Championship Accumulator

We’ve got to that stage of the season when the sides you really want to be playing are the ones hovering around lower mid-table; they aren’t going up, they aren’t going down and their seasons look likely to peter out. Derby and Barnsley fit into that category, and we take them both to lose along with basement boys Doncaster on Tuesday night. Wins for Blackpool, Middlesbrough and Nottingham Forest come in at a best price of just under 6/1 with Coral.

First up, we look to Blackpool to continue their impressive form at Pride Park. The Seasiders are sitting fourth in the table after a run of six wins in 10 league outings. They have won their last three on their travels and should be boosted by the return of winger Matt Phillips for this one. Derby, on the other hand, will be missing their influential centre-half Jason Shackell for the first time this season. The Rams have picked up just three points from a possible 21 since 14 January.

Just behind Blackpool on goal difference, Middlesbrough should keep the pressure on the sides above them by beating Barnsley at the Riverside. The Teesside club have won three of their last four and have a strong record against teams below them in the table this season. The Tykes have faded with a run of one victory in six league outings and three defeats on the spin away from Oakwell. They haven’t had a good result in a fixture as tough as this for a couple of months.

Finally, I’m backing Nott’m Forest to continue their push away from the relegation dogfight when Doncaster Rovers come to the City Ground. Steve Cotterill’s side have finally put some daylight between themselves and the bottom three with two wins and a draw in their last three outings. The victory at Birmingham City was outstanding, with a draw at Barnsley a fine follow-up effort. The situation is looking dire for Donny, without a win in seven, and five points from safety. They have already lost six times away to other clubs in the bottom half of the Championship.

* Exact accumulator odds 5.88/1. (Coral).