*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
Saturday lunchtime gives us another chance to look at a potential Premier League newcomer in the shape of Thomas Frank’s Brentford. The Bees had been in blistering form but have lost their last two Championship fixtures.
Saturday 12.30pm: Coventry v Brentford
Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Football
As a result of that dip in form they’ve been sent to Coventry (well, Birmingham) this weekend to face the Sky Blues at St Andrew’s who have also lost their last two games. Brentford are second in the league heading into this round of fixtures while Coventry are now in serious relegation trouble after a poor run which has coincided with other sides improving.
Brentford to Win
The Bees have had a wobble after going 21 games unbeaten with back-to-back losses against Barnsley and QPR over the last seven days. The Tykes are quietly one of the most interesting sides in the division and The Hoops are on a great run of five wins from their last six.
Maybe there are some mitigating factors in there, but there’s no doubt they’ll be desperate to get back on the wagon against a soft-looking opponent in Coventry City. The Sky Blues are winless in five and have picked up just two points over that period.
Brentford are clearly the better side in this contest and, despite their poor week, are in the better form overall. This is the perfect opportunity for Frank’s folk to get their automatic promotion charge back on track and we can expect a Brentford Win in this game.
Over 3.5 Goals
One of Brentford’s biggest issues is their defence. They’re lethal going forward but they almost-always concede. It’s been eight games since they’ve kept a clean sheet in the Championship.
In their last five there have been 19 goals at an average of 3.8 per game. For Coventry the numbers show 11 goals at 2.2 per match and a combined average of 3.0 per 90 minutes.
We’ve got two quite leaky defences and one attacking powerhouse. It’s safer to go with Over 2.5 Goals but it might be worth taking a chance on Over 3.5 Goals in this game if Brentford turn it on and take some of their recently-acquired frustrations out on their opponents this weekend.
Ivan Toney to Score 2 Goals or More
Ivan Toney to score Anytime looks to be as safe as you can get in terms of the goal-scorer markets. He’s got 24 goals in 34 games in all competitions and eight goals in his last six league games.
He’s already being tipped up to follow in the footsteps of the man he replaced in west London over the summer, Ollie Watkins, and make a big-money move to the Premier League at the end of the season and it’s easy to see why. The former Newcastle hitman has big ambitions and you can bet the farm that he’ll be desperate to make the most of his chance in front of the TV cameras this weekend.
Toney will be licking his lips at the thought of boosting his reputation further – and who better to put to the sword than the division’s 20th-placed team who have the 3rd-worst defence in the league. It’s worth siding with Toney to Score 2 Or More Goals at bigger odds than Anytime or First in this one.
Saturday’s EFL acca
We’ve got a full house of 3pm EFL fixtures this weekend after last week’s big freeze. With vastly-improved weather conditions across England and minimal positive Covid tests across the 72 clubs this week, we’re poised for a much more familiar looking footballing landscape across the lower leagues.
Huddersfield v Swansea – Swansea to Win
Huddersfield are in dire form (two points from their last eight games) and they last thing they need is one of the best sides in the division rocking up to the Kirklees Stadium – but that’s exactly what they’re faced with this weekend. Swansea cross the border and head north on Saturday with seven wins and two draws in their last nine league games.
Steve Cooper’s crew are 3rd in the second tier while The Terriers are 19th and in freefall. This should be an open and shut Swansea Win at a very backable price – especially given the form and direction of travel for both sides.
Ipswich v Oxford – Oxford to Win
There should, in theory, be a little more trepidation with this selection but there simply isn’t. It would have been inconceivable to think in December that Oxford would be above The Tractor Boys in the middle of February. But here we are.
United have taken 27 points from the last 30 on offer and are up to 8th. Ipswich have fallen to 11th after some early-season automatic promotion hopes. Paul Lambert’s side have had a much-tougher run than their visitors on Saturday but, with their confidence shot to pieces and The Us on the highest of highs, we’re backing their incredible run to continue with an Oxford Win in this one.
Wigan v Lincoln – Lincoln to Win and Over 2.5 Goals
No doubts about this one, the only issue is finding the value. League One’s top side head to second-bottom Wigan looking to hammer home their undoubted authority in this contest.
The Latics’ issues are well known and they’re a confusing side in terms of how they flip from getting battered one week to putting up a good fight the next. On the back of another 5-0 loss for Wigan in the week we’re siding with The Imps having their shooting boots on and Lincoln to Win and Over 2.5 Goals here.
Cheltenham v Bradford – Cheltenham to Win
League Two has been so tough to call this season (seven points separate the top nine) and in the slipperiest of weekends it looks like Cheltenham are our best chance of nailing down a winner as our fourth-tier pick. Cheltenham host Bradford in a clash that sees two teams face off with similar records over the last five.
Cheltenham are 3rd while Bradford are down in 16th but The Robins have only taken one more point than The Bantams in the last five. Cheltenham’s opponents have been far trickier than City’s over that period. It looks like the Gloucestershire outfit might be hitting their stride and Cheltenham to Win is the best bet in League Two this weekend.
12.30pm: Coventry v Brentford
Brentford to Win
Over 3.5 Goals
Ivan Toney to Score 2 or More Goals
Saturday’s 3pm EFL acca tips
Huddersfield v Swansea – Swansea to Win
Ipswich v Oxford – Oxford to Win
Wigan v Lincoln – Lincoln to Win and Over 2.5 Goals
Cheltenham v Bradford – Cheltenham to Win
These sections in an acca-insured four-fold will give you odds of around 22/1 with Paddy Power.
ACCA INSURANCE
If one leg of your 4+ fold Acca lets you down, you get up to £/€10 back as a free bet. Customers can qualify for 1 Acca Insurance per day up to £/€10. The free bets will be credited by 12pm the following day.
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
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