EFL Betting Tips
Saturday 12:30pm QPR v Plymouth Argyle – Half time/full time: QPR/QPR
Saturday 12:30pm Burton v Stevenage – Both teams to score and over 2.5 goals
Saturday 12:30pm Crewe v Swindon Town – Under 2.5 goals
Sunday 3pm Swansea City v Cardiff City – Both teams to score – no
Saturday 12:30pm: QPR v Plymouth Argyle
Half Time/Full Time: QPR/QPR
TV: Sky Sports Football
Queens Park Rangers came from 2-0 down to earn a late draw with Sheffield United last weekend, which would have felt like a victory. Lyndon Dykes’ last-gasp leveller came with Rangers down to ten men, which upgrades the result significantly. Therefore, they would have gladly played again the following day, such is their desperation to get back on the pitch and maintain the momentum that Bramall Lane ending will have created. As such, a strong start from Martí Cifuentes’ men cannot be ruled out and Plymouth may be the perfect opponent for them.
The reason for this is because Argyle have issues playing away from home, the main evidence coming from last season. Only relegated duo Rotherham and Birmingham collected fewer Championship away points than the Pilgrims, who opened the campaign with a 4-0 loss at Sheffield Wednesday. It’s hard to have too much faith in them on their travels. Whilst the showing at home to Hull, in a draw, last time out demonstrated some form, they need to show metal away from Home Park, and that is still be proven at this level.
With recent signings Karamoko Dembele and Koki Saito making eye-catching debuts for QPR last weekend, which is timely given the absence of injured key forward Ilias Chair, Saturday’s match is ideal for them to get a first league win of the season against an opponent still with many questions to answer.
Saturday 12:30pm: Burton v Stevenage
Both teams to score and over 2.5 goals
TV: Sky Sports+
This column’s NAP of the weekend comes from the Pirelli Stadium where goals simply have to be on the agenda as Burton Albion host Stevenage. To say it’s been a summer of change for Burton is an understatement after off field investment, a new manager and a plethora of new signings has given a fresh look to the club.
Their early season performances have demonstrated some issues adapting to new boss Mark Robinson’s building from the back approach and possession style. As such, whilst they are more pleasing on the eye, they are making mistakes, as they make the drastic change from a more direct way of playing. Their four games this season in all competitions averaged 4.75 goals, including three with both teams scoring.
Stevenage also haven’t had any issues creating chances in their opening matches of 2024/25. Alex Revell’s side are ranked fourth in the League One xG count two games in, and with Burton also in the top-ten of that category, it further enhances the prospect of goals. They ran Norwich City close in the Carabao Cup losing in a 4-3 in a thriller. Norwich and Burton also play a similar style, meaning there is every chance of a repeat showing of goals as they too adjust to a new manager with a different tactical outlook. Boro average 1.5 goals per game in all competitions so far and although they’ve kept two out of four possible clean sheets they both come at home.
Saturday 12:30pm: Crewe v Swindon Town
Under 2.5 goals
TV: Sky Sports+
Last weekend was a bit of a disaster for Crewe and Swindon. For Alexandra it was a 5-0 home loss to newly-promoted Chesterfield, as Town went down 4-0 at home to Walsall. Things can only get better for the pair, and whilst they’ll be keen to put things right, there has to be some nerves on the back of heavy beatings.
Confidence isn’t high in either camp and both are still searching for league victory number one in 2024/25. Therefore, combined with taking into account the heavy setbacks in the last league match, the priority has to be to stop conceding. Do this, and it keeps them in the game and raises hopes of potentially pinching a 1-0. Even if a team takes an early lead, last weekend will still be ringing in their ears, so it won’t necessarily be a goal fest.
The natural approach is to lean more towards this game not containing too many goals. A draw isn’t the end of the world for either manager and it’d give them something to build upon heading into the next batch of league fixtures. Swindon manager Mark Kennedy built his managerial reputation in his last job, at Lincoln, as making his team hard to beat and conceding few goals. He needs to install such mentality at Swindon, and perhaps the heavy loss last Saturday will be the springboard to doing that.
Sunday 3pm: Swansea City v Cardiff City
Both teams to score – no
TV: Sky Sports Football
The South Wales derby takes centre stage on Sunday as Cardiff make the short journey to Swansea. This is a big pressure game for obvious reasons, but considering Swansea have back-to-back wins in all competitions to their name, and Cardiff currently sit bottom of the Championship table, it’s a vital match for the Bluebirds. Defeat would make a bad start to the season a bit of a disastrous one. They haven’t won at this venue since March 2021, playing behind closed doors, whilst home and away five of the previous six head-to-head meetings have been won by Swansea.
Historically, this hasn’t been a game to have contain too many goals. Quite incredibly, only one of the last 14 meetings has seen both teams score. A reason for this is the uniqueness of the occasion and the competitiveness of such a fixture. They are combative and physical affairs, meaning it often becomes a midfield battle, as opposed to an end-to-end contest with frequent chances at either end.
Swansea are understandably favourites and should dominate possession as they normally do. A clean sheet is often key to success for them, with seven of their last nine league wins featuring a shutout. Five of Cardiff’s away league triumphs last season were also when not conceding. Considering these are the bedrock to success for both, especially in derbies, goals aren’t necessarily expected, at least not for both teams.
EFL Betting Tips
Saturday 12:30pm QPR v Plymouth Argyle – Half time/full time: QPR/QPR
Saturday 12:30pm Burton v Stevenage – Both teams to score and over 2.5 goals
Saturday 12:30pm Crewe v Swindon Town – Under 2.5 goals
Sunday 3pm Swansea City v Cardiff City – Both teams to score – no
READ MORE
- Shoot on over to Paddy Power News for the best Football Betting Tips & News
- Premier League title odds: Who will win the crown in 2024/25?
- Premier League top scorer odds: Who are the favourites to win the Golden Boot in 2024/25?
The Paddy Power Guide To Safer Gambling – Everything You Need To Know
