Championship Tips | 13th September 2016

MARK O’HAIRE (@MarkOHaire) has delivered five profitable weekends from six to kick-off the Football League season. Can he continue his hot-streak here?

Derby v Ipswich | Tuesday 19.45

• Derby’s defeat to Newcastle on Saturday saw the Rams have just two efforts-on-target – they’ve landed an average of 3.00 shots-on-target in their first six games.
• Derby have failed to score in five of their first six games under Nigel Pearson – it came against rock-bottom Preston.
• Only Norwich and Reading have faced fewer shots in the Championship than Ipswich this season.
• Ipswich have W5-D3-L0 in their last eight trips to Derby.
• Ipswich have conceded only three goals in their past four games and in only 14/46 last season did the Tractor Boys ship more than a solitary strike in matches.
• Together the two clubs have seen 65/104 (62.5%) of Championship games since the start of last season feature two goals or fewer with 36/104 (35%) producing Under 1.5 Goals.

I’ll be backing Derby to score Under 1.5 Goals (8/11 William Hill) and Under 1.5 Total Goals at 2/1 (Bet365)

Fulham v Burton | Tuesday 19.45

• Burton were edged out by the odd goal in their opening two games against Nottingham Forest and Bristol City but have shown in all six matches they’re a match for most in the Championship.
• Burton have picked up W2-D2-L0 since their opening two games and Nigel Clough’s team have been performing very well in all the performance data markers.
• Burton have scored in every match and netted at least twice in four of their six fixtures.
• Only Bristol City and Aston Villa have fired in more shots than the visitors whose shot ratio and shots-on-target ratio figures are both amongst the top-six in the division.
• Fulham’s three league wins have all been secured by a solitary strike as the Cottagers have only twice netted more than one goal.
• Fulham beat Newcastle in a rather lifeless opening day game and four of their following five opponents are based in the league’s bottom-seven.
• Only seven clubs have faced more shots than Fulham with the Cottagers ranked middle of the road in the shot ratio standings and amongst the bottom-eight when viewing the shots-on-target ratio table.

I’ll be backing Burton +0.50 Asian Handicap at 39/40 (Bet365)

Sheffield Wednesday v Bristol City | Tuesday 19.45

• Bristol City have fired in 17 more shots than any Championship side and the Robins have nine goals in four games when excluding relegated duo Norwich and Newcastle.
• Bristol City have yet to keep a clean sheet, leading to four of their six matches featuring both sides scoring as Lee Johnson’s style leads to open and attacking contests.
• Sheffield Wednesday have only seen three of their six games feature BTTS winners as the Owls have twice fired blanks this term despite firing in the fifth most shots in the league.
• Sheffield Wednesday have already conceded to Wigan and Leeds at Hillsborough this season and were fortunate to keep a clean sheet when welcoming Aston Villa.

I’ll be backing Both Teams To Score (11/13 888)

Best Bets

Derby v Ipswich – Under 1.5 Derby Goals (8/11 William Hill)

Derby v Ipswich – Under 1.5 Total Goals (2/1 Bet365)

Fulham v Burton – Burton +0.50 Asian Handicap (39/40 Bet365)

Sheffield Wednesday v Bristol City – Both Teams To Score (11/13 888)

TOPICS Football League Tips