EFL WEEKEND: The EFL returns this weekend for its last weekend of November fixtures. We preview one game from each of the three divisions below, alongside some of our recommended BETDAQ bets.
CHAMPIONSHIP
West Brom v Ipswich Town – Saturday 17:30
Things have been going relatively smoothly for promotion hopefuls West Brom in recent weeks, though the international break will provided them with time to reflect after their four-game unbeaten run was ended with a 2-1 defeat against Southampton a fortnight ago. Despite the loss, Carlos Corberan’s men remain firmly in touch with the play-off positions ahead of this weekend and a return to home soil can only be seen as a positive, with only three sides having picked up more points in front of their own fans than West Brom so far this season.
Red-hot Ipswich managed to draw level on points with league leaders Leicester with a win over Swansea in the previous round. The picture might change by the time this late kick-off rolls around, yet maintaining their sizeable gap to third place is arguably more important for the Tractor Boys, who cannot be ousted from the automatic promotion spots for at least the next few rounds. That will however be the last thing on even the most pessimistic of Ipswich fans’ minds as they make the trip to the Midlands as the Championship’s only remaining unbeaten away side.
Ipswich are only favourites by the smallest of margins coming into this one, with the Baggies’ impressive Hawthorns record likely to provide a stern test to the Suffolk side’s title credentials. Despite this though, there seems to be no stopping Kieran McKenna’s men at the moment, so we’re backing the Tractor Boys at 2.76 to continue their excellent form.
West Brom v Ipswich Town markets
LEAGUE ONE
Portsmouth v Blackpool – Saturday 15:00
Portsmouth’s League One title charge was dealt a sobering blow by a 93rd minute Charlton equaliser almost a fortnight ago at Fratton Park – the first time Pompey have failed to win at home since August. Despite the disappointment of the late draw – and Oxford United cutting the gap to the top to just one point – Portsmouth remain the only unbeaten side in the league and one of only two teams in the entire EFL yet to taste defeat this season (Mansfield Town of League Two being the other).
Many were expecting a close encounter between Blackpool and Shrewsbury Town last weekend after the Seasiders’ run of one point in three games coming into the fixture, but Neil Critchley’s side romped to a 4-0 win to record their biggest victory of the season so far. The result keeps Blackpool in touching distance of the playoff positions – now level on points with Derby County in sixth – and they will be encouraged by the fact they’ve scored at least two goals in six of their last eight league games.
Blackpool can certainly pack a punch up top, but we still think Portsmouth seem a bit overvalued here. Blackpool only have one win on the road all season, and with Pompey possessing the best home record in the league all season, all signs point towards another win at Fratton Park for John Mousinho’s men. Backing Portsmouth at 2.12 is the selection.
Portsmouth v Blackpool markets
LEAGUE TWO
AFC Wimbledon v Notts County – Saturday 15:00
AFC Wimbledon picked up a much needed 2-0 victory against Doncaster Rovers in their last League Two fixture to end a rotten run of just two points from five games. Such is the unpredictable nature of the division that despite only winning six games from 17 all season, Wimbledon are only four points off the playoff positions, and can make a real statement of intent when they welcome EFL newbies Notts County on Saturday afternoon.
Speaking of the Magpies, who seem to feature frequently in our EFL tips, they too recorded a much needed three points in their last fixture, racing into a 4-0 lead at half time against Bradford before conceding two second half goals to make the scoreline slightly less impressive. It marked a return to goalscoring form for Luke Williams’ men, who went two games without finding the back of the net for the first time this season before last weekend’s victory, and they’ll be eager to harness that momentum to keep tabs on the division’s top two.
Notts County’s away record has been quite patchy in recent fixtures – winning one of their last four on the road and recording just two clean sheets away from home all season. However, AFC Wimbledon possess one of the poorest home records in the league – only three teams have collected less than their nine points from eight fixtures – which might give the Magpies enough wriggle room to get a good result. Backing County at 2.76 is the play.
AFC Wimbledon v Notts County markets
