*All odds in copy correct at time of publication and they’re always bang on with our clever betting banners.
12.30pm: Cardiff v Swansea: Cardiff to Win
Just 34 miles and four points separate these two great rivals as they prepare to do battle once again in Saturday’s early kick-off. The Swans hold the advantage in the Championship table and sit in 4th with eight wins, six draws and three losses, leading to their total of 30 points after 17 games.
Saturday’s hosts, Cardiff, are five places lower than Swansea with 26 points from seven wins, five draws and five defeats. This one is very evenly poised and a win for the hosts could see them move to just one point behind the other big South Wales side.
12.30pm Saturday: Cardiff v Swansea
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Cardiff are in good form and have won their last four on the bounce with two heavy home wins followed by two tight away victories. Swansea’s fortunes have been more mixed with two wins two draws and a loss in their last five.
Cardiff are improving at home and have three wins, a loss and a draw in their last five, scoring 11 and conceding just two. For Steve Cooper’s men, their away form has left a lot to be desired. They’ve won just one, against the goal-shy Nottingham Forest, drawn two and lost two in their last five.
When you take that raft of stats into consideration and weigh-up the two club’s respective form at home and away then the numbers are all pointing towards one result – a Cardiff Win. Nothing is ever cut and dry in local derbies, particularly one as closely-contested as this, but Cardiff are on a roll and that could make the difference in this one.
3pm: Rotherham v Bristol City: Bristol City to Win
Rotherham are leading a pack of five clubs who look in danger of getting cut adrift at the bottom of the Championship. The Millers are 20th with 13 points from 17 games. They’re five points behind Coventry who are one position higher in the league.
Bristol City sit 6th and are a little bit streaky, but they do have some seriously good away form to fall back on and they’ll be looking to improve on that further this weekend. At home they’re won just one in four, but on the road they’ve won three of the last four and have five wins, one draw and two defeats all season.
Saturday’s hosts have two wins, two defeats and four losses at New York Stadium this term with a measly one point from their last six league games home and away. The Robins thrive on the road and at a decent price it’s worth backing the Bristol City win this weekend.
3pm: Blackpool v Oxford: Blackpool to Win
Blackpool are another team in good nick, and they’ve taken 15 points from the last 18 available, beating some decent teams in the last six. Peterborough, Portsmouth and Fleetwood have all been defeated while Doncaster are the only team to triumph over the Tangerines in that timeframe with their narrow 3-2 win three games ago.
Oxford have been putting in some decent performances without setting the world on fire. They’ve got one win, three draws and one loss in the last five and have themselves faced some pretty good sides in that run. They’re 21st in the league with 15 points from 15 games.
Blackpool are in red-hot form and have won three of their last four home games. Oxford are not great on the road with five losses, one draw and two wins all season. We’re backing Blackpool to win and take advantage of their visitors’ woes on the road.
3pm: Southend v Scunthorpe: Scunthorpe to Win
While any kind of resurgence for Southend looks some way off, Scunthorpe are going through an encouraging recovery after getting the squad and backroom staff back to full fitness and availability following a Covid 19 outbreak at Glanford Park. The Iron were struggling badly up until they were finally able to postpone a number of games to stop the spread and patch their team back together.
Since resuming league action on the 14th of November they have won four, drawn one and lost two. In this strange season, Scunthorpe are struggling to get results at home but there’s been no problem on the road. Since their resumption they’ve taken maximum points on their travels while claiming just four at home from four games.
Southend have just the one point to show from their seven home games and sit rock bottom of the EFL pyramid with six points from 15 games, leaving them seven points from safety already with a goal difference to make your eyes water. The Iron have shown they are better than their league position a few weeks ago suggested and we should see another Scunthorpe away win at Roots Hall on Saturday.
Saturday’s EFL Tips
12.30pm: Cardiff v Swansea: Cardiff to Win
3pm: Rotherham v Bristol City: Bristol City to Win
3pm: Blackpool v Oxford: Blackpool to Win
3pm: Southend v Scunthorpe: Scunthorpe to Win
*All odds in copy correct at time of publication and they’re always bang on with our clever betting banners.
Saturday’s best bets
- Phil Thompson’s backing Newcastle to beat the Baggies and a 11/1 treble
- Goals at a premium in this 28/1 Man Utd v Man City Same Game Multi
- 9/1 Richarlison the creator in Everton and Chelsea goal-fest
- Our tasty 10/1 Same Game Multi for Saturday night’s Madrid derby
Top tips for Sunday
- Kane to hit the mark in our 3 best Crystal Palace v Tottenham bets
- Awesome Aubameyang can fire Arsenal to win over Burnley
- Our trader’s best bet for Leicester v Brighton
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