Birimingham can banish Wolves fixture misery, Boro to down Charlton

Lee Gormley | March 12, 2016

Wolves v Birmingham City

Wolves battle Blues at Molineux

Birmingham City enter their latest Championship clash with West Midlands rivals Wolves seeking a change in fixture fortunes, having secured victory in just one of their last five meetings since December 2012, including a reverse 2-0 defeat at St Andrew’s in October.

Gary Rowett’s Blues will be confident of banishing that previous hapless run against Wanderers though, after climbing to within two points of the play-off positions, despite losses to QPR and Blackburn Rovers in recent weeks.

The visitors are therefore 19/10 with Coral to prevail with three vital points in Sunday’s early Championship kick-off, while Kenny Jackett’s Wolves are 6/4 to follow up their win over Bristol City with another triumph on home soil.

Rowett warns of Wolves backlash

Wanderers have won just four games since the turn of the year, but Blues boss Rowett believes his side’s latest opponents are still capable of earning a play-off spot this term and has warned his players of a possible backlash.

“I still think there a lot of teams in that middle part of the table that could go and win three or four games on the spin and still be in the mix. It’s going to be another important game,” said the Birmingham manager.

“I’ve seen them play really well in some games this season and they’re capable of beating anybody.

“We’ve just got to make sure that the likes of Wolves don’t get wins against us to start clawing back some points. Because, as I said, any team at this stage of the season can put four or five wins together that will take them up there.”

Toral a key visiting threat

With just two wins from their last 10 league outings, Wolves will be desperate for a solid result and frontman Joe Mason will be key to overturning past results, with the striker 11/2 to open proceedings, while Nathan Byrne is 16/5 to net anytime.

For the Blues, Clayton Donaldson is 21/10 to get on the scoresheet after previously bagging the winner in a 1-0 victory over Bolton Wanderers, with his fellow attacker Jon-Miquel Toral 13/5 for a goal of his own following a crucial strike past Hull City.

The last time these play-off chasing sides met at Molineux a scoreless stalemate was played out, and another share of the spoils can be had at 23/10 in this Championship match-up.

Charlton Athletic v Middlesbrough

Boro look for solid Charlton result

Second-placed Middlesbrough are aiming to keep the pace with current Championship leaders Burnley and will seek a strong result over relegation strugglers Charlton Athletic, having not lost in this fixture since March 2006.

Boro have won eight of those 12 encounters since that previous defeat, including a comfortable 3-0 reverse fixture victory at the Riverside, and Aitor Karanka’s Northeast side are 27/10 to fire in three or more goals once again on their travels.

The season looks bleak for the hosts, having dropped haplessly into the danger zone, alongside fellow strugglers Bolton Wanderers, and Jose Riga’s Addicks are 19/4 for a shock success after two league wins since November.

All Rhodes point to Boro win

Experienced forward Dave Nugent opened the scoring in that last 3-0 victory over Charlton and he is 9/2 to do so once again this time out, while clinical January signing Jordan Rhodes is 7/5 to dispatch anytime.

Gaston Ramirez bagged a brilliant brace to help earn victory over Wolves before Boro suffered a disappointing defeat to Rotherham last time out and the Uruguay international is 7/1 for another double or more here.

For the hosts, forwards Ademola Lookman and Simon Makienok are both 7/2 to get their names on the scoresheet anytime, with reliable threat Callum Harriott 4/1 to dispatch after sealing a recent match-winning brace over Brentford.

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Coral’s top tip: Back Jon-Miquel Toral to net anytime for Birmingham City at 13/5.