Football Tips: Saturday’s 15/1 Multi-Match Bet Builder for Leeds & Ipswich promotion battle

Paddy's EFL tipster James O'Rouke delivers his verdict on the race for the Premier League

By / Football Tips / 6 months ago

Championship Betting Tips

MULTI-MATCH BET BUILDER

Ipswich v Huddersfield

Half Time Result: Ipswich
Ipswich -2

Leeds United v Southampton

Over 3.5 Goals
Southampton +1

The latest football odds are on PaddyPower.com now

Ipswich v Huddersfield

TV: Sky Sports Main Event, Saturday, 12:30pm

Half Time Result: Ipswich

The equation is simple for Ipswich in that a draw or better will confirm promotion alongside already-confirmed Champions Leicester, and ahead of Leeds. They also have the absolute perfect opponent in the form of Huddersfield, who are all but officially down, but can play the role of party spoiler.

There’s no way the Tractor Boys are going to settle for that and are likely to come flying out of the traps to try and avoid anything potentially nervy or anxious late on in the match. This is a team that are the highest league scorers, besides Southampton, inside the opening 20 minutes. They’re also the highest Championship first-half scorers, full stop.

Huddersfield are in a sorry state right now. In a way, the pressure is off them, but at the same time all eyes are on them. Fan unrest has grown as the season has progressed and the constant change of manager over recent campaigns has ultimately not led to anything. The manager is likely to leave and no doubt many players too, so this is a game they could do without.

Ipswich -2

This match has the potential to turn into anything Ipswich want it to be. The absolute key for them is to get an early goal to really settle them down. Perhaps two to be safe, as Huddersfield could pinch a set piece goal out of nothing to get the home crowd all jittery. With the away side effectively relegated, everything is on Ipswich in terms of motivation and that should be obvious, with the intensity they need to play at.

The only side to depart Portman Road with all three points is Huddersfield’s local rivals Leeds, whilst only rock-bottom Rotherham have won fewer league away encounters than the Terriers. Kieran McKenna’s Ipswich also average just shy of 2.60 home league goals per match themselves. Furthermore, 59% of the time they’ve netted 3+ goals in home league clashes, too.

Expecting Huddersfield to form much of a resistance could be asking too much based on their away record at the top clubs this season. In away meetings with Leicester, Leeds and Southampton they’ve shipped a total of 13 goals; an average of 4.33 per game, and that was with much higher motivation levels.

Leeds United v Southampton

TV: Sky Sports Football, Saturday, 12:30pm

Over 3.5 goals

The reality for this game is there will undoubtedly be eyes on what is happening over 200 miles away in Ipswich. Leeds have to win and hope their local rivals Huddersfield do them an unlikely favour. If Leeds were the side in control of second place heading into the weekend, this would be a completely different scenario, and likely more of a tighter game. The circumstances now suggest it could turn into something crazy.

A couple of early goals for Ipswich would quickly filter through to Elland Road, and the players aren’t stupid, they would know what is happening. The pressure therefore would be off Leeds to a degree, and that would contribute towards more of an entertaining spectacle. Southampton rotated vs Stoke last weekend to try players out for the play-offs and another changed team is expected here. Their Championship fixtures are averaging 3.26 goals per game anyway, whilst Leeds’ previous two have ended above the 3.5 goal line.

Southampton +1

Again, the situation of taking the Ipswich game into account might play into Southampton’s hands. The approach from Leeds at the start will be about winning the match, but Ipswich charging into a commanding lead then essentially means Leeds have a play-off campaign to prepare for. Would Daniel Farke sub off some of his key players? Would the players themselves be wary of a crunching tackle? With that being the case, Southampton could benefit.

Russell Martin’s side are on a three-match losing run and they’d ideally want to go into the play-offs off the back of at least a competitive performance. They’ve lost all four season meetings with the top-two, whilst Leeds have won all four against the top-two, but this final day is a unique occasion because of the various situations, so form goes out of the window to a degree.

Also, with Ipswich expected to beat Huddersfield quite comfortably, Southampton may sense the opportunity to really get at Leeds knowing heads have dropped.

EFL Championship Bet Builder Tips

Ipswich v Huddersfield

Half Time Result: Ipswich
Ipswich -2

Leeds United v Southampton

Over 3.5 Goals
Southampton +1

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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