5 Championship Tips for the Weekend’s Action - 2/10/21

On Saturday, Coventry City host Fulham in what is a battle of fourth versus third in the Championship.

The Sky Blues come into this game on 19 points, one fewer than the Cottagers, having won three of their last five matches, against Middlesbrough 2-0, Cardiff City 1-0 and Peterborough United 3-0, before being thumped 5-0 by Luton Town in midweek.

Meanwhile, Fulham have just two wins in their last five, which came via 4-1 and 3-1 scorelines against Birmingham City and Swansea City, with Serbian striker Aleksandar Mitrovic scoring a hattrick in the latter.

Two players to look out for in this match are Viktor Gyokeres and Mitrovic, as the latter who is a former Newcastle striker has scored 10 goals and assisted three in 10 appearances so far this season, whilst the former Brighton man Gyokeres has been one of the standout performers in the division this season, finding the back of the net on seven occasions as well as creating two assists.

On Saturday, second-place Bournemouth host Sheffield United at the Vitality Stadium, with the Blades looking to make further improvements to their league positioning as they are currently 12th.

Scott Parker’s side drew 0-0 away at Peterborough United in midweek, but, prior to what was a disappointing result for the Cherries, they had won four games in a row with three of them being in the score group of 1-0, 2-0 or 2-1, as they defeated Barnsley 3-0, QPR 2-1, Cardiff City 1-0 and Luton Town 2-1, with Phillip Billing and Dominic Solanke scoring in the latter victory.

On the other hand, Sheffield United have won three out of their last five league fixtures, having hammered Peterborough United 6-2, as well as comfortably seeing off Hull City 3-1 and beating Derby County 1-0. But, in midweek Slavisa Jokanovic’s side were perhaps given a slight reality check following their good form, as they were beaten 2-0 by Middlesbrough, which was their fourth defeat of the league season.

Blackpool and Blackburn Rovers go head to head in the Championship at the weekend at Bloomfield Road, with the away side coming in as favourites.

The Tangerines are 16th in the table following a good run of form that has seen them win three of their last five matches in the division, against Fulham and Barnsley via 1-0 scorelines, as well as versus Middlesbrough 2-1, although last time out, they surrendered a 1-0 lead away at Hull, as Tom Eaves scored a late equaliser for the Tigers who were down to ten men following a red card for Lewie Coyle.

Blackburn are sixth in the standings and occupy the final playoff place. The Ewood Park club have won two of their last four matches and have scored twice as many goals than Blackpool’s tally of nine since the start of the season. Rovers victories include a 2-0 win over Hull City and a 5-1 hammering of Cardiff City.

A player to look out for in this match is Ben Brereton Diaz, as the Chile international has been on fire for Rovers this season, firing in nine goals and creating one assist in 11 matches, seeing him priced at 13/5 to score in a Blackburn win.

Queens Park Rangers host Preston North End at Loftus Road on the weekend in a match where the R’s will fancy their chances of earning all three points.

Mark Warburton’s side broke their mini winless run in midweek as they defeated Birmingham City 2-0 as Ilias Chair scored a brace to move QPR up to eighth in the table, following three defeats in a row against West Brom, Bristol City and Bournemouth by 2-1 scorelines, although in this patch of results they did beat Everton on penalties in the League Cup after a 2-2 draw at Loftus Road.

Meanwhile, Preston are 17th and can’t stop drawing matches, having done so in all of their last five league outings, doing so against Bristol City 0-0, Sheffield United 2-2, West Brom 1-1, Birmingham City 0-0 and Stoke City 1-1. The Deepdale club have managed to score 10 and concede 12 in 10 matches, whilst QPR have scored 19 and let in 14.

11th place Reading travel to Cardiff City on the weekend, with the hosts struggling down in 18th place.

Mick McCarthy’s side have been defeated by Bournemouth 1-0, as well as 5-1 and 4-0 in back-to-back matches by Blackburn Rovers and West Brom and if their defensive woes carry on, then Reading will more than fancy their chances of scoring.

The Royals are 11th in the division following a narrow 1-0 loss away at Derby County in midweek, but, prior to this, they had beaten the likes of Peterborough United 3-1, Fulham 2-1 and Middlesbrough 1-0.

Midfielder John Swift has been one of the outstanding performers in the division and scored Reading’s opening goal of the match against Peterborough. The former Chelsea man has scored seven and assisted five in 10 matches and is priced at 21/10 to score anytime.