Rotherham 3.70 v Reading 2.20; The Draw 3.50
Tuesday, 19:45
At the start of the season I fully agreed with the Betfair market that had Rotherham as strong favourites for relegation, and not much I've seen since has forced me to change my mind.
True, the Millers have changed their manager with Neil Redfearn replacing the outgoing Steve Evans, and that can sometimes make a difference. In fact the 'new manager effect' was the reason I backed Rotherham at the weekend away to fellow strugglers Brentford.
But it wasn't to be for Redfearn's men, despite playing quite well and registering more shots at goal than the hosts they went down 2-1. There was enough in that performance to encourage the new boss undoubtedly, but the visit of red hot Reading on Tuesday night is unlikely to yield Redfearn's first win in charge of his new club. Quite the opposite in fact.
The Royals are flying at the moment and on Saturday moved up to second place in the table after recording a 1-0 win over Charlton. Don't be too disheartened by that scoreline. I put Reading up on the -1 handicap so I wasn't best pleased myself, but the stats show that Steve Clarke's men absolutely dominated the game. They enjoyed 59% possession and had 23 shots to Charlton's two.
It was exactly the type of game Reading can expect on home soil now with away teams 'parking the bus' intent on frustrating their opposition. But away from home Clarke's men will enjoy more space and they should be allowed to play their natural game.
The Royals have won their last four away games in all competitions, scoring nine goals in the process, and we can be extremely confident that they'll make it five on the spin against the Millers.
Recommended Bet
Back Reading to Win @ 2.20
Bolton 2.60 v Birmingham 2.94; The Draw 3.60
Tuesday, 20:00
With an international break you tend to forget who is doing what in each division and I admit to having to look twice at the Championship table when I saw Bolton sitting rock bottom.
But they are there for one simple reason - they haven't been good enough so far this campaign, despite Neil Lennon declaring after Saturday's loss to Burnley that his side are 'better than bottom'.
It must be a frustrating time for Lennon, after his side scored just one goal in their opening six outings he has finally started to witness the Trotters scoring more regularly - two against Wolves, two against Brighton, three against QPR for example. The only problem however was that with the increased number of goals scored came an even greater amount of goals conceded - four to QPR, four to Huddersfield etc.
I'm confident that Bolton will improve as the season goes on but failing to win becomes a habit, and until they break that habit I'm happy to oppose them. Even more so when they're up against one of the best away teams in the division.
Birmingham are up to fourth in the table and have yet again looked to be a better side away from home than they are at St Andrew's. Gary Rowett's men are unbeaten on the road in the league this season and have taken 10 points on their travels from the last 12 available to them. They won to nil in three of those four matches while they recorded a 1-1 draw against a decent Ipswich side.
I'm confident Brum will get on the scoresheet a few times at Bolton on Tuesday night - they've already scored two goals away from home five times this season against some higher-placed sides - and that ought to be good enough to take home another three points.
Recommended Bet
Back Birmingham to Win @ 2.94
Blackburn 3.10 v Derby 2.50; The Draw 3.50
Wednesday, 19:45
The month of August was virtually a write-off for Derby as they struggled to find any fluency under their new boss Paul Clement.
The Rams failed to win any of their opening six league and cup games, lost to League Two outfit Portsmouth in the Capital One Cup, and following a home loss to Leeds there were even rumours that Clement was under pressure to save his job.
If that was the case then Clement and his Derby side have reacted magnificently. The pre-season title favourites have won five of their last six league games, including a victory at high-flying Reading, have taken 16 points from the last 18 available to them, and on Sunday produced their best performance of the campaign.
"Our best performance of the season. We've had some good first halves and some good second halves, but this time we were solid throughout and were deserved victors", was Clement's assessment after the 4-2 win over Wolves.
Derby are actually unbeaten in the league away from home all season and have now won three on the spin on the road. Against a Blackburn side who were thrashed by MK Dons on Saturday they look a good bet to make it four away wins on the spin.
Rovers weren't helped by the relatively early dismissal of Adam Henley but they were never at the races at Stadium MK against a side who hadn't won any of their previous eight games.
Gary Bowyer's men have won back-to-back home games but prior to that they hadn't won at Ewood Park in four attempts which included a shock home loss to League One strugglers Shrewsbury. They face the hottest side in the division on Wednesday night and unless the Rams revert to their August form then I can't see them avoiding defeat.
