5 Championship Tips For This Weekend’s Action - 8/5/21

Cardiff take on Rotherham United in what as is a must-win game for the Millers if they are to avoid relegation from the Championship.

Mick McCarthy’s side have nothing to play for in terms of reaching the playoffs, as they are eighth in the table and eight points adrift of sixth-placed Barnsley with one game to go. Whilst Rotherham are in 22nd place, two points behind Derby County and will be hoping for results to go their way at Pride Park if they are to win the battle to beat the drop.

Cardiff have won their last two matches in the league 2-1 and 4-0 against Wycombe Wanderers and Birmingham City, whilst Kieffer Moore is their top scorer in the division, finding the back of the net 20 times in 41 appearances. Meanwhile, Rotherham haven’t won any of their last seven matches in the Championship.

Derby take on Sheffield Wednesday at Pride Park, with both sides knowing that anything less than a win could send either of the two relegated to League One, with Rotherham separating the two in the table, two points behind Derby with a better goal difference, whilst Wednesday are three points behind Wayne Rooney’s men and also have a better goal difference.

In this crucial Championship clash, home advantage could play as a factor despite there being no crowds. Derby’s last win came on 2nd April in a 2-0 win over Luton Town, thanks to goals from Lee Gregory and Graeme Shinnie, whilst Wednesday have won just one more since the Rams last win, having beaten Blackburn Rovers 1-0 and Cardiff City 5-0 both at home.

Six of Derby’s 11 wins have all came at Pride Park, whilst the Owls have won just four matches away from home this season. 10 of Derby’s 11 wins have all came within the score range of 1-0, 2-0 or 2-1.

Bristol City take on Brentford at Ashton Gate in what is a battle of 19th against third.

Thomas Frank’s side will want to go into the playoffs with as much momentum as possible, having managed to reach the final of last year’s format, only to be beaten 2-0 by Fulham in the final at Wembley.

Ivan Toney is the player in focus here, as the former Peterborough man has had an impressive debut season for the Bees, scoring 30 goals and assisting 10 in 44 matches. The Northampton born striker is currently the leader in the race for the Championship golden boot, as he is four goals ahead of Norwich’s Teemu Pukki and will want to wrap his league season up in style.

Brentford are coming up against a defence that has leaked 65 goals this season in 45 matches, of which Toney will be looking to take full advantage of, as he did when he scored in the Bees 3-2 win against the Robins at the Brentford Community Stadium in February.

Champions of the Championship Norwich City travel to sixth place Barnsley, with both teams status’ confirmed come the end of matchday 46. The Tykes are guaranteed to finish in the playoffs but could re-arrange who they play if they better Bournemouth’s result on Saturday, whilst Norwich will want to finish the season in style.

Norwich come into this match in good form having beaten both Queens Park Rangers and Reading 3-1 and 4-1, showing they are showing no mercy despite already winning the league. Barnsley suffered a shock 2-0 loss at Preston North End last weekend in what was an under-par display by Valerien Ismael’s side.

Finnish striker Teemu Pukki scored in Norwich’s last win against the Royals, taking his league goal tally up to 26 for the season.

AFC Bournemouth host Stoke City on Saturday, in a match that could effectively decide who the Cherries play in the semi-finals of the playoffs.

Jonathan Woodgate’s side will be looking to get back into winning form, having lost their last two matches to Wycombe Wanderers and Brentford, having previously won their last six games prior to their defeat to the Bees.

Bournemouth have kept just two clean sheets in their last eight matches in the Championship, showing that they are weak at the back, but, they have also scored the second-most in the division having found the back of the net 73 times this campaign.

Stoke City come into this match having scored three goals in their last three matches, but, Michael O’Neill’s side haven’t won any of their last six matches, with the Potters last win coming on 2nd April away at Bristol City.