football | Friday, May 5, 2023 12:26 PM

Championship Best Bets: May 8th - Value Picks for Six Matches In Bumper Final Day Preview

Jack Wright

Championship Best Bets: Monday, May 8th

We are back with more Championship best bets ahead of the fixtures this Monday, May 8th. After nine months of captivating action involving 45 rounds of matches, we have arrived at the final day of the Championship season.

With both the automatic promotion and relegation battles sorted, attention turns to the five clubs left to fill the two remaining playoff places.

Strange things can happen on Match Day 46 and we put six of Bank Holiday Monday’s games under the microscope here, with a best bet in each.

In this article:

Burnley vs Cardiff Preview & Best Bet
Middlesbrough vs Coventry Preview & Best Bet
Millwall vs Blackburn Preview & Best Bet
Norwich vs Blackpool Preview & Best Bet
QPR vs Bristol City Preview & Best Bet
Wigan vs Rotherham Preview & Best Bet

Burnley vs Cardiff Preview

Monday, May 8th, 15:00 (UK)

One of the hardest things in writing about Burnley this season is finding new superlatives to describe them! Despite securing promotion and then the title the Clarets continue to sweep their opponents aside. Bristol City the latest victims in a 2-1 win for the champions at Ashton Gate. There remains one landmark and that will be reached by Vincent Kompany seeing his side claim their 29th win of what has been a sensational campaign. With 98 points on the board, it would be a fitting send off for the home side to hit the magical three figures.

Cardiff had their Championship status confirmed before they were in action over the weekend. Reading’s draw with Wigan meant it was mission accomplished for Sabri Lamouchi. The former Parma, Monaco and French international midfielder was third manager lucky for the Bluebirds this term. Replacing Steve Morison’s successor Mark Hudson in January the former Ivory Coast national team manager steadily improved his side. Picking up a crucial seven points from their last four games to clamber to safety.

Burnley vs Cardiff Best Bet

Expect an open and entertaining contest at Turf Moor. Cardiff will travel with confidence having won three of their last four on the road. Although claiming another win here may be a step too far. The fact Burnley will be rotated, lost to a woeful QPR side here and conceded two goals at Rotherham will add to the visitors’ positive attitude. Sory Kaba has been the Bluebirds’ end-of-season talisman. Firing in seven goals in 10 games before being rested to the bench on Sunday. The Guinean has had at least one shot on target in 11 of his last 14 appearances at an average of 1.12 per 90 minutes.

Selection: Sory Kaba over 0.5 shots on target (TRACKED BET)
Best Odds: 2.50 (bet365)
Stakes: 5/10

More Burnley vs Cardiff Tips

Middlesbrough vs Coventry Preview

Monday, May 8th, 15:00 (UK)

Middlesbrough are guaranteed to finish 4th in the final Championship table regardless of Monday’s final scores. As a result, Michael Carrick has been rotating his squad to keep them fresh ahead of their upcoming playoff campaign. One certain change will be replacing Anfernee Dijksteel who was sent off in the first half of last Monday’s defeat to Rotherham. Boro’s boss was philosophical in defeat but he knows bigger challenges lay ahead.

Coventry breezed through what could have been a tricky Midlands derby against Birmingham last weekend. A first career goal for academy graduate Josh Eccles opened the scoring. With Viktor Gyokeres firing in his 21st league goal of the season from the spot to seal the three points. The Sky Blues have a strong grip on a playoff place but a point here would guarantee it. Mark Robins declared himself proud of his confident side after the final whistle. While Gyokeres grabs all the headlines his boss made sure to acknowledge the remarkable achievement of keeping 20 clean sheets.

Middlesbrough vs Coventry Best Bet

This is very likely to be a dress rehearsal for the playoff semi final. While Middlesbrough will field something of a shadow side, Coventry can take no such chances. As a result, we should see a positive result from the away team and when that is the case Viktor Gyokeres is usually at the heart of it. A league high 31 goal contributions is testament to that. He can fire his side another step closer to the Premier League here.

Selection: Viktor Gyokeres to Score Anytime
Best Odds: 2.75 (bet365)
Stakes: 5/10

More Middlesbrough vs Coventry Tips

Millwall vs Blackburn Preview

Monday, May 8th, 15:00 (UK)

Millwall edged a five-goal thriller in their last outing to clamber back inside the playoff places. Zion Flemming’s 75th-minute penalty gave his side a two-point cushion over a trio of chasing clubs. With their destiny now back in their own hands and on home soil the Lions will fancy their chances of hanging on to that much coveted 6th position.

Blackburn are the furthest back of that trio of clubs hunting down Gary Rowett’s men. They at least know they are the only one of the three chasers that have the power to influence the Millwall result. Although a win in the Lion’s Den would still need to be accompanied by results going for them elsewhere. Jon Dahl Tomasson’s side showed their fighting spirit as recently as Monday. Hayden Carter’s 86th-minute headed equaliser against Luton keeps their playoff dream alive heading into the final day.

