Best Bets for the Weekend in The Championship, League 1 & League 2

Every time I sit down to look at the next set of fixtures in The Championship, League 1 & League 2, I always seem to find myself saying “these fixtures look hard this week” & I have to say that I repeated those very words this week as well.

The Championship, League 1 & League 2 are very entertaining leagues but they are tremendously competitive leagues & must surely qualify as the toughest leagues for punters to solve with confidence.

The last few weeks have been notoriously difficult for football punters getting involved in the the lower leagues but we like a challenge & we’ve had a look to see what bets catch our eye.

Best Bets in The Championship:

Scunthorpe vs Sheffield United – Saturday 12.00pm

This bet comes with an element of risk because Sheffield United have been in the best of form in recent matches but that benefits us in the fact that the price on offer for them winning is better than would normally be expected.

That price gives us some value to get stuck into & Sheffield United have enough quality to go to Scunthorpe & edge what should be a decent game.

Scunthorpe are giving their best in the Championship but they have looked defensively vulnerable against the better sides & Sheffield United have the extra attacking quality that makes them a tempting bet.

Betting Recommendations:

Outright Match Betting: Sheffield United to win

Correct Score options: Sheffield United to win 2-0/2-1

First Goalscorer each way/player to score anytime: Henderson/Evans

Double Result: Sheffield United Half Time & Full Time

Cardiff City vs Crystal Palace – Saturday 3.00pm

Fascinating clash of two teams with vastly experienced managers who know how to get the best out of their sides & both sides are decent form so should be a good game.

Cardiff City started the season in excellent form, before suffering a little blip with 3 defeats on the bounce but since then they have bounced in tremendous style smashing 10 goals in impressive victories against Derby County & Watford.

Those two fantastic performances & the goals scored will have given the Cardiff City squad a massive boost & we fully expect them to go all out to win this game from the off.

Crystal Palace have themselves been in very good form recently & certainly they appear to be playing a far more consistent style of football which is giving them consistent results.

Neil Warnock would love nothing more than to go to Cardiff & cause an upset but with all respect we cannot see that happening here & Cardiff City look a very solid bet to get another home win.

Betting Recommendations:

Outright Match Betting: Cardiff City to win

Correct Score options: Cardiff City to win 2-1/3-1

First Goalscorer each way/Player to score anytime: Chopra/Bothroyd/Whittingham

Double Result: Cardiff City Half Time & Full Time

Ipswich Town vs Swansea City – Saturday 3.00pm

Will this be the day that Roy Keane’s Ipswich side finally deliver their fist league win of the season after a very disappointing start of 5 draws & 6 defeats so far in the league??

The answer to that question obviously depends which side you support here & it is indeed a tricky question to answer.

Ipswich Town sit bottom of The Championship, 2 points adrift & Roy Keane is under huge pressure to turns things around & quickly.

The first step is of course getting that first win & particularly at home so we are certain Ipswich Town will be fully focused on going for the win in this game.

The good thing for Roy Keane & his team is that their performances have definitely improved in recent matches & although their results have not reflected that, they should have a decent level of confidence coming into this match.

Swansea have been in good for recently & their positive, open football is very entertaining to watch so they have a chance in this match but their away record is a concern.

Swansea have only won 1 away so far & only scored 2 goals in their 5 away matches so clearly they will have to step up on that here to get a result.

Ipswich Town look like a side hitting some form & they are certainly due a change of luck so we are going to take a chance on this being the day when Ipswich finally win & they look a fair to price to do so.

Betting Recommendations:

Outright Match Betting: Ipswich Town to win

Correct Score options: Ipswich Town to win 2-0/2-1

First Goalscorer each way/Player to score anytime: Walters/Priskin

Double Result: Ipswich Town Half Time & Full Time

Doncaster Rovers vs Barnsley – Saturday 3.00pm

An all action Yorkshire derby is on the menu here with both Doncaster Rovers & Barnsley certain to be up a game that will have a cracking atmosphere & certainly intensity on & off the pitch.

