EFL Championship Round 45 Preview: Norwich Need To Get Back To Winning Ways Against Blackburn

Meanwhile, Sheffield United host already relegated Ipswich while Leeds take on an in-form Aston Villa

The penultimate round in the EFL Championship gets underway this coming weekend and there are still plenty of story lines to develop. On the Saturday afternoon (27 April) league leaders Norwich must get back to winning ways against Blackburn Rovers, while Sheffield United take on already relegated Ipswich. The following afternoon, Leeds host the most in-form side in the division right now, Aston Villa.

First things first

Before you go any further, head on over to the Oddsshark website, find your favourite betting site and get your own account up and running using your credit card. As a new customer and with the EFL Championship campaign now in its final stretch, there should be a wide range of promotions and special offers available to you.

Where should I be investing my money?

First up, let’s start with the clash between Norwich and Blackburn. The Canaries have drawn their last four games in a row and have seen their lead at the top of the table cut down to just three points – they are still the favourites to win the league title however and are priced at just 1.28 to do so.

Blackburn, meanwhile, are in excellent recent form, having won their last four league matches on the bounce. A win here could take the Rovers as high as 10^th, depending on how other results go over the course of the weekend.

Nevertheless, it is Norwich who come into this match as the clear favourites to collect three vital points. You can back the table toppers to win at just 1.36, while Blackburn are out at 7.50 to do the same – a draw is priced in the middle at 5.00, according to Oddsshark.

And we think that this match could well end up honours even. A 1-1 draw is priced at 9.50, meaning that a US$5 bet would lead to a US$47.50 pay out, while you can more than double your money by backing under 2.5 goals in the game at 2.30.

Sheffield United host bottom club Ipswich

On the same afternoon, Sheffield United host Ipswich Town, who have already been relegated. The Blades are undefeated in their last five league games and now sit just three points off the top of the table – they are priced at 3.50 to win the league title this season.

Ipswich, in stark contrast, sit bottom of the pile have already been relegated to League One. They have won just four games all season, losing 24 and are scoring at a rate well under a goal a game – it has certainly been a season to forget for their supporters.

It is therefore of no surprise to see that it is Sheffield United who come into this match as the red hot favourites to take the points. You can back the Blades to win at just 1.20, while Ipswich are all the way out at 13.00 to record what would be a shock win on the road – a draw is priced in the middle at 6.50.

This could well be a rout. A 4-0 win for Sheffield United is priced competitively at 10.00, thereby offering a ten-fold return on any investment, while the Blades are at 5.50 to be ahead inside the first 10 minutes.

Leeds must take the points against Aston Villa

And finally, Leeds welcome Aston Villa to Elland Road on Sunday afternoon. The Yorkshire club have lost their last two league outings and are back in third place – they are now at 2.87 to be promoted back to the FA Premier League.

Villa, by way of comparison, are in blistering form. They have won their last 10 league matches in a row, climbing up to fifth place in the table in the process – like Leeds, they are also at 2.87 to win promotion back to the top flight, although for Villa it would be at the first time of asking.

However, it is Leeds who come into this match as the clear favourites to take what would be three hugely valuable points. You can back the home side to win at just 1.80, while Villa are out at 4.50 to do the same – a draw is priced in the middle at 3.50.

But we are expecting recent form to be key in this clash. A narrow, 2-1 win for Villa comes in at 15.00, meaning that a US$5 bet would lead to a US$75 pay out, while a combo bet of a Villa win, coupled with both teams to score, is at 8.00.

EFL Championship round 45 fixtures:

Saturday, 27 April

(2.10) Millwall x Stoke (3.30); draw (3.50)

(2.00) Birmingham City x Wigan Athletic (3.80); draw (3.30)

(4.75) Bolton x Brentford (1.70); draw (3.80)

(2.25) Bristol City x Derby County (3.10); draw (3.40)

(1.61) Middlesbrough x Reading (5.50); draw (3.80)

(1.36) Norwich City x Blackburn Rovers (7.50); draw (5.00)

(2.37) Preston North End x Sheffield Wednesday (2.90); draw (3.40)

(2.50) QPR x Nottingham Forest (2.62); draw (3.50)

(1.20) Sheffield United x Ipswich Town (13.00); draw (6.50)

(1.90) Swansea City x Hull City (3.80); draw (3.60)

(1.57) West Bromwich Albion x Rotherham United (5.50); draw (4.00)

Sunday, 28 April

(1.80) Leeds United x Aston Villa (4.50); draw (3.50)