football | Friday, February 3, 2023 10:50 AM (Revised at: Friday, February 3, 2023 10:51 AM)

Championship Best Bets Feb 4th: Value Picks for Four Matches this Weekend

Jack Wright

Championship Best Bets Best Bets: Saturday, February, 4th

We’re back with more Championship best bets after the FA Cup took centre stage last weekend. There were still four fixtures and another managerial casualty in the English second tier.

Middlesbrough leapfrogged fellow playoff contenders Watford with a comfortable 2-0 win at the Riverside. Michael Carrick’s side are now up to 3rd with Chuba Akpom on the scoresheet once again.

Luton handed new Cardiff manager Sabri Lamouchi a defeat in his first game in charge of the Bluebirds. Elijah Adebayo’s late strike was enough to lift the Hatters into fourth.
Kolo Toure’s tenure at bottom club Wigan lasted just 65 days. Winless from nine games in charge, the former Arsenal and Manchester City defender is succeeded by Shaun Maloney.
Four games go under the microscope again this week with a best bet in each.

In this article:

Norwich vs Burnley Preview & Best Bet
Rotherham vs Sheffield United Preview & Best Bet
Middlesbrough vs Blackpool Preview & Best Bet
Millwall vs Sunderland Preview & Best Bet

Norwich vs Burnley Preview

Saturday, February 4th, 12:30 (UK)

There has been an instant and positive upturn in form following David Wagner’s appointment at Norwich. Seemingly galvanising both players and supporters alike. Even conducting an hour-long interview with a fan channel this week to further the charm offensive.

But it’s not all just chest thumping and ole’s. There has been real substance to the embryonic stages of Wagner’s tenure. Just two league games in, a maximum haul of six points delivered with four goals scored in each. The fact both were away from home is even more impressive. The visit of the runaway leaders takes the challenge up a level or two.

The Clarets head to East Anglia for a second successive weekend on a run of eight consecutive Championship wins. Vincent Kompany’s side have shown such consistency this season losing just two league games. As a result, they find themselves five points clear of second-placed Sheffield United and enjoy a huge cushion of 17 points to 3rd-placed Middlesbrough.

Norwich vs Burnley Best Bet

Despite scoring three goals in the opening 18 minutes and running out 4-2 winners at Coventry David Wagner was far from happy. Describing the first half as “very wild” and “without a clear structure”.

After the interval, Wagner’s tactical adjustments made a big difference. The Canaries dominated the second half and under their new coach their attacking play has improved dramatically. Advanced wing-backs alternating overlaps with underlaps and effectively making a front six should lead to goals at Carrow Road. Especially with Burnley only keeping four clean sheets on their travels in a league they have dominated this season. That includes an incredible 5-2 capitulation when visiting Sheffield United.

At the other end, the Clarets have only been kept out once. Way back in August at Watford. The prolific league leaders have since hit the back of the net in all 11 road trips. This promises to be a very good watch between two sides playing full throttle attack.

Selection: Yes on Both Teams to Score (TRACKED BET)
Best Odds: 1.80 (William Hill)
Stakes: 8/10

More Norwich vs Burnley Tips

Rotherham vs Sheffield United Preview

Saturday, February 4th, 12:30 (UK)

The Millers bagged what many would consider a bonus point in their last league outing. Holding promotion-chasing Watford to a well-deserved 1-1 draw at Vicarage Road. That result leaves Matt Taylor’s side five points clear of the relegation zone in the second tier. Having been dumped out of the FA Cup in the third round via a 4-1 drubbing at League One Ipswich, Rotherham were inactive last weekend.

In contrast, the Blades were involved in a barn-storming six-goal thriller at non-league Wrexham. Narrowly avoiding a giant-killing when John Egan prodded home an equaliser deep into injury time.

In the Championship, Paul Heckingbottom’s side are going toe-to-toe with league leaders Burnley. Seemingly pushing each other onwards and potentially upwards. They have lost just once in their last 13 league games. A string of results which means they hold a 12 points advantage over the chasing pack. Ironically that one defeat came in the reverse fixture at Bramall Lane in November.

Rotherham vs Sheffield United Best Bet

Sheffield United will make the short journey across South Yorkshire having won five of their last six away league games. They will also have revenge on their minds following that shock 1-0 loss in the reverse. Dominating all stats apart from the most important one.

Rotherham are traditionally tough to beat on home soil and that has been the case this season. Only tasting defeat four times across their 13 games at the New York Stadium. Alarmingly for the hosts three of those losses have been suffered in their last five outings.

Although no side has a better points haul away from home in the second tier this season than Heckingbottoms’s side they have been far from prolific. Scoring just 18 goals in 14 road trips and never more than twice in any one game. Expect the Blades to continue the pressure at the top end of the table with three points here but not in a goal fest.

