EFL WEEKEND: The EFL is back in full swing after the March international break, with the first fixtures in April being played across the weekend. We preview four games below, with our BETDAQ recommended bets.
CHAMPIONSHIP
Hull City vs Rotherham United – Saturday 15:00
With his side more than ten points adrift of both the coveted play-off positions and the relegation as the season approaches its final eight games, it’s likely Hull City manager Liam Rosenior will already be planning for the 2023/24 campaign. However, boasting the best points per game average (1.35) of the three managers employed by the Tigers this season, Rosenior must be content with the team’s gradual improvement during his tenure, even if their most recent 1-1 draw against Reading made it just one win in eight for the east Yorkshire side.
Conversely, Rotherham have a lot more to play for in the remaining nine Championship games, with their 2-1 defeat to Preston North End last time out meaning they start this weekend just four points above the drop zone, albeit with a game in hand. That was thanks to their scheduled previous game at home to Cardiff being abandoned without a winner after 47 minutes – a lucky escape for Rotherham who conceded the opening goal for the fifth time in seven starts to trail 1-0 at half-time.
A Yorkshire derby always means a lot to the fans and Rotherham will be hoping they can harness some of the energy from the stands to elevate their performance at the KC Stadium, but it’s difficult to look past Hull here. Rotherham haven’t won away from home in 10 league matches, whilst the Tigers won the reverse fixture between these two 4-2 back in October. Backing Hull at 1.98 is the play.
Hull City vs Rotherham United markets
Wigan Athletic vs Queens Park Rangers – Saturday 15:00
Wigan remain the Championship’s bottom-placed side after their valiant 1-1 draw with Watford extended their winless run to eight games. The Latics now have the same number of matches to save their place in next season’s edition, and have their work cut out after they were docked three points for failing to pay their players. It is certainly backs against the wall stuff for the club from Greater Manchester as the season reaches its conclusion.
QPR have lost their last two visits to the DW Stadium, so they shouldn’t be taking Wigan’s precarious position for granted as they seek one of the two wins manager Gareth Ainsworth feels they need to survive. However, having won just one of their last 15 league matches, it’s hard to be confident about them maintaining their current six-point gap to safety.
Wigan interestingly find themselves on a four-game unbeaten run at home, conceding just two goals in that time, whilst Rangers have conversely lost their last three fixtures on their travels, shipping a colossal 12 goals in what has been a dismal domestic period for the club. As such, we’re backing Wigan at 2.5 to get their survival campaign back on track.
LEAGUE ONE
Derby County vs Ipswich Town – Saturday 15:00
Derby rounded off a damaging March period for their promotion aspirations with a 2-0 loss away at Peterborough before the international break, meaning just one point now separates them from the Posh in seventh place. The Rams picked up just one win in five during the month and failed to record a clean sheet, with the race for the final play-off place becoming more unpredictable by the week.
Ipswich continue to fly; they are the division’s most in-form team at the moment after assembling a brilliant six-game winning streak – scoring 16 goals and conceding zero in the process. They will be eyeing up the automatic promotion places at the very least, with some punters even confident in the Tractor Boys’ chances of securing the title after Sheffield Wednesday’s recent wobble.
A trip to Pride Park is certainly one of the division’s tougher asks in the context of this League One season, but there seems to be no stopping Ipswich in their current form. Kieran McKenna’s men who won the reverse fixture 1-0 at Portman Road are playing with a brilliant attacking flow at the minute, so we’re backing the away side at 2.24 to continue their title charge.
Derby County vs Ipswich Town markets
LEAGUE TWO
Leyton Orient vs Carlisle United – Saturday 15:00
Leyton Orient seem to be sleepwalking towards this League Two title. Last week’s 1-1 draw away at Hartlepool was their fourth on the bounce and represents their longest streak without a win all season, but there’s still relative confidence that their five-point lead – and game in hand – will be enough to wrap up the title with eight games to play.
Carlisle are enduring their own winless run, with last weekend’s 94th minute loss to Gillingham meaning the Blues haven’t tasted victory in three games, failing to score in any of those fixtures. The Cumbrians now find themselves just one point adrift of the automatic play-off places as the season enters its dying embers, and will need an almighty push if they are to experience League One football for the first time since 2014.
Orient’s aforementioned dip in form, perhaps makes their price for victory a little wider than some would expect, but we still fancy the league leaders to do the business here. Richie Wellens’ side won 1-0 in the reverse fixture in October and will be optimistic they can get back on the winning track this weekend. Backing Orient at 2.32 is the selection for this one.
Leyton Orient vs Carlisle United markets
