football | Tuesday, February 21, 2023 9:01 AM (Revised at: Tuesday, February 21, 2023 9:03 AM)

Championship Best Bets: Three Odds Against Tuesday Selections in the Second Tier

Jack Wright

Championship Best Bets: Tuesday, February, 21st

We are back with more Championship best bets ahead of this Tuesday’s action. At the weekend, Burnley marched on at the top of the table. Sheffield United lost a second successive game to leave the automatic promotion door ajar for Middlesbrough. Michael Carrick’s side won a fifth league game in a row to close the gap to 2nd place to four points.

At the bottom, there were wins for two of the bottom three. Veterans Mick McCarthy and Neil Warnock guided their teams to crucial victories and leapfrogged Wigan, who dropped to the foot of the table.

Neil Critchley is the latest managerial casualty – sacked by QPR following the defeat at Middlesbrough. The 17th placed R’s managing just one win in his 12 games in charge.

Three of Tuesday’s five fixtures go under the microscope with a ‘best bet’ in each.

In this article:

Millwall vs Burnley Preview & Best Bet
Norwich vs Birmingham Preview & Best Bet
Rotherham vs Sunderland Preview & Best Bet

Millwall vs Burnley Preview

England, Championship, Tuesday, February 21st, 19:45 (UK)

Millwall rocked Sheffield United’s automatic promotion hopes courtesy of a brilliant Tom Bradshaw hat-trick on Saturday. In doing so, the Lions boosted their own hopes of claiming one of the much sought-after playoff spots. They now look to repeat the feat against the only side above the Blades in the league. Gary Rowett’s side is a match for anyone on their own patch. They will relish the opportunity to test themselves against the Championship’s best under the lights in South East London.

Burnley continued their march to the title at the weekend with a hard-fought 1-0 victory at Luton. Vincent Kompany stated how proud he was of his players for securing “that type” of win. He knows his side will face a similar challenge when they enter the Den. The sight of Nathan Tella limping off after an hour would have been less pleasing. If the in-form Southampton loanee is missing here, which will impact the Clarets attacking thrusts.

Millwall vs Burnley Best Bet

Millwall last tasted defeat on home soil in September. Since then, they’ve beaten the likes of Middlesbrough, Watford, West Brom and Sheffield United. They also boast the best home defence in the second tier, conceding just 11 times from 15 fixtures. With respect in equal measure from either side, added to a quick turnaround from tough weekend battles and the possibility of key players missing, expect another tight, competitive contest here.

James Linington is tasked with keeping order. He’s a referee who, having issued 87 yellow and four red cards at this level this term, averages over four cautions per game. Millwall’s last six league games have seen 30 yellow cards, an average of exactly 5.00, with at least four shown in five of those six. The 38 cards given out in Burnley’s last seven road trips equates to 5.43 per game—a minimum of four brandished in six of those seven.

Selection: Under 4 goals and over 3 cards
Best Odds: 2.25 (bet365)
Stakes: 6/10

More Millwall vs Burnley Tips

Norwich vs Birmingham Preview

England, Championship, Tuesday, February 21st, 19:45 (UK)

Norwich were once again sloppy in possession and laboured in attack in a goalless draw at Wigan on Saturday. David Wagner admitting other than goalkeeper Angus Gunn, his under-achievers were “not good”. However, such is the frenetic nature of the Championship; another chance to put that right comes along pretty quickly.

A win at Carrow Road could well lift them back into the top six. Last time out on home soil, the Canaries arguably put in their best performance of the season. A 3-1 dismissal of Hull ended a run of five defeats in six home games in all competitions—their first win in front of their own fans since October 29th.

Birmingham head to East Anglia, having suffered back-to-back losses to relegation rivals. The latest of which was Neil Warnock steering Huddersfield to victory on his second debut for the Terriers on Saturday. John Eustace now sees his side a nervy seven points above the drop zone. He brings the Blues to a venue they last tasted success in 2002, losing seven of the nine meetings since then, including the Carabao Cup tie in August – albeit on penalties.

Norwich vs Birmingham Best Bet

The home side’s quest for three points will not be helped by the potential absence of their two top scorers. Josh Sargent is rated a ‘major doubt’ with an ankle issue which saw him withdrawn at half-time at the DW, A game Teemu Pukki missed with a calf strain. An injury that also sees him a doubt here. Given his style of play, Wagner admitted to planning changes in his starting lineup, regardless of those fitness concerns. One player that could gain from any changes is Marquinhos.

The on-loan Arsenal man in line for his delayed Norwich debut after recovering from his own injury. His manager revealed that he was pretty sure “He will be involved on Tuesday”. The 19-year-old has made three starts for his parent club this season, taking two shots in both Europa League fixtures and three in the League Cup tie at Brighton.

Norwich have struggled to make their dominance of the ball count this term, especially on home soil. But as a result, they are a consistent outfit to keep onside with regard to winning corners. Only West Brom have taken more than the Canaries’ 212 flag kicks in the league. That’s an average of 6.63 per game, forcing 56 in Wagner’s seven games in charge in all competitions. Norwich have taken at least five corners in all of said outings.

Selection: Marquinhos Alencar over 1.5 shots & over 4 Norwich corners.
Best Odds: 2.15 (bet365)
Stakes: 6/10

More Norwich vs Birmingham Tips

Rotherham vs Sunderland Preview

England, Championship, Tuesday, February 21st, 19:45 (UK)

Rotherham continues to be sucked ever closer to the relegation zone. Saturday’s defeat at the hands of Coventry leaves them just two points clear of all three clubs below the dotted line. Matt Taylor felt injustice against the Sky Blues, failing to understand how Jordan Hugill’s header from a corner was chalked off.

From then on, though, there was a distinct lack of quality and end product. Another shutout against Rotherham means the Millers have scored just once in their last four games, recording just one win in their previous 12 league outings.

Sunderland tossed away two vital points at the weekend in their quest for promotion back to England’s top flight. Conceding a 90th-minute penalty at home to Bristol City after it looked like Jack Clarke had secured a third successive win for his side. The draw does at least keep the Black Cats inside the top six ahead of this trip to South Yorkshire.

Rotherham vs Sunderland Best Bet

Tony Mowbray has guided his side to a run of five league games unbeaten and has seen them lose just one Championship fixture in the last 10. They haven’t tasted defeat away from home since October 18th. A sequence of eight road trips. The Black Cats have an excellent recent record against the hosts, losing just one of the last 17 meetings between the two teams.

Regular EPL referee Chris Kavanagh drops down to officiate this one. He has shown 43 cards in his last ten appointments at an average of 4.30 per game, flashing at least two to the away side in nine of those ten fixtures. Sunderland have collected 42 yellow and two red cards on their travels in the league this term. That’s the second-worst disciplinary record in the Championship, seeing at least two players cautioned in 12 of 16 road trips.

Selection: Sunderland or Draw double chance and over 1 Sunderland card
Best Odds: bet365 (2.05)
Stakes: 6/10

Odds via bet365 as at 14:50 February 20th 2023. Odds may now differ.

More Rotherham vs Sunderland Tips

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