Free betting tips: Preview for the Sky Bet EFL fixtures on December 1
The FA Cup means that there is just Sky Bet Championship action this weekend, but Tom Carnduff is looking for value in goalscorers.
Recommended bets
1pt Pawel Wszolek to score anytime in QPR v Hull at 6/1
1pt Erik Pieters to score anytime in Reading v Stoke at 20/1
1pt Emiliano Buendia to score anytime in Norwich v Rotherham at 11/4
For details of advised bookmakers and each-way terms, visit our transparent tipping record
Norwich v Rotherham
Carrow Road, 1500 GMT
This is the fixture the home side would have wanted after being held away at Hull in midweek.
The Canaries had struck four goals in each of their previous three games before a 0-0 draw at the KCOM Stadium halted their momentum, although they still sit top of the Championship standings.
Rotherham's away form plays a significant factor in why they are currently sitting low down in the table. Their home form has been great, but they are yet to secure a win on the road with just three away points from nine games.
We should expect Norwich to secure victory in a game with goals, which provides value in the goalscorer market as a result.
It really is a case of take your pick, with 14 different scorers in all competitions this season, but their attacking midfield is the place to go with Marco Stiepermann, Onel Hernandez and Emiliano Buendia having direct involvement in a combined 18 goals.
I prefer the 11/4 available on the latter to strike here and grab his fourth of the season. Buendia found the net in that 4-1 win victory away at Swansea last weekend and has contributed an impressive eight assists already.
He is a key player in this Norwich attack, playing at least 83 minutes in each of their last six league games. Over that period, he has grabbed three goals and another two assists.
Buendia is a player in form for a team that is winning, and he has every chance of getting onto the scoresheet again against a struggling Rotherham side.
Best bet: Emiliano Buendia to score anytime at 11/4
Opta facts
- Norwich are unbeaten in 10 home matches against Rotherham in all competitions (W4 D6) since a 1-2 defeat in April 1966.
- Rotherham are looking to win back to back league games against Norwich for the first time since October 1966.
- Norwich are looking to win four consecutive home league games for the first time since February 2017.
- Rotherham have drawn each of their last three league games on the road – they haven’t drawn four consecutively on their travels in the second-tier of English football since 1965-66, when they did so twice.
- Norwich sit on 37 points from their opening 19 games this season, making them the 21st side to achieve this total or higher after as many games in the Championship since 2008-09 – 17 of the previous 20 were promoted to the Premier League.
- Norwich are the only side of the 72 in the Football League yet to have an Englishman score a league goal for them this season (excluding own-goals).
QPR v Hull
Loftus Road, 1500 GMT
The R's have been the surprise package of the Championship season so far, sitting just outside the play-offs despite being fancied for relegation.
They were hammered 7-1 away at West Brom in just their third game of the season, but a positive run of results has seen them propelled up the standings.
Steve McClaren's men should be confident of adding another win at home to a Hull side who are battling the drop, that's despite picking up points against the Baggies, Birmingham and Norwich in recent weeks.
QPR have won their last three at home, though, scoring three goals in two of those fixtures, and will back themselves to end up on the right side of the result again on Saturday.
The price that jumped out to me was the 6/1 available with Bet365 on Pawel Wszolek scoring anytime, that's compared to a general price of 5/2.
The winger has three goals on his tally this season despite starting just one of their first 11 league games. He has since established himself in the starting right-wing role and his side have reaped the rewards.
Wszolek sits in sixth for shots taken in this QPR side and anything upwards of 3/1 looks a bet.
Best bet: Pawel Wszolek to score anytime at 6/1
Opta facts
- QPR have only won one of their last nine league matches against Hull (D4 L4) – it came in this exact fixture last season.
- Hull have won two of their last three away league matches against QPR (L1) – as many as in their previous 19 combined.
- Steve McClaren and Nigel Adkins last faced in October 2014, when McClaren’s Derby won 3-0 away at Reading.
- Nigel Adkins has won three away league games against QPR, all with different teams – Scunthorpe United, Southampton and Reading.
- QPR are looking to win four consecutive home league games in a single season for the first time since March 2017 under Ian Holloway.
- Hull have picked up as many points in their last two away league games (four – W1 D1) as they had in their first seven of the season combined before this (W1 D1 L5).
Reading v Stoke
Madejski Stadium, 1500 GMT
Stoke are starting to pick up points following a slow start and find themselves on a six-game unbeaten run, which they should extend to seven away at Reading.
The Royals have won just two of their last 10 games although they do have three wins in their last five at home. That said, they have been against teams lower than Stoke in the standings.
I'd back the Potters to wrap up all three points here, especially after a huge win against Derby in midweek despite going down to 10 men in the first-half.
Another goalscorer to consider is Erik