Championship Accumulator: Cardiff head 16/1 fourfold

New Year’s Day didn’t herald an upturn in Championship fortunes – Barnsley got beat, Cardiff won and Derby added fuel to the fire of speculation that says they can only get the job done at home.

We’re working on the premise that these trends will continue into the second round of 2013 fixtures and, should our assumptions prove accurate, a tidy 16/1 payout is in order for those who back our fourfold.

Cardiff to beat Ipswich @ 4/7

The Bluebirds can’t stop winning at the moment and, as unpredictable as Ipswich have been under Mick McCarthy, it would take a tremendous effort to derail the Welsh club as they motor down the road to the Premier League.

With 12 wins from 13 home games, 4/7 looks a very generous price, especially against a side whose primary concern remains to beat the drop this term.

In addition to this stellar home record, they’ve managed to win each of their last four league games – consisting of two difficult away trips to Birmingham and Leicester – and, after resting the entire first XI at Macclesfield in the FA Cup, Malky Mackay’s refreshed squad should have no trouble adding Ipswich to their list of conquests.

Leeds to beat Barnsley @ 5/4

Away from Elland Road, Leeds have been below par. Rudderless Barnsley, however, have become the Championship’s whipping boys, with their shock pre-Christmas win at Millwall representing their only victory in 15 attempts.

They’ve lost three straight league games since then and Leeds won’t show their neighbours any mercy as they bid to reach the play-offs.

The Tykes have a good recent record against Neil Warnock’s side, but having seen star striker Craig Davies abandon their sinking ship earlier in the week, expect this to count for little at Oakwell.

Brighton to beat Derby @ 10/11

Derby battered Middlesbrough in their previous outing and this is no mean feat. This, however, was at Pride Park. Their exploits on the road are far less impressive.

They’ve lost five of their last seven away days and their solitary win in this spell came at beleaguered Bristol City.

Wins haven’t exactly been free-flowing at the Amex Stadium for Brighton either – they’ve managed just four all season in the league – but Newcastle found out how strong they can be when the Seagulls ended their interest in the FA Cup last weekend. A similar performance will ensure that they score all three points when they entertain the Rams.

Charlton to beat Blackpool @ 6/4

The Addicks represent the biggest risk in this accumulator, but with the growing uncertainty at Bloomfield Road emphasised by their manager’s shock midweek departure after just two months at the helm surely to have a negative effect, they stand a great chance of beating Blackpool.

One place and one point is all that separates the Tangerines from Charlton but, with no win in five in all competitions now and their next opponents confident of repeating the feat they achieved in the reverse fixture – an unanticipated 2-0 away win in October – expect to see this deficit overturned come the final whistle on Saturday.

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