After the international break, EFL Championship football is back with a bang this weekend. All 24 clubs are in action in the second tier, with Friday’s fixture between Derby County and Watford at Pride Park kicking things off. Get ready for what promises to be another enthralling weekend of Championship football on matchday five.
EFL Championship Matchday 5: Best Betting Football Tips
Derby County vs. Watford: EFL Betting Tip
On Friday night, Derby and Watford lock horns at Pride Park. County picked up their first Championship win of the season before the international break. Can Phillip Cocu’s men make it back-to-back victories on Friday?
Derby had started their season with three successive defeats to Reading, Luton Town and Blackburn Rovers. After a humiliating 4-0 home loss to Blackburn, Derby hit back with a vital 1-0 victory at Norwich City last time out, with Wayne Rooney scoring the only goal of the game.
Watford have made a steady start, winning two of their opening four. However, Vladimir Ivic’s boys will want to respond from their 1-0 loss at Reading before the break. Can the Hornets leave Pride Park with maximum points?
After their crucial away victory in their last outing, we fancy the Rams to battle to a draw at home this Friday. There is good value in the draw and both teams to score at 7/2.
Derby County 12/5
Draw 23/10
Watford 6/5
* Bookmaker Unibet
Odds: 7/2 odds taken 1005 GMT, Friday 16 October
Blackburn Rovers vs. Nottingham Forest: Best Football League Betting Predictions
Chris Hughton takes charge of Nottingham Forest for the first time this Saturday. The Reds travel to Ewood Park to take on Tony Mowbray’s in-form Blackburn.
After narrowly losing at Bournemouth on the opening weekend, Blackburn beat Wycombe Wanderers 5-0 and Derby 4-0 in their next two. Last time out, though, Rovers were held to a 0-0 home draw by Cardiff City.
Sabri Lamouchi was sacked after Nottingham Forest crashed to their fourth straight defeat before the international break. On the same day as Lamouchi’s sacking, Hughton was unveiled as the new Forest boss.
Nottingham Forest have had a woeful season up until now, but we fancy them to grab a point at Ewood Park on Saturday. The 1-1 draw at 11/2 (Unibet) has caught our eye.
Blackburn Rovers 19/20
Draw 12/5
Nottingham Forest 3/1
* Bookmaker Unibet
Odds: 11/2 odds taken 1017 GMT, Friday 16 October
Brentford vs. Coventry City: EFL Championship Betting Odds & Predictions
On Saturday afternoon, Thomas Frank’s Brentford go head-to-head with Mark Robins’ Coventry City at the Brentford Community Stadium. After a shock home defeat last time out, the Bees will be desperate to bounce back with all three points at the weekend.
Brentford were 2-0 up at half time against Preston at the Brentford Community Stadium last time out. However, North End blew them away in the second period, scoring four without reply to leave London with a shock 4-2 win. That was the Bees’ first loss at their new home.
Coventry, last season’s EFL League One champions, have taken four points from their opening four league matches thus far. It has been a tough start for the Sky Blues, who were beaten 3-1 at St Andrew’s Trillion Trophy Stadium by Bournemouth last time out.
Brentford will want to hit back at the first time of asking after the horror show against Preston. In truth, Frank’s side should be too strong for Coventry on Saturday. Put a few quid on the hosts to be winning at half time and full time at 6/4.
Brentford 3/5
Draw 3/1
Coventry City 19/4
* Bookmaker Unibet
Odds: 6/4 odds taken 1027 GMT, Friday 16 October
Preston North End vs. Cardiff City: Best EFL Championship Betting Tips on Matchday 5
At Deepdale on Sunday afternoon, Alex Neil’s Preston welcome Neil Harris’ Cardiff to Lancashire. These two evenly matched teams on paper have both collected four points from four matches. Who will come out on top at Deepdale on Sunday?
As we touched on, Preston stunned Brentford last time out, coming from two goals down to win 4-2 at the Brentford Community Stadium. That was the Lilywhites’ first Championship victory of the season.
Cardiff have been a far better away side than at home under Harris. All four of the Bluebirds’ points have come away from the Cardiff City Stadium this term. The Welsh side won 2-0 at Nottingham Forest before holding in-form Blackburn to a 0-0 draw at Ewood Park last time out.
Preston will be buoyed by their superb victory in west London, but we fancy Cardiff to nick a narrow victory at Deepdale this weekend. You can get the generous price of 4/1 for Harris’ Bluebirds to win this one by one goal.
Preston North End 13/10
Draw 12/5
Cardiff City 21/10
* Bookmaker Unibet
Odds: 4/1 odds taken 2000 GMT, Friday 16 October
