Free betting tips: Preview for the Sky Bet EFL fixtures on November 3
The Sky Bet EFL continues this weekend with plenty of value on offer. We have 11/4, 14/1 and 25/1 best bets.
Recommended bets
1pt Jake Cooper to score anytime in Brentford v Millwall at 14/1
1pt Jack O'Connell to score anytime in Nottingham Forest v Sheffield United at 25/1
2pts 50+ match booking points in Nottingham Forest v Sheffield United at 11/4
For details of advised bookmakers and each-way terms, visit our transparent tipping record
Brentford v Millwall
Sky Bet Championship Griffin Park, 1500 BST
He was my tip in Millwall's win over Ipswich last week, and despite not scoring, I'm willing to put my faith in Jake Cooper to strike again here.
The centre-back provided two assists in that victory, his fourth and fifth of the campaign, and after speaking about his ability to win the ball in the air it was little surprise to see them both come from headers.
It means that all six goals he has been involved in this season have been as a result of headers - and Millwall will look to play to their strengths from set-pieces.
The Lions are joint-best side when it comes to scoring goals from set-pieces this season. Neil Harris' side have scored nine from those situations, level with Aston Villa who have the same amount.
Brentford have found set-pieces difficult to deal with. They've conceded seven as a result of corners and free-kicks, the fifth-highest in the league.
The three they have conceded at home is the joint-third highest which plays to the strengths of this Millwall side.
Factor in that the Bees are without a clean sheet in nine, while also struggling for results, and it's clear to see how the visitors will have opportunities here.
Millwall have also scored at least once in their last seven games and it's worth backing them to continue that run here.
Cooper is a best price of 14/1 to find the net against Brentford. I'd be more than happy to back the defender at a general price of 11s given the impact he has made so far.
Best bet: Jake Cooper to score anytime at 14/1
Opta facts
- Eight of the last 12 league meetings with Brentford and Millwall at Griffin Park have ended as draws – both sides have won two games each in the other four games.
- Millwall haven’t won back to back league games against Brentford since April 2000.
- Brentford have lost all three of their matches under Thomas Frank in all competitions – they had lost just four of their 24 previous matches before his appointment.
- Millwall are winless in each of their last eight London derbies on the road in the league (D5 L3), losing each of the last three – the Lions have never lost four successive London derbies away from home in the league.
- Brentford have the youngest average starting XI age in the Championship this season (24y 125d).
- Millwall striker Lee Gregory has scored four goals in his last six league games – as many as in his previous 24 combined.
Nottingham Forest v Sheffield United
Sky Bet Championship, City Ground, 1500 BST
No, don't worry, you're not reading last week's tips. However, there is a case for putting up Jack O'Connell to strike for the high-flying Blades away at Nottingham Forest.
In what turned out to be a weekend of profit for the majority of our Sporting Life previews, it can also be viewed as one that had some agonisingly close near misses.
Put O'Connell into that category given the fact that he struck the woodwork in one of the two shots that he had on goal. Inches away from landing an 18/1 winner.
The 14 shots he has had on goal this season proves that it was no fluke either. At a best price of 25/1, I'm more than willing to back him to rectify that near miss and put himself onto the scoresheet here.
What this Sheffield United team has given us is entertainment in the way that they play football. The centre-backs, while their primary objective is to keep teams out, are given the freedom to surge forward and join the attack when required.
That's highlighted by Chris Basham's goal away at Derby. He connected with a cross from open play at the back post to tap into an empty net, although if you watch the build-up it's clear to see that it was no fluke.
Basham will be absent here through suspension which could see O'Connell step up and play that 'Basham role'. Even at a general price of 18/1, there is value in backing him to score whether or not he adapts to a more attacking role.
In terms of the game itself, the general price of 7/5 for an away win is slightly generous given the contrasting forms of the two side.
Forest may have felt that they were robbed at Elland Road by Kemar Roofe's handball goal, but they did little to fill you with confidence in their performance in West Yorkshire.
It may have been a cup side, but it wasn't much better away at League One Burton in midweek and the Blades can capitalise on the road.
Cards are also a likely outcome based on track record. Referee Scott Duncan has shown at least four yellow cards in a match on seven occasions this season.
Forest sit top of the standings when it comes to yellow cards this season with 39, seven clear of Wigan in second with 32. United also sit in the top-seven with 27 yellows, the majority of which have come away from home.
The 50+ match booking points on offer at 11/4 with Sky Bet looks great value when you consider the above factors.
Best bet: Jack O'Connell to score anytime at 25/1
Best bet: 50+ match booking points at 11/4
Opta facts
- Three of the last seven league meetings between Nottingham Forest and Sheffield United have ended 0-0.
- Sheffield United have won one of their last 11 away league matches against Nottingham Forest (D4 L6).
- Nottingham Forest’s defeat to Norwich in their last home Championship game was only their second home league defeat in their last 14 games (W6 D6 L2).
- Only Lewis Grabban (16) and Neal Maupay (18) have scored more Championship goals during 2018 than Sheffield United’s Billy Sharp (15).
- The last nine Championship goals conceded by Nottingham Forest have all been scored in the 60th minute or later.
- Sheffield United’s last 47 Championship goals have been scored by players from either Britain or the Republic of Ireland.
Rotherham v Swansea
Sky Bet Championship, New York Stadium, 1500 BST
There may be a temptation to back an away win here given Swansea's back-to-back victories and the fact that they now sit just two points outside of the play-offs, but the value is in the draw with Rotherham's reliance on results at home.
The Millers are unbeaten in their last five games in front of their own supporters, with their last three ending in the points being shared.
