CHAMPIONSHIP PREDICTIONS and TIPS THIS WEEKEND
NEW leaders shine in our EFL Championship approaching a tasty Easter Monday programme.
Crucial upcoming games affect promotion and relegation issues. So here are the pairings I am looking forward to most alongside my usual considered score predictions…
MONDAY 1ST APRIL
Leicester City v Norwich City
A 12:30 pm lunchtime showdown. In February, I started prematurely calling Leicester City “champions-elect” whilst cavorting 12 points clear.
But in the past six League matches, those faltering Foxes registered merely one victory and four reverses culminating in Good Friday’s 1-0 setback at Bristol City where former England striker Jamie Vardy missed two golden opportunities.
Enzo Maresca’s men now sit third – two points off the summit albeit with a game in hand on both sides above them.
Leicester City v Norwich City
Correct Score – 1:2
Next up is a visit from sixth placed Norwich City who recorded a third success on the spin eclipsing Plymouth Argyle 2-1 at Carrow Road.
This seventh consecutive home win saw Josh Sargent fire in following a corner to convert for the ninth time in 10 appearances. That result extended the Canaries’ cushion over teams outside Play-Off discussions to four points.
Score prediction: Norwich keep going 2-1.
Ipswich Town v Southampton
Facing a 5.30 pm teatime start, Ipswich Town is fresh from capturing pole position courtesy of cruising 1-0 at Blackburn Rovers.
Conor Chaplin supplied the vital low left-footed breakthrough on nine minutes in their first fixture since USA private equity firm Bright Path Sports Partners bought 40% of the Suffolk club investing “up to £105 million”.
The Tractor Boys boast eight maximum pointers amid nine matches to ascend one point ahead of the second spot.
IPSWICH EDGE SEVEN-GOAL THRILLER
Moreover, they are the division’s foremost scorers on 81. Indeed, the 19 Championship contests staged at Portman Road thus far dished up 82 goals (53 for, 29 against).
Meanwhile, Southampton lie fourth yet nine points adrift of the top two after being held 1-1 by visitors Middlesbrough (providing the exact scoreline predicted in this blog!).
Adam Armstrong’s daisycutter angled drive brought his 19th goal of the season as Saints stay unbeaten in three outings.
Score prediction: Ipswich is exhilarating 4-3.
Leeds United v Hull City
Kicking off at 8 pm, second-placed Leeds United equalised twice to draw 2-2 at Watford thereby maintaining their 14-match undefeated League extravaganza beyond January 1st winning 12 of them.
Spanish under-21 international Mateo Joseph scrambled the second goal at close range within 25 seconds of leaving the substitute’s bench. But it was the first occasion they’ve conceded twice in Championship action since Boxing Day.
COMFORTABLE FOR LEEDS
Leeds has shipped just five goals during 14 EFL encounters in 2024 and protected this division’s final unconquered home record throughout the campaign.
Contrastingly, Hull City hovers ninth in light of a 2-0 home loss against Stoke City which elongated the Tigers’ five-game winless run.
Score prediction: Lively Leeds 2-0.
Birmingham City v Preston North End
Occupying 21st place, Birmingham City undergoes ex-boss Gary Rowett’s first home engagement returning to fulfil interim duties until the end of 2023/24. Rowett lost his initial game in charge 2-1 at Queens Park Rangers on Friday.
I watched that one inside the Loftus Road press box and I felt Blues gave a gritty performance featuring goalscorer Juninho Bacuna in decent form. However, the injury-time winning strike by QPR’s Jimmy Dunne was the best I’ve seen anywhere in the Championship all season.
Dunne’s thunderous 25-yard volley simply exploded into the top left corner. Anyway, Rowett must swiftly overturn Birmingham’s six defeats across a seven-match fruitless spree.
