*All odds in copy are correct at time of publication and they’re always bang on with our clever betting banners.
12.30pm: Reading v Nottingham Forest – Reading to Win
Reading’s patchy form continued during the week as they laboured to a 1-1 draw against 10-man Sheffield Wednesday in a game that saw all three of our best bets land. It feels like we might have finally got the measure of Reading now and they’re impossible to avoid backing here in Saturday’s early televised game.
Saturday 12.30pm: Reading v Nottingham Forest
Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Football
Why? Well, they’re playing Nottingham Forest who are simply dreadful on the road. Reading are showing signs of life after a terrible run and last won two games back at home to Bristol City. Three of their last four have been away and they’ll be relishing this contest against a side who simply don’t like travelling.
Forest have four points with one win and one draw from their seven away games this season. Reading have won five and lost two at home with most of their woes of late coming away from the Madejski Stadium. The Royals are slowly getting back to their best and a Reading Win here, especially at that price, is well worth backing.
3pm: Oxford v Hull – Hull to Win
Hull are sitting pretty at the top of League One and are in great form. They’ve won four of their last five, have 33 points from 14 games and have won 11, losing just three all season.
Oxford have staged a mini recovery after a poor start and have climbed to 20th in the third tier with 14 points from 14 games. At home they’ve won two, drawn one and lost three. The Tigers have been lethal on the road, winning six and losing just two.
It’s hard to see anything other than an away win here with Hull making it five straight wins in the league. Oxford have a win two draws and a loss in their last four so we’re siding with the superior side which is in form and a Hull Win.
Paddy Power’s Christmas advert is here: Check out The Pundits’ latest misadventure
3pm: Bolton v Port Vale – Bolton to Win
After showing early promise, Port Vale are in freefall. Conversely, after a shocking start Bolton have started to get their act together and they now sit for places above their opponents this weekend in 10th. Bolton have won four of their last five while The Valiants have lost five on the bounce.
It doesn’t take a genius to work out who we’re on in this one and, given the form, Paddy is being very generous with the prices on offer for a Bolton win here. The Trotters have had a relatively kind run of games, but it’s worth noting that Vale have too, they’ve just not taken advantage of it. Again, we’re on the form team, and will be expecting Bolton to Win at home in this one.
3pm: Tranmere v Walsall: Tranmere to Win
Tranmere are another team who have staged a recovery after a terrible start which saw them record just two wins in their opening 10 games. Since then they’ve won five in a row, based on a much-improved defence, and they now find themselves in the lofty heights of 8th.
Walsall are meddling along and look set to be also rans at this early stage of the season. They’re down in 16th and have one win in their last 10. They’re racking up the draws though, which is a slight cause for concern in this one.
However, we’re relying on Tranmere’s improved defensive outlook to keep the fairly toothless Saddlers defence at bay as they outsmart their opponents with their new-found clinical attack. They’ve scored 12 goals in their last five conceding just three which all came in a single game which they still won.
Walsall have scored just three in their last five while shipping seven, and they even managed to lose to Southend along the way. Rovers are a very backable price here and we’re on Tranmere to Win.
Tips for Saturday’s EFL games
12.30pm: Reading v Nottingham Forest: Reading to Win
3pm: Oxford v Hull – Hull to Win
3pm: Bolton v Port Vale – Bolton to Win
3pm: Tranmere v Walsall: Tranmere to Win
*All odds in copy are correct at time of publication and they’re always bang on with our clever betting banners.
SATURDAY’S TOP TIPS
- Shots all round for Everton in lunchtime trip to Burnley
- Man City star Torres can make Fulham toil in 3pm kick-off
- Man Utd set for more away day glory at West Ham
- Our top trader’s 26/1 bet as Chelsea host Leeds
- ACCA: Our 20/1 4-fold from Europe’s biggest matches on Saturday
- PHIL THOMPSON: My 20/1 treble for Saturday’s Premier League action
THE PADDY POWER GUIDE TO RESPONSIBLE GAMBLING – EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW