5 Championship Tips - 17/9/22

Just two points separate Wigan and Reading as both teams meet at the DW Stadium on Saturday wanting to boost their push for promotion.

Wigan sit in 11th place in the Championship table and can make it three wins in a row with a victory over Reading this weekend. The Latics are unbeaten in their last three in the league following the draw away to West Brom, before consecutive 2-1 wins away to Luton Town and Huddersfield, respectively.

It’s been a mixed bag for the Royals this season, with Reading putting together runs that put them in the hunt for a promotion challenge, before ultimately falling away in style. Paul Ince’s men were hammered 4-0 away to Sheffield United, before returning to winning ways against Stoke, only to be eased aside 3-0 at home to Sunderland on Wednesday night.

Whichever way the game goes, goals may be on the cards, with Over 2.5 Goals in both of Wigan’s last two games, as well as each of Reading’s last three.

Norwich will be eager to continue their fine run of form of late, when West Brom are the visitors at Carrow Road.

The Canaries are on a run of six league wins on the bounce following the 3-2 thriller at home to Bristol City in midweek. Norwich and Sheffield United are starting to creep away from the following pack, with Dean Smith’s side sitting four points in front of third-place Blackburn – just one point behind the Blades.

With the aim of bouncing straight back to the Premier League this season, Norwich are one of the favourites for promotion and will be after their seventh consecutive win against a struggling West Brom side that sit in 20th place in the table following just one win in their nine league games so far.

After returning to winnings ways in their last game, Blackburn will be looking to keep the pressure on the top two and stay in the promotion race when they face Luton this weekend.

The hosts are winless in their last two games after drawing with Coventry in midweek. Despite surprising many and competing in the play-offs last season, the Hatters are in 18th place after nine games so far this season in which they have only won two.

Blackburn sit in third spot after two wins in their last three games, as Rovers dip in and out of form. Jon Dahl Tomasson will hope that the 2-0 win over Watford in midweek will start a strong run that can keep them high up the table.

Ben Brereton Dias continues to be the dangerman after remaining at Ewood Park following an incredible season last year. The Chile international has four goals so far this season.

Burnley and Bristol City face off at Turf Moor this weekend, with both sides after huge win that would aid their promotion hopes.

The home side go into the weekend occupying fifth position in the table, with Vincent Kompany’s men unbeaten in their last six league games. The Clarets picked up big wins against Wigan and Milwall before drawing their last two in away games against West Brom and Preston.

Bristol City are level on points with their weekend opponents but sit in seventh place because of their inferior goal difference. The Robins put a run of six games without defeat in the league before the five-goal thriller with Norwich in their last outing.

The league leaders will be looking to increase their advantage at the top of the table when they make the trip to Lancashire to take on Preston.

It’s been a strange start to the season for Preston, who have won just two of their opening nine games. Ryan Lowe’s side sits in 12th position after drawing six of those and losing just once.

There has been a shortage of goals in both an attacking and defensive sense for Preston, who have scored just three times all season, yet have only conceded twice. North End were beaten at home to Birmingham two weeks ago before the draw with Burnley on Tuesday.

Sheffield United go into the weekend as one of the in-form teams in the division, winning five of their last six league games. The win away to Swansea in midweek was the third win in a row for Paul Heckingbottom’s side. They have the quality to be able to edge out a stubborn Preston side.