The EFL certainly lived up to its reputation as one of the most competitive leagues around again on Tuesday night. The stakes are high; with clubs promoted to the Premier League standing to make somewhere in the region of £200M. Added to this is the fact that there are a plethora of large clubs in the EFL this season, as well as several smaller clubs who are comfortably punching above their weight. With just ten games remaining the fight for the automatic promotion places, as well as the play-offs places, and the battle to avoid relegation, is entering its final phase. Given that at least three quarters of the twenty-four clubs are involved in these issues, it makes for exciting stuff.
Newcastle United v Fulham
Newcastle will be full of confidence after picking up a respectable seven points from three games in the space of a week; all away at their main automatic promotion rivals. With a nine point lead over third placed Huddersfield it looks likely that Rafa Benitez’s men will gain promotion back to the Premier League at the first time of asking. They are eleven games unbeaten and man-for-man the strongest team in the league. If there is a team to come out of the chasing pack and make it into the play-off places, then on recent form Fulham look the most likely (they’re five points behind Sheffield Wednesday with a game in hand). Over the past six games they top the form charts in the EFL with four wins and two draws. Although three of these wins came at Craven Cottage they also have the third best away record in the league (Won 7, Drawn 6, Lost 4). However, given that they have only won two of their last six away from the Cottage (at Burton in sixteenth, and Bristol City in twenty-first) the Newcastle win looks good value at 1.85 with BetVictor as they look to pull away from the rest on their way to the title.
Preston v Reading
Although Reading currently occupy fifth place in the table they have come up short away from home this season. The Royals have not won a game away from The Madejski against any team currently in the top ten. With three losses from their last five on the road (all versus sides in the top ten), this will be a tough encounter. Ninth placed Preston have an outside chance of making the play-offs, so three points here are vital after their creditable draw at Derby on Tuesday night. They are an excellent attacking team with four wins and one draw from their last five at Deepdale. We’re expecting a close encounter, but Preston to just edge it. Therefore Preston Draw No Bet looks a great value option at 1.66 with The Greek.
Leeds United v Queens Park Rangers
Fourth placed Leeds are in good form with five wins from their last six at Elland Road. They were unlucky not to take all three points back to Yorkshire against a decent Fulham side on Tuesday night, and harbour hopes of breaking into the automatic promotion places. One of the reasons for Leeds’ success this season is the excellent form of striker Chris Wood, who is leading scorer in the EFL with twenty-two goals. Therefore it’s worth considering Wood to score anytime at 1.90 with several green listed bookmakers. They face a rejuvenated QPR team under Ian Holloway, who have won four of their last six games. Given Rangers good form and Leeds’ inclination to slip up just when they seem to be putting a run together, we prefer the goals market in this encounter. Rangers last six games have seen both teams scoring and over 2.5 goals, so we like the look of 2.0,2.5 goal line at 1.850 with Bet365.
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