, Hull parted ways with Liam Rosenior, appointing German Tim Walter as the new manager. This appointment did not work out, with Ruben Selles since drafted in from Reading.

The Spaniard has had a mixed start at the KCOM and faces a tough task to get his side out of the relegation zone. Hull have scored just 22 times this season – the fewest in the league. Playing against the second-best defence, The Tigers may blank for the 12th time in 2024/25.

Championship betting tips

12:30pm Blackburn v Burnley – Under 2.5 Goals and Over 4.5 Cards
12:30pm Swansea v West Brom – Josh Maja To Score
3:00pm Bristol City v Derby – Bristol City to win
3:00pm Hull v Leeds – Leeds to win and Both Teams To Score: No

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.

READ MORE

The latest football odds are on PaddyPower.com now

THE PADDY POWER GUIDE TO SAFER GAMBLING – EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW

What do you think?