football | Thursday, April 6, 2023 10:28 AM (Revised at: Thursday, April 6, 2023 10:29 AM)

Championship Best Bets: Picks for Three Matches on Good Friday

Jack Wright

Championship Best Bets: Friday, April 7th

We are back with more Championship best bets ahead of this Bank Holiday weekend’s action. Easter brings with it an extravaganza of football with two full rounds of fixtures in the Championship in the space of three days.

Burnley have the chance to seal promotion back to the Premier League on Friday. Sheffield United remain in the box seat to join them.

This could be a defining day in the playoff race too as 4th travel to 5th with 6th hosting 7th!

At the bottom, there was a shock come-from-behind win for Huddersfield over Middlesbrough last weekend. With last minute heartache for Cardiff and a six-point deduction for Reading. Three points separate 18th from 22nd.

Three of Saturday’s games go under the microscope, with a best bet in each.

In this article:

QPR vs Preston Preview & Best Bet
Stoke vs Bristol City Preview & Best Bet
Middlesbrough vs Burnley Preview & Best Bet

QPR vs Preston Preview

Friday, April 7th, 15:00 (UK)

QPR’s astonishing decline continues. Max Power’s early penalty for Wigan was enough to send the R’s crashing to another defeat. A 15th loss in the last 23 Championship fixtures which has seen only two wins. All of which leaves them just three points outside the relegation zone. There has certainly been no “new manager bounce” at Loftus Road. Gareth Ainsworth has now lost five of his six games in charge. Conceding 14 goals in the process whilst scoring only four. Failing to hit the back of the net in either of the last two.

Meanwhile an upturn of form has seen Preston force their way back into playoff contention. A 3-1 win over relegation haunted local rivals Blackpool at the weekend was a third from their last four outings. The Lilywhites have closed the gap on 6th place to just five points.

QPR vs Preston Best Bet

Only the top two plus Luton have picked up more points on the road than Preston this season. With a nervous Loftus Road crowd ready to turn toxic, Ryan Lowe’s side have a fantastic opportunity to further close the gap on the top six. The first goal appears crucial and the stats do not bode well for the hosts. QPR have conceded the most first-half goals in the division. Shipping a total of 34 times on their way to trailing on a league-high 19 occasions going into the interval. While Preston have gone on to win 12 of the 13 second tier matches in which they have taken the lead.

Selection: Preston to Win (TRACKED BET)
Best Odds: 3.20 (bet365)
Stakes: 5/10

More QPR vs Preston Tips

Stoke vs Bristol City Preview

Friday, April 7th, 15:00 (UK)

Alex Neal has finally got his side firing. Last time out he saw his team put a massive dent in the playoff hopes of 8th-placed Coventry. Handing out a 4-0 thrashing at the CBS Arena. The fact the Sky Blues were unbeaten in nine league outings prior to that showcases the form Stoke are currently in. Their last three wins in a five game unbeaten sequence have yielded 12 goals. While only one defeat in their last six outings on home soil is a huge improvement on the terrible form that has hindered much of their campaign.

A winless run of three games has left Bristol City as one of few sides with nothing but pride to play for in the remaining fixtures. Uninspiring road form of one win from the last eight trips hardly breeds confidence either. Only five sides have picked up fewer than the Robins’ 19 away points highlighting their travel sickness as a season long issue.

Stoke vs Bristol City Best Bet

Although too late for the Potters to mount a late charge for the playoffs. Stoke’s attacking talent has really sparked into life in recent weeks. One of those in-form players being Will Smallbone who has shone brightly in his loan stint from Southampton. Recently picking up a player of the match award on his international debut for the Republic of Ireland. The 23-year-old midfielder’s output has really spiked in recent weeks. Firing in 19 shots with seven on target in his last eight domestic outings. He has had at least one attempt on target in each of his last four Championship games. Bagging the decisive third goal in that recent win over Coventry.

Selection: Will Smallbone over 0.5 Shots on Target (TRACKED BET)
Best Odds: 2.25 (bet365)
Stakes: 7/10

More Stoke vs Bristol City Tips

Middlesbrough vs Burnley Preview

England, Championship, Friday, April 7th, 20:00 (UK)

Middlesbrough were stunned by relegation-threatened Huddersfield last weekend. All looked to be going according to plan as Marcus Forss opened the scoring just before the break. But Boro were stunned by a 20-minute four goal blast in the second half from the Terriers. Now trailing Sheffield United by six points and having played a game more. It is looking increasingly likely Michael Carrick’s side will have to take the playoff route back to the Premier League if they are to do so this term.

Depending on the result of the early kick off at Millwall, Burnley could end this match celebrating a return to the English top flight at the first time of asking. Not that it has been in doubt for some time now. The Clarets bounced back from their 6-0 drubbing at Manchester City in the FA Cup with a frustrating goalless draw at home to Sunderland last time out. Even so, that result extended their unbeaten league run to 18 matches.

Middlesbrough vs Burnley Best Bet

What a cracking match we have to end Good Friday. No side has seen both teams score in their games this term more than Middlesbrough’s 24. We should see another added to the tally here. Boro have won eight of their last nine at the Riverside scoring in all 10 league matches on home soil under Michael Carrick. Burnley have only failed to get on the scoresheet three times this season in the Championship. With only a win good enough for the hosts this promises to be an end-to-end thriller. Bring on the goals.

Selection: Both Teams to Score – Yes (TRACKED BET)
Best Odds: 1.80 (bet365)
Stakes: 7/10

Odds via bet365 as at 19:45 April 5th 2023. Odds may now differ.

More Middlesbrough vs Burnley Tips

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