Championship Play-off Betting

The prize at stake for the Championship play-off winners has been well documented and while I can’t promise returns in excess of £100m we can at least look to earn ourselves a tidy little profit as the first legs get underway on Friday.

 

Brentford (5th) v. Middlesbrough (4th)

Many people thought that Mark Warburton’s summer departure becoming public would spell the end of Brentford’s gallant promotion push. But after an initial wobble The Bees re-grouped and stayed in touch with the top six, sneaking above the dotted line on the final day of the season with a 3-0 victory over League One bound Wigan. This followed another win to nil in the road at Reading, proof that Brentford come into the play-offs with a bit of form. Scoring goals at Griffin Park hasn’t been a problem for Warburton’s side with 22 bagged since their last home blank, against Middlesbrough, in January, when the visitors took the spoils thanks to a Grant Leadbitter spot kick.

‘Boro’s last visit to West London saw their automatic promotion chances evaporate when falling to a crazy 4-3 reverse at Fulham. Knowing that anything less than three points were needed, the Riversiders threw off their defensive shackles in search of a winner. Middlesbrough can approach this game with a very different mindset, knowing an away draw would give them an excellent shot at getting to Wembley, given their division best home record and The Bees mediocre form on the road. The 4-0 win against Brentford at the Riverside earlier this term will also give them encouragement.

The first leg will be tight with ‘Boro happy to soak up pressure and hit Brentford on the break which could lead to a cagey opening 45 minutes so take the Even money on the tie being all square at the interval. Brentford may feel anything less than a win would see their Wembley chances look remote and expect to see them commit more men forward as the game progresses. Twenty-five of Brentford’s goals this term have come in the final 15 minutes. I’m not normally an advocate of goalscorer bets but a small punt on Alex Pritchard to be the Last Goalscorer at a best price 9/1 does represent some value as Brentford push for a lead to take up to the North East.

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