It’s the penultimate weekend of the 2022/23 Championship campaign with nine fixtures scheduled on Saturday.
Burnley finally clinched the title on Tuesday evening with victory at local rivals Blackburn Rovers, leaving the Clarets on course to join an exclusive list of clubs that have achieved 100+ points in the second tier.
Sheffield United also sealed their return to the Premier League by defeating West Bromwich Albion on Wednesday, while Luton Town and Middlesbrough have both booked their place in the play-offs.
It means there are two play-off places left up for grabs, and with eight teams still in with a mathematical chance of finishing in the top six, it’s all to play for in the two remaining matches of the season.
The same can be said at the bottom of the table, with Reading and Wigan - who currently occupy the relegation zone alongside Blackpool - facing off in a crunch clash at the Madejski Stadium.
Saturday Championship four-fold acca
Sunderland to beat Watford and BTTS @ 3/1
Hull City v Swansea City - BTTS @ 4/6
West Brom v Norwich City - Under 2.5 goals @ 1/1
Coventry City to beat Birmingham @ 1/2
Four-fold pays out at 19/1
Odds correct at time of writing and are subject to fluctuation.
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Black Cats to continue unbeaten run
| What | Sunderland v Watford |
| Where | Stadium of Light, Sunderland |
| When | 15:00, Saturday 29th April |
| Odds | Sunderland 17/20, Draw 13/5, Watford 3/1 |
Tony Mowbray has done his utmost to manage expectations on Wearside but it will be impossible to keep a lid on the excitement that will be bubbling at the Stadium of Light on Saturday.
Three wins from their last five matches have propelled Sunderland into a play-off place, with the Black Cats knowing a top-six finish is well within their hands.
Mowbray’s youthful side have displayed exuberance and flair but it was their resilience that has been key in victories over Birmingham City and West Bromwich Albion.
Where Sunderland have shown character, Watford have appeared fragile under Chris Wilder - his appointment failing to galvanise a disappointing campaign.
Two consecutive defeats to Cardiff City and Hull City have all but condemned the Hornets to a second successive campaign in the second tier.
Consistent scorers under Mowbray, Sunderland’s defensive frailties have often threatened to undermine them, with both teams scoring in 10 of their last 13 league fixtures.
With match-winning individuality in attack, Watford are capable of putting a spanner in the works but in front of a bumper crowd although Sunderland should have enough quality to strengthen their play-off push.
Sunderland to win and both teams to score can be backed at 3/1.
Free-scoring Swansea to strike again
| What | Hull City v Swansea City |
| Where | MKM Stadium, Hull |
| When | 15:00, Saturday 29th April |
| Odds | Hull 5/2, Draw, 13/5, Swansea 1/1 |
Swansea’s campaign has been fascinating viewing for a neutral, with manager Russell Martin left to rue their dismal run of form through February and March.
Failure to recruit in the January window proved detrimental to a promising season and yet the Swans still possess an outside chance of finishing in the top six, sitting only three points adrift of Sunderland in sixth.
With six wins from their last seven matches, including an emphatic 3-0 victory over Norwich City at the weekend, the Welsh side are currently the league’s in-form team.
They now face a Hull City side that are setting solid foundations for the next campaign under the tutelage of Liam Rosenior.
Bouncing back from defeat against Middlesbrough with a valiant 1-0 win over Watford, the Tigers have been fairly impressive at the MKM Stadium. Only Burnley have departed Humberside with all three points in 2023, a testament to the work being undertaken by Rosenior and his coaching staff.
Hull will be looking to impress in their final home outing of the season while Swansea, full of confidence from their remarkable upturn in form, possess the attacking quality to ask questions of their opposition's defence.
Both teams to score can be backed at 3/1.
Baggies and Canaries set for a cagey affair
| What | West Bromwich Albion v Norwich City |
| Where | The Hawthorns, West Bromwich |
| When | 15:00, Saturday 29th April |
| Odds | West Brom 21/20, Draw 12/5, Norwich 5/2 |
Two sides with promotion aspirations at the start of the current term find themselves in pretty desperate situations if they’re to secure a Premier League return.
West Brom’s campaign had seemingly been rescued following Carlos Corberan’s appointment, but even the Spaniard has endured difficulties in arresting Albion’s away woes, having won just seven of 22 on their travels this term.
Their form at The Hawthorns has been of reassurance to Corberan, with no club keeping more clean sheets at home than Albion’s 12.
While the Baggies start the weekend two points adrift of the play-offs, Norwich are one behind their upcoming opponents and licking their wounds following a damaging defeat to Swansea.
David Wagner’s outfit are without a win in four, conceding nine in the process and are in need of a fast start, having scored the opening goal only twice in their last 10 matches.
Defeat in this contest will prove fatal for either side’s play-off hopes and a tentative affair could be in store.
Under 2.5 goals can be backed at 1/1.
Robins' side still flying high
| What | Coventry City v Birmingham City |
| Where | Coventry Building Society Arena, Coventry |
| When | 15:00, Saturday 29th April |
| Odds | Coventry 1/2, Draw 16/5, Birmingham 11/2 |
Does Mark Robins receive the national recognition that his work deserves? Sky Blues fans will want their manager to stay under the radar but it’s hard not to marvel at the extraordinary success he’s enjoyed at the club.
Despite all the off-field uncertainty, he’s masterminded Coventry City’s climb from League Two to the Championship and now they have the scent of Premier League football filling their nostrils.
Wins against QPR and Reading have lifted the Sky Blues to fifth and they know victories in their final two matches will ensure a play-off place.
First up is Birmingham City, who are one of four teams guaranteed to be playing Championship football next season.
Despite being tipped as one of the favourites for relegation, John Eustace has performed a splendid job amid ongoing ownership issues, achieving the club’s highest points finish in seven years.
Their form has mellowed of late, suffering defeat at home to Blackpool on Saturday and yet the Blues will relish the occasion, having put a dent in Millwall’s play-off hopes in their last away outing.
Scoring six of Coventry’s last eight goals from an xG of 7.98, Matty Godden and Gustavo Hamer have shared goalscoring responsibilities with Viktor Gyokeres and the trio will prove pivotal to testing Birmingham’s backline, who are without first-choice goalkeeper John Ruddy.
Coventry to win can be backed at 1/2.
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