Foxes to maintain play-off push by stinging Hornets

 

Leicester need a win to maintain their bid to make the play-offs, and Jamie Dickenson is backing them to do so at home to Watford in his early look at the Championship  betting...

 

Leicester v Watford

Friday, 7.45pm (Live on Sky Sports 1)

Leicester City will hope to reignite their bid to make the Championship play-offs when they host Watford at the King Power Stadium on Friday night.

 

The Foxes were expected to challenge for the title at the beginning of the season, but currently lie in seventh a point off that last crucial play-off spot. But a win  over the Hornets would help them beat off competition from Bolton and Nottingham Forest.

 

Leicester are unbeaten in their last four, with an attack as sharp as Luis Suarez's bite with eight goals in those games. Nigel Pearson's side arrested a nine-game  winless slump by beating Bolton recently, and back in-form striker Chris Wood can help them to another three points by notching his third in as many games.

 

Watford look like falling just short for automatic promotion to the Premier League, unless they can overturn a four-point gap between themselves and second-place Hull  City in just two games. However, despite a strong away record this season Gianfranco Zola's side have lost their last two games on the road. Italian forward Fernando  Forestieri has stood out in a fading Hornets team towards the end of this campaign, but making the play-offs is better than most Watford fans expected at the start of  the season.

 

Watford are still the division's runaway top scorers with 82 goals in 44 games, and with Leicester needing goals at home Both Teams To Score looks a safe selection at  1.55.

 

Recommended Bets

Back Leicester at 1.95

Back Both Teams To Score at 1.55

 

Middlesbrough v Charlton

Saturday, 3pm

Free-falling Middlesbrough play Charlton at the Riverside on Saturday, knowing their play-off hopes are over for another season.

 

Boro's late collapse has been drastic, with 10 defeats from their last 14 games in all competitions. Tony Mowbray's side picked up just a point from a possible 21  between March 5 and April 13, undoing a campaign of impressive work. Three of their last four home games have seen them fail to score, and confidence is low on  Riverside. Middlesbrough recently cancelled the contract of longest-serving player Julio Arca after a troubled spell of injuries, and the club can only look forward to  next season now.

 

On the other hand, visitors Charlton are still in with an - albeit unlikely - chance of making the play-offs, but crucially are in much better form. Unbeaten in six,  the Addicks are making strides under manager Chris Powell and are fourth in the league table for away games. Charlton play well on the road, recently thumping Barnsley  6-0, and they could spring another surprise in the North-East.

 

Middlesbrough have lost two of their last four home games to nil, scoring just once in the process and with Charlton keeping four clean sheets in their last seven  matches an away Win To Nil could be on the cards at an appealing 4.75.

 

Recommended Bets

Back Charlton at 2.87

Back Charlton to Win To Nil at 4.75

 

Bristol City v Huddersfield

Saturday, 3pm

Huddersfield Town could secure their Championship status when they travel to face already relegated Bristol City at Ashton Gate.

 

Huddersfield have a three-point cushion ahead of relegation scrappers Peterborough, Wolves and Barnsley and would be all but safe with a win in Bristol. The Terriers  have won two of their last three, largely due to the selection of in-form striker Jermain Beckford. Beckford struck twice in the wins over Wolves and Millwall, but was  left on the bench as Town lost to Blackburn. Mark Robins will surely pick the ex-Everton striker in this important game, and he could be the difference between the two  sides.

 

Bristol City are already planning for life in League One, 10 points off their nearest rivals at the bottom of the league with only two games to go. Sean O'Driscoll has  taken over from Derek McInnes - who is now at Aberdeen - but no wins in seven suggest more of the same for the beleaguered Bristol club.

 

City have conceded 41 goals at home in the league this season, and with Huddersfield and Beckford in good goalscoring form the visitors could Score 2+ Goals at 2.2.

 

Recommended Bets

Back Huddersfield to win at 2.3

Back Huddersfield to Score 2+ Goals at 2.2

 

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