football | Wednesday, August 17, 2022 11:29 AM

Sam Ingram’s Championship Best Bets: Wednesday, August 17th

Sam Ingram

Championship Best Bets: Wednesday, August 17th

Results, bookings, and shots take centre stage in Wednesday’s Championship best bets. The range of markets offers us a way into three of the four fixtures across the Championship’s footballing schedule, as Reading, Sheffield and Stoke host our trio of match-ups in the second tier.

In this article:

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

Reading vs Blackburn Preview

England, Championship, Wednesday, August 17th, 20:00 (UK)

Jon Dahl Tomasson’s appointment at Ewood Park has to go down as a masterstroke so far. Three fixtures, three wins, and Blackburn sitting atop the Championship’s league standings. It’s far too soon to get ahead of yourself if you’re a Rovers fan, but the noises from within the club and the results on the pitch deserve credit in the bank for the new gaffer.

In Reading, the footballing landscape looks bleak. Pumped 4-0 by Rotherham, a side also tipped for relegation, is an unforgivable showing from Paul Ince’s men. All four goals came in the first half at the weekend – 45 minutes of football to forget for the Royals. The only bright spark in the season was the 2-1 victory against Cardiff at the Select Car Leasing Stadium. Despite the 2-1 scoreline, both Cardiff and Reading mustered just four shots on target between them.

If Ince’s men can piece a shred of home form together and harness it to the best of their abilities, Reading will have a lifeline in the division. But that’s a big ‘if’. Blackburn’s visit to Berkshire will surely test Reading’s home resolve. Rovers enter Wednesday night’s clash as the only side with a 100% record in the EFL. Not only that but there was a notable 4-0 Hartlepool drubbing in the cup before their most recent league win against the Baggies.

Reading vs Blackburn Best Bet

With confidence high in Blackburn’s camp and three of Tomasson’s offensive weapons already amongst the goals in Diaz, Gallagher and Szmodics, it should be a tough night for Reading. Furthermore, the injury of Lucas Joao means the hosts continue to miss their goalscoring spark up top, alongside the absence of Ovie Ejaria in the middle – two names required to be firing to give Reading hope.

With the uphill task ahead for Reading, the visitors’ -0.25 Asian Handicap at 1.95 is an avenue worth looking into with half-stake returns in the event of a draw.

Selection: Blackburn -0.25 Asian Handicap (TRACKED BET)
Best Odds: 1.95 (bet365)
Stakes: 10/10

Sheffield United vs Sunderland Preview

England, Championship, Wednesday, August 17th, 20:00 (UK)

With Sunderland unable to hold onto a lead twice in their first three games of the season, Alex Neil’s side may feel aggrieved to be residing in ninth. Nevertheless, it has been a start to suggest the Black Cats will hold their own in this division, as Sheffield United offer the next task.

The Blades have experienced their own pitfalls, letting a lead slip on two occasions last time out against Middlesbrough through Chuba Akpom’s double. 1-0 losses to Watford on the opening day and against WBA in the cup fell either side of a comfortable 2-0 victory over Millwall at home. It has been an up and down start to life in 2022/23 for Paul Heckingbottom.

Away from results and handicaps, it’s the card markets we’ll instead take a look at for Sunderland’s visit to Yorkshire. With the ever-reliable James Linington in charge, it’s often a wise idea to pencil a booking or two into potential happenings across the 90.

Sheffield United vs Sunderland Best Bet

In 27 Championship matches last term, Linington averaged 3.70 yellow cards in the second half. The official brandished a yellow card to both sides in 70% of those matches. So, you’re looking at 1.66 for both teams to receive a booking in the second 45. In an attempt to drag that bet builder up to a higher price, Sunderland to receive two or more cards in the game gets us to 2.00.

The visiting side has ticked over 1.5 cards off in all three games for cards-backers so far this season: 4, 2, and 3 standing as Sunderland’s card totals.

Selection: Both Teams to Receive Card in SH + Sunderland Over 1.5 Cards
Best Odds: 2.00 (bet365)
Stakes: 8/10

More Sheffield United vs Sunderland Tips

Stoke vs Middlesbrough Preview

England, Championship, Wednesday, August 17th, 19:45 (UK)

The news of Liam Delap signing on loan for the season will provide another lift to Stoke City. However, with the deal not done in time, it’ll be a case of watching on from the sidelines for the Manchester City loanee. The addition of Delap will accompany Dwight Gayle, Jacob Brown and Tyrese Campbell at that end of the pitch – a quartet of attacking options not to be sniffed at in Championship terms.

The 3-1 loss away at Huddersfield was a poor result in a fixture likely internally earmarked as one where the Potters should have nicked three points. Despite the loss, 18 shots peppered Lee Nicholls’ goal. In the 2-0 home win to Blackpool in the game before, Stoke reached 20 attempts at goal themselves, with the Seasiders also registering double figures – similarly to Huddersfield.

The opening day fixture away at Millwall was a different story entirely, with only four Stoke shots in the 90 minutes. Yet, that was a poor Stoke showing with Millwall restricting them to very little. Regardless, with Middlesbrough coming to town, there should be the opportunity for chances at both ends.

Stoke vs Middlesbrough Best Bet

Again, like Stoke, Boro have hit the proposed 22+ Shots line on Boyles in 2/3 matches so far. In 2021/22, Boro ended the Championship season as the seventh-most likely team to pull the trigger on their travels. Wilder’s men averaged an 11.26 shots per90 average total away from home.

Considering how this game may pan out, with both sides looking to work openings and take the lead, the 22+ total shots line on Boylesport caught my attention. One to consider, for sure.