Championship
Fixture: Preston 2-1 Coventry
Venue: Deepdale (Preston home)
Kick-off: 3pm GMT
Verdict: It's getting silly in the Championship as the nerves take a hold, so our strategy has to be small stakes spread out. Preston are a standout bet against a Coventry side bereft of any cutting edge and a tendency to occasionally lose the tight formation manager Chris Coleman has instilled in them.
Betting Advice: 3pts Preston at 10/11 (1.91 generally)
Fixture: Southampton 0-0 QPR
Venue: St Mary's Stadium (Southampton home)
Kick-off: 3pm GMT
Verdict: QPR's season is well and truly over. A campaign that started as them a strong favourite for promotion will end in mid-table. They should be happy. They lost to long-term injury the kind of talent that can propel a team up a division, while no team wins promotion with a change at the top halfway through. Expect next season to be better (and a better price from the bookies). Meanwhile, Southampton are desperate for the points and should find a very charitable visitor on Saturday.
Betting Advice: 1pt Southampton win at 11/8 (2.38 at Betfred)
Fixture: Doncaster 0-2 Birmingham
Venue: Keepmoat Stadium (Doncaster home)
Kick-off: 5.45pm GMT
Verdict: It is my proudest prediction: when Doncaster were rock bottom of the league and couldn't buy a friend, we still believed in them. And now, here they are, six wins in eight, firmly in mid-table and in danger of a single digit finish. Birmingham may get promoted by default in this league, simply by warrant of buying enough striking talent to get them out of the many holes their poor play puts them in. They could climb out of a hole here, but my heart hopes Donny do them and then justice prevails and either Reading or Sheffield United catch them.
Betting Advice: 1pt Doncaster win at 7/4 (2.75 at Boylesports and Skybet)
Fixture: Sheffield United 4-2 Derby
Venue: Bramall Lane (Sheff Utd home)
Kick-off: 3pm GMT
Verdict: Sheffield United have finally got their act together and are now pushing through the play-off places towards an elusive automatic spot. In their last 16 matches, only two Yorkshire derbies have ended in defeat. Derby have pushed away from the drop zone thanks to the newly installed Nigel Clough, but the home side should squeak this.
Betting Advice: 1pt Sheff Utd win at 10/11 (1.91 generally)
League One
Fixture: Tranmere 3-1 Huddersfield
Venue: Prenton Park (Tranmere home)
Kick-off: 3pm GMT
Verdict: Even before they beat Leicester City in midweek, Tranmere were looking like the real deal. With just two points from a play-off place, they can justify my pre-season support of them with a win over Huddersfield who have not won in five.
Betting Advice: 3pts Tranmere to win at 6/5 (2.2 at Coral and Bet365)
League Two
Fixture: Rochdale 1-2 Rotherham
Venue: Spotland Stadium (Rochdale)
Kick-off: 3pm GMT
Verdict: Four wins on the spin in January and February put Rochdale in the promotion spotlight, but they let themselves down with back-to-back defeats against Barnet and Bury. However, a midweek 3-0 destruction of Bradford would suggest that there has been no lasting damage done and they can take three points against Rotherham, although it will be tough. Rotherham have held the top two in recent weeks.
Betting Advice: 1pt Rochdale to win at Evens (2.0 generally)
