Saturday Championship Tips: Blades will be far too sharp for lowly Bolton

Back Blades to run riot against Trotters

Sheff Utd 1.31 v Bolton 14.50; The Draw 5.70

Sheffield United seem to be going under the radar a little in the chase for automatic promotion but sit in third place just three points behind Norwich and could make inroads into the gap with the two sides above them facing off on Saturday evening. A 2-2 draw last weekend at Carrow Road followed a defeat in Swansea, but the Blades have won three-in-a-row at Bramall Lane and will see the visit of Bolton as a golden opportunity to add three more points to their tally.

After winning their first two away Championship matches this season, Bolton have no win in their last 12 on the road (D4, L8). It's not getting any better for the Trotters either, losing their last six away games in all competitions by a combined 15-4 scoreline.

Bolton earned their first point in four league matches against Reading in midweek as they levelled the match at 1-1 in the 90th minute after they had trailed in all departments for the majority of the game.

Phil Parkinson's side have scored just one goal in their last four league meetings with Sheffield United (W1, L3), with current Blades forward Gary Madine scoring the winner in December 2017. Madine signed for the Blades in the recent window and debuted against Norwich, but could be relegated to the bench with the likely return of David McGoldrick up front. McGoldrick has 10 goals in all competitions this season and with Billy Sharp (18) could add value to your betting slip.

Bolton are priced at 14.50 to win this game and big prices can tempt in a division which often offers surprises. But you simply cannot back the Trotters and taking Sheffield to win and do so comfortably is the way forward. Back Sheff Utd and over 3.5 match goals at 3.85.

Owls to pinch a close one

Ipswich 3.05 v Sheff Wed 2.70; The Draw 3.20

Wednesday have lost only one in their last six matches but it feels like a season of treading water. They have moved clear of relegation by 11 points and wait for Steve Bruce to take control in a far more healthy state than existed a few weeks ago.

Ipswich are relegated in all but mathematics. They have won just three times all season, but one bright spot is they did win their last home game against Rotherham and could secure back-to-back home league wins for the first time since December 2017.

Wednesday have won just one of their last eight away league games (D2, L5), winning 1-0 at Middlesbrough in December. Both Teams To Score has landed in 11 of the last 12 encounters between these two sides including the Owls' 2-1 win in the reverse fixture in August. But with neither side in fine fettle in front of goal that trend may not be worth following on Saturday.

I'd prefer to side with Sheffield Wednesday to sneak a low scoring encounter. Wednesday to win and under 1.5 match goals is a very tempting [7.58].

Hull to make it five-in-a-row at home

Hull 2.64 v Stoke 3.00; The Draw 3.40

The head-to-head stats between Hull and Stoke favour the visitors wth Hull winning just one of their last 15 league matches against Stoke (D6, L8) and Stoke winning each of their last four league matches against Hull by an aggregate 8-1 scoreline.

But this is a different Hull side that Nigel Adkins has assembled. They have won their last four home Championship matches, scoring 14 goals and conceding only two. They last won five in a row at the KCOM Stadium in January 2016.

The gloss came off Hull's recent run of successes when they were beaten comprehensively by Blackburn last weekend, but that defeat should be viewed as a blip and, with six points between them and the playoffs, there is a lot to play for over the coming weeks.

Stoke have endured a torrid season. Pre-season favourites to bounce back to the Premier League they will know that a failure to get straight back to the promised land could spell a lengthy period at a lower level. One only has to look at the size of some of the clubs they are competing against this season to know that Premier League football is not something that can be taken for granted

Stoke have no wins in the last six away Championship fixtures and have failed to score in four of their last six Championship games. Their fourth loss in six matches came at the hands of Preston last weekend and new manager Nathan Jones has his work cut out to take anything positive from this season.

Hull's home form is the key to this one and it's tough to see the Potters getting anything from this game. Jarrod Bowen has scored in each of the last three home wins and I'm once again taking Bowen to score in a Hull win at [4.95]. It's a bet that has served us well in recent weeks.

Take the Sheff Utd, Sheff Wed and Hull treble at [8.12]

RECOMMENDED BETS

Back Sheffield Utd and over 3.5 match goals at 3.85 (best bet)

Back Sheffield Wed to win and under 1.5 match goals is a very tempting [7.58]

Back Jarrod Bowen to score in a Hull win at [4.95]

Take the Sheff Utd, Sheff Wed and Hull treble at [8.12]