None of their away games have seen over 4.5 goals and only one of the hosts’ games at this venue have crossed that line.

Selection: Sheffield United to win and under 5 goals
Best Odds: 1.95 (bet365)
Stakes: 7/10

More Rotherham vs Sheffield United Tips

Middlesbrough vs Blackpool Preview

Saturday, February 4th, 15:00 (UK)

Boro bounced back in style from a rare defeat since the appointment of Michael Carrick. A 2-0 win over Watford in a heavyweight clash of promotion hopefuls. That was an eighth win from their last ten league games and a ninth from a total of just 13 Championship outings under the former Manchester United star. With sides around them in the congested top half of the table having games in hand the Teesiders can not afford a slip up here.

Standing in their way are a Blackpool side now under the stewardship of veteran Mick McCarthy. This will be the no-nonsense Yorkshireman’s first league game in charge of the Tangerines since taking over from Michael Appleton. The new boss would have been relatively pleased with his side’s effort against Premier League Southampton in the FA Cup last week. Falling two goals behind could have led to a collapse but instead Arsenal loanee Charlie Patino halved the deficit. Ultimately falling short but certainly making the final 20 minutes uncomfortable for their hosts.

Middlesbrough vs Blackpool Best Bet

An unwritten rule in football is to not take on the new manager bounce. But that is what I am doing here. 3rd-placed Boro have won four consecutive league games at the Riverside scoring nine goals in the process. The loan signing of Cameron Archer has supplemented an already impressive front line.

The reverse fixture in November ended 3-0 to Middlesbrough. Forming part of a sequence of 10 league games in which the second-from-bottom Tangerines are without a win. The upcoming home games against fellow relegation candidates Huddersfield and Rotherham are likely to provide better opportunities to secure three points than here.

Following a two-game “drought” the Championhship’s top marksman Chuba Akpom was back on the scoresheet in the Watford victory. Heading home his 14th league goal in just his 22nd appearance. The space created by the movement of Archer should lead to plenty more opportunities to add to that tally for the 27-year-old.

The Arsenal Academy product has fired off 26 shots on target this term with at least one in each of his last four second-tier outings. Only failing to do so in two games all campaign.

Selection: Middlesbrough to win and over 0.5 Chuba Akpom shots on target (TRACKED BET)
Best Odds: 1.83 (bet365)
Stakes: 8/10

More Middlesbrough vs Blackpool Tips

Millwall vs Sunderland Preview

Saturday, February 4th, 15:00 (UK)

Sitting in 8th, Millwall have at least one game in hand on all their rivals above them. Such is the concertinaed nature of the table winning it could see them rise as high as third. It seems like an age ago but Tom Bradshaw’s first-half goal was enough to squeeze the Lions past struggling Cardiff City last time out. That made it one defeat from their last six in the league and crucially was a rare maximum on the road.

Sunderland were in FA Cup action last weekend forcing a replay with Premier League outfit Fulham. Tony Mowbray declared his pride in his young side after the full-time whistle. They remarkably ended the game with an average age of just 21 and featuring only one player over the age of 23. Even seeing 15-year-old Christopher Rigg have his 90th-minute goal ruled out for offside. Like many, the Black Cats are in the playoff chase. Entering the Den just one place and one point behind their hosts.

Millwall vs Sunderland Best Bet

It is rare to have a two week window between games in the frantic world of the Championship. But that is the luxury afforded to Gary Rowett and his team and they will be determined to maximise that opportunity here.

Since that last outing, Millwall have added two interesting recruits to their pride. Oliver Burke and Duncan Watmore reinforcing the Lions’ attacking options. Both will be hoping to make their home debuts here. A venue that remains a fortress. Only the runaway top 2 of Burnley and Sheffield United have collected more home points than Millwall’s 27. While no side has conceded fewer than their miserly eight goals on home soil.

With Sunderland keeping just two clean sheets across their last 12 competitive fixtures and only three from 14 league road trips the home side will fancy their chances of getting on the scoresheet. If they achieve that, taking all three points will become very likely.

Tony Mowbray must do without talisman and 11-goal top scorer Ross Stewart for the remainder of the season. A failure to persuade Everton to re-loan Ellis Simms or to recruit any other recognised striker was a big disappointment. All of which means raw 20-year-old Leeds loanee Joe Gelhardt will be entrusted with filling Stewart’s prolific boots. A young, exuberant and exciting Sunderland line-up maybe.

But the Den is not the place you would choose to visit with such a squad. Expect the Lions to sense blood and impose their physicality to secure another three points on their own turf.

Selection: Millwall to win
Best Odds: 2.12 (Unibet)
Stakes: 7/10

More Millwall vs Sunderland Tips

Best Odds available as at 02:15 on February 3rd 2023. Odds may now differ.

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