Having watched both competitive matches of both of these teams, I can’t get away from the fact that I think Birmingham are overpriced for this match.

Even looking at the difference in prices between Birmingham’s outrights and Blackburn’s would probably suggest that too much influence is being given to the Ewood Park factor. Indeed, the Ewood Park factor is quite likely to work for Birmingham as much as it is for Blackburn. Blues are taking over 7,000 away supporters up the M6, taking over the whole Darwen End, and there are likely to be as many Birmingham fans as Blackburn fans in the other three stands combined.

Feeling in the Blackburn fanbase is already at a low ebb, and so captain Lewis Travis’ request to be able to leave the club this week has not gone down well, and they are unlikely to play well in the squad either. Sidnei Tavares looked promising in midweek, but, no offence to Bradford, it is not the same as facing Paik Seung-ho and Tomoki Iwata in Birmingham’s midfield, along with Jay Stansfield chasing back as well.

Birmingham look superior to Blackburn in every department and I’m sure that leaning with Blues in the match markets is the way forward.

Boro have made strides to improve their forward line creativity and goal production by bringing in Sontje Hansen from the Netherlands, though he may not come straight in for this one anyway. It was clear, even from the opening game, that they needed more quality in that area in particular.

Hansen’s signing is unlikely to impact this match too much, and regardless, we know that Millwall are a tough team to negotiate as Norwich found on opening day.

Millwall won 40 points at home last year, and they did so on the back of a pretty solid defensive record at The Den, conceding only 19 goals in their 23 home matches. They did only score 27 goals themselves in that time though, the Lions specialised in narrow wins to fire themselves up the table.

Millwall look to have improved under Alex Neil, but they will certainly want to keep that defensive record that they developed last season.

Middlesbrough were very goalsy last season away from home, 66 in their 23 matches, but under new management, and with a forward line that looks a bit more of a work-in-progress, I expect it to be a slower start in terms of goals this season.

This bet is recommended mainly because of the difference in how these clubs are going versus how the market views them.

The Blades are made as favourites for this match, and though their squad is still probably pound-for-pound a better Championship squad than the Swans, there is definitely a feeling that Swansea are moving in the right direction, whilst Ruben Selles’ Blades are very much a work-in-progress. 

There were definite good moments from Blades in the defeat to Bristol City. In the period after City's first goal and also after their second goal, it looked very much like Blades were the better team.

However, the fact is that Bristol City were able to break through United, and Birmingham (who beat Blades 2-1 in midweek) were able to pressure them into mistakes in midweek as well.

Swansea have created a good-looking first team, perhaps lacking some stardust, but certainly functional. I expect them to be able to get the points that they need from matches like this one.

Neither of these teams are settled in terms of bedding in their new management and coaching teams, as well as the players they have recruited.

QPR added Richard Koné to their ranks this week, which, when added to an already lively-looking set of choices, Ilias Chair, Kader Dembele, Kwame Poku and co, could mean that QPR fans will have some entertaining football to watch in the final third.

Watford have added a lot of young foreign talent this summer as well, but we are yet to see how this all settles down. Nestory Irankunda could be in line for a league debut here, having impressed in midweek, and I expect that the likes of Luca Kjerrumgaard and Mamadou Doumbia will improve this season too.

I can see goals in both sets of attacks, and if either one, or both, can fire here, then the over 1.5 goal line should be beaten.