We are now into the concluding month of our EFL Championship regular campaign and some intriguing fixtures loom this weekend.
Both the race for automatic promotion and the battle against relegation remain extremely tight. And there has been another managerial change too.
Here are the pairings I am anticipating most alongside my usual considered score predictions to assist your betting plans…
FRIDAY 5TH APRIL
Rotherham United v Plymouth Argyle
Rock bottom Rotherham United are 18 points adrift with six games to go so will be relegated if they don’t win this one. Easter Monday’s 2-1 success past Millwall at the AESSEAL New York Stadium arrested a dismal run of 16 winless League and Cup matches dating to Boxing Day. The Millers only hold four victories throughout 2023/24 – all at home.
QUIET NIGHT IN SOUTH YORKSHIRE
Rotherham United v Plymouth ArgyleTotal Goals Over/Under – Under (1.5)
Meanwhile, Plymouth sacked head coach Ian Foster late on Monday night after merely three months in the hot seat. Argyle slumbers a point above the dreaded dotted line in the 21st spot courtesy of eight defeats amid 11 which yielded a solitary maximum pointer. Club director of football Neil Dewsnip and first-team coach Kevin Nancekivell take charge for the rest of the season. Veteran 75-year-old legend Neil Warnock said he would have accepted the caretaker role if asked.
Score prediction: As dull as ditch water 0-0
SATURDAY 6TH APRIL
Norwich City v Ipswich Town
A 12:30 pm lunchtime showdown for the crucial so-called ‘Old Farm Derby’. These two East Anglia teams may be based 45 miles apart in different counties yet supporter rivalry is particularly intense. It originated in the 1970s when Anglia TV used to screen Ipswich and Norwich in the region on alternative weeks featuring Gerry Harrison’s excellent commentary.
THRILLER OLD FARM DERBY
Norwich City v Ipswich TownCorrect Score – 3:3
Nowadays, table toppers Ipswich Town are one point clear boasting nine wins across 10 matches. Moreover, they are the division’s foremost scorers on 84. As for sixth-placed Norwich City, seven consecutive home victories have cemented their cushion over teams outside Play-Off discussions to four points.
Score prediction: End to end 3-3.
Coventry City v Leeds United
Lying second, Leeds are a point behind Ipswich Town. Daniel Farke’s men protect their 15-match undefeated League run beyond January 1st winning 13 of them. I especially liked the 50-yard Dan James injury-time goal to secure Monday’s 3-1 home scoreline versus Hull City.
SKY BLUES KEEP PLAYOFF HOPES ALIVE
Coventry City v Leeds UnitedMatch Result and Both Teams To Score – Coventry City and Yes
Contrastingly, FA Cup Semi-Finalists Coventry City are seventh and four points beneath Play-Off contention with a game in hand on the two teams directly above having mustered three wins from four. Hotshot Ellis Simms has supplied 13 goals in 10 ongoing appearances for the Sky Blues.
Score prediction: Cov 2-1 to shatter Leeds’ super sequence.
Leicester City v Birmingham City
Sitting one point under Leeds United in third position, former long-term leaders Leicester City’s slide is due to claiming just two wins during seven League encounters. But the Foxes have played a game less than the top two.
Leicester City v Birmingham CityCorrect Score – 0:1
Next up, 20th placed Birmingham City visit. Blues edged Preston North End 1-0 on Monday marking ex-boss Gary Rowett’s initial home engagement returning to fulfil interim duties until the end of 2023/24. Capitalizing on a defensive slip, Jay Stansfield coolly dribbled from his half to score. The result overturned six defeats in a seven-match fruitless spree since manager Tony Mowbray went on sick leave and their first clean sheet in that period.
Score prediction: Birmingham 1-0 to defy Championship betting.
Blackburn Rovers v Southampton
In fourth place, Southampton hovers 12 points short of automatic promotion albeit possessing two games in hand on the leading two sides. They haven’t won their last two outings though. So a 500 mile round trip in prospect to 17th ranked Blackburn.
Blackburn Rovers v SouthamptonCorrect Score – 0:2
For Rovers, Monday’s incredible 5-1 triumph before 42,019 spectators at Sunderland dramatically terminated 10 League and Cup affairs without victory. A first win was achieved by boss John Eustace after his February appointment. Additionally, the Championship’s principal marksman Sammie Szmodics netted two crisp low conversions to reach 29 goals in all competitions for 2023/24.
Score prediction: Southampton renaissance 2-0.
