football | Friday, August 19, 2022 2:00 PM (Revised at: Friday, August 19, 2022 11:16 PM)

Sam Ingram’s Championship Best Bets: Saturday August 20th

Sam Ingram

Championship Best Bets: Saturday August 20th

Goals in Stoke, bookings in Sheffield and shots in Reading. What’s not to love about a jam-packed Saturday afternoon in the Championship?

In this article:

Stoke vs Sunderland Preview & Best Bet
Sheffield United vs Blackburn Preview & Best Bet
Reading vs Middlesbrough Preview & Best Bet

Stoke vs Sunderland Preview

England, Championship, Saturday, August 20th, 15:00 (UK)

Two sides meet in Stoke that look just as likely to find the net at one end as conceding at the other. Alex Neil’s newly-promoted Black Cats certainly haven’t been shy in the opening fixtures, with goals very much on the agenda.

Stoke’s 2-2 draw with Middlesbrough this week paints a different picture to what played out on the grass. Although it started very brightly with the Potters taking an early lead through Jacob Brown, many supporters will be counting their lucky stars as they vacated through the turnstiles on Wednesday night. An injury-time equaliser ensured Middlesborough are still without a win after four matches, despite the lion’s share of possession (40-60%) and shot count (9-15) in Boro’s favour.

With Dwight Gayle, Jacob Brown, and an incoming Liam Delap, Stoke have goals in their squad. That firepower should see them win fixtures in this division, though it certainly won’t be as an efficient effort as it could be with issues at the other end. In Sunderland’s camp, it’s a comparable story – In Ross Stewart and Ellis Simms, registering goals and providing a foothold in games shouldn’t be too difficult.

Although restricted to very few chances in Sheffield during the week, four to be precise, Sunderland still converted one of their two shots on target. That’s good going, albeit they will expect more chances to come their way in Stoke.

Stoke vs Sunderland Best Bet

Stoke are averaging 1.36 xG per90 this season in the Championship. Their visitors, Sunderland, trail behind, but not too far away, with 1.02xG.

On the other side of the coin, the Expected Goals Against tallies work in favour of more goals likely to be shipped on Saturday. This time it’s Sunderland (1.60xGA) leading the way with the 6th highest xGA average. Next up, in 14th, Stoke’s 1.33xGA suggests we’ll have two leaky defences on show come Saturday afternoon.

Selection: Yes on BTTS
Best Odds: 1.87 (Betfair)
Stakes: 10/10

More Stoke vs Sunderland Tips

Sheffield United vs Blackburn Preview

England, Championship, Saturday, August 20th, 15:00 (UK)

Cards have been mentioned once already this week as part of bettingexpert’s weekend ‘Acca-Lanche’, and it’s one that makes its way into the weekend’s best bets, too.

It should be another busy season for Blackburn, a side never too far from the referee’s notebook. With the 2, 4, 1 and 1 booking counts in the opening four fixtures, it’s safe to say Rovers have picked up from last season. In 2021/22, Blackburn finished the season with the most bookings – 117 in 46 matches, producing a 2.52 per90 average. The 117 card total was seven more than Cardiff’s sum in second and 45 more than Reading, who ended the campaign as the least booked Championship team.

The 2.20 cards per90 figure for Blackburn’s opponents also stood head and shoulders above most, with only four sides managing to rack up a higher average (Reading, Fulham, Forest, and Boro). In addition, Sheffield United’s figure ended at 1.98 cards received per90, and 1.87 opponent’s cards on average. Not a bad pairing for card punters.

Sheffield United vs Blackburn Best Bet

Leigh Doughty has the whistle after brandishing ten yellow cards and one red in two matches this season. Furthermore, the official showed eight of those yellows, plus the strawberry, in the second half of the two opening fixtures.

In 24 matches last season, Doughty’s 3.96 yellows per90 is an argument that his fiery start won’t last. His bookings figure in the second 45 of the 90 ended at 2.67 in 2021/22. Here’s hoping that his bulldog-like approach extends for one more 90 minutes, at least.

Selection: Over 3 Cards & Card Each in SH
Best Odds: 1.90 (bet365)
Stakes: 7.5/10

More Sheffield United vs Blackburn Tips

Reading vs Middlesbrough Preview

England, Championship, Saturday, August 20th, 15:00 (UK)

Last campaign, as Reading trudged towards a relegation dogfight, the Royals averaged 13.13 shots conceded per90 on home soil. Only Bristol City (13.70) conceded more. This season, with relegation very much looming over their collective shoulders, the Reading squad’s shot against numbers stand as 8, 11, 6 and 10.

Boro, throughout their winless four matches, have hit 15(Stoke), 7(Sheffield United), 12(QPR) and 16(WBA) attempts at goal. This season’s statistics are not as imposing as one would hope with the 13+ shot angle in mind, but the state of play going into the match may encourage that shot counter above not-so-lucky number 13.

Reading vs Middlesbrough Best Bet

Chris Wilder’s men need a win sooner rather than later. For me, the former Blades boss is the best manager in the Championship, so any calls for his head are a long way off. Yet, Wilder will be aware that a winless streak at a promotion-chasing club like Boro can’t go on much longer, no matter who is in the dugout.

The visitors on Saturday have been desperately unlucky not to put three points up, with D’Margio Wright-Phillips’ finish denying a win at the death during the week in Stoke. However, with that desire to nick a win intensifying and Reading assumably growing in confidence after an impressive victory over Blackburn, a shots angle could make sense.

In the likelihood of Reading proving stubborn for periods once more in front of home support, there should be an opportunity for Boro’s attempts at goal to reach double figures. With Marcuss Forss and Michael Hoppe starting on the bench midweek, don’t be surprised for them to feature and want to leave their mark on the game.

Selection: Boro 13+ Shots
Best Odds: 2.05 (Boylesports)
Stakes: 7.5/10

Best odds available as at 12:00, August 19th, 2022. Odds may now differ.

What are Football Best Bets?

Our best bets are posted by some of the best tipsters around. These are our tipsters best value bets. A best bet can be placed on any number of different markets. The most common of which are 1X2, the Asian handicap, BTTS, and the goals markets. Value can be found in matches from leagues across the world. Be sure to follow bettingexpert for the latest best bets.