Having posted a 12.9% return on investment across the season, Michael Beardmore returns with his Saturday accumulator advice column for the EFL season's final day, including a best bet.
1.5pt Exeter to beat Port Vale at 5/4 (BoyleSports)
Already promoted and bereft of any real pressure, Sky Bet League Two leaders EXETER stand on the verge of only the second Football League title in their history.
There have been few, if any, better teams in the EFL in 2022 – W15 D6 L3, including W9 D2 L0 at home – and it’s a surprise to see them odds-against to clinch the title against Port Vale who have lost three straight to hinder their own promotion ambitions.
There will be plenty of meaningless matches across the Sky Bet Championship and League Two on Saturday but relegated DERBY, buoyed by a takeover that finally seems to be happening, can end on a high.
The Rams have won nine of their past 14 at Pride Park and host a Cardiff side that has lost five of its past seven games, scoring just four goals in the process. Final days are notoriously tough to predict but Derby look value at 13/10 in places.
With eight goals in their past two games, BRISTOL CITY are ending the Championship season on a high but the Robins have kept just two away clean sheets in 22 attempts across the campaign.
Hosts HUDDERSFIELD could rest a few players with the play-offs in mind but they have netted twice in each of their past five games and with City boasting the division’s best BTTS ration (69%) back BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE at the John Smith’s.
Now, this is a ‘take it or leave it’ shout but I simply can’t pass up FULHAM at 11/4 in any game in the Championship, such has been their dominance of the division.
Hosts Sheffield United have to win to seal a play-off spot and if that pressure becomes too much or results elsewhere mean they desperately need a goal, the Cottagers have the quality to pick them off.
Goals are absolutely flying in during SWANSEA’s run-in, a 5-1 defeat and 4-4 and 3-3 draws among six successive games involving the Swans in which both teams have found the net.
Visitors QPR have only two away clean sheets all season but have also only failed to score five times in 22 attempts on the road so back BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE in south Wales.
There is probably no such thing as a home banker on the final day but WEST BROMWICH ALBION are as close as they come against relegated Barnsley.
The Tykes have lost six of their past eight, including four straight, and the Baggies should be able to round off on a high at The Hawthorns.
TRANMERE must win on Saturday to have any chance of making the League Two play-offs and that should spell goals aplenty at LEYTON ORIENT.
The O’s have won seven of their past 10 but their most recent home game, a 4-2 defeat to promotion-chasing Northampton suggests backing BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE is a sensible option here.
Odds correct at 1715 BST (04/05/22)
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