High-Flying Robins can Soar Above Forest

We head back to the Championship on Saturday in search of the best bets in England’s second tier. Unlike their Premier League counterparts, it’s been a rare midweek off for second-tier teams but it’s back to business this weekend in what is known as one of the most competitive leagues in the world.

Wolves remain at the head of affairs, leading the table by four points from Cardiff, with a further four points back to Bristol City in third. It’s the Robins that catch the eye this Saturday as they prepare for the visit of Nottingham Forest, with City fancied to take three points and continue with their excellent campaign. They’ve won the last three games to solidify their position in the top six, against good sides in the shape of Hull, Middlesbrough and Sheffield United.

Other bets this weekend are based around goals, with the fixtures at Bolton and Sunderland fancied to beat the over 2.5 goal line. The Trotters welcome Burton Albion on Saturday and it’s a game that can truly be described as a relegation six-pointer. Albion have replaced Bolton at the bottom of the table but there are a mere two points between them. Bolton have certainly been in the better form of the two in recent weeks but we wouldn’t advise anyone to rush out and back a team which has just three wins all season. However, these clubs have the joint-worst defences in the entire division, and in a game which both will fancy their chances of winning, there ought to be potential for goals.

Similarly, Sunderland and Fulham are also backed to score three or more between them when they meet at the Stadium of Light. Neither side is living up to expectations this term – Fulham are lagging in 12th after being one of the preseason title favourites, while Sunderland are second-from-bottom and in deep trouble. Both teams regularly feature in high-scoring games, and there is little reason to think that Saturday’s result will be particularly different.

Bristol City v Nottingham Forest

First up we’re backing Bristol City to win at odds of 1.92Bet €100 to win €19223/25Bet £100 to win £192-109Bet $100 to win $1920.92Bet HK$100 to win HK$192-1.09Bet Rp100 to win Rp1920.9200Bet RM100 to win RM192  with BetVictor when they take on Jekyll and Hyde Nottingham Forest.

The Midlands club is still yet to draw a game after 21 Championship fixtures resulting in ten wins and eleven defeats. They prevailed 3-2 at home against Bolton last time out but lost 4-2 in the previous game away at Ipswich – results which more or less sum up Forest’s season. In 11th place, they are only seven points adrift of the playoffs and fourteen above the relegation zone. Most of the victories have come at home though, and it’s six defeats in the last seven on the road. This is a tough test against a side exceeding expectations in third place.

The Robins latest run of three wins has seen them rise to 40 points and the dream season continues. Only Cardiff and Wolves are above City but crucially, they are seven points ahead of Leeds in 7th position. That gives Bristol a good chance of at least maintaining a playoff spot and Saturday’s game will be earmarked for three points. The Robins have only lost twice in ten home matches this season and have won three of the last four, including a 4-1 victory over Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup. At just shy of even odds, Bristol City should get the job done.

Bolton v Burton

Bolton and Burton are backed to combine for over 2.5 goals at generous odds of 2.23Bet €100 to win €223123/100Bet £100 to win £223+123Bet $100 to win $2231.23Bet HK$100 to win HK$2231.23Bet Rp100 to win Rp223-0.8130Bet RM100 to win RM223  with 888Sport.

This is a battle between 21st and 24th and it would be no great shock to see both clubs involved in the relegation dogfight for the rest of the season. Bolton spent several weeks at the foot of the table earlier in the campaign but a sustained run of competitive form has seen them climb out of the bottom three, albeit on goal difference alone. The Trotters have lost two of the last three -away at Forest and Wolves – but those are their only defeats in the last ten games overall. Seven of those ten have had more than 2.5 goals, including each of the last four fixtures.

Burton – whose defence has conceded the same divisional high 40 goals as Bolton’s – have now dropped to the very bottom of the pile after a run of just one win in the last thirteen Championship games. They have tightened up a little bit in recent games as only four of the last eight have gone over 2.5 goals, but this is a winner-takes-all type of match that could be end-to-end.

Sunderland v Fulham

Over 2.5 goals is also the call at Sunderland at odds of 1.87Bet €100 to win €18787/100Bet £100 to win £187-115Bet $100 to win $1870.87Bet HK$100 to win HK$187-1.15Bet Rp100 to win Rp1870.8700Bet RM100 to win RM187  with BetVictor.

The Black Cats are in deep trouble after relegation from the Premier League and they now find themselves staring into the Abyss of League One. Sunderland are second-bottom of the table after gathering just 15 points from 21 games and the outlook is grim. Chris Coleman has taken on an extremely difficult job at the Stadium of Light but at least he has seen his side win 2-0 at Burton Albion and gain an impressive 0-0 draw at Wolves during his four games in charge. Considering the position they are in, Sunderland need to win games and they will be attacking home matches from now until the end of the season in search of three points.

Fulham are 12th and eight points off the playoffs – a realistic target for the Cottagers to aim at. They have won three of the last four matches and will fancy their chances of taking three points away with them. Sunderland have managed just two clean sheets in the last ten fixtures but Fulham have only kept one. Both sides are laible to get on the scoresheet and Sunderland’s need to pour forward could lead to another open game.

Tips Summary

Bristol City to beat Notts Forest
Saturday 16th December, 15:00 GMT
Odds: 1.92Bet €100 to win €19223/25Bet £100 to win £192-109Bet $100 to win $1920.92Bet HK$100 to win HK$192-1.09Bet Rp100 to win Rp1920.9200Bet RM100 to win RM192

Bolton v Burton – Over 2.5 goals
Saturday 16th December, 15:00 GMT
Odds: 2.23Bet €100 to win €223123/100Bet £100 to win £223+123Bet $100 to win $2231.23Bet HK$100 to win HK$2231.23Bet Rp100 to win Rp223-0.8130Bet RM100 to win RM223

Sunderland v Fulham – Over 2.5 goals
Saturday 16th December, 15:00 GMT
Odds: 2.23Bet €100 to win €223123/100Bet £100 to win £223+123Bet $100 to win $2231.23Bet HK$100 to win HK$2231.23Bet Rp100 to win Rp223-0.8130Bet RM100 to win RM223