Thanks for the World Cup in Brazil, the close season has flown by in double-quick time this year; but now it’s back as the Football League gets underway this weekend (with the Premier League returning on the 16th August).
England’s second tier offers one of the most exciting and competitive divisions in Europe as the glittering prize of promotion to the Promised Land of the Premier League gives such a massive incentive to clubs to give it everything. But which of the fancied sides will get off to winning ways this weekend and – more importantly – which bets could help you turn a healthy profit?
Friday 8th August 2014
Blackburn Rovers v Cardiff City (19:45) – Over 2.5 goals (11/10 with BetVictor)
Cardiff might have finished bottom of the Premier League last season, but with former Man United super sub Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at the helm and a hardworking and reasonably talented squad, the Bluebirds are well fancied to bounce straight back up to the top flight. It wasn’t long ago that Blackburn were also feasting at the top table of English football, and after a couple of seasons of turmoil their eighth-place finish last term gave indications they could once again be moving in the right direction.
It is Gary Bowyer’s Rovers who are the 6/4 favourites to win this one (with Coral), while Cardiff are available at 2/1 with the draw at 12/5 (both with BetVictor). With both managers desperate to get the new season off to a winning start, we fancy an open and attacking game in which plenty of chances are created and – with some good finishers on show – a good few goals too. Over 2.5 goals looks a solid bet here at a very fair price.
Saturday 9th August 2014
Derby County v Rotherham United (15:00) – Derby to win both halves (7/2 with Coral)
Derby are battling with Cardiff at the top of the Championship winner outright betting at present, and former England boss Steve McClaren almost guided the Rams to automatic promotion last term before losing in the play off final to QPR. After five wins and a draw from their last six league matches last term, Derby will be eager to carry on where they left off, and a home opener against newly promoted Rotherham should – in theory at least – result in a comfortable three points.
The Millers – much like Yeovil last season – are sure to give it their best shot in the rough and tumble of the Championship, but – again like Yeovil – we think they will struggle badly, despite taking one or two notable scalps along the way. Derby are too organised, too skilful and, frankly, too good to slip up here and we can see it being a dominant opening victory for McClaren’s men.
Millwall v Leeds United (15:00) – Millwall to win (29/20 with BetVictor)
There’s never been much love lost between these sides (or their fans!) after some rather spicy encounters over the years, and after both suffered disappointing campaigns last term there is no doubt they will be going out to get a positive start to the season here. Notably seven of the last eight league matches between the teams have gone the way of the home side and we could see Millwall edging this one.
Leeds have sold their best player and leading scorer Ross McCormack and are having to cope with the erratic orders of chairman Massimo Cellino (who, for instance, ordered that Paddy Kenny be dropped because his birth date was “unlucky”!!) and we feel they could be in for another rocky ride in the coming months. With Ian Holloway at the helm we fancy Millwall could well finish in the top half this season and maybe even challenge for the play offs, and a narrow win here will set them on their way.
Sunday 10th August 2014
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Norwich City (16:00) – Norwich to win (12/5 with BetVictor)
It wasn’t too long ago (the 2011-12 season in fact) that these sides were battling it out in the dizzy heights of the Premier League. But since then Wolves have been down to League One and bounced back as far as the Championship, while Norwich slipped out of the top flight last term after managing to score just 28 goals in their 38 games – the worst attacking record in the division.
So will it be the newly promoted Wolves or the newly relegated Canaries who get the result from this televised Championship match on Sunday afternoon? The bookies think it will be the home side celebrating at the final whistle with Sky Bet offering best odds of 13/10 for a Wolves win. We think the value lies with backing Norwich, however, at more favourable odds.