Eng. Championship
2012-11-03 - Hull City vs Barnsley
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: English Championship
Saturday 3 November 2012 - Kick Off 3pm
Hull City
Hull City epitomise how difficult it can be to predict games in the Championship as they remain amongst the leading pack in the Division yet have lost almost as many games as they have won. Steve Bruce has enjoyed some surprising success early in the season as he only took over at the club in the Summer, but he wouldn't have come to the KC Stadium without promotion being the minimum of expectations for him.
The side are 6th in the Championship following a 1-2 win at Bristol City last weekend and they are just 6 points behind the leaders Cardiff City in what is a congested table. Hull have a 4-0-2 record at home this season, scoring 13 goals and conceding 9 in those games.
The win at Bristol City means Hull have won 3 of their last 4 games in the Championship with their only setback coming at Middlesbrough. They won their last game at home against Ipswich Town, although Hull had lost back to back home games before that against Peterborough United and Blackpool.
Barnsley
Keith Hill and Barnsley were expected to have another fight against relegation this season and the early goings suggest that will be the case. The early season form suggested there were better times at Oakwell in the offing, but recent form has dipped that culminated in the 1-4 home loss to Nottingham Forest last weekend.
That loss means the side have dropped to 19th in the Championship and they are now just 3 points better off than Sheffield Wednesday in the final relegation spot. Barnsley haven't been an easy out when visiting grounds as shown by their 2-0-4 record, scoring 9 goals and conceding 11 in those games.
Since a 0-5 win at Birmingham City, Barnsley have won just 1 of 6 games, although they have picked up the three points in 2 of their last 3 away from home. Barnsley have become a much tougher team in their latest away games, conceding just 1 goal in 3 games, especially after starting the season by conceding at least 2 per game in their opening 5 games.
Head to Head
Hull City beat Barnsley 3-1 at home last season and they have now won their last 3 at home against them.
Prediction
Barnsley games away from home recently have been tough games decided by solitary goals, but I have a feeling this is one game that could see at least 3 goals shared by the teams.
Barnsley have scored in all but 1 of their away games so far this season, and they are playing a Hull City team that has conceded in their last 5 home games.
Hull can also point to the fact that they have at least twice in 4 of their last 5 home games and they will feel they can expose a Barnsley defence that has been conceding goals this season despite the 2 clean sheets from their last 3 away games.
Historically the game has produced goals here- 6 of the last 7 games at Hull have seen the sides share at least 3 goals including last season and the 1.90 being dangled by the layers looks nice enough for me to take a piece.
The Pick :
Hull City 2-1 Barnsley
