The final round of Championship fixtures before the international break takes place this weekend and there are plenty of big games to get stuck into.
After four games of the campaign, Fulham are currently leading the way after amassing 10 points, while West Brom and Stoke have also gathered the same amount of points but have a worse goal difference than the Cottagers.
Casting our eye to the wrong end of the table, Nottingham Forest are the only pointless side and they sit rock-bottom of the standings, while Slavisa Jokanovic’s Sheffield United have picked up just one point in what has been a very disappointing start since relegation from the Premier League.
Promoted Blackpool make up the third relegation spot with two points on the board, only behind 21st-placed Millwall on goal difference.
Your @SkyBetChamp standings…@FulhamFC, @WBA & @stokecity on ten points apiece
#EFL | #SkyBetChampionship pic.twitter.com/e1s2ZdCPch
— Sky Bet Championship (@SkyBetChamp) August 21, 2021
Baggies Full of Attacking Threat
Valerien Ismael has enjoyed a wonderful start since taking over as West Brom boss this summer and the former Barnsley chief has quickly imposed his brand of ultra-aggressive, pressing, attacking football.
That has translated on the field with the Baggies scoring 11 goals in four games, the highest in the Championship so far.
West Brom’s 4-0 thrashing of fellow relegated side Sheffield United ramped up their credentials as a team likely to challenge for the title and Ismael’s side travel to Peterborough, who are 17th after taking four points from four games, next.
Last season, the Posh had the worst defence of the three teams promoted from League One and the 29/20 on West Brom to win and both teams to score on Saturday looks tempting.
Cagey East Midlands Derby Expected
Games between Derby County and Nottingham Forest have enough riding on them as it is, but Saturday’s encounter will be even more nerve-shredding than usual.
Forest have yet to pick up a point all season under Chris Hughton, who is drawing increasing levels of scrutiny from the terraces, while Derby are still operating with a rather skeletal squad under Wayne Rooney.
The former Manchester United star has actually done a decent job so far in negotiating the Rams through what could have been a nightmare start to the season – they have five points on the board and sit 14th.
This fixture has yielded few goals in recent seasons – the last eight Championship meetings have seen only two goals or fewer scored in them – and the 5/1 available for a 0-0 draw provides big value.
Flint to Aid Cardiff Once More
One of the most noteworthy stories about the Championship season so far has been the goalscoring prowess of centre-back Aden Flint.
The 32-year-old scored only one goal last season for Cardiff but he has already quadrupled that tally, hitting braces against Peterborough and Millwall.
Cardiff’s style of long throws and directness lends itself well to defenders scoring goals and Flint will be full of confidence whenever he steps out onto the field.
Bristol City are the Bluebirds’ opponents on Saturday and Nigel Pearson’s men occupy 15th position in the table, having picked up just one victory from their four games.
Flint, a former City player who scored an incredible 14 goals during their promotion from League One in 2014-15, can be backed at 4/1 to score anytime against his old club.
*All odds correct at time of writing
