Leeds vs Blackburn Prediction and Betting Tips: Szmodics a huge price in the shots market

The Championship table could not be any tighter at both the top and bottom of the division. Leeds United are bidding for automatic promotion back to the Premier League, while Blackburn Rovers are looking to avoid relegation down to the third tier of English football. The pair face off at Elland Road on Saturday lunchtime and here at bettingodds.com we’ve provided you with our best bets which includes a 70/1 longshot.

Prior to Leicester’s game with Plymouth on Friday evening, Leeds United are third in the Championship table. One point behind The Foxes and Ipswich, however Leicester do have a game in hand on both of their promotion rivals. 

Blackburn Rovers find themselves in a precarious situation just three points above the relegation zone. The former Premier League winners have some tricky fixtures remaining which includes a trip to Leicester on the final day of the campaign. 

Taking a look at the match result odds for this game which can be seen live on Sky Sports and understandably, the hosts are the odds-on favourites to collect the three points, priced 1/3 with most bookmakers. The draw can be sided with at 4/1, while a priceless win for Rovers is on show at 8/1.

Both of our tips on Saturday lunchtime feature the current Championship top scorer, Sammie Szmodics. It’s been a remarkable campaign for the 28-year-old who currently leads the scoring charts by three, over Adam Armstrong of Southampton. 

Szmodics had been priced as big as 150/1 before a ball was kicked this season to be crowned top scorer, however his clinical finishing has been crucial for Rovers who have struggled in large parts of a turbulent season.

With an average of 3.2 shots per game and after hitting the target in seven of his last eight matches for Blackburn, we think the 10/11 for him to record at least one shot between the sticks on Saturday is just too big a price. Other firms such as Sky Bet have this same selection as short as 4/11 and although Blackburn may ultimately lose this game, Szmodics looks a strong bet in the shots on target market.

As is the case when bet365 price the Over 0.5 shots on target line potentially too big, the Over 1.5 line also represents plenty of value. Szmodics has recorded 2+ shots on target in 16 different league matches this season. He has spoken in interviews about how much he wants to hit 30 goals across all competitions and he needs just one more to do so. We can see him letting off attempts at every opportunity at Elland Road and he kicks off this 70/1 longshot by hopefully hitting the target twice. 

Next up we’ve picked out two players to be carded with the first of those being Ethan Ampadu. The Welshman has been shown more yellows than any other member of the Leeds United squad this season. Ampadu has collected 10 cautions in total this term, and with an average of just over a foul per game he makes appeal in this crucial game for the hosts.

Sondre Tronstad should line up in central midfield for Rovers and will have his work cut out helping to take care of Geoginio Rutter. The 21-year-old has provided more assists than any other Championship player this season, and also leads the way for fouls drawn. Rutter has been fouled 20 more times than any other player this season (105) and with Tronstad already collecting six bookings this season, he looks a nice prospect to find his way into the book and bring home this 70/1 poke.