The local rivalry is important here but the action on the pitch is what will count & both clubs desperately need a win or at least a positive result so we expect a very competitive game.

Doncaster Rovers are unbeaten at home so far but they have drawn 4 home matches & had 8 draws in total from 11 games so while they are hard to beat, they also find hard to win.

Barnsley started the season in very poor form but have definitely improved of late since Mark Robins took over & they will go into this game positive of achieving something with confidence boosted by their last win.

Local pride is at stake here, both teams will believe they can get a result & it all points towards it being a very intense, competitive game which makes a scoring draw a very tempting bet & one we are going to side with here.

Betting Recommendations:

Outright Match Betting: DRAW

Correct score options: 1-1/2-2

First Goalscorer each way/Player to score anytime: Sharp/Hume/Hayter

Double Result: Draw Half Time & Full Time

The rest of the fixtures in The Championship look very tight to call one way or the other & so it could well pay to cover the Draws in multiples with the main candidates to finish DRAWS being:

Leicester City vs Derby County, QPR vs Preston,
Sheffield Wednesday vs Coventry
& Nottingham Forest vs Newcastle United

Best Bets in League 1:

Oldham Athletic vs Southampton – Saturday 3.00pm

We like the look of this game as it brings together two sides who like to play positive attacking football & both come here in good current form.

Oldham have been solid at home this season with only 1 defeat in 6 games so far & we expect a good, confident performance from them here.

Southampton have really hit form in their recent games & they produced an excellent, attacking performance to win 3-1 away at Southend in what were difficult weather conditions.

Southampton are playing very good football at present & should arrive here with confidence of getting a good result given the attacking quality they have.

A decent games look on the cards & Oldham will not make it easy for Southampton but we like the look of Alan Pardew’s team at present & they look a good bet to get the away win.

Betting Recommendations:

Outright Match Betting: Southampton to win:

Correct score options: Southampton to win 2-0/2-1

First goalscorer each way/Player to score anytime: Lallana/Lambert

Double Result: Southampton Half Time & Full Time

Wycombe vs Colchester United – Saturday 3.00pm

This game represents a stark contrast of fortunes with Wycombe sitting 2nd bottom of League 1 & Colchester going very strong in 3rd place.

So far this season, Wycombe have won one of their 12 games & lie 18 points behind Colchester who have won 7 & only lost 2 of their first 12 games this season.

Wycombe have found it very difficult adjusting to life in League 1 again & they look a team lacking in confidence & quality on the pitch and that is making them vulnerable every game they play in.

Colchester have looked a very good, solid team this season & of course they made their intentions clear by winning 7-1 at Norwich on the opening day of the season.

That fantastic victory & other victories have outlined their capacity to score goals but equally Aidy Boothroyd has made them a more organised, balanced side & that is why they are getting, good consistent results.

Wycombe come into this game without a permanent manager & having already lost 4 games at home, we really do like the price for a Colchester win & they look a really solid bet to be too strong for Wycombe & get the 3 points.

Betting Recommendations:

Outright Match Betting: Colchester United to win

Correct Score options: Colchester to win 2-0/2-1

First Goalscorer each way/Player to score anytime: Odejayi/Platt

The other League 1 fixtures look very evenly matched in our view with any result possible & we feel a series of Draws look probable & do look to offer value.

Best Bets in League 2:

Aldershot vs Bury:
Outright Result:- DRAW, Correct Score options 1-1/2-2
First Goalscorer: Lowe/Elliot

Dagenham vs Bradford City:
Outright Result: DRAW, Correct Score options 1-1/2-2
First Goalscorer: Benson/Boulding

Darlington vs Shrewsbury Town:
Outright Result: Shrewsbury to win,
Correct Score options: Shrewsbury 2-0, 2-1
First Goalscorer: Hibbert/Robinson

Northampton Town vs Lincoln City:
Outright Match Result: DRAW, Correct Score options: 1-1, 2-2
First Goalscorer: Howe/Torres

The rest of the fixtures in League 2 do look incredibly competitive & again a series of draws does look likely & could well worth prove value bets.