Boxing Day Best Bets: Championship tips for the festive fixtures | OneFootball

EFL Championship

Chris Wilder will be hoping his side can keep yet another clean sheet

The Championship action comes thick and fast during the festive period and Jack Critchley has used the Betfair Sportsbook to pick out his ten best bets from the second tier...

Sheffield United vs Burnley

High-flying duo to cancel one another out

Sheffield United kept yet another clean sheet at the weekend as they predictably breezed past struggling Cardiff. The Blades have kept five clean sheets in their last six and have conceded just twice in front of their own fans so far this season. Chris Wilder's men have hosted just one of the top six teams so far, somehow scrambling past Sunderland at the end of November. The Blades back-line has been superb this campaign with goalkeeper Michael Cooper having also caught the eye several times. They also have plenty of quality going forward, yet they've only managed to score 3+ goals twice so far and may struggle to break down Burnley's stubborn rearguard.

The Clarets were victorious against Watford at the weekend with Scott Parker's men making it six wins from eight. The Lancastrians have already left Elland Road with maximum points and will fancy their chances of executing the perfect away performance once again. During his tenures at Bournemouth and Fulham, Parker had a very respectable record against fellow top-six sides and he is still unbeaten as a manager against Sheffield United. They will look to take the sting out of the game and frustrate the hosts as much as possible. This is likely to be cagey and low-scoring.

Coventry vs Plymouth

Defensive issues to plague both sides

Frank Lampard's good start at the CBS is in danger of being forgotten. The former midfielder was unable to stop his side from slumping to an alarming 4-1 defeat at Fratton Park at the weekend with the Sky Blues making a number of defensive errors. Although they do tend to be better here, they have conceded the joint second-highest number of home goals in the division (16) and haven't kept a clean sheet here since October 1st. At the other end of the pitch, Ephron Mason-Clark's form is a positive development and Jack Rudoni has looked sharp.

Plymouth almost took maximum points off Middlesbrough at the weekend. Wayne Rooney's men have looked far more positive and adventurous in recent weeks and they also emerged from their 2-0 defeat at Bramall Lane with plenty of credit. Conceding goals remains an issue and they have shipped 17 in their last five outings. This could be yet another crazy contest with plenty of entertainment for both sets of fans.

Norwich vs Millwall

A rare low-scoring contest at Carrow Road

Norwich's form has taken a nosedive in recent weeks with the Canaries having failed to win any of their last four matches. Johannes Hof Thorup's side have won just two of their last 13 matches and injuries have derailed their play-off hopes. The hosts tend to play easy-on-the-eye football, yet they are unlikely to be allowed to dictate against Millwall on Boxing Day. The Lions are still searching for a new manager following the departure of Neil Harris and they will not make this easy for the hosts. They have a penchant for binary results this season with eight of their last 11 games ending 1-0 and the remaining three finishing 1-1. Japhet Tanganga has been the standout performer, although Murray Wallace has slipped in seamlessly alongside the former Spurs man. Millwall still need more going forward, yet they will fancy their chances of taking at least a point back to Bermondsey.

Blackburn vs Sunderland

Points shared at Ewood Park

Blackburn's stunning run of form came to a crashing halt in injury time at the weekend as John Eustace's side were defeated 1-0 by Millwall. That strike was the first goal that Rovers have conceded since November 9th and they have managed to keep a clean sheet in six of their last eight matches at this venue. Unfortunately, Lewis Travis and Harry Pickering both picked up injuries at the weekend with Rovers forced to play the remainder of the match with a man disadvantage. Eustace's favoured 4-2-3-1 has proven effective and his side will aim to stop the visitors from getting shots off.

Sunderland have won three of their last four and their early season form is showing very few signs of tailing off. Jobe Bellingham has been leading the charge and they remarkably came back from 2-0 down to beat Swansea earlier in the month. Nevertheless, their form on the road hasn't been as strong and they have failed to win four of their last five away from the Stadium of Light. They've also drawn six of their last ten overall and they may have to settle for another draw on Boxing Day.

Bristol City vs Luton

Entertaining afternoon at Ashton Gate

Bristol City were defeated at the Hawthorns on Sunday and have hit a bad patch of form. Liam Manning's men have won just one of their last seven and have picked up just a single home victory since September 21st (vs Plymouth). Finding a regular goalscorer has been an issue for the Robins with Fally Mayulu struggling to find his feet at this level and Nahki Wells rarely playing a full 90 minutes. They will fancy their chances of beating a side who have been woeful on the road this season, yet they are difficult to trust at this stadium.

Rob Edwards potentially saved his job with a much-needed victory over Derby at Kenilworth Road on Friday night. The Hatters have had an extra 48 hours to prepare, so the players should be well-rested ahead of this fixture. They haven't enjoyed much success on their travels recently, but their strikers - Carlton Morris and Elijah Adebayo - are both in good form and they should be able to find the back of the net here.

Swansea vs QPR

Festive cheer for Cifuentes' men

Swansea produced one of their worst performances of the season at the weekend as they fell to a defeat at the MKM Stadium to previously out-of-form Hull. There is a vulnerability to Luke Williams' side and his decision to omit Goncalo Franco was questioned by some supporters. The Welsh side haven't kept a clean sheet since the beginning of November and they have conceded five goals across their last two.

QPR came from a goal down to collect three points against Preston at the weekend and extended their unbeaten run to seven matches. Cifuentes' men have conceded just three goals during that sequence of matches and they will be tough to beat on Thursday afternoon. In Rayan Kolli they appear to have unearthed a natural goalscorer and the 19-year-old is likely to be a prominent figure in this festive fixture.

Oxford vs Cardiff

Rowett to pick up at least a point on debut

Oxford are dropping like a stone and they have turned to former Birmingham and Derby gaffer Gary Rowett. He will be aiming to stop the rot on Boxing Day at the Kassam with the Yellows having been handed a potentially winnable tie. Although they have lost three of their last five here, their home form hasn't been too bad overall and Rowett will make his side typically tough to beat. He tends to have an instant impact and won his first game in charge at Millwall. He also went unbeaten in his first four at Derby and started his first spell at Birmingham with a 0-0 draw against Wolves.

Cardiff are struggling and they are winless in eight. Omer Riza has been unable to turn the tide and he desperately needs a victory on Thursday. Unfortunately, his side are conceding far too many goals and they have shipped exactly two in each of their last five.

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