EFL WEEKEND: So here we have it – the final weekend of EFL action is upon us. As many as seven teams can still qualify for the play-off fixtures in the Championship, whilst Ipswich will be looking to leapfrog Plymouth Argyle at the death to secure the League One title. We preview four games below, alongside some of our recommended BETDAQ bets.
CHAMPIONSHIP
Middlesbrough v Coventry – Monday 15:00
Most Championship sides can be described as having little left to play for in the one remaining league game and Middlesbrough, who were once threatening for the automatic places, can certainly be placed in that bracket, with Michael Carrick’s side guaranteed to finish fourth no matter the outcome of Monday’s fixtures. A play-off semi-final now beckons against one of as many as five potential teams, but with Boro losing both of their last two games, they will want to gather some momentum into these all-important fixtures.
If Middlesbrough lose to their visitors on Monday, the in-form Coventry City, they’ll face them again both home and away in the play-off semi-finals, so Boro would understandably not want such an outcome to happen as it could give the Sky Blues a psychological edge in the proceeding games. Not that Mark Robins’ side need any such advantage here – they’ve lost just one of their last 16 matches and come into this fixture as only the marginal underdogs in the betting.
A couple of months ago this game would likely have been a procession for Carrick’s side, but such is the changing nature of domestic football that we’re going to stick our heads out and punt on Coventry to pick up a vital final-day victory. Backing the visitors at 2.69 is the play.
Middlesbrough v Coventry markets
Millwall v Blackburn Rovers – Monday 15:00
Only a win for Millwall here would guarantee a play-off place next weekend, with the Lions two points ahead of the trio of sides loitering outside the top six but at the same time having a sub-par goal difference. Their home form – one of the league’s best before the World Cup break – has faltered notably in recent months, with Gary Rowett’s men picking up just two wins in their last seven at the Den since the end of February.
Blackburn remain winless since exiting the FA Cup in March and will be wondering how they let their grip on the play-off places slip so considerably. Jon Dahl Tomasson’s men must win here to have any chance of making it to next weekend’s play-off matches, and should take encouragement from the fact they won the reverse fixture 2-1 back in October, but a streak of just one away victory in 2023 will have even the most optimistic of Rovers fans indifferent about their chances at the Den on Monday.
We like the look of Millwall here. The home side certainly won’t want to rely on other results to go their way to secure their first Championship play-off semi-final since 2002, and Blackburn’s aforementioned away record makes this perhaps a bridge too far to cross. Backing Millwall at 1.91 is the selection.
Millwall v Blackburn Rovers markets
LEAGUE ONE
Port Vale v Plymouth Argyle – Sunday 12:00
Port Vale’s 1-0 victory over Bristol Rovers a fortnight ago ended up being enough to secure League One football for another season, with the Valiants only now able to finish 18th or 19th when the final league fixtures conclude on Sunday. Their fans will be happy with survival but the backend of this season has been pretty dire, with Darrell Clarke’s men winning just one of their last ten league games and entering the final gameweek with the sixth worst goal difference in the division.
Plymouth have certainly peaked at the right time and last weekend’s 1-0 victory over Burton Albion means the Pilgrims will be playing Championship football next season for the first time since 2010. There’s still the small matter of the league title being decided, with Steven Schumacher’s side just needing to equal Ipswich Town’s result at Fleetwood to be crowned League One champions.
That win against Bristol Rovers made it five victories on the bounce for Plymouth – the second time they’ve achieved that all season, and we reckon the Pilgrims can go one further here to pip Ipswich to the title. Backing Plymouth at 1.86 seems a fair price.
Port Vale v Plymouth Argyle markets
LEAGUE TWO
Bradford City v Leyton Orient – Monday 12:30
Bradford just need a point to confirm their position in next weekend’s play-off semi-finals but the composition of the four play-off places is still all to play for, with just three points separating Stockport in fourth and the Yorkshire side in seventh. They could have secured their position much longer ago if it weren’t for a run of just one win in their last four games, culminating with a 3-2 loss to Crewe Alexandra last weekend, but now have the opportunity to put things right against the runaway league winners.
Leyton Orient could be forgiven for slightly taking their foot off the gas after confirming their status as League Two champions a couple of weeks ago, and their 3-0 loss at home to Stockport two weeks ago certainly emphasised that sentiment. It was just east-London side’s second defeat in the league since January and manager Richie Wellens will want his side to put in an improved performance against one of the division’s better sides to close out what has been a brilliant domestic campaign.
Bradford are the firm favourites for this one in the betting and perhaps understandably given their need to win, but as previously mentioned, a point would be likewise enough for Mark Hughes’ side to reach next weekend’s play-off matches. As such, we’re backing the draw at 3.2.
Bradford v Leyton Orient markets
