Top tips and betting odds for QPR vs Watford, Swindon vs Colchester and Hull vs Middlesbrough

Where to watch Wednesday's Championship matches

QPR vs Watford
Sky Sports Football, 12.30pm Wednesday

Swindon vs Colchester
Sky Sports Football, 3pm Wednesday

Hull vs Middlesbrough
Sky Sports Football & Main Event, 5.30pm Wednesday

Best bets

Draw in QPR vs Watford
1pts 23-10 general

Swindon draw no bet
1pt 5-6 bet365, BoyleSports, Hills

Middlesbrough
1pt 23-20 general

QPR vs Watford predictions

A shock 2-1 loss to Cardiff on Sunday brought Watford's unbeaten home record to an end and they are not guaranteed to bounce back on their short trip to QPR.

Rangers are ten points worse off than the Hornets but they have done most of their best work at Loftus Road, winning their last three matches in a four-game unbeaten home run.

The Hoops will look to make life tough for their visitors, just as they did in November’s reverse fixture which ended 0-0 at Vicarage Road.

Like QPR, Watford have also fared better at home than on their travels and a record of no wins in four away games for Tom Cleverley’s men is a worry ahead of this difficult trip.

The Hornets have been held to draws by Hull and Plymouth in that shaky run and it would be no surprise to see QPR hold their playoff-chasing visitors to a draw.

Best bet for QPR vs Watford:

Draw in QPR vs Watford
1pts 23-10 general

Verdict by Jamie Griffith

Swindon vs Colchester predictions

League Two strugglers Swindon were a much improved team in the final throes of 2024 and they can start the new year on the front foot at the County Ground.

Colchester romped to a 4-0 victory in last month's reverse fixture. However, that defeat has proved to be a watershed moment for Swindon, who have played to a decent standard in each of their six games since.

Swindon are unbeaten in three matches, which includes deserved 1-1 draws away to promotion-chasing AFC Wimbledon and an in-form Bromley who are unbeaten in 11 league games.

They face another tricky task against mid-table Colchester, who overcame a slow start to the season and have not lost a league match since late October.

However, the Robins' revival, inspired by veteran manager Ian Holloway, doesn't look a flash in the pan and can continue with a third successive home victory.

Best bet for Swindon vs Colchester:

Swindon draw no bet
1pt 5-6 bet365, BoyleSports, Hills

Verdict by Dan Childs

Hull vs Middlesbrough predictions

Hull City signed off 2024 with a 1-0 win at Blackburn but the Tigers remain in trouble in the Championship and could come unstuck against promotion hopefuls Middlesbrough.

Victory over Rovers was only Hull's second win in their last 15 outings and they finished the year just one point above the Championship relegation zone.

Kasey Palmer has been ruled out until February and joins a lengthy Hull injury list which also features Carl Rushworth, Oscar Zambrano, Liam Millar, Mohamed Belloumi and Ryan Giles.

That does not bode well for the hosts and Boro look a solid bet to start the new year on a high, having lost just one of their last seven games.

That run started with a comfortable 3-1 win over Hull at the end of November and Middlesbrough can repeat the feat at the MKM Stadium.

Best bet for Hull vs Middlesbrough:

Middlesbrough
1pt 23-20 general

Verdict by Liam Flin

Read more football predictions . . .

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Published on 31 December 2024inChampionship