Millwall vs Blackburn Best Bet

Both these sides have stuttered at just the wrong time. Millwall’s win at Blackpool was only their second in their last eight league games. While a serious case of draw-itis has derailed Blackburn’s bid to finish in the top six. Rovers haven’t won since March 15th a run of eight games. Proving tough to beat however, having shared the spoils in five of their last six. Although unlikely to be helpful to either side here a draw looks the most likely outcome.

Selection: Full Time Result will be a Draw
Best Odds: 3.75 (bet365)
Stakes: 5/10

More Millwall vs Blackburn Tips

Norwich vs Blackpool Preview

Monday, May 8th, 15:00 (UK)

After an abysmal run of form Norwich’s playoff hopes were finally ended at the Hawthorns last weekend. Following a promising start of six wins in his opening nine games in charge David Wagner has overseen just one victory from the last 10 Championship fixtures. Raising questions as to whether he is the right man to lead a refresh and reset of the Canaries this summer. Befitting of a manager under pressure, Wagner bemoaned a couple of refereeing decisions that went against his team. However, he will surely know his side have not been good enough for the majority of this disappointing campaign back in the second tier.

Swansea legend Stephen Dobbie simply ran out of time in his quest to save Blackpool’s Championship status. Despite equalising twice in that thriller against promotion-chasing Millwall the Tangerines fell to defeat by the odd goal in five and now must prepare for life in League One.

Norwich vs Blackpool Best Bet

In a fixture that will see the Norwich faithful bid a final farewell to the departing club legend Teemu Pukki, this could get ugly. An “Enough is Enough – we deserve better” fans protest is planned before the game. But if the action on the pitch goes against the home side expect the atmosphere to turn toxic inside the stadium too.

Two wins in their last four league games illustrates that interim manager Stephen Dobbie has had a positive impact on his side. He will look to take that momentum into next season’s promotion bid and a win against one of the pre-season title favourites could secure him the job on a full time basis.

Norwich haven’t scored in any of their last four home games of which they have lost three. Tasting defeat seven times from their last 12 league games at Carrow Road. Those stats should give Dobbie enough hope his side will at least outperform their big odds.

Selection: Blackpool to Win (TRACKED BET)
Best Odds: 6.50 (bet365)
Stakes: 2/10

More Norwich vs Blackpool Tips

QPR vs Bristol City Preview

Monday, May 8th, 15:00 (UK)

QPR fans breathed a collective sigh of relief last weekend as their Championship status was officially retained. It has to be said it hasn’t been pretty but Gareth Ainsworth will likely take that for now given what looked like an uncontrollable tailspin his side was in. Following a run of 10 defeats in 12 games, the R’s have recorded back-to-back wins in a mini unbeaten sequence of three fixtures. Both victories came as a result of just 20% possession and pass completion hovering around the 50% mark.

Defeat to Burnley last weekend was a third in Bristol City’s last four league games. Nigel Pearson was complimentary towards the Clarets but also took positives from his own side’s performance. Pleased with the fact his team now have a clear identity but more so to see them playing with much-improved fitness levels. He will be desperate to sign off this season with a win.

QPR vs Bristol City Best Bet

End-of-season dead rubbers often produce goals as the pressure valve is released. That will certainly be the case at Loftus Road on Monday with the home side having played with a dark cloud over them for much of 2023. Four of the last five meetings between these two sides have ended 2-1 including each of the last three. This game can follow that familiar trend.

Selection: Over 2.5 goals (TRACKED BET)
Best Odds: 1.80 (William Hill)
Stakes: 6/10

More QPR vs Bristol City Tips

Wigan vs Rotherham Preview

Monday, May 8th, 15:00 (UK)

Wigan looked like keeping their tiny chance of avoiding the drop alive last weekend when taking the lead at Reading with less than 10 minutes left on the clock. However, a Yakou Meite equaliser three minutes into injury time means both sides will ply their trade in the third tier next term. With results going against them it turned out even holding on for a third successive win would not have been enough to take their survival battle to the last day.

Rotherham took advantage of Middlesbrough’s rotation due to already booking their playoff place and a first half red card. The 1-0 victory ended a five-game winless run and meant the Millers will be playing Championship football again next season. Matt Taylor was delighted to have overseen a successful survival campaign. Something the club could not achieve in each of its previous three first seasons following promotion to the second tier.

Wigan vs Rotherham Best Bet

Taking over with the Latics four points adrift at the bottom of the table Shaun Maloney has done a solid job at Wigan. With the three points deduction making his task even tougher the 40-year-old was unable to save the club from relegation. But suffering just six defeats in his 17-game tenure so far with only one of those at home suggests some added resilience and shoots of recovery.

Wigan have picked up seven points from their last three games and will be keen to take some positive momentum into next season. Rotherham’s vital win against Middlesbrough came at the cost of injuries to Chiedozie Ogbene and Shane Ferguson. The Millers travel knowing their survival mission has been successfully completed and “boasting” the second worst away record in the league. Taylor’s side look ripe for the taking here at the DW Stadium.

Selection: Wigan to Win
Best Odds: 2.15 (Betfred)
Stakes: 5/10

More Wigan vs Rotherham Tips

Best odds available as at 01:00 May 5th 2023. Odds may now differ.

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