Home and Away: Bluebirds eyeing title as they aim to make the most of home advantage

 

Jonno Turner takes us to Denmark and South Wales for two value picks today...

 

We're off to Denmark for our first pick of the day - as Esbjerg travel to Sonderjyske, looking to continue the excellent form which has seen them climb the Superliga of late.

 

Jess Thorup's side have not lost since re-starting following the winter break - and that makes three unbeaten on the road, and six without defeat home and away for the West Jutland side.

 

And they have kept an impressive four clean sheets from their last five outings, which shows just how comfortable they have found the last few weeks - a run of results which has lifted them to seventh in the table.

 

That is a decent return for the side which won the First Division last campaign, and they will be keen to maintain that form until the end of the season in order to pile the pressure on the top six.

 

Hosts Sonderjyske go into this clash in miserable form, having lost four of their last five since the restart - but it is the manner of those defeats which will most trouble boss Lars Sondergaard.

 

For the Vojens club have not even managed a goal in those losses - their only respite from that drought being a 5-0 thrashing of Silkeborg, which, going by other recent performances, we can treat as an anomoly.

 

And that makes a whopping 13 outings at the Haderslev Fotboldstadion without a win - which will have the SE faithful praying for a miraculous turnaround in form.

 

Sonderjyske now sit second bottom of the Superliga - and are in real danger of slipping out of the top flight unless they can pick up their results, and quick.

 

But unfortunately for the home side, I can't see them beating an Esbjerg side full of confidence and momentum.

 

Bet 1: Esbjerg (AWAY) @ 2.52

 

Back to more familiar climes now - and the English Championship, as Cardiff City host Barnsley at the Cardiff City Stadium.

 

Malky Mackay's side have set the pace at the top end of the second tier for much of the campaign, and will be desperate to cement their place at the summit - with a five point gap and a game in hand suggesting that promotion to the Premier League is now within touching distance for the Bluebirds.

 

And 17 unbeaten from 19 at home shows just how formidable the hosts have been on their own patch - a run of results which will give them confidence ahead of this clash.

 

Barnsley travel south west sitting 20th in the Championship - and are just one point outside the relegation zone ahead of this clash.

 

David Flitcroft's side have improved levels of consistency of late, and go into this one with just one loss in five - but their form away from Oakwell still leaves a lot to be desired, and they have not won in five on the road.

 

So tight is this division, that a couple of wins could move the Tykes up into a mid table position - but unfortunately for them, I can't see them leaving South Wales with anything but a loss.

 

Bet 2: Cardiff City (HOME) @ 1.67

 

Bet HERE

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