Midweek Championship Tipsheet: Rams to ease past Robins at the Ipro

Derby 1.61 v Bristol City 6.60; The Draw 4.40

Despite needing a late equaliser to secure a point against top-of-the-table Brighton on Saturday Derby remain one of the 'form' sides in the Championship and rate a good bet to beat Bristol City on Tuesday night.

The Rams haven't lost at the Ipro Stadium since August, so we know they're a very strong side in front of their own fans, but one of the most telling aspects of their victories this season is the relative ease in which they are being achieved.

When Paul Clement's men are on top form they don't tend to take their foot off the gas, evidenced by the fact that six of their last eight wins have been by at least at two-goal margin.

Bristol City recorded their first win in five on Saturday, winning 1-2 at fellow strugglers Huddersfield in a game that paid out on our Over 2.5 Goals recommendation. But prior to that game The Robins had really struggled for goals, scoring just three in the seven games that preceded their trip to the John Smith Stadium.

Steve Cotterill's men had also failed to find the back of the net in their last three away games prior to Saturday, failing to score away at struggling Rotherham and Bolton no less, so now at the home of a bang-in-form title-chasing side I follow expect another two-goal victory (or bigger) for Derby.

Recommended Bet
Back Derby -1 Win @ 2.80 (best bet)

Middlesbrough 1.98 v Burnely 4.70; The Draw 3.50

Middlesbrough's home game against Burnley made lots of appeal as a betting proposition as it instantly screamed low-scoring.

It seems I'm not the only bettor who is thinking this way however, as Under 2.5 Goals trades at just 1.60 to back, and that's not my sort of price at all in this division. Move on I thought, but not first without looking at what price Boro are to record yet another clean sheet.

Imagine my delight then when I saw that 2.28 was being offered. What's all that about? Surely it should be odds-on?

Like last season Aitor Karanka's men have the best defence in the Championship. They've already kept an extremely impressive 13 clean sheets this term (all competitions), and that's more than any professional club in England. Since losing at Hull nearly six weeks ago Boro haven't conceded a single goal in the Championship, shutting-out decent sides like QPR, Ipswich, and Birmingham in that time.

In addition to the above, Karanka's men haven't conceded a league goal at the Riverside Stadium for over three months, and their overall record in front of their own fans is played 10, conceded two.

True, Burnley are a decent side and will pose a live threat to Middlesbrough's defence, but I think Sean Dyche's men play a very similar type of game in that they defend strongly first and foremost. The Clarets' record away from home at the bigger clubs this season is also significant - 0-0 at Derby, 0-0 at Wolves, 0-0 at QPR for example, and they also failed to score at Ipswich in a 2-0 defeat.

So expect another game on Tuesday night with defences dominating, and although the 'Unders' bet really should land, the price for another clean sheet to the home side looks a tad too big.

Recommended Bet
Back Middlesbrough Clean Sheet @ 2.28

Preston 2.16 v Birmingham 4.10; The Draw 3.40

For the want of not sounding like a broken record I'll keep this one quite brief, but I do believe that Birmingham are slightly over-priced to win at Preston.

Gary Rowett's men have been one of the best away sides in the Championships for a few seasons now (I won't repeat the stats) and they continue to be better away from home this term.

Yes, Brum are on a winless run of four games but they performed very well in a 2-1 defeat at top-of-the-table Brighton a few weeks ago and they did likewise at highflying Middlesbrough on Saturday in grinding out a goalless draw.

Rowett was delighted with the way his men performed in the north east, having this to say after the game, "that's as good an away performance as we've had all season, and that's saying a lot with the way we've played away this season."

Preston have found a bit of form, winning back-to-back games against Reading and Burnley in the last few weeks, but they've won just two of their 10 league games at Deepdale and that record alone makes them far too short at just 2.16 for my liking.

Against one of the division's best away sides - one that scored five at Fulham recently and who are just two points off a play-off place - I fancy North End will struggle to take all three points from this fixture, in fact, at 4.10 to back Birmingham look well worth a wager to leave Lancashire with the win.

Recommended Bet
Back Birmingham to Win @ 4.10