Warnock’s Bluebirds to Soar Over Manager-less Wigan

It’s been a brilliant few weeks for Championship football betting, and regular readers of this column will be laughing all the way to the bank. We’ve hit nine consecutive winners over the last three rounds of matches, and we’re hoping for more of the same this weekend.

Cardiff were among our winners last week, as they carried on the good work under new boss Neil Warnock with a 2-1 away win at Notts Forest. Newcastle were easy 3-0 winners at home to Ipswich, and Aston Villa brought up the treble with a 1-0 home success over Fulham. That was Steve Bruce’s first home victory since taking charge of the Villains, and new manager syndrome is in full effect at Cardiff too. The Bluebirds have taken seven points from nine since Warnock took over, and they feature in our tips this week as they face manager-less Wigan at home.

Sheffield Wednesday are a side that haven’t featured regularly here this season yet, but an extended run of good form has kept them in 5th place in the table with a promotion challenge on the cards. They look overpriced when they visit 21st placed Derby, despite the Rams re-employing Steve McClaren recently. We’re also backing the old favourite of Nottingham Forest games to see more than three goals – this time away at Reading on Saturday afternoon.

Cardiff v Wigan

Firstly, Cardiff look exceptional value at 2.25Bet €100 to win €2255/4Bet £100 to win £225+125Bet $100 to win $2251.25Bet HK$100 to win HK$2251.25Bet Rp100 to win Rp225-0.8000Bet RM100 to win RM225  with Betway to get the better of Wigan.

The Latics sacked manager Gary Caldwell this week with the side languishing in 23rd place in the league. It brought to an end his 18-month reign which included promotion back to the Championship at the first time of asking. However, just two wins in fourteen games has left them in the relegation mire – a position from which Cardiff have slowly worked their way out of.

The Bluebirds awful start to the season has swiftly been turned around by canny boss Neil Warnock, and as he showed during his time with Rotherham last season, once his sides get up a head of steam they are worth following. 2-1 victories over Bristol City and Cardiff and a 1-1 draw with Sheffield Wednesday have returned the feelgood factor to the club, and it should be onwards and upwards from here.

The same may apply to Wigan if and when they appoint a new manager, but at the moment it looks like they will go into this match without a head coach. That’s never a good thing, and form-wise they’ve just one win from their last 12 Championship games. They’ve also lost six and drawn two of their last eight away games.

Cardiff’s home record is nothing to shout about, but the change since Warnock came in has been dramatic. The atmosphere for the 2-1 home win against Bristol City was electric, and with their passionate fans behind them, Cardiff can over-run a Wigan side lacking in confidence.

Derby v Sheffield Wednesday

Derby have the credentials to be favourites for this match, but they haven’t been evident this season and Sheffield Wednesday look a great bet to come away with at least a point at 1.60Bet €100 to win €1603/5Bet £100 to win £160-167Bet $100 to win $1600.60Bet HK$100 to win HK$160-1.67Bet Rp100 to win Rp1600.6000Bet RM100 to win RM160  with Coral

Steve McClaren’s return looked like it might have had a similar impact to the likes of Warnock and Bruce, after he oversaw a win over Leeds and a draw with Brentford in his first two games. They were beaten at Huddersfield in the following match however, and have managed just a single goal in the three games since the former England coach was re-appointed.

The Rams have won just three of fourteen league games this season, and they’re in 21st place – just two points above the drop zone. Having been on the brink of promotion the last two seasons, things have gone off the boil at Derby, and there’s no reason why they should be favoured by the bookies here.

Wednesday have been beaten twice on their travels in seven Championship games this season, but they’ve got results at places like Norwich, Brentford, Huddersfield, Cardiff and Blackburn. Overall they’ve lost only one of their last six games, with three 1-0 wins in that sequence providing evidence of their defensive prowess. A derby side that is struggling to score goals will struggle to break down the Wednesday back line, and the Owls have enough attacking ability to cause problems at the other end.

Reading v Nottingham Forest

Over 2.5 goals is the obvious bet when Reading host Forest, and the 2.04Bet €100 to win €20426/25Bet £100 to win £204+104Bet $100 to win $2041.04Bet HK$100 to win HK$2041.04Bet Rp100 to win Rp204-0.9615Bet RM100 to win RM204  on offer with Marathonbet is more than acceptable.

Forest have been the gift that keeps on giving this season, with 12 of their last 13 matches going over the 2.5 goal mark. They’ve failed to keep a clean sheet in all of those games, so it’s clear where the problems lie. However, they’ve also scored in each of those games – apart from the 4-0 cup defeat to Arsenal – so they can always present a threat at the other end.

With 15 points from 14 games though, they’re skating perilously close to the relegation zone, and they’re visiting a Reading side that has it’s eyes on the play offs. The Royals are 8th in the table with 22 points, and they’ll be aiming for three points here.

Reading have been rather more goal-shy than their opponents, with just four of their last ten going over the 2.5 goal line, but Forest’s open style should lead to a game with lots of chances and lots of goalmouth action. At odds-against it’s worth backing the same bet to come good again.

Tips Summary

Cardiff to beat Wigan
Saturday 29th October, 15:00 GMT
Odds: 2.25Bet €100 to win €2255/4Bet £100 to win £225+125Bet $100 to win $2251.25Bet HK$100 to win HK$2251.25Bet Rp100 to win Rp225-0.8000Bet RM100 to win RM225

Sheffield Wednesday or Draw
Saturday 29th October, 15:00 GMT
Odds: 1.60Bet €100 to win €1603/5Bet £100 to win £160-167Bet $100 to win $1600.60Bet HK$100 to win HK$160-1.67Bet Rp100 to win Rp1600.6000Bet RM100 to win RM160

Reading v Nottingham Forest – Over 2.5 Goals
Saturday 29th October, 15:00 GMT
Odds: 2.04Bet €100 to win €20426/25Bet £100 to win £204+104Bet $100 to win $2041.04Bet HK$100 to win HK$2041.04Bet Rp100 to win Rp204-0.9615Bet RM100 to win RM204