Swansea's away form leaves a lot to be desired as they are winless in their last four. The visitors have also drawn two of the games in that run with both ending 0-0.
Rotherham's focus on home matches is evident in their contrasting records. Paul Warne's side have picked up just two points from their eight away games, while they have lost just one of their seven at the New York Stadium.
Their only defeat was a bit of a surprise one against a struggling Hull side, but they have taken points off the likes of Bristol City, Derby and Stoke in South Yorkshire.
I'm not someone who typically likes backing draws, but the 12/5 general price on offer here does look too good to turn down based on recent results for the two sides involved.
While I'd advise backing a high card count in Nottingham, it's worth going the other way in Rotherham. Swansea have seen just seven yellows and one red this season, considerably less than Ipswich with 19 and three places above them in the disciplinary table.
Rotherham are averaging around 1.5 cards per home game while that figure sits at 0.5 for Swansea in their away games.
The referee, Tony Harrington, has shown two or fewer cards in league games which have seen under 2.5 goals this season and given Swansea's goalscoring woes away from home at the moment, there's a real chance of a low goal count here.
Under 30 booking points is available at even money, which does look good value.
Best bet: Rotherham and Swansea to draw at 12/5
Opta facts
- Rotherham and Swansea last met in August 2014 in the League Cup – the Swans won 1-0 at Liberty Stadium.
- In league competition, Rotherham and Swansea haven’t met since February 2007, with Swansea winning 2-1 under Roberto Martinez.
- Rotherham have scored just two first half goals in the Championship this season, fewer than any other team.
- Swansea haven’t won three consecutive league matches since May 2017 under manager Paul Clement.
- Rotherham have drawn five of their last six league matches – they had drawn five of their previous 38 games before this run.
- Swansea have failed to score in nine of their last 12 away league matches, including each of their last four.
Wycombe v Peterborough
Sky Bet League One, Adams Park, 1500 BST
The best away side in Sky Bet League One will be aiming to keep up their fantastic record on the road when they travel to take on Wycombe.
The hosts have seen an upturn in form in recent weeks with three wins from their last five, although they were defeated by Walsall last time out.
Not only are they winning, but Posh are finding the net when they come up against teams away from home and have 23 on their tally, significantly more than the ten they have scored at London Road.
Peterborough are clearly a side who aren't daunted by travelling to take on sides in their own back yard, which is why the 7/4 on offer for them to win looks a tad overpriced.
Given their goals, there is value in backing individual goalscorers for the visitors and Siriki Dembele is someone who is capable of striking here.
The 22-year-old has been directly involved in nine goals this season (four goals, five assists) which includes one in their victory away at Burton last weekend.
Like his side, he enjoys the road more than home comforts with the majority of the goals he has been involved in coming in their away fixtures.
He has shown that he is a player who can adapt to the winger role on either side, while also filling in at attacking midfield when required.
He's already bettered his tally at Grimsby (four goals, three assists) in just 39% of the games at Peterborough, which goes to show how he is a player firmly on the up given his young age.
At 4/1, I'm more than willing to back him to score anytime which should help Peterborough on their way to victory.
Best bet: Siriki Dembele to score anytime at 4/1
Opta facts
- This is the first meeting between Wycombe and Peterborough since August 2009, when Posh won 4-0 in a League Cup match at Adams Park.
- Peterborough have won just one of their 10 away Football League visits to Wycombe (D3 L6), a 2-1 win in November 2003.
- Wycombe’s current three-game winning streak at home in League One is their best such run in the third tier since October 2002 (also three straight wins).
- Peterborough have accumulated 33 points from their opening 16 league games this season; only in 1973-74 (35 points, assuming three for a win) have they had more after 16 games of a Football League campaign. They were promoted that season.
- 10 of Wycombe’s last 14 league goals have been scored in the second half of their games. Indeed, the Chairboys have netted a league-high nine goals in the final 15 minutes of matches this season.
Port Vale v Notts County
Sky Bet League Two, Vale Park, 1500 BST
Two sides who can't be separated in the betting meet at Vale Park as Port Vale welcome Notts County, but the value is in backing a home win.
Notts County's mini revival under Harry Kewell has seemingly come to an end and, while it did drag them out of the relegation zone, they do still sit in 22nd just two points clear of Cheltenham.
They've also lost their last three games, conceding eight goals over that time and only responding with two in their favour.
Their away record throughout the season has been poor. The 1-0 victory over bottom club Macclesfield is their only success on the road and the six defeats in eight highlights their struggles.
Vale, on the other hand, have picked up seven points from their last possible seven with wins over Bury and Oldham pushing them up the table.
Their home record is decent enough with four wins and a draw in eight games, picking up points in three of their last four.
The real concern here is with Notts' away record and how they have been able to get going under two managers on the road. They've done little to justify sharing the same odds as their opponents and it is well worth taking the best price of 7/4 on a home victory here.
Best bet: Port Vale to win at 7/4
Opta facts
- None of the last 18 league encounters between Port Vale and Notts County have ended level, with Port Vale winning nine and losing nine.
- Notts County won both league games last season by a 1-0 scoreline, they haven’t won three in a row against Port Vale since September 2009.
- Port Vale have kept three consecutive clean sheets in League Two (W1 D2) – they last went on a longer run without conceding in September 2010 (run of five).
- Only Macclesfield (7) have lost more away league games across the top four tiers of English football this season than Notts County (6).
- Only Swindon’s Michael Doughty (4) has scored more goals from the penalty spot than Port Vale's Tom Pope (3) in League Two this season.
Odds correct at 1720 BST on 01/11/18