Bookies Blog

The Championship begins this weekend and with it will come a flood of football match bets as regular football returns to our televisions. However, it seems that the stand out match of the weekend is to be played between Newcastle and West Brom. Both teams suffered relegation from the premiership last season and therefore they will be looking to bounce back up into the top flight.

However, where this may be a realistic prospect for the Baggies, for the Magpies it is quite a different matter. The problems that sent Newcastle down last season, rather than being dispelled over the summer have instead escalated. Owner Mike Ashley has been desperately trying to sell the club whilst both players as well as manager, Chris Hughton, are uncertain of their future at the club.

The club have been inefficient at selling their players which has meant that the club’s parachute payments will be spent on wages rather than restructuring to meet the demands of the Championship. The team have embarrassed themselves on the pitch in pre season matches, losing to Leyton Orient 6-1 whilst when playing Huddersfield the entire team were involved in a twenty man brawl.

There will be no incentive for the Newcastle players to perform on Saturday. Caretaker manager, Chris Hughton, has been assured that his position is only temporary and he will therefore have great difficulty controlling the unsettled players in the dressing room.

Meanwhile, West Brom are in a far more secure position, they have a permanent manager in the form of Roberto Di Matteo who has taken over from Tony Mowbray. They have also brought in a new striker in the form of Simon Cox, who scored 32 goals for Swindon Town last season. The team will be well prepared for the start of this season and should be heavy favourites to beat a shambolic Newcastle side.

However, West Brom, despite hosting the fixture at the Hawthorns this weekend are 13/10 to win the game. This seems a very generous price as they should really be odds on playing at home against Newcastle on the first day of the season. Newcastle meanwhile are 5/2 and the draw is marked up at 12/5. Check out all the different markets on the game here or take a look at the odds of all of this weekends Championship games here.