How will this week's 12/1 four-fold fare?
Bristol City v Bolton
We’ll start things off with a gimme: Bristol City to beat Bolton at home.
The Robins are unbeaten in eight matches – most recently the scalp of Premier League (though not for long) Huddersfield in the FA Cup – and they will be confident of beating a Bolton side who have lost 11 of their last 16 in the Championship.
The Trotters’ away form is fairly wretched: four points since August, and I don’t give them much of a chance against a City side who have the wind in their sails.
Reading v Nottingham Forest
This one is a little more interesting.
Nottingham Forest endured a rather sticky festive period, but pulled out of it in style with a 4-2 defeat of Leeds United, and I’m backing them to beat Reading at the Madejski Stadium.
Aitor Karanka’s side have drawn with Norwich, Derby, Aston Villa and Leeds away from home, and have beaten Hull and Middlesbrough.
Though they may not be at the top of the away form table, Forest have got positive results against very strong sides, and have lost just twice on the road all season.
Reading are not a very strong side. They’re not even an average side.
The Royals are 23rd in the Championship, five points from safety, and are winless since November 3rd. More worryingly, they have lost their last three at home, scoring just once in the process.
6/5 looks like a nice price for an away win.
Wigan v Aston Villa
Wigan are dropping like a stone, and I’m expecting them to endure further punishment at the hands of Aston Villa.
Dean Smith’s men have been drawing a lot recently – especially at home – but their form away from Villa Park has been largely excellent. The Midlands side are unbeaten in five on the road, a run which includes brilliant victories over Derby, Middlesbrough (both 3-0) and Swansea.
It’s worrying times if you’re a Wigan fan. The Latics have lost nine of their last 13 in the league, and three home defeats in-a-row spells real trouble for Paul Cook.
Villa’s propensity to do the unexpected is perhaps why they’re as long as 27/20, but I’m positive they’ll take the points on Saturday.
Portsmouth v Blackpool
Blackpool are another side who have seriously struggled lately, and I’m expecting them to return home from Fratton Park pointless.
It’s certainly not been a bad season for the Seasiders – who sit mid-table in League One – but they have now lost five of their last seven league matches, including three of their last four away games (their one draw coming against a poor AFC Wimbledon side).
League leaders Portsmouth have come through an ever-so-slight recent wobble, but have still won three of their last four, including a crucial victory against promotion rivals Sunderland.
Blackpool have just one goal in their last five matches, so a Pompey victory is massively likely.
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