Championship Accumulator

We look to three promotion candidates to win at home on Tuesday night when there’s a full round of Championship fixtures. Birmingham and Brighton are both in great form, while Middlesbrough should end their slump against lowly Nott’m Forest. BetVictor offer market leading odds of 7/1 on all three of those sides taking maximum points.

We start with a big game at St Andrews where third-placed Birmingham entertain sixth-placed Hull. The Tigers will offer a stern test but Chris Hughton’s team have passed plenty of those in 2012. The Blues have won six and drawn three of their last nine in the second tier and are still unbeaten on their own patch all season. They have significant momentum and incentive; now just five points off an automatic promotion spot with a game-in-hand.

Secondly we look to the Amex Stadium where Brighton and Hove Albion have won their last three. Gus Poyet’s troops rival Birmingham for the title of most in-form, as they too remain unbeaten in 2012. The Seagulls have won six and drawn three of their nine league and cup games since the turn of the year. They face a Millwall team who are peering over their shoulders at the relegation zone after a run of one win in seven league outings.

Our final pick takes a greater leap of faith because Middlesbrough are winless in their last six outings. Now down to ninth spot, the Teessiders are still right in the play-off mix, just two points behind Hull and Blackpool, with a game-in-hand on the Tangerines. Tony Mowbray will hope that a home game with relegation-threatened Forest is just what the doctor ordered to stop the rot.

Steve Cotterill’s side should be welcome visitors. The 1-1 home draw with Watford at the weekend ended a run of four straight defeats in all competitions. They have the joint worst goal-record in the division and have failed to score in nine of their last 12. We should expect Boro to get back on track against such vulnerable opponents.