EFL WEEKEND: It’s full steam ahead in the EFL this week as the retrospective tables begin to take shape. We preview three games below, alongside some of our recommended BETDAQ bets.
CHAMPIONSHIP
Leicester v Bristol City – Saturday 15:00
Leicester City brushed aside fellow promotion hopefuls Norwich City 2-0 on Wednesday despite making five changes from the last matchday, continuing their impressive start to the season. The Foxes have now won eight of their last nine competitive matches, with their only defeat of the season coming in their last match at the King Power Stadium. Saturday’s latest test could well be a matter of fine margins, as Leicester’s last three home games have all been decided by a single goal.
Bristol City will however arrive in the East Midlands likewise confident, having recorded an impressive 4-1 win over Plymouth Argyle on Tuesday to extend their unbeaten Championship run to four matches. It was their first home win of the league campaign and lifts them to just outside the play-off spots after seven games, though there’s still room for improvement as the Robins have only secured back-to-back competitive victories once this term.
Playing away from home might not be a bad thing for Bristol City as they have been impressive on their travels this season, remaining unbeaten across three away league games, but we think Leicester will be too strong here. Backing the Foxes at 1.76 is the selection.
Leicester City v Bristol City markets
LEAGUE ONE
Bristol Rovers v Wigan – Saturday 15:00
It’s been a steady start for Bristol Rovers in their second successive campaign in League One, with the Pirates collecting nine points from their opening seven fixtures and residing in 13th place. That number may be unlucky for some, but Joey Barton will consider his side rather fortunate after their last two games – snatching a 94th minute equaliser against Lincoln City then scoring twice in the final 20 minutes to beat Shrewsbury away from home last weekend.
There always seems to be a sense of impending doom around Wigan Athletic – even back in their Premier League days. The Latics have actually started well this campaign – winning four of their opening seven fixtures – but a four-point deduction at the start of the season means they currently lie in the relegation zone, two points away from safety.
Wigan have been impressive on their travels this season – picking up seven out of a possible twelve points on the road and scoring eight goals, and Rovers’ winless start at the Memorial Stadium will give Shaun Maloney’s side hope of getting a result. As such, we’re boldly backing Wigan at 3.25 to continue their good start to the season.
Bristol Rovers v Wigan Athletic markets
LEAGUE TWO
Doncaster Rovers v Gillingham – Saturday 15:00
Doncaster picked up their first win of the season with a 2-1 win at Forest Green Rovers last weekend in what has otherwise been an alarming start to the campaign for Grant McCann’s men. Their other seven League Two fixtures have yielded just two points and 14 goals conceded, so it already looks like a case of damage limitation for the Vikings, who finished a disappointing 18th last campaign after being relegated from League One the season before.
Gillingham have conversely made a fantastic start to the season and sit top of the League Two standings after six wins from their opening eight games – despite only scoring seven goals and recording a goal difference of +1! All of their first four games were 1-0 wins, and their 2-1 victory over Morecombe in their most recent fixture was the first time both teams have scored in one of their games.
Gillingham’s low-scoring record makes it difficult to back them outright – you feel if they concede an opener, overturning a deficit will be tricky. Nevertheless, they seem a tad overvalued given the retrospective form of both sides, so we’re backing the table-toppers at 2.38 to continue their fine start to the season.
Doncaster Rovers v Gillingham markets
