Wednesday Championship tips: Blades need to bounce back after Coventry hammering

The EFL midweek action continues with more Championship games on Wednesday night - here's our selection of the best bets, with all matches kicking-off at 7:45pm.

Blackpool vs Sheffield United

Sheffield United have been flying into the second half of this season as they have found the form that evaded them after their relegation from the Premier League to win seven of their last 12 games.

During that run, which stretched back to January 22, what was most impressive was that they had conceded only two goals - that was until Coventry, a side that had been struggling to score goals, banged four past them at the weekend.

The Blades will be hoping that was a blip, but this would be a bad time for their form to drop off. Blackpool are a decent side, particularly at home, and with things so tight in the Championship playoff places, yet an automatic place likely beyond them, United, who have four of their next five games at home, will be anxious not to lose too much ground on the sides around them.

Recommended bet: draw @ 3.25

Luton Town vs Preston North End

The look in the eye of Luton boss Nathan Jones at the end of Sunday’s loss to QPR - after they had been in front at half-time - more than hinted that the home dressing room will have been an uncomfortable place to be after the match. He will expect a reaction from his players in the home match against Preston, and so do I.

Prior to that match, Luton had been on a sensational run of form, having moved up from the bottom half to the playoff places. Partly that was a case of catching up on matches that had been postponed because of Covid. But the key point was that they tended to win them.

Preston got a point away to Cardiff at the weekend, but an away trip all the way to Luton in midweek is really only one for the die-hard fans. The Lilywhites are a much better team than they were earlier in the season, but ‘comfortably mid-table’ is really the summit of their ambitions and they will struggle to contain a charged-up Luton side.

Recommended bet: Luton win to nil @ 3.2

Nottingham Forest face QPR at the City Ground, in what is expected to be a tight game

Millwall vs Huddersfield Town

Millwall and Huddersfield draw a lot. Both have drawn 12 times this season, a number in the Championship only beaten by Preston. 

It is Millwall's inability to turn draws into wins that has been the main reason they have not emerged as more serious playoff contenders this season. A run of five wins recently pushed them to the verge of the top six, but two draws since - admittedly against good teams in Blackburn Rovers and Middlesbrough - has given them ground to make up again. But they are a difficult team to beat, only the top three in the Championship have lost fewer matches.

Huddersfield have been the best team in the Championship (Fulham excepted) since the turn of the year. But there have been signs that all might not be going fantastically after they lost to Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup last week, and then threw away a two-goal lead at West Brom.

That result saw them drop behind Bournemouth in the race for second place and the Cherries also have games in hand. The Den is not an easy place to come in midweek and it is likely to be a tight match with few chances.  

Recommended bet: draw @ 3.1

Nottingham Forest vs QPR

QPR breathed some life back into their season by coming from behind to win 2-1 away to Luton on Sunday. Having been challenging for one of the automatic promotion places at the end of January, a disappointing run from a string of very winnable games saw them slip out of the playoff places.

Their first-half performance on Sunday was more of the same but they scrapped for a result, which moved them back up to fourth. Forest can blow hot and cold, but after enduring a poor start to the season they are more than a match for anyone in the Championship.

The key here might well be how the game sets up and while QPR were free-scorers earlier in the season, getting the ball in the net has been more difficult of late. And having got a win at the weekend, they are likely to come to the City Ground - a stadium where they have only won once in their history - looking for a draw. Expect them to set up tight, with chances for either side at a premium.

Recommended bet: under 1.5 goals @ 3.35

Peterborough United vs Swansea City

It is difficult to put much faith in Peterborough this season, and the sad fact is that they have not won a league match this year. So it is no surprise that they have dropped behind Derby and Barnsley at the foot of the table.

All is not lost, however, as they are only six points off Reading in fourth bottom spot. They lost their first two matches after Grant McCann returned to take over as manager again, but have drawn their last two. On Saturday, it took an injury-time penalty to earn a point at home to Stoke City, which they will hope could be a turning point for them.

A midweek home game against a Swansea side marooned in the safety of mid-table screams now or never for Peterborough, especially when their next three games are away at QPR, and then at home to Middlesbrough and Luton. 

Recommended bet: Peterborough win @ 3.65 

Recommended bets

Blackpool/Sheff Utd draw @ 3.25

Luton win to nil @ 3.2

Millwall/Huddersfield draw @ 3.1

Forest/QPR under 1.5 goals @ 3.35

Peterborough @ 3.65