Charlie Austin almost unassailable in C’ship top-scorer race

Charlie Austin’s ability to score goals in an average team makes him difficult to look past in the Championship top goalscorer stakes.

The Burnley hitman is as short as 1/1 to score more goals than anyone else in England’s second tier, despite the fact the season is a little over two-and-a-half months old.

He’s notched an incredible 15 goals in just 12 Championship games and the Clarets 4-0 loss at Cardiff was only the third match he’s failed to score in so far this campaign.

The former Swindon man has acquired two match balls in amassing his tally and sits seven goals clear of Luciano Becchio and Glenn Murray at the top of the scoring charts.

As opposed to Cardiff and Blackpool – two teams famed for their attacking approaches – Burnley are not synonymous with free-flowing, chance-creating football, yet Austin has still managed to fill his boots, which is the most impressive aspect of his goalscoring exploits this term.

His side have scored 26 goals in the Championship this season, exemplifying the extent to which their star striker is keeping them in touch with the play-off contenders. If they can find another player who can contribute half as much as Austin has, Sean Dyche’s side will quickly find themselves in the promotion shake up.

Should the goals dry up for the Burnley frontman, Jordan Rhodes is priced at 6/1 to capitalise and claim the top scorer accolade, but this does not represent good value as an outside bet.

He’s one of a clutch of players on seven goals – eight behind Austin – and the reputation he established as one of the brightest upcoming marksmen in the business at Huddersfield last season.

He hasn’t done too badly following his move to Blackburn, but their struggles in the final third mean he’s unlikely to knock goals in at the rate which propelled Austin to the top of the charts. Rovers have gone seven games where they have not scored more than one goal, which highlights the issues Rhodes is facing at the minute.

This could soon change should Ian Holloway take the reins at Ewood Park, as has been predicted in the betting, as his expansive style will result in opportunities arriving at the Scottish international’s feet more freely.

Even under Holloway’s guidance, however, clawing back eight goals on the man plying his trade just a few miles up the road at Turf Moor will represent some achievement and his price should be pumped up a little higher to reflect the enormity of the task he faces.

All odds and markets accurate as of publication’s time and date