Championship
Saturday 28th April 2012 – Kickoff: 1230hrs
Well it’s the final week of the regular season of the Championship – where did the time go?? Anyway, a couple of crucial matches to cover off this Saturday with the whole division playing at the same time for once, and my attentions turn to Cardiff City who are on the edge of either making fourth place, sneaking into a play-off place or facing a last-day heartache of being pipped at the post by Middlesbrough.
Cardiff’s opponents today are Crystal Palace who, not so long ago, were the form team in the Championship, but that form has long since departed them and have drifted down the division and find themselves in 17th place.
Palace have not won for eight matches now since their last win which was over out-of-form Barnsley at home back in March; the Eagles have picked up just two points in their last four at home whilst suffering back-to-back losses against Southampton and Nottingham Forest. Their home form stands at 7-11-4 21/17, and quite simply have lacked the necessary firepower to take win more matches and therefore take more points.
Veteran Darren Ambrose (7 goals) is their leading scorer which emphasises my previous point, but Glenn Murray (6 goals, 4 assists) and Wilfred Zaha (5 goals, 4 assists) will need to be watched.
Cardiff travel to London knowing an outright win will guarantee them a long-anticipated play-off place, and will definitely not want the agony of waiting to hear how Middlesbrough got on at Watford!
It’s in their hands now and the Bluebirds are in good shape going into this final match having put together a nine match unbeaten run. Recent wins on the road at Middlesbrough and Barnsley show they are capable of winning away from home, although, curiously, they have the same record away from home as Palace have at home; 7-11-4 with goal difference of 27/23 the only difference.
They’ve also beaten Bristol City away which may not sound such a great feat but just ask Southampton fans about the Robins! In my opinion though, Cardiff possess a far more threatening weaponry in the shape of scoring midfielder Peter Whittingham (11 goals, 13 assists), striker Kenny Miller (10 goals, 5 assists) and young forward Joe Mason (9 goals) who has grabbed his chance up front.
So, Palace are safe and have struggled to score goals while visitors Cardiff City need to post a win to ensure their place in the play-off phase (and they have more attacking depth). It’s a no-brainer for me, I’ll take Cardiff City for a straight win at good odds. Bluebirds to win 2-1.
Main Pick: Cardiff City straight win @ 2.12 Pinnacle
Value Pick: Cardiff City AH-1 @ 3.30 Pinnacle