Huddersfield Town v Millwall
Filling 22nd place, Huddersfield Town are a point shy of the safety zone following six matches bereft of victory. Upcoming opponents Millwall haven’t won in three games occupying 19th – four points ahead of their hosts.
Huddersfield Town v MillwallMatch Result and Both Teams To Score – Draw and Yes
Score prediction: Fiercely fought 1-1.
Championship Betting Predictions
The Championship is the second tier of English football.
The top two teams automatically earn promotion to the Premier League each season, with teams placed between third and sixth entering the playoffs. The bottom three will be relegated to League One
By far the most-watched non-topflight league in the world, the Championship is renowned for its competitiveness. While there are huge gaps between Championship salaries, there is no denying the level of parity.
Some huge clubs are involved each season, but that is no guarantee of success, even when taking on teams with much smaller budgets and stadia.
Reaching the Premier League not only gives a chance to go toe-to-toe with Manchester City, Arsenal and the other powerhouse clubs.
It brings unparalleled riches each season, which can completely change the fortunes of a club in both the short and long term. Stakes in the Championship are incredibly high.
The Championship was known as the First Division until 2004. Prior to the founding of the Premier League in the early 1990s, it was named the Second Division. The trophy has not been altered over that period, however.
Since being restructured in 2004, 56 teams have participated in the Championship. Cardiff City have the longest overall tenure with 18 seasons.
Of current teams, Birmingham City have the longest Championship active spell with 13 straight campaigns in the second tier.
There have been 13 different champions with six winning the title twice.
Championship Tips This Weekend
From analysis of the best teams in Championship history through to match predictions for tomorrow, Surestraightwinfortoday.com have you covered when it comes to the Championship.
Our experts provide year-round analysis of the division, including weekly match tips.
Wondering who is a good bet to be the Championship top scorer? Trying to find the teams to include in your Saturday afternoon accumulator? Whatever you’re after, surestraightwinfortoday.com’s diverse selection of Championship articles can help you out.
The 2023-24 season sees three Championship stalwarts return in Plymouth Argyle, Ipswich Town and Sheffield Wednesday.
Leicester City, Leeds United, and Southampton will be looking to bounce back at the first time of asking after suffering relegation from the Premier League.
When making your correct score prediction for the Championship, you have tonnes of information to weigh up. Injury news and head-to-head records are important, plus you can dive deep into statistics both traditional and advanced.
Championship Predictions For Today
Bettors can find Championship predictions on this page from the opening of the season in late summer through to the Playoffs.
All manner of markets will be covered beyond the standard match-winner picks, including both teams to score, total goals over/under, and goal scorer bets.
If it’s the latest round of midweek Championship fixtures or tips for this Saturday, Surestraightwinfortoday’s expert team of betting tipsters will have some wagers for you to consider.
Every punter wants some great free sports betting tips. Through our numerous prediction pages, Surestraightwinfortoday.com has a catalog of expert predictions, such as football prediction.
Look out for today’s Championship prediction pieces and our weekly Championship review articles.
Championship Outright Odds
Championship outright odds for 2023-24 tab the three teams relegated from the Premier League as the favorites for promotion.
Leicester is handed the shortest price of that trio, followed by Leeds, Southampton, Middlesbrough, Ipswich, and Norwich.
Before the majority of transfer business has been conducted, Leicester is 11/8 favorites for promotion and priced at 5/1 to win the title. The Foxes finished atop the Championship table in 2013-14.
Leeds topped the league with 93 points in 2019-20 under the stewardship of the iconic Marcelo Bielsa, while Southampton finished as runners-up during their last Championship campaign in 2011-12.
When it comes to Championship relegation odds, Plymouth Argyle and Rotherham United are joint favorites for the drop at 7/4.
Rotherham only finished six points above the drop zone last season. Queens Park Rangers sit at 11/4, while Cardiff City are 3/1 after placing 21st in 2022-23.
Having lost to Luton Town in last season’s Playoff final, Coventry City is 7/4 to finish in the top six in 2023-24. Following a fourth-place finish last term, Middlesbrough is Evens for a top-six berth.
Championship Teams 2023-24
- Birmingham City
- Blackburn Rovers
- Bristol City
- Cardiff City
- Coventry City
- Huddersfield Town
- Hull City
- Ipswich Town
- Leeds United
- Leicester City
- Middlesbrough
- Millwall
- Norwich City
- Plymouth Argyle
- Preston North End
- Queens Park Rangers
- Rotherham United
- Sheffield Wednesday
- Southampton
- Stoke City
- Sunderland
- Swansea City
- Watford
- West Bromwich Albion
