It's week two of the Championship season. Because Wigan are in action against Man United at Wembley this weekend, it's only the 11 games on, but there's still all the unpredictability and chaotic cluelessness that the opening weeks of the Championship bring you. Two of the relegated clubs who won at home last week, have their resolve to get back up tested with a trickier away match. Forest, Watford and Leicester will want to back up their promotion ambitions with a week two win, after coming out victorious in their opening matches. In the pick of the other games, Brighton will want to get their first win under Oscar Garcia, after being embarrassed in the cup in midweek. I've got the task of calling these games, just wish me luck...
Blackburn vs. Nottm Forest
Gary Bowyer made eight changes for Blackburn's game at Carlisle, which might have been a good move, seeing as Forest have an extra day to prepare. I watched Blackburn’s game at Derby on Sunday, they showed great spirit to snatch a draw late on, and perhaps deserved to win. Nottm Forest have won their first two, but for both games they were comfortable favourites, a trip to Blackburn will provide a much sterner test. I’m going to back Rovers for their home form of last season, they’ll win 2-1.
Blackpool vs. Barnsley
I could see a few goals in this, not because of the quality in attack, but due to the lack of it in defence. I could see both teams struggling at the back this season, as Barnsley took a home pasting on the opening day, and Blackpool have lost 3 first choice defenders. A draw would be a good result for Barnsley to push away the possibility of getting into a cycle of defeats, whilst for Blackpool, it would be a missed opportunity to build on their win from the opening day. I’m seeing 2-2, but in a scrappy game of defensive mishaps.
Bolton vs. Reading
I watched the first half of Bolton’s game at Burnley before heading off to the Blues, they were fortunate to go in level at half-time. As with most teams in the speculated promotion race, it’s in the balance whether Bolton can get up and running quickly. Reading, unlike the Trotters, were granted a bye for the first round of the Capital One Cup. They’ve had all week to prepare, and I believe Adkins will look to attack Bolton more because of this. I think the Royals can capture a 1-3 win.
Brighton vs. Derby
Oscar Garcia hasn’t done himself any favours by losing his first two matches in charge, the second at home to League Two Newport County! It was exactly the start he didn’t need, considering the circumstances in which previous manager Gus Poyet was dismissed, the pressure is immediately on him. Derby missed the opportunity to start their season on a high, by conceding a late equalizer at home, which supports my prediction that it’ll be another midtable season for them. A 1-1 draw, which neither side would be too pleased with.
Charlton vs. Middlesbrough
The pleasing thing about Charlton’s 4-0 win over Oxford, was that they changed their whole outfield team. That will create healthy competition within the squad, as players will have to fight for their places. The worrying thing about Middlesbrough’s defeat to Accrington, was that they didn’t. They played much of their first team, yet still at home lost to League Two relegation candidates. A concerning trend at Middlesbrough could be developing, in that they seem to be carrying on their form from the 2nd half of last season, when they went on a number of winless runs. If they don’t get a win here or next week at home to Blackpool, Mowbray’s position as manager may start to come under scrutiny. 2-0.
Huddersfield vs. QPR
QPR got off to the right start by beating Sheffield Wednesday, but one match doesn’t change my mind that it’ll be a disappointing season for them. Huddersfield, embarking on their first full season under Mark Robins, are in the process of fine-tuning their attack and managed to see off cup finalists Bradford on Tuesday, with goals from their new front man James Vaughan. Maybe QPR will have the edge in this game, but more difficult trips to home specialists Bolton and Leeds await later in August, and that will be the big early test for the Rs. 1-2.
Ipswich vs. Millwall
A goalless draw seems the most obvious outcome when two teams, with the best defensive record in the bottom half last season, go head-to-head but it might not be as simple as that. Both teams have bought a number of players in the summer, and Millwall have a new manager. Ipswich probably had the level of Reading last week, but only a partially rotated XI lost 2-0 at Stevenage. Lomas reduced some of the pressure already put on him by winning in midweek, but I’d say Ipswich for a narrow 1-0 win. They’ll want to bounce back from the Stevenage result quickly, and I reckon Mick McCarthy will make sure they do.
Sheff Wed vs. Burnley
Gabriel Just as Burnley lose a goalscorer, Wednesday may have found one. Wildcard Atdhe Nuhiu (spellchecker off) got off to a positive start, getting the goal at QPR and he may become the goalscorer his team desperately lacked at times last season. Losing at rivals Rotherham could give them a kick up the backside going into this game. Burnley fielded a strong team at York and were rewarded with a handsome victory, but I still worry that they haven’t come close enough to replacing Charlie Austin, who scored nearly half their goals last season. I’ll go for a narrow win for Sheffield Wednesday.
Watford vs. Bournemouth
Bournemouth beat Charlton at home, which they perhaps needed to with Watford this week, and then Wigan next. It means they can go into these two games with more of a ‘nothing-to-lose’ mentality. It’s clear from the 76 goals they scored in League One last season, that they like to attack and press teams. This, I think will feed into Watford’s hands. They are brilliant at hitting teams on the counter, and do too much playacting when opponents so much as look at them in a nasty way, let alone close them down. I’d expect Watford to book their place in the early promotion picture, by getting a 3-1 win to take them to 6 points.
Yeovil vs. Birmingham
I’m going down to this, but I think we’ve picked completely the wrong time to play Yeovil. They won their opener at Millwall, and this is their first ever home game in the second tier in the club’s history. I think they'll be right up for it, whereas a lot of our players had to play extra time against Plymouth, and we're still getting used to our 3-5-2 system. I can't see us grabbing a goal because we're looking very blunt up front at the moment, as hard as Novak and Green work, and Yeovil are yet to concede after two games. Paddy Madden scored 22 goals for them last season, so I think he'll get their goal. 1-0 to the Glovers, but I very much hope I’m wrong.
Leicester vs. Leeds
Both teams, hoping for a play-off place this season, got off to good starts with 2-1 wins. Leicester didn’t buy much over the summer, but it’s occurred to me that perhaps this will suit them. After a number of managers and overhauls of the playing staff over the previous 10 years, their team needs stability more than anything else under Pearson, and now he’s had a full season to get to know the squad. Leeds’ away form was their major problem last season, and as their new manager, McDermott would need to nip that in the bud if Leeds’ claims for a play-off place are to become genuine. 2-1.
No comments:
Post a Comment