Football Accumulator Tips: Saturday 7/1 FavFour for the Sky Bet Championship

Birmingham vs Swansea - Birmingham 

On Saturday afternoon, Birmingham City face Swansea City at home. Currently sitting in 20th place in the league standings, Birmingham are in dire need of a positive outcome.

Despite securing an FA Cup replay with a 1-1 draw against Hull City last week, they haven't won in their last six consecutive matches across all competitions.

Over their last 10 league matches, Birmingham have recorded two wins, three draws, and five losses. 

On the other hand, Swansea City have had a solid season and will lool to build on their success in the second half of the campaign. With 32 points from 26 league games, they are only eight points away from the playoff spots in the tightly contested mid-table.

Last week, Swansea secured a spot in the next round of the FA Cup with a 2-0 home victory against Morecambe. This win extended their unbeaten run to three matches, including a victory over West Bromwich Albion and a 2-2 draw against Coventry City on the final matchday of 2023. 

We are backing Birimingham to win this one with the help of a fired up St Andrew's Stadium. 

West Brom vs Blackburn – West Brom 

In a bid to maintain a comfortable distance from the chasing pack in the playoff race, West Bromwich Albion are set to host Blackburn Rovers at The Hawthorns. 

Following a busy Christmas period that yielded six points from four fixtures, West Brom showcased their commitment to nurturing talent by fielding five academy graduates in the starting XI for the third-round clash with National League side Aldershot at The Hawthorns last Sunday. 

West Brom's home form in the 2023-24 season has been highly commendable, amassing 27 points from 13 league games at The Hawthorns. This record is surpassed only by the top four teams in the division: Leicester, Ipswich Town, Southampton, and Leeds United.

Despite West Brom facing challenges in the attacking department due to Diangana's AFCON participation and Sarmiento's departure, the hosts boast a first-choice defence, a crucial factor in many of their victories at The Hawthorns this season.

On the other hand, Blackburn has encountered difficulties in their recent Championship away matches, losing the last four and conceding 13 goals in the process. Considering these factors, it seems unlikely that Rovers will secure anything from Saturday afternoon's encounter.

Southampton vs Sheffield Wednesday – Southampton 

In a clash between teams positioned at opposite ends of the table sees promotion-contending Southampton facing off against relegation-battling Sheffield Wednesday. 

Southampton, just three points behind second-placed Ipswich, aim to secure a position in the automatic promotion spots. 

Their recent form has been impressive, with a 4-0 triumph over Walsall in the FA Cup extending their unbeaten streak to 19 matches. In the Championship, they remain undefeated in 18 games, winning 12 and drawing six. The Saints' dominance at their home ground has been a significant factor, having secured victories in their last seven consecutive home league games.

On the other hand, Sheffield Wednesday, positioned three points away from safety, will draw confidence from their recent performances. The visitors recorded a convincing 4-0 victory over Cardiff in the FA Cup, marking three consecutive wins across all competitions. In the Championship, they have secured two consecutive victories, improving their prospects of avoiding relegation.

With five wins in their last eight games, Sheffield Wednesday has bolstered their chances, although their away form remains challenging, having lost eight of their last 10 away league matches.

Cardiff vs Leeds – Leeds 

In a compelling matchup between two teams striving to enhance their claims for a top-six position, Cardiff are set to host Leeds United at the Cardiff City Stadium this Saturday.

As things stand before this round, the hosts find themselves in 9th place with 37 points, while the visitors hold the 4th spot with 48 points.

Cardiff, positioned just three points away from the top six, still harbour hopes of disrupting the plans of those ahead of them. However, they must regroup after a 4-0 defeat against Sheffield Wednesday led to their exit from the FA Cup last weekend.

Despite their recent struggles in the league, where they have lost five of the last nine games, signs of improvement are evident with seven points earned from their last four matches.

Leeds, having comfortably triumphed 3-0 over Peterborough United in the FA Cup, aim to sustain their momentum in the new year as they continue their pursuit of the top two.

Four points adrift of third-placed Southampton, Leeds must address their recent dip in form, having lost three of the last six matches—equivalent to their total losses in the remaining season.

A cause for concern is Leeds' three consecutive losses in away league games, emphasising the need for a positive result in this encounter to reverse that trend. We are backing Leeds to take the spoils.