Eng. Championship
2012-09-01 - Leeds United vs Blackburn Rovers
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: English Championship
Saturday 1 September 2012 - Kick Off 3pm
Leeds United
Neil Warnock is looking to work his magic and achieve what he did at Sheffield United and Queens Park Rangers in recent seasons and that is guide his side from the Championship to the Premier League. In all honesty, it has been too long since Leeds United were in the top flight and they have made a start to the season to suggest they could rectify that this season.
Leeds have opened the season with 4 wins from their 5 games in all competitions and have also been handed a plum draw in the Capital One Cup as they host Everton in the next round. The team are 7th in the Championship at this early stage, picking up 6 points and their only defeat has come against Blackpool who have a 100% record.
It was a poor end to last season, where the Tykes won 2 of their last 9 Championship games, that ended up with Leeds missing the Play Offs and having to spend another season in the second tier of English football. Warnock will want to improve their record at Elland Road where Leeds have lost 7 of their last 11 Championship games, although they did beat Wolves here to open the League campaign.
Blackburn Rovers
Steve Kean was threatened with the sack if they had lost three games in a row to open this season by the 'Global Advisor' at Blackburn Rovers, but they have made a positive start that sees Rovers as one of just five teams that have yet to taste defeat in the Championship this season. That record will be tested here at Elland Road, but there is finally some optimism at the club after a poor 2011/12 season.
Blackburn were knocked out of the Capital One Cup at League One MK Dons in the week, but they have picked up 7 points in their opening three League games. They did draw their opening away game at Ipswich Town, but followed that with back to back wins at Ewood Park to keep the fans happy.
The start to the season will have at least consigned the end of last season to waste basket for the meantime at least. Last season, Blackburn slumped into the Championship with 8 defeats in their last 9 Premier League games. Blackburn have failed to win any of their last 7 away games in all competitions, losing 6 of those games.
Head to Head
Blackburn Rovers beat Leeds United 3-0 at home in the Carling Cup back in 2005/06, the last time the clubs have met one another.
Their last League meeting was 9 seasons ago when both were still Premier League clubs and it resulted in Leeds United doing the double over Blackburn despite being relegated at the end of the season.
Leeds have won 5 of their last 6 home games against Blackburn and they have only lost 1 of their last 22 here against Rovers.
Prediction
I will admit to being very very tempted in picking Leeds United to win this game considering the poor away form Blackburn Rovers have demonstrated in the last few months, but I can't truly trust the home team just yet after their poor end of season form at Elland Road where there is a lot of expectation in front of a full house.
While Leeds haven't been in the best of forms at home, Blackburn's loss at MK Dons during the week was the latest side to score at least twice in their home game against Rovers. In fact, going back to the beginning of last season only 6 times in 22 away games have Blackburn conceded less than 2 goals.
There is a real indication that we will see goals in this one now that the latter have been reinforced with Jordan Rhodes, while Leeds have scored 8 goals in their 3 home games in all competitions to open this new season.
As well as the home win, I did consider backing Leeds United to score at least 2 goals in this one, which is also available at odds against, but I have settled with the over 2.5 goals in the match as I do think both sides are capable of getting at least one goal and then I'll just hope we will see a winner.
If my gut instinct is right, I think the home side may nick this one 2-1, but the overs is paying at odds against and is my call.
The Pick :
Leeds United 2-1 Blackburn Rovers
BEST BETTING TIP :
I'll back Over 2.5 Goals @ 2.00
