IT’S a battle of the slow-starters in the Championship this weekend as winless Rotherham and Fulham fight it out for their first three points of the season.
The teams meet at the New York Stadium tomorrow having both suffered narrow defeats in this campaign’s opening fixtures. For bottom-of-the-table Rotherham, life at the tail end of the league is nothing new having avoided relegation last term by a slim margin.
Fulham on the other hand clocked a decent 3-0 win over Sheffield United in the League Cup on Tuesday and will be now looking to build some momentum if they are to stay in the Championship.
But we reckon tomorrow’s meeting will end as it did last year – a score draw – and think both sides will have to wait a little longer to record their first victory. Both teams to score and the game to finish a draw can be had at 41/10 with Marathonbet. If Rotherham nick a win at 37/25, let’s hope for no more sombrero antics from Millers boss Steve Evans.
To the top of the Championship and Brighton remain unbeaten. But they were dumped out of the League Cup against Walsall this week and we reckon The Seagulls could still be licking their wounds against a tough Ipswich side at Portman Road tomorrow.
Ipswich to win and both teams to score is our recommendation at 74/25. Stick both the above selections in a £10 double at just over 19/1 and you’ll return a cool £201.96. Drinks on you tomorrow night?
In League One, Blackpool have got off to a torrid start and are now joint-favourites for the drop. They host high-flyers Walsall tomorrow and the odds suggest The Saddlers are set for an easy win at 17/20. But there is value to be had with a Blackpool win or draw at evens.
The Seasiders have made 12 new signings this summer and the squad might just have needed a little time to gel. As for Walsall, five wins on the spin in all competitions is form of monster proportions. But all good things come to an end.
Down to League Two and Crawley seem to be finding their feet since a week two defeat to Wimbledon. They kept promotion favourites Portsmouth at bay when the south-coast club made the trip to the Checkatrade Stadium last week and could prove hard to break down again when Wycombe visit Sussex tomorrow.
A 0-0 draw is 37/5 but more value could be found backing Wycombe to win the first half and draw at full-time at 25/2.
Elsewhere, free-scoring Leyton Orient have a 100% win record so far this campaign and host Bristol Rovers at Brisbane Road tomorrow. The latter have recorded three wins on the bounce since their opening day defeat to Northampton and are also in fine form. We expect both teams to score at 39/50 and, if you’re an ambitious kind of punter, Orient to win 3-0 is 33/2.
