football | Utorak, Februar 14, 2023 1:41 PM (Revised at: Sreda, Februar 15, 2023 2:54 PM)

Wednesday Championship Best Bets: Feb 15th - Three Picks from England’s Second Tier

Jack Wright

Championship Best Bets: Wednesday, February 15th

There’s a full round of midweek fixtures and we’re back with more Championship best bets. The top three all won at the weekend while Wigan picked up their first win under Shaun Maloney to move off the bottom of the league. This week we welcomed EFL legend Neil Warnock back into the English second tier. The 74-year-old comes out of retirement to take the hot seat at second from bottom Huddersfield.

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

In this article:

Preston vs Luton Preview & Best Bet
Sheffield United vs Middlesbrough Preview & Best Bet
West Brom vs Blackburn Preview & Best Bet

Preston vs Luton Preview

Wednesday, February 15th, 19:45 (UK)

Preston were the latest side to feel the full force of champions-elect Burnley at the weekend. Nathan Tella’s hat trick condemned the Lilywhites to a fourth defeat in their last five competitive fixtures. The under-pressure Ryan Lowe admitted the Clarets were the better side and fully deserving of the three points.

Rob Edwards kept up the good work since taking over from Nathan Jones at Kenilworth Road during the World Cup break. Despite taking the lead after just 38 seconds at Coventry on Saturday, the Hatters had to settle for a share of the points. That draw did extend their run to a fourth game unbeaten. A sequence which has lifted them up to 4th in the table with only the top two having lost fewer than their seven league games. Now they will look to continue that impressive run and gain some revenge.

Preston ran out 1-0 winners in the August reverse thanks to a spectacular goal from Brad Potts. Much has changed since those early stages of the season.

Preston vs Luton Best Bet

Sides generally look forward to a return to home soil, especially following a chastening defeat at the hands of local rivals. Preston do not fall into that category. Having been booed off at half time and full time in their last appearance at Deepdale. The 2-1 loss to Bristol City was a fifth home league defeat in a row. Luton have won six of their last eight Championship engagements and three of their last four on the road. They are the value play here.

Selection: Luton to Win
Best Odds: 2.78 (SBK)
Stakes: 5/10

More Preston vs Luton Tips

Sheffield United vs Middlesbrough Preview

Wednesday, February 15th, 20:00 (UK)

Sheffield United continue to refuse to blink in their assault on securing promotion back to the top tier. The Blades cruised to a 3-0 victory over Swansea on Saturday. A 13th competitive game without defeat. Paul Heckingbottom’s side hold a 10-point advantage to their 3rd-placed visitors with a game in hand. The manager knows this will be a big test for his promotion chasers. Stating there is no room for complacency ahead of the biggest game of the week insisting he will “keep standards and levels high”.

Boro refuse to give up hope of gatecrashing the top two following their dreadful start to the campaign. Eleven wins from Michael Carrick’s 15 league games in charge has them fighting to exit the league via the right end of the table. On-loan Aston Villa striker Cameron Archer continues to impress and bagged his first goal of the season at the weekend. The 3-1 win at Cardiff a third in succession following their setback at Sunderland last month.

Sheffield United vs Middlesbrough Best Bet

A mouth-watering clash awaits at Bramall Lane. But one that is surely a must-win for the visitors if they want to keep alive their slim hopes of reeling in the Blades. A draw likely works for Heckingbottom’s side keeping that 10-point buffer intact with the luxury of a game in hand.

Both sides are in scintillating form but we can get the Teesiders onside with a plus handicap. They have won 10 of their last 12 league matches and have the striking talent to trouble the hosts. No side has scored more than Boro’s 31 goals since Carrick took charge at the Riverside. United have also had a pair of tough FA Cup ties with Wrexham recently. The extra freshness in Middlebrough legs could prove pivotal. A draw would mean the selection still providing half a win.

Selection: Middlesbrough +0.25 Asian Handicap
Best Odds: 2.10 (bet365)
Stakes: 5/10

More Sheffield United vs Middlesbrough Tips

West Brom vs Blackburn Preview

Wednesday, February 15th, 20:00 (UK)

Interest in acquiring Carlos Corberán’s services may have been something of a distraction in recent games. The 2-0 defeat at Birmingham on Friday night was a third in their last four competitive matches. But with their highly regarded boss tied to an improved contract and a return to home soil, we should see a more familiar version of the Baggies here. West Brom have won each of their last seven home matches without conceding a goal.

Having not tied a league game in 32 attempts, Blackburn are suddenly the draw specialists. Their latest stalemate coming at Watford on Saturday. A third in succession. In fact, their last five fixtures in all competitions have been all square after 90 minutes. Rovers sit one point and one place better off than their hosts with just one point less than Millwall in 5th. They travel to the Hawthorns with confidence having won the reverse 2-1. Expect this to be a tight encounter between two play-off protagonists.

West Brom vs Blackburn Best Bet

West Brom will feel good about getting back to winning ways playing in front of their home fans once again. The Baggies will look to assert their authority from the first whistle. Looking at the stats for corners won we see Corberán’s side have taken more than any other at home in the Championship this season. Averaging exactly nine per game at the Hawthorns. They have taken at least six in all 15 fixtures. Only four sides have conceded more flag kicks than Blackburn. Facing exactly six per away game.

Looking at booking points (10 for a yellow card and 25 for a red), 10+ each team has occurred in the last six West Brom league games at home. Overall each side has seen at least 10 booking points in 13 of the 14 Baggies Championship fixtures under Carlos Corberán and all of the last 13.

Cards are also a common theme in Blackburn away games. Each team saw 10+ in 15 of their 16 road trips this term. The referee is David Webb and has ticked the 10+ booking points each team box in nine of his last 10 appointments. Also on both the last occasions when in charge of these two sides.

Selection: 6+ West Brom corners & 10+ booking points each team (TRACKED BET)
Best Odds: 2.25 (Sky Bet)
Stakes: 10/10

Best odds available as at 19:10 February 13th 2023. Odds may now differ.

More West Brom vs Blackburn Tips

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