EFL WEEKEND: The EFL continues into its third month of action as the busy autumn schedule approaches. We preview one game from each division below, alongside some of our recommended BETDAQ bets.
CHAMPIONSHIP
Sheffield Wednesday v Huddersfield – Saturday 15:00
Sheffield Wednesday retained their status as one of two EFL clubs without a league win this season after falling to a 1-0 midweek defeat against West Brom, making it eight losses out of 10 fixtures in their return to the Championship. It was the third consecutive Championship match where they found themselves trailing by the half-hour mark and ending up losing the game, leading to manager Xisco Muñoz losing his job.
Speaking of managerial changes, Huddersfield will have former Owls boss Darren Moore in their dugout after he joined their Yorkshire rivals earlier in the season. Moore’s first loss in charge of his new club came on Tuesday, a 4-1 defeat to Birmingham City, which has led to their second four-game winless period of the league campaign, and the Terriers find themselves in 19th position after 10 games.
Both teams look shot of confidence, but the inclination is to go with Huddersfield here. The Terriers haven’t been terrible on their travels so far this season – losing only two of their opening five games on the road and scoring in all of them – whereas Sheffield Wednesday have lost four of their five games at Hillsborough. Backing Huddersfield at 2.94 is the play.
Sheffield Wednesday v Huddersfield markets
LEAGUE ONE
Oxford United v Bristol Rovers – Saturday 12:30
Oxford come into this weekend just a point off Portsmouth in first having played a game less after a 3-0 win against Shrewsbury on Tuesday. The victory was their fourth on the bounce and also the fourth time in a row they’ve scored three goals, with their 21 strikes this season only bettered by Barnsley (24).
Bristol Rovers have picked up some form after a stuttering start to the season. They won just one of their opening six games but have now tasted victory in three of their last four, with a 3-0 win against Port Vale on Tuesday pushing the Gloucestershire side up to 12th after 10 fixtures – just two points off the playoff positions.
Bristol’s recent resurgence makes this fixture seem a tad closer than it ought to be, but we think Oxford’s price offers some value. They may be below evens, but we’re not going to turn our nose up at a price of 1.85 for the hosts to continue their brilliant start to the season, so backing the U’s is the selection.
Oxford United v Bristol Rovers markets
LEAGUE TWO
Barrow v Notts County – Saturday 15:00
Barrow seem to be unable to piece together any sort of recognisable form, following up an entertaining 3-2 win against Doncaster with a 2-1 defeat to lowly Grimsby Town on Tuesday. It means their last six games have included two wins, two draws and two losses each, so such is the extent of their inconsistency that their current mid-table position of 10th seems somewhat justifiable.
Notts County’s full-throttled start to life in League Two has continued to provide a lot of action, with the Magpies following up last weekend’s bonkers 5-4 loss to Colchester with a 3-1 victory over Swindon Town on Tuesday. Despite suffering their second defeat of the season last weekend, Luke Williams’ men have held onto their first-placed position in the table – leading AFC Wimbledon by three points – and are the division’s second-highest scorers with 26 goals in 11 matches.
Barrow’s spontaneity makes this a tricky one to predict, especially when factoring in that Notts County have seen a remarkable 46 goals across their 11 games so far – including 20 in their last three. Despite this, the Magpies seem a tad overpriced given how well they’ve started the season, so we’re backing the away side at 2.08 to extend their lead at the top of the table.
