Stoke took a while to settle into life in the Championship but are now enjoying more ups than downs on our Trueform chart and get the nod over Middlesbrough. The visitors are a dogged bunch but do sometimes fail to impress going forward and that could be their undoing on this occasion.
Aston Villa have struggled on the road recently but can gain a confidence-boosting win over Bolton, judged on their Trueform ratings when playing at home. The Midlands outfit have picked up a healthy 12 points from seven games at Villa Park, with 13 goals scored in those Championship fixtures.
Middlesbrough have now won just one of their last three games in the Championship although they sit second in the table, behind leaders Leeds on goal difference. Derby achieved a high rating for their fantastic 4-1 win over West Brom at The Hawthorns which moved them up to fifth in the table, two off the top.
QPR have put together a good run on form, picking up three wins and a draw with Derby from their last four Championship matches to see them climb to 11th place. New Aston Villa manager Dean Smith tasted defeat for the first time after seeing his side suffer a 2-1 defeat to Norwich at Carrow Road.
Sheffield United are flying high at the top of the Championship table after four straight wins and are fancied to extend that sequence at Derby. The Rams are capable of competing with any team in this division on their day, but have not shown the same consistency as the Blades.
Blackburn are a touch inconsistent but our Trueform chart suggests they could be a value bet to beat Leeds if on their best behaviour. Rovers have shown they can upset more fancied teams by edging out Brentford and Stoke in the Championship and gave Premier League Bournemouth a scare in the EFL Cup.
Sheffield Wednesday have recovered well from a slow start to the Championship season and now look well equipped to compete with Middlesbrough. However, the Owls have got into the habit of drawing against the better teams in this division on home turf, sharing the spoils with Stoke, Leeds and West Brom.
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Ipswich may be at the wrong end of the Championship table, but they are rated a value bet to beat Middlesbrough, judged on our Trueform chart. The Tractor Boys have only lost one of their last four matches and are unbeaten in five league games at Portman Road this term.
Stoke have struggled to adapt to life in the Championship but are fancied to prove a cut above Rotherham, judged on our Trueform ratings. These teams were in the Premier League and League One respectively last season, so the hope is that the Potters are still a class apart at this stage.
Bristol City are regularly tracking above Wigan on our Trueform chart and even impressed in Tuesday night’s 4-2 Championship loss at West Brom. However, the likeable Latics are unbeaten in four home matches this term, picking up 10 points out of a possible 12 at DW Stadium.
QPR have recovered well from a poor start to the Championship campaign and are fancied to maintain the momentum by beating Millwall. Steve McClaren’s side have picked up seven points from their last three games and achieved a high Trueform rating for Saturday’s triumph at Bolton.
Stoke were slow to adapt to life in the Championship but are now enjoying more good days than bad and are fancied to see off Swansea. The Welsh outfit have produced several poor Trueform ratings of late due to struggling up front and lost twice to the Potters in the Premier League last term.
Blackburn and Aston Villa are very closely matched on our Trueform ratings over the last four rounds of Championship fixtures. Both teams are in mid-table with nine points and looking to bounce back from suffering heavy defeats prior to the international break.