Recommended Bet
Back Derby to Win @ 2.50 (best bet)
Tuesday, 19:45
At the start of the season I fully agreed with the Betfair market that had Rotherham as strong favourites for relegation, and not much I've seen since has forced me to change my mind.
True, the Millers have changed their manager with Neil Redfearn replacing the outgoing Steve Evans, and that can sometimes make a difference. In fact the 'new manager effect' was the reason I backed Rotherham at the weekend away to fellow strugglers Brentford.
But it wasn't to be for Redfearn's men, despite playing quite well and registering more shots at goal than the hosts they went down 2-1. There was enough in that performance to encourage the new boss undoubtedly, but the visit of red hot Reading on Tuesday night is unlikely to yield Redfearn's first win in charge of his new club. Quite the opposite in fact.
The Royals are flying at the moment and on Saturday moved up to second place in the table after recording a 1-0 win over Charlton. Don't be too disheartened by that scoreline. I put Reading up on the -1 handicap so I wasn't best pleased myself, but the stats show that Steve Clarke's men absolutely dominated the game. They enjoyed 59% possession and had 23 shots to Charlton's two.
It was exactly the type of game Reading can expect on home soil now with away teams 'parking the bus' intent on frustrating their opposition. But away from home Clarke's men will enjoy more space and they should be allowed to play their natural game.
The Royals have won their last four away games in all competitions, scoring nine goals in the process, and we can be extremely confident that they'll make it five on the spin against the Millers.
Recommended Bet
Back Reading to Win @ 2.20
Bolton 2.60 v Birmingham 2.94; The Draw 3.60
Tuesday, 20:00
With an international break you tend to forget who is doing what in each division and I admit to having to look twice at the Championship table when I saw Bolton sitting rock bottom.
But they are there for one simple reason - they haven't been good enough so far this campaign, despite Neil Lennon declaring after Saturday's loss to Burnley that his side are 'better than bottom'.
It must be a frustrating time for Lennon, after his side scored just one goal in their opening six outings he has finally started to witness the Trotters scoring more regularly - two against Wolves, two against Brighton, three against QPR for example. The only problem however was that with the increased number of goals scored came an even greater amount of goals conceded - four to QPR, four to Huddersfield etc.
I'm confident that Bolton will improve as the season goes on but failing to win becomes a habit, and until they break that habit I'm happy to oppose them. Even more so when they're up against one of the best away teams in the division.
Birmingham are up to fourth in the table and have yet again looked to be a better side away from home than they are at St Andrew's. Gary Rowett's men are unbeaten on the road in the league this season and have taken 10 points on their travels from the last 12 available to them. They won to nil in three of those four matches while they recorded a 1-1 draw against a decent Ipswich side.
I'm confident Brum will get on the scoresheet a few times at Bolton on Tuesday night - they've already scored two goals away from home five times this season against some higher-placed sides - and that ought to be good enough to take home another three points.
Recommended Bet
Back Birmingham to Win @ 2.94
Blackburn 3.10 v Derby 2.50; The Draw 3.50
Wednesday, 19:45
The month of August was virtually a write-off for Derby as they struggled to find any fluency under their new boss Paul Clement.
The Rams failed to win any of their opening six league and cup games, lost to League Two outfit Portsmouth in the Capital One Cup, and following a home loss to Leeds there were even rumours that Clement was under pressure to save his job.
If that was the case then Clement and his Derby side have reacted magnificently. The pre-season title favourites have won five of their last six league games, including a victory at high-flying Reading, have taken 16 points from the last 18 available to them, and on Sunday produced their best performance of the campaign.
"Our best performance of the season. We've had some good first halves and some good second halves, but this time we were solid throughout and were deserved victors", was Clement's assessment after the 4-2 win over Wolves.
Derby are actually unbeaten in the league away from home all season and have now won three on the spin on the road. Against a Blackburn side who were thrashed by MK Dons on Saturday they look a good bet to make it four away wins on the spin.
Rovers weren't helped by the relatively early dismissal of Adam Henley but they were never at the races at Stadium MK against a side who hadn't won any of their previous eight games.
Gary Bowyer's men have won back-to-back home games but prior to that they hadn't won at Ewood Park in four attempts which included a shock home loss to League One strugglers Shrewsbury. They face the hottest side in the division on Wednesday night and unless the Rams revert to their August form then I can't see them avoiding defeat.
Recommended Bet
Back Derby to Win @ 2.50 (best bet)
