Wednesday features five Championship fixtures, and Matthew O’Regan has his best bets for all five. These can be combined for a wonderfully priced accumulator.
EFL betting tips
7:45pm: Cardiff v Preston – Under 2.5 goals and Cardiff +1
7:45pm: Hull v Watford – Ryan Porteous to be shown a card
7:45pm: Millwall v Sheffield United – Both teams to score, no
7:45pm: QPR v Oxford United – Tyler Goodrham to score or be shown a card
8pm: West Brom v Coventry – Under 2.5 goals
- An accumulator with these bets pays at approximately 69/1 with Paddy Power. CLICK HERE TO ADD IT TO YOUR BETSLIP.
7:45pm: Cardiff v Preston – Under 2.5 goals and Cardiff +1
Without a win in five, Cardiff host Preston, who are without a win in ten. After scoring one goal and gaining one point in their opening six games, Erol Bulut was dismissed as Cardiff manager.
Omer Riza was initially appointed as the temporary interim manager but has since been appointed permanently despite mixed results. This has prompted a negative reaction from Cardiff fans. So, it could be a toxic night in the Welsh capital on Wednesday night in protest of owner Vincent Tan.
With 17 goals scored, The Bluebirds are the joint lowest scorers in the league. They have also conceded 28 goals, with their games averaging 2.5 goals. Of their 18 league games, 12 have seen less than three goals.
Preston have now gone ten games without a win in all competitions. After just one game, they also quickly dismissed their manager, Ryan Lowe.
Paul Heckingbottom has steadied the ship briefly, but his side are perilously close to the drop zone in 17th, just two points clear of the chasing pack, having played more games than those below.
The main concern for Heckingbottom will be the away form. North End have yet to win on their travels, scoring just eight times. Preston have scored 18 goals and conceded 26 in the league, with their games averaging 2.32 goals. Of their 19 games, 11 have seen less than three goals, and it looks likely again in a scrappy relegation battle in Cardiff.
7:45pm: Hull v Watford – Ryan Porteous to be shown a card
Championship basement boys Hull City host surprise playoff contenders Watford at the MKM stadium.
Ruben Selles has recently been appointed as the new manager and faces an arduous task at a club who have lost their last six and have not won in 11.
On the other hand, Watford are taking many people by surprise under the tactically astute Tom Cleverley. The Hornets are in seventh place, just one point outside the playoffs. However, they have picked up just seven points on their travels – a statistic they must improve to finish in the top six.
One player who will be key to an unexpected promotion charge will be Ryan Porteous. The Scotland international plays on the right of the back three and has shone with his leadership qualities. The 25-year-old is also prone to a card, being shown seven yellows in just ten starts, making 1.84 fouls per 90.
This is no flash in the pan, with Porteous booked 0.42 times per 90 last season. Seven centre-backs have been booked against Hull this season, and Porteous looks good value to become the eighth.
7:45pm: Millwall v Sheffield United – Both teams to score, no
Two of the Championship’s meanest defences, Millwall and Sheffield United, face off at the Den.
Millwall lost 0-1 at home to Coventry to make it four games without a win. However, it was also the Lions’ first defeat in ten games, with Neil Harris’ side drawing five and winning four.
Millwall’s 20 goals scored is the fewest in the top half, while their 16 conceded is the sixth lowest in the league. Their games average just two goals, with under 2.5 goals landing in 14/18 and Both teams to score, no landing in 10/18.
After a disappointing relegation from the Premier League last campaign, Sheffield United sit atop the Championship, boasting the second-best defensive record in the league. Chris Wilder’s side have conceded just 11 goals and scored 27 in 19 games, with their matches seeing an average of exactly two goals.
Under 2.5 goals has landed in 14/19 games for The Blades, with Both teams to score, no landing in a league-high 14/19. Both Millwall and Sheffield United rank in the top three for Under 2.5 goals.
7:45pm: QPR v Oxford United – Tyler Goodrham to score or be shown a card
Oxford United were promoted to the Championship for the first time in 25 years after beating Bolton Wanderers 2-0 in the League One playoff final. They sit nineteenth, just one point clear of relegation on their return.
QPR looked destined for the drop last year before Marti Cifuentes was appointed as the new manager and guided them to safety. This season has not started ideally for The Hoops, who are currently sitting in 20th.
However, four games unbeaten and three clean sheets in a row has given some optimism to the West London faithful, who aim to make it five unbeaten at home to fellow strugglers Oxford United.
If the U’s are to escape Loftus Road with anything, Tyler Goodrham may well be at the heart of it. The academy graduate was the late hero in rescuing a point last time out in the 1-1 draw with Millwall, making it four for the season.
The 21-year-old also works hard off the ball, making 1.14 fouls per 90 and picking up four yellow cards in 18 starts. The market ‘to score or be carded’ allows us to extract additional value from an all-action player.
8pm: West Brom v Coventry – Under 2.5 goals
The final game from the tipsheet comes in what should be a low-scoring fixture between two Midlands sides.
Extraordinarily, West Brom have drawn 10 of their last 11 games, with a 1-2 win over Hull the exception in the run. Carlos Coberan’s side have scored just 21 goals and conceded 14 goals, with their games averaging 1.84 goals. Of their nine home games, seven have seen less than three goals.
Coventry are the visitors to the Hawthorns, buoyed by their first win of the Frank Lampard era. The Chelsea legend was controversially hired to replace the departing Mark Robins, a hugely pivotal figure in the Sky Blues’ recent success.
Coventry have seen under 2.5 goals land in 7/10 away games, with these matches averaging just 2.1 goals.
EFL betting tips
7:45pm: Cardiff v Preston – Under 2.5 goals and Cardiff +1
7:45pm: Hull v Watford – Ryan Porteous to be shown a card
7:45pm: Millwall v Sheffield United – Both teams to score, no
7:45pm: QPR v Oxford United – Tyler Goodrham to score or be shown a card
8pm: West Brom v Coventry – Under 2.5 goals
- An accumulator with these bets pays at approximately 69/1 with Paddy Power. CLICK HERE TO ADD IT TO YOUR BETSLIP.
*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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