Rovers timing safety run to perfection

 

Mike Norman talks us through the best bets on the penultimate weekend of the Championship season, including why Blackburn look a good bet against out-of-form Crystal  Palace...

 

Blackburn 2.96 v Crystal Palace 2.62; The Draw 3.5

 

Approximately two months ago I recommended a wager on Blackburn to be relegated, and while there was ample opportunity to lock in a profit when they traded as low as  3.0, it's been a bit disappointing - purely from a selfish point of view - to see them drag themselves to safety.

 

My own financial reasons aside, massive credit has to go to caretaker boss Gary Bowyer for guiding his team to three victories from their last four games. Only a  miracle set of results over the last two games will see Rovers relegated, but for timing their 'run to safety' to perfection they perhaps deserve to stay up.

 

Two of Rovers' latest wins came at Ewood Park, a place where they are unbeaten in four games now so they must be full of confidence going into the game with Crystal  Palace today.

 

Palace have their own agenda of course, to find some form to take into the end of season play-offs - should they get there! I think they will get there (Bolton and  Forest have tough away games today while Leicester were beaten last night), but there's no denying Ian Holloway's men are one of the table's out-of-form sides  currently. It's no wins in seven now for the Eagles including three away defeats on the spin.

 

I'm making a confident and relaxed Rovers side my best bet of the day to take advantage of Palace's recent woes.

 

Recommended Bet: Back Blackburn to win @ 2.96 (best bet)

 

 

Cardiff 2.44 v Bolton 3.15; The Draw 3.55

 

I suppose much depends on how much partying Cardiff have done in the last week as to how they'll get on against Bolton, but I'm of the opinion that you have to take it  on trust that the champions will be professional, fair to the rest of the division, and play to the best of their ability today.

 

In other words, if they fail to win then I'd like to believe that it was because Bolton were good on the day rather than Cardiff being way below par.

 

But if Cardiff are on form then the 2.44 on offer for them to win looks an outstanding bet. They have been magnificent on home soil this season, winning 15 and losing just two of their 22 games, and while Bolton have been in good form lately, that form has generally been at the Reebook Stadium with their away form leaving much to be desired.

 

In fact The Trotters have won just four times away from home this season, and those victories all came against relegation-threatened clubs at the time - Blackburn,  Sheffield Wednesday, Barnsley, and Bristol City - meaning they haven't triumphed against anyone on their travels who currently sit in the top 14 of the table.

 

Fingers crossed that Cardiff are up for this then, because surely Bolton are at their mercy.

 

Recommended Bet: Back Cardiff to win @ 2.44

 

 

Wolves 2.22 v Blackburn 3.5; The Draw 3.5

 

It's such fine margins at this stage of the season. A win for Wolves today could turn out to be a fantastic result with Barnsley facing second-place Hull, and  Peterborough and Sheffield Wednesday facing each other in the tea-time kick-off. On the other hand, fail to win and Wolves could be on the brink of relegation if other  results go against them.

 

Whether other results go their way or not I'm happy to side with Wolves in this encounter because they have the ability to score goals. Only once in their last 12  outings have they failed to find the net and that's an impressive stat for a side in the relegation zone.

 

Dean Saunders' men obviously don't defend great then if they're not getting the wins to complement the goals they score, but with today's opponents Burnley without  their top-scorer Charlie Austin, they might not have to do too much defending. Two goals will probably win this, and I fancy Wolves to get them.

 

Five wins in their last nine games is mid-table form at least for Wolves, whereas Burnley have won just once in the same number of games. The home side's needs are  much greater, and that might just get them across the line.

 

Recommended Bet: Back Wolves to win @ 2.22

 

Bet HERE

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