Free football betting tips for the Sky Bet Championship clash between Derby County and Cardiff City
George Pitts is backing Cardiff to win an eighth successive match in the Sky Bet Championship when they face Derby on Sunday, live on Sky Sports.
Please note: Match postponed due to snow; bets void
Sky Bet Championship recommended bets
1pt Cardiff to beat Derby and over 1.5 total goals at 11/4
1pt Callum Paterson to score anytime in Derby v Cardiff at 21/4
For details of advised bookmakers and each-way terms, visit our transparent tipping record
Derby County v Cardiff City (1200 GMT, Sky Sports Football)
Cardiff can stay hot on Wolves’ heels with a victory in the vital away trip to face play-off contenders Derby.
Gary Rowett’s side were flying and pushing the Bluebirds for an automatic spot before Christmas, but a run of just one win in their last 10 Sky Bet Championship fixtures has seen their hopes of a top-six finish in the balance.
The Rams boss will be keen to point out that only two of those have been losses though, at Sheffield Wednesday before a home defeat to Fulham. Rowett’s Rams squad is one expensively assembled over the years and despite their recent run they are up there with the best in the division on their day.
But one side who may pip them is Cardiff, who Neil Warnock has done another stunning job with, after taking over a struggling City side who were second-bottom and lacking in confidence just 18 months ago.
With some very shrewd signings, he has revitalised the club and could well seal his eighth promotion as a manager. They are the Sky Bet Championship’s form team having won seven matches in a row – and I think they will make it eight here.
They really are on a roll and they look like they will take some stopping and odds of 37/19 for the victory seems a great price.
Cardiff to win with over 1.5 total goals is a tempting 11/4, while an away victory with a clean sheet is 18/5 – something Cardiff have not done too often in recent weeks.
City's Callum Paterson was originally a defender, but Warnock’s decision to deploy him in an attacking midfield role looks a masterstroke, having scored in three successive games. You can back the Scotland international to score anytime here, in front of the Sky Sports cameras at Pride Park, at a tempting 21/4.
This should be an interesting clash against two sides fighting towards the top end of the Sky Bet Championship. I feel Cardiff will continue to go from strength to strength by adding another victory and not only staying in the top two, but making Wolves look nervously over their shoulders with eight games to go.
Score prediction: Derby 0-2 Cardiff (Sky Bet's odds: 12/1)
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Preview posted at 1745 GMT 16/03/2018.