EFL WEEKEND: The EFL continues this weekend for its last round of October fixtures following some more midweek action. We preview one game from each of the three divisions below, alongside some of our recommended BETDAQ bets.
CHAMPIONSHIP
Sheffield Wednesday v Rotherham – Sunday 13:00
Following a 3-0 thumping at Plymouth in midweek, their tenth league defeat of the season already, Sheffield Wednesday remain firmly on track to record the Championship’s lowest-ever points tally. Notably, Sunday’s opponents in a south Yorkshire derby are Rotherham, the club who currently hold that unwanted record for the second tier’s lowest-ever points pick-up when they amassed just 23 points in the 2016/17 season. It’s perhaps unsurprising to see the Owls struggling given they haven’t scored in six games, with a change in management from Xisco Munoz to Danny Rohl offering little by way of encouragement so far.
Skip forward seven years, and albeit not to the same extent, Rotherham are again firmly in the relegation dogfight after losing seven of their opening 12 league games. The Millers saw their recent home clash with Ipswich postponed, and after others around them picked up points, it was vital that they started to pick up points sooner rather than later to keep in touch. They did just that in midweek, beating Coventry 2-0 on home soil, meaning they are now unbeaten in two league games for the first time this season.
Sheffield Wednesday seem a little undervalued at 1.99 given their abysmal start to the season. It would be a tad bold to back Rotherham as the away side considering they haven’t won on their travels in six games, so backing the draw at 3.5 offers good value.
Sheffield Wednesday v Rotherham markets
LEAGUE ONE
Oxford United v Wycombe Wanderers – Saturday 15:00
Oxford’s scintillating start to their League One campaign has been given a reality check over the past week, with the U’s conceding a 92-minute equaliser against Blackpool last week then succumbing to a 2-0 defeat to lowly Wigan Athletic on Tuesday. It’s the first time this season Oxford have gone two league games without winning, but all remains well at Kassam Stadium with Liam Manning’s side four points off Portsmouth in first place with a game in hand.
Wycombe have had a rather inconsistent start to the season. They threatened to put a good run together when they won three league games between August and September, but just two victories and three losses in their last six games has somewhat stifled any momentum built up. Still, their current position of 10th isn’t too dissimilar to last season when they finished ninth, and with just three points separating them and the play off places, there’s plenty to be optimistic about for Matt Bloomfield’s men.
Oxford’s recent slump in form will have certainly nudged up their price for victory in this one, with Liam Manning’s side trading above even-money for victory. Despite their recent winless run, we think the home side will have too much for their counterparts on Saturday, so backing Oxford at 2.02 is the play.
Oxford United v Wycombe Wanderers markets
LEAGUE TWO
Notts County v Wrexham – Saturday 15:00
Arguably the most eagerly anticipated tie of the weekend sees last season’s National League title fighters go head to head at Meadow Lane for their first EFL meeting since 2008. Notts County have had the better start of the two sides and have begun to pick up form again after winning just one in four between September and October, tasting victory in each of their last two games to leave them two points off Stockport County at the top.
Wrexham’s season seems to have clicked back into gear, with mid-October’s bonkers 3-2 comeback win against Salford City the notable result in their six-game unbeaten run. Their most recent fixture was another late victory against Sutton United in midweek, leaving the Welsh side in third place and just three points off their hosts in this Saturday’s clash.
Expect goals in this one. The over 2.5 goals market predictably offers little value at 1.49, so finding an outright winner will certainly pay dividends. Both teams are priced similarly to pick up three points, but with Wrexham only winning two away games this season and Notts County triumphing in all but one of their fixtures in front of their own fans, we’re backing the home side at 2.42 to keep up the pressure on Stockport.
Notts County v Wrexham markets
