Expert Jury: Sean Dyche's style well-suited to the top of the Championship

We asked our top team of Racing Post writers and a leading odds-compiler for their thoughts on this week's big talking points and this is how they answered...

What is your best football bet this weekend?

Racing Post's Steve Davies: I like Carlisle at Harrogate in League Two. Harrogate look like a team who need the end of the season. They've lost four in a row, their only win in 12 was at lowly Scunthorpe and they've not won a home game in more than two months. Much-improved Carlisle overcame a minor blip by beating Mansfield 1-0 last time and can follow up.

Racing Post's James Milton: Monaco to win at St-Etienne in Ligue 1. Philippe Clement's side have won six of their last seven league games and four of those, including a 3-0 home victory over Paris St-Germain, were against fellow top-six clubs. St-Etienne have conceded 31 goals in eight meetings with top-six sides and they are unlikely to halt Monaco's charge.

Racing Post's Ian Wilkerson: Birmingham are one of a few clubs in the Championship who have been done a massive favour by Derby's points deduction and Lee Bowyer's Blues have slumped, losing 6-1 at Blackpool last week. I fancy Millwall, who are timing their run to a playoff challenge perfectly and have lost two of their last 13 games, to take the points at St Andrew's.

Bradley Throup of William Hill: Doncaster’s survival hopes may be all but over but manager Gary McSheffrey won’t be giving up just yet and I think the fans at the Eco-Power Stadium will be expecting an attacking display against Burton. Both teams to score would be my best bet at 4-5.

Who are the most vulnerable favourites?

Steve Davies: The pressure has suddenly hit the top three in League One and Rotherham are no price at home to Oxford. A long, hard season is catching up with the Millers, whose workload is more intense than most, and they are struggling to sustain earlier levels. They were poor at Burton last time and if they're running out of gas, Oxford can make them pay.

James Milton: Tottenham and Chelsea are both worth opposing in their fixtures against in-form London rivals Brentford and West Ham. Spurs are feeling the heat in the top-four race while the Bees have won five of their last six in the Premier League and the Hammers can trouble a Chelsea defence who have conceded 11 goals in their last three games at Stamford Bridge.

Ian Wilkerson: Tottenham need to raise their game after a disappointing display in last week's home loss to Brighton and a trip to Brentford looks a tricky assignment. The Bees have pushed towards mid-table by winning five of their last six matches, the highlight of which was a 4-1 victory at Chelsea, and it is perfectly possible that Thomas Frank's side can take something against Spurs, who have to get their top-four push back on track.

Bradley Throup: Newcastle have been flying of late with three wins from last their last three games, all at home. However, that run could come to a halt on the road against a Norwich side fighting for safety. The Canaries will be the fresher side having not played in midweek and the Toon Army have looked weaker on their travels.

How will Fulham fare in the Premier League next season?

Steve Davies: They'll be fine, inevitably based on which clubs are going to be around them, and they are unlikely to be any worse than the two who come up with them, Leeds, Southampton and one or two others. Marco Silva has assembled a decent-looking squad and with a couple of additions they could be a bet for the top ten given there's not a great deal between eighth and 18th nowadays.

James Milton: Norwich have proved that romping to the Championship title is no guarantee of Premier League survival and Fulham's recent top-flight campaigns have been dismal. They scored just 29 goals in 2019-20 – 13 fewer than Aleksandar Mitrovic has bagged in this term's Championship – and both manager Marco Silva and the club's recruitment team will need to step up significantly if the Cottagers are to compete.

Ian Wilkerson: Both Norwich and Watford gained more than 90 points in the Championship this season and they have not been able to compete at top-flight level, so it seems unrealistic to expect the Cottagers to take the league by storm. Aleksandar Mitrovic has scored 40 of their 98 league goals and other players will plainly be needed if they are to make an impression. I wouldn't be surprised if they failed to extend their stay beyond a solitary season.

Bradley Throup: Aleksandar Mitrovic has been key to Fulham's success this year and he will be vital for their relegation battle next season. However, can he do it at the top level? Fulham have been on the Premier League-Championship merry-go-round for a few seasons now, and even with some new faces I don’t think there’s any sign of that changing next year.

Where do you expect Sean Dyche's next job to be?

Steve Davies: Dyche's style perhaps lends itself less and less to the Premier League, but maybe more to those trying to get back into it. Speculation is already rife that West Brom and Stoke are a couple of contenders, though you could add Birmingham to that mix as well if he fancies an even tougher challenge.

James Milton: Given the long-term job Dyche did at Burnley it would be a shame if he became the kind of specialist relegation firefighter brought in by struggling Premier League teams. A better option might be a big Championship club such as Stoke, Middlesbrough, West Brom or Sheffield United where, with patient owners, he could build something special as he did at Turf Moor.

Ian Wilkerson: It would be a surprise if any Premier League team snapped him up, even though his experience should not be sniffed at. However, he will be at the top of many Championship lists and he would do a great job at a promotion challenger in the second-tier. Given they have had a disappointing season and have already given Steve Bruce a go with mixed success, it would not be a shock if he ended up replacing the well-travelled boss at West Brom.

Bradley Throup: If Dyche feels he is ready to take on a new role in the summer, then any promotion-chasing Championship team would be where I would expect to see him next if the right club became available. Steve Bruce has struggled at West Brom this season and if there was an opportunity for Dyche to go to The Hawthorns I believe that would be the perfect challenge for him.

Give us a winner on the midweek coupon

Steve Davies: Marseille draw no bet at Feyenoord in the Conference League. OM are flying at the moment in France - they can't catch PSG but should fend off the rest - so they can give this trip to the Netherlands their all. The Dutch hosts have kept one clean sheet in ten ties in this competition and that level of generosity is going to catch up with them eventually.

James Milton: Playoff-chasing Sheffield Wednesday should win away to relegation-threatened Fleetwood in League One on Tuesday. The Owls have done most of their best work at home this season, with 15 of their 22 league wins coming at Hillsborough, but they beat highflying MK Dons 3-2 in their last away game and have taken 19 points from a possible 21 against bottom-four clubs such as Fleetwood.

Ian Wilkerson: Rotherham have gone to pieces at just the wrong time in the League One promotion race with four defeats in their last five games and the fact they have scored just one goal in that run has to be a massive cause for concern. They look vulnerable at Sunderland, who have won their last four home games against weak opposition, but have a great opportunity to boost their playoff hopes.

Bradley Throup: After failing to beat Liverpool in last weekend's FA Cup semi-final, Manchester City should be ready and raring to go in the Champions League. Real Madrid are no pushovers, but I think City will get off to a winning start in the first leg. Karim Benzema is always a danger and only needs one chance so Man City to win and both teams to score at 9-4 is the selection.

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