EFL TIPS: The EFL action continues this weekend after some dramatic midweek matchups. We preview the best of the fixtures below with our favourite bets.
Championship
WATFORD V NORWICH: SATURDAY 19:45
It’s been an indifferent start to life for Slaven Bilić as Watford manager, following up an impressive victory against Stoke with back-to-back defeats against Swansea and Blackpool, leaving the Hornets with just two wins in their last 11 games in all competitions. The Hertfordshire side find themselves trapped in the bottom half of the Championship table as well as having been dumped out of the League Cup, with any promotion aspirations they had surely beginning to dwindle.
The visit of Norwich City to Vicarage Road could be a catalyst to kickstart their season, given Watford have won five of the last six meetings against the Canaries. Dean Smith’s side likewise need a pick-me-up after surrendering their nine-match unbeaten streak against Preston last weekend.
Despite the disappointment of last Saturday’s result, the Canaries remain unbeaten in four Championship away matches and sit handsomely in second place in the division – joint on points with leaders Sheffield United. The East Anglian side should have no issue with avoiding defeat here, and our value bet for this fixture would therefore be laying Watford at 2.86.
ROTHERHAM V HUDDERSFIELD: SATURDAY 12:30
One of the two lunchtime kick-offs on Saturday sees Rotherham welcome Yorkshire rivals Huddersfield in what amounts to a scrap at the bottom of the table. New Rotherham manager Matt Taylor is still searching for his first win as boss of The Millers after drawing to Millwall and losing comprehensively to Blackburn last week, leaving the South Yorkshire side in 18th place after a dozen fixtures.
Rotherham have failed to win any of their last ten home games against Huddersfield and have netted just once in their last four Championship fixtures, so one may presume Huddersfield will be smelling blood despite their own poor start to their domestic campaign. The Terriers lost seven of their opening ten games to leave them 23rd in the table, conceding the opening goal in all seven of those lost fixtures.
However, having sacked manager Danny Schofield in late September and replacing him with Mark Fotheringham, Huddersfield picked up their third win of the season with a convincing 2-0 victory over Hull last weekend. The Terriers have scored six goals in Fotheringham’s opening three fixtures and look to have hit some decent form, meaning laying Rotherham at 2.26 represents appealing value.
-> Rotherham v Huddersfield markets
League One
MK DONS V PLYMOUTH: SATURDAY 15:00
MK Don’s alarming league form continued on Tuesday evening with a 1-0 loss at home to fellow strugglers Bristol Rovers, making it five defeats from six league games for Liam Manning’s side. The Dons now sit in 22nd place in League One after a dozen fixtures and seem unable to address a home record that has seen them win just one of their six matches at Stadium MK.
They welcome high-flying Plymouth on Saturday. The Pilgrims swept aside Accrington Stanley last weekend to record their eighth win in nine league games, preserving their position at the top of the tree. Whilst Plymouth have won just one of the last four meetings between these two sides, they should comfortably have enough for their lowly opposition this weekend. Backing Steven Schumacher’s side at 2.26 seems like suitable value.
League Two
LEYTON ORIENT V NORTHAMPTON TOWN: SATURDAY 15:00
It’s second versus third in League Two this weekend as Leyton Orient welcome Northampton Town to The Breyer Group Stadium. Orient surrendered their first-place position to Stevenage over the past week after failing to win either of their last two games, but still possess a phenomenal home record, winning five of their six games in front of their own fans while keeping four clean sheets.
Northampton have likewise started to hit a rocky patch of form after starting their season so well, losing by 1-0 margins in their last two league fixtures after winning eight of their opening 11. The Cobblers have now conceded the opening goal in each of their last four games, meaning Jon Brady’s side are often having to chase games rather than set the precedent early on.
Northampton have won three of the last five meetings between these two sides, but Orient will be considered favourites to put daylight between them and their opponents in the league table. We’re backing the home side at 1.94 to record a statement win on Saturday afternoon.
-> Leyton Orient v Northampton Town markets
