TRIALS and tribulations recommence in our ultra-competitive EFL Championship this weekend following the international break.
Accordingly, those latest football odds make interesting reading. Leading contenders for automatic promotion all stage home matches. Play-Off discussions and relegation battles are also hotting up.
Here are the pairings I am looking forward to most alongside considered score predictions to assist your perusal of Championship odds…
Leeds United v Swansea City
Rankings: 1st versus 16th
2024/25 Championship Head to Head
Leeds United – Top on goal difference reflecting just one defeat in 20 ongoing Championship outings. I was inside the Loftus Road press box watching Leeds play their last League game and I felt they did really well to battle back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 against Queens Park Rangers.
Going into this weekend, Daniel Farke’s men hold the division’s best home record of 15 wins. However, dynamic creative force Willy Gnonto is doubtful due to an ankle injury sustained on Italy Under-21 duty.
Swansea City – Two straight losses. Centre-half Harry Darling faces a late fitness test after a scan on his hip problem.
Wednesday lunchtime saw the news that caretaker boss Alan Sheehan will stay in charge until the end of the campaign plus Mark Fotheringham and Richard Stearman have been added to the coaching staff.
Score prediction: Leeds rampant 5-0.
Burnley v Bristol City
Rankings: 3rd versus 7th
2024/25 Championship Head to Head
Burnley – Two points beneath the automatic promotion slots. The Clarets haven’t lost in 25 Championship affairs since 3rd November whilst cherishing the entire Football League’s foremost defensive rearguard leaking merely 11 goals in 38 fixtures.
Additionally, they possess the division’s final unbeaten home record. But boss Scott Parker will serve a one match touchline ban this weekend in light of his red card beyond the full-time whistle versus West Bromwich Albion on 11th March.
Bristol City – Seven games undefeated hovering just outside the Play-Offs on goal difference. Scotland international defender Ross McCrorie could return having sat out six weeks because of a hamstring strain. Only four away wins so far though.
Score prediction: Clarets cool, calm and collected 1-0.
Sunderland v Millwall
Rankings: 4th versus 11th
2024/25 Championship Head to Head
Sunderland – Two games bereft of victory. Left-back Dennis Cirkin is likely to miss out with a hamstring pull. Only one home League loss throughout 2024/25.
Millwall – Three wins and two defeats amid five Championship engagements. Hence the Lions need more consistency to make up a six point deficit on the Play-Off zone.
Score prediction: Desmond 2-2.
Norwich City v West Bromwich Albion
Rankings: 13th versus 6th
2024/25 Championship Head to Head
Norwich City – Four games lacking victory culminating in two consecutive defeats for the EFL’s biggest underachievers this season. In fact, a solitary win during eight attempts. So pressure is starting to mount on head coach Johannes Hoff Thorup.
West Bromwich Albion – Six unconquered matches incorporate four draws. Indeed, West Brom have chalked up 18 draws in total – the Championship’s highest tally. Just four wins on the road to date too.
Score prediction: Albion away day joy 2-1.
Hull City v Luton Town
Rankings: 19th versus 23rd
2024/25 Championship Head to Head
Hull City – Three points above the dreaded dotted line enjoying a four match unbeaten run. Home form has rendered a measly four victories although the last two MKM Stadium fixtures were won.
Luton Town – Two wins and a draw in four games. Even so, they lie four points shy of safety staring at back to back relegations. Hatters forward Jacob Brown has undergone ankle surgery and is therefore ruled out for several months.
Score prediction: Serious stalemate 0-0.
