Sheffield United's promotion bid kicks-off at St Andrews where the Blades take on relegated Birmingham City. Kevin Blackwell's men, who are 14/1 with Partybets to top the division and 4/1 (Coral.co.uk) to gain promotion to the Premiership, are as hig
h as 3/1 with Sportingbet to land three points in their first game, against a Blues outfit who, at 6/1, are considered by Betdaq to be one the title favourites.
Also at the head of the Championship betting, chalked up by Canbet at 6/1, are QPR, and there that Barnsley get their season underway. The Tykes are tipped to be involved in a relegation struggle, bet365 installing them as 7/4, second favourites to go down, and Simon Davey's 5/1 underdogs (Sportingbet) are rated by Blue Square at 8/13 to make the worst possible start by returning from West London empty-handed.
Newly-promoted Doncaster, who are priced at 15/8 (Coral.co.uk) to head straight back down, travel to a team also a new addition to the division in the 2008/09 season, although Derby County have entered from the Premiership rather than League One. Betfred quote the Rams at 4/6 to hand Rovers a baptism of fire with Sean O'Driscoll's troops a chunky 5/1 (bet365) to record a shock win in their first match.
What do you think? Post your comments below. READ MORERonaldo's an undignified mardy sod: SEZ LESThree Steps to heaven - What England could learn from Germany: SMITH ON SOCCER Football headlinesMore BladesMore OwlsMore SpireitesMore RoversMore RedsMore MillersMore Ice HockeyMore rugby leagueMore rugby unionMore boxingSports columnistsAll sport categoriesThe full article contains 346 words and appears in Sheffield Star newspaper.
