Who is David Prutton fighting for victory in the Sky Bet Championship on Easter Monday and Tuesday? Find out here …
Middlesbrough v Watford, Monday at 12:30 p.m. – Live on Sky Sports Football
Middlesbrough still has a play-off reputation in my opinion with just seven points between them and sixth-placed Reading, but the games are running out and Neil Warnock’s men need to get going pretty quickly to stay in the mix.
Meanwhile, Watford is really unstoppable at the moment. The Good Friday win against Sheffield Wednesday was close and they weren’t at their best, but what was crucial was that they won a sixth game in a row. I think they’ll make it seven here.
Prutton predicts: 0-2 (Sky Bet odds)
Monday, April 5th, 12:00 p.m.
Reading against Derby, Monday at 3 p.m.
Reading is another team that needs to be active as well. A top 6 spot that was a certainty for most of the campaign is now under threat after three draws and one loss to the last four. If it wasn’t for Lucas Joao’s horror miss against Barnsley, the outlook might be different, but the reality is they haven’t won since March 6th.
Wayne Rooney’s men could be a tough nut to crack on Easter Monday. They finished a winless run last time and bolstered their hopes for survival by comfortably beating Luton in Pride Park. I have a feeling the royals will have just had enough.
Prutton predicts: 2-1 (Sky Bet odds)
Swansea v Preston, 3pm Monday
There are now three straight games for Steve Cooper’s men who stalled in front of goal at a less than ideal point in the season. I wonder how admitting the last minute penalty against Birmingham on Friday will affect them mentally.
Preston will undoubtedly make a leap forward after that dramatic draw with leaders Norwich in Deepdale a few days ago, but with 10 points between them and the bottom three, little is at stake right now. Home win.
Prutton predicts: 2-1 (Sky Bet odds)
Sheffield Wednesday v Cardiff, Monday at 5:30 p.m. – Live on Sky Sports Football
Everything looks pretty bleak for Wednesday. They are seven points away from safety, having won just one of their last 10 games and are now just two points ahead of bottom club Wycombe, who took a big 1-0 win against Blackburn last time around.
The chances of reaching the play-offs have worsened somewhat for the Bluebirds, who are five points behind the pace going into Monday’s games after a disappointing run of just one in five wins. You could use the formula for success that went with Mick McCarthy’s appointment, and I think you will almost go above and beyond.
Prutton predicts: 0-1 (Sky Bet odds)
Monday, April 5, 5:15 p.m.
Start at 5:30 p.m.
Brentford v Birmingham, Tuesday at 7pm
Similar to Swansea, Brentford stutters at the wrong moment, which allows Watford to feel very comfortable on the second automatic promotion spot behind Norwich. With three straight draws, they’ve really been lacking at the top lately.
After beating the Swans a few days ago and building up their hopes of avoiding the fall, Birmingham will be calmly confident of gaining another promotion here as Lee Bowyer’s appointment has breathed new life into the squad. Still, I think the bees could get back on track here.
Prutton predicts: 2-1 (Sky Bet odds)
Norwich vs Huddersfield, Tuesday at 7.45pm – Live on Sky Sports Football
Although they still have a good lead over Watford in this game, you can imagine Daniel Farke and co looking over their shoulders after losing points in the last two games. You will have drafts for another title win, and the Hornets are your most realistic challengers.
Huddersfield is now unbeaten five times and has managed to keep Brentford’s talisman Ivan Toney calm the last time at John Smith’s Stadium. However, I’m not sure they can do the same with Teemu Pukki and Emi Buendia and this should be a comfortable win.
Prutton predicts: 3-1 (Sky Bet odds)
Tuesday, April 6th, 7:45 p.m.
Start at 7:45 p.m.
Prutton’s other predictions (all Monday starts at 3 p.m.)
Blackburn versus Bournemouth: 1-2 (Sky Bet odds)
Coventry versus Bristol City: 2-2 (Sky Bet odds)
Luton versus Barnsley: 1-1 (Sky Bet odds)
Nottingham Forest versus QPR: 1-1 (Sky Bet odds)
Rotherham versus Wycombe: 2-1 (Sky Bet odds)
Stoke versus Millwall: 0-1 (Sky Bet odds)
