EFL WEEKEND: It’s business as usual for the EFL this weekend, with some more heavyweight clashes across all three leagues. We preview the pick of the action below, alongside some of our recommended BETDAQ bets.
CHAMPIONSHIP
Birmingham City vs West Bromwich Albion – Friday 20:00
A west-Midlands derby kicks off our Championship action this weekend as Birmingham host West Brom. The hosts scored two injury-time goals to pull off a sensational win at Swansea last Saturday to end a run of five straight defeats, pulling seven points clear of the relegation zone in the meantime. The scoreline represents the first time the Blues have scored four goals in a league game since August 2021, so there’s plenty of reasons to be optimistic for John Eustace’s side.
West Brom leapfrogged Blackburn Rovers into the final playoff position with a 1-0 win over Coventry City last Friday, making it 10 wins from their last 12 league games. Meanwhile the Baggies were also given a boost when manager Carlos Corberán signed a new deal with the club amid interest from Leeds United, as he bids to get the club back into the Premier League at the second time of asking.
West Brom may have lost their last game on the road – a crushing 2-1 defeat to league leaders Burnely a fortnight ago – but Birmingham can’t buy a win at home at the moment, losing their last three games at St Andrews at an aggregate score of 6-2. With that in mind, we’re backing the Baggies at 2.16 to tighten their grip on the playoff places.
Birmingham City vs West Bromwich Albion markets
Watford vs Blackburn Rovers – Saturday 15:00
Watford surrendered a two-goal lead against Reading last Saturday to extend their winless run to three league games – their longest streak without a victory since September. The Hornets remain in the playoff places but have played a game more than the majority of their promotion rivals, meaning Slaven Bilić’s men can seldom afford any similar slipups if they are to return to the Premier League next season.
Blackburn are in a similarly uncertain period of form, with Monday’s 0-0 draw against bottom-side Wigan Athletic making it just one win in six for the Lancashire side. That disappointing run since Boxing Day means Jon Dahl Tomasson’s men are the only team in the top 10 with a negative goal difference, having netted just twice in four games since the turn of the year.
A win at Vicarage Road would massively boost either side’s playoff ambitions, but we especially like the look of Watford’s price here. Blackburn’s away record has been rather sub-par recently – losing four of their last six fixtures on the road and conceding 11 goals – so we’re backing the Hornets at 2.0 to get back to winning ways.
Watford vs Blackburn Rovers markets
LEAGUE ONE
Plymouth Argyle vs Portsmouth – Saturday 15:00
Plymouth were finally dethroned as League One leaders for the first time since September after a damaging 1-0 defeat to new table-toppers Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough last week. The result means Argyle have won just one of their last four league games, firmly opening the door for the Owls and Ipswich Town to swoop in on the two automatic playoff places.
Portsmouth were dealt a late blow on Saturday thanks to Bobby Thomas’ last-gasp equaliser for Barnsley, which means the gap between Pompey and the playoff places remains a daunting nine points. John Mousinho’s men have now tasted victory in just one of their last ten games at Fratton Park, which Portsmouth fans would certainly interpret as a catalyst for their gradual slide down the League One table.
Despite their recent hiccups, Plymouth still possess one of the best home records across all of England, failing to win just one of their 14 games at the aptly named Home Park. They seem good value here, especially as Portsmouth have lost three of their last five on the road, so we’re backing Argyle at 2.08 to get their title aspirations back on track.
Plymouth Argyle vs Portsmouth markets
LEAGUE TWO
Tranmere Rovers vs Salford City – Saturday 15:00
Successive defeats for Tranmere Rovers mean it’s just one win in six for the Super White Army, edging them further into the bottom half of the League Two table. Whilst their away record has certainly been a big component for their mid-season slump, their run in front of their own fans has been comparatively solid, with two wins and two draws in their last four at Prenton Park keeping them just four points off the playoff places as we approach the 30-game mark.
Salford recorded back-to-back victories to solidify their grip on fifth place, though they will perhaps be disappointed they did not win by a more convincing scoreline against bottom-side Rochdale on Saturday. The Ammies are the second highest away goalscorers in the division with 22 strikes from 14 matches, but will want to improve on their recent record on their travels that has seen them win none of their last three (losing twice), shipping seven goals in the process.
Salford start as underdogs in this match and would understandably be a tempting punt at 3.75 given the disparity in league position between the two sides, but the clubs’ retrospective home and away form may be the most significant factor on Saturday. With that in mind, backing Tranmere Rovers at 2.2 is the play here.
Tranmere Rovers vs Salford City markets
