There are some high-stakes games in the EFL Championship this weekend, with current table-toppers West Ham United and play-off hopefuls West Bromwich Albion and Wolverhampton Wanderers all in action.
West Ham make the short trip to South London to take on Millwall in what will be the first Dockers Derby in 14 years.
Although it may not match the stature of the fixture between Liverpool and Manchester United, the rivalry remains intense.
Reports even suggest that West Ham star Tomáš Souček has been the subject of a violent threat from a Millwall supporter ahead of the highly anticipated showdown.
Here, we scour the markets for gameweek 8’s televised matches and provide some suggested bets.
Cardiff City vs Charlton Athletic – Saturday 19 September at 12:30 BST
Cardiff City welcome Charlton Athletic in a crucial Championship clash on Saturday afternoon, with both teams under immense pressure.
The Bluebirds are still searching for their first win, while Charlton are looking to rekindle the early-season form that saw them begin the campaign with three consecutive victories.
Current form
Cardiff have experienced an early reality check following their promotion from League One last season.
They remain winless after seven matches, drawing four and losing three.
The biggest concern for Cardiff is their lack of goals, with the team averaging just one goal per game while also conceding 11 times across those seven matches.
For Charlton, the picture is much better: they remain in the top six and sit just two points off the top spot.
However, nine of their 12 points came in the first three games as they have failed to maintain their hot start to the season, drawing three and losing once in their last four matches.
Head-to-head
The last three meetings between Cardiff and Charlton have ended in draws, with two of those games finishing 0-0.
In fact, this fixture has produced plenty of draws in recent years, with six of the last nine meetings ending all square.
With regard to the overall head-to-head record, Charlton have won 33 of the 76 meetings between the two sides across all competitions, while Cardiff have won 22 and the remaining 21 games have ended in draws.
Match odds
Cardiff City are priced at 3/4 to win the game, while the odds of a Charlton Athletic victory stand at 17/5.
A draw is available at 16/5.
Suggested bet
Considering the current form of both teams, a draw looks like the most likely outcome, with 1-1 the scoreline to back.
Millwall vs West Ham United – Saturday 19 September at 12:30 BST
West Ham come into Saturday’s clash with Millwall in red-hot form.
This will also be the first Dockers Derby of the season, so expect a vociferous atmosphere throughout the 90 minutes.
Both teams have shown moments of brilliance early in the season, but West Ham arrive as the strongest side in the Championship based on current form.
Current form
Millwall started the season with back-to-back wins, but they have struggled to maintain that momentum.
They have won just once in their last four matches, losing the other three.
West Ham, on the other hand, are the team in the best form in the division.
Their 6-0 win over Wrexham last weekend took their goal tally to a staggering 16 across their last four games.
The Hammers are also unbeaten in six, winning five of those matches.
Head-to-head
Given that West Ham have spent most of their recent history in the top tier of English football and Millwall have largely competed in the lower divisions, recent meetings between the two sides have been understandably few and far between.
Their most recent meeting came in 2012, when West Ham were also in the Championship and claimed a 2-1 victory.
As they say, form goes out of the window in derby games, and that is reflected in the head-to-head record between these two sides.
Millwall hold the upper hand, winning 22 of their 60 meetings against West Ham, who have won 19.
The remaining 19 matches ended in draws.
Match odds
Millwall are priced at 31/10 to win the game, while the odds of a West Ham victory stand at 5/6.
A draw is available at 3/1.
Suggested bet
West Ham have plenty of goals in them, and we are backing the Hammers to score at least twice in this one and win the match.
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Stoke City vs Sheffield United – Saturday 19 September at 12:30 BST
Stoke City play host to Sheffield United in a crucial clash at the bet365 Stadium, with both sides looking to find some consistency.
Stoke have plenty of reasons to believe they can come away with maximum points as they are one of the most in-form teams in the Championship at the moment.
Sheffield United, on the other hand, have been blowing hot and cold.
The Blades have won just twice this season, drawing two and losing three of their first seven games.
More importantly, United sit five points off the top spot, and another negative result could see that gap widen.
Current form
Stoke started the season with three defeats, but since suffering a 4-1 defeat at Wolves, the Potters have won three times and drawn once in their last four games.
Only West Ham, who are on a four-game winning run, have picked up more points than Stoke in the last four Championship matches.
For Sheffield United, it is all about finding consistency.
Chris Wilder’s team is good enough to challenge for a top-six finish, but their results need to improve for that to happen.
As mentioned, they have won just twice in their first seven matches and sit 14th heading into this game.
Head-to-head
Stoke City and Sheffield United have faced each other 114 times ahead of their next meeting.
The Blades hold the advantage with 48 wins, while the Potters have won 36 times.
The remaining 30 matches have ended in draws.
It is also worth highlighting that United are on a five-game winning streak against Stoke, keeping three clean sheets during that run.
Match odds
Stoke City are priced at 8/5 to win the game, while Sheffield United are available at 17/10.
A draw is priced at 13/5.
Suggested bet
Stoke’s current form makes them an appealing pick to win this one, but Sheffield United should still have enough going forward to get on the scoresheet.
Stoke to win and Sheffield United to score is the suggested bet.
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Wolverhampton Wanderers vs West Bromwich Albion – Sunday 20 September at 12:00 BST
In-form West Brom hit the road to face Wolves at Molineux on Sunday afternoon.
Although West Brom sit above Wolves in the table, the hosts will fancy their chances after an impressive 1-0 win at Sheffield United last week.
West Brom are also on a solid run, having gone unbeaten in their last four games.
They are level on points with current table-toppers West Ham, with an inferior goal difference keeping them in third place.
Current form
Considering the Baggies avoided relegation from the Championship last season after finishing just one place above the relegation zone, their current upturn in form is quite commendable.
They are on a four-game unbeaten run, and a win here could see them finish gameweek 8 at the top of the table.
For Wolves, it is all about building on their recent momentum.
They are averaging more than two goals per game, having scored 14 times in six matches.
Wolves are also three points off the top spot, having played a game fewer than both West Ham and West Brom.
Head-to-head
This is one of the most frequently played fixtures in England’s second tier, with Sunday’s meeting set to be the 164th between Wolves and West Brom.
West Brom hold the better head-to-head record, winning 65 times across all competitions, while Wolves have secured 54 victories.
The remaining 44 matches have ended in draws.
It is also worth noting that West Brom have had the upper hand in recent meetings, losing just three times in their last 16 games against Wolves since 2001, winning nine of those encounters.
Match odds
Wolves are priced at 4/5 to win the game, while the odds of a West Brom victory stand at 7/2.
A draw is available at 14/5.
Suggested bet
Both teams to score, with Wolves edging the game and claiming all three points.
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By Anurag Tyagi
