Football tips, predictions and best bets: EFL Championship, League One, League Two 20/04/24
Football betting tips: Saturday best bets
2pts Doncaster to beat Barrow at 23/20 (bet365)
1pt Accrington-Draw vs Stockport at 5/2 (Sky Bet)
1pt Devante Cole to score anytime at 11/4 (BetVictor)
1pt Wigan to beat Portsmouth at 4/1 (Betfair)
1pt Rotherham to beat Birmingham at 5/1 (Sky Bet)
Doncaster vs Barrow
- Kick-off time: 15:00 BST, Saturday
- Home 11/10 | Draw 12/5 | Away 9/4
The Sky Bet EFL's in-form team DONCASTER go in search of a ninth straight win when they entertain sixth-placed Barrow in a huge game for both clubs.
Victory won't guarantee that Grant McCann's side end the day in the top six, but at most they will be just a point off Sky Bet League Two play-offs - unthinkable just a few short weeks ago - as that will be the size of the gap to Pete Wild's men should they inflict yet another away defeat on the ailing Cumbrian club on Saturday afternoon.
Barrow have taken just one point from their last four fixtures, and away from home have been utterly diabolical, last winning on the road in December, form that saw their hopes of a top-three finish fall apart.
Rovers, meanwhile, have conceded just twice during their eight-game winning streak, won 10 of 13 games and are undefeated since New Year's Day.
Odds-against looks generous.
Portsmouth vs Wigan
- Kick-off time: 15:00 BST, Saturday
- Home 4/6 | Draw 14/5 | Away 19/5
It's a funny time of the campaign when some sides have already achieved everything they set out to back in August, yet still have a couple of games to play.
PORTSMOUTH and STOCKPORT are two such teams having respectively clinched the League One and League Two titles.
This weekend, Pompey welcome an underrated WIGAN team to Fratton Park, a side who haven't had much to play for for months thanks to their pre-season points deduction, but continue to pick up results.
The Latics have lost only one of their past six fixtures, winning at Lincoln last time out to damage the Imps' play-off aspirations.
With Pompey unlikely to be at their best after a dramatic victory over Barnsley on Tuesday ensured they will go up as champions, the 4/1 about a WIGAN win looks worth chancing.
Stockport vs Accrington
- Kick-off time: 15:00 BST, Saturday
- Home 3/10 | Draw 17/4 | Away 15/2
The argument for ACCRINGTON at Stockport is similar to Wigan at Pompey.
The visitors' 8/1 price fairly reflects the decreased likelihood of an upset through a combination of their poor form and the Hatters having had an extra three days to bask in the glory of their title win.
Taking the 5/2 on the DOUBLE CHANCE therefore feels more sensible in this fixture.
Accrington had little to play for on Tuesday against a Mansfield team looking to clinch promotion, but still managed to push them close in a 2-1 defeat.
Rotherham vs Birmingham
- Kick-off time: 15:00 BST, Saturday
- Home 5/1 | Draw 3/1 | Away 11/20
In case you missed it, nine years on from securing back-to-back promotions, securing Championship safety and then (after a month or so in the wilderness) joining Leeds, Steve Evans is back at Rotherham.
📽️ | Not that we need one...
— Rotherham United (@RotherhamUnited) April 17, 2024
... but seems like a good excuse to share this classic clip again 😍
What's your favourite Steve Evans memory? 🤔 #rufc | #ForeverTogetherForeverProud pic.twitter.com/TCxRHBA1ZL
In between times, one of the most marmite characters in EFL history has continued to - largely with great success - implement his bombastic, direct style.
You only need read or listen to the reaction of Millers fans to realise just how happy they are to have Evans back, which is not well timed for Birmingham.
That timing itself is certainly a little questionable, with the Scotsman leaving League One club Stevenage to oversee the final three games of a club already relegated to that very same division.
Beyond question, though, is how much Evans will have the players, and supporters, revved up following a forgettable campaign.
He could hardly have wished for a better opening home game, with fourth-bottom Birmingham having lost seven of their last eight away, drawing the other.
Putting Evans' appointment aside, actually impossible to do, ROTHERHAM don't exactly come into this fixture with zero optimism either, losing only one of their last three at home.
Against one of the poorest teams in the league, who are also terrible travellers, the 5/1 about a home win is seriously inviting.
Blackpool vs Barnsley
- Kick-off time: 15:00 BST, Saturday
- Home 21/20 | Draw 23/10 | Away 5/2
Barnsley striker DEVANTE COLE was well on course to finish as Sky Bet League One top scorer until a barren run of 14 matches, a spell that ended when he broke the deadlock at Portsmouth on Tuesday.
There had been signs of Cole breaking his duck in recent games, getting into the right positions only for the anxiety to get back amongst the goals undoubtedly contributing to him missing chances and snatching at opportunities.
Having now got back on the scoresheet, and with him available to TO SCORE ANYTIME at 11/4.
Cole remains third in the division's scoring charts despite that drought, with only Alfie May (23) and Colby Bishop (21) scoring more than his 18 goals.
And despite Barnsley's recent poor form (W2 D3 L5) they have only failed to score twice in their last 31 fixtures in all competitions.
Odds correct at 1700 BST (18/04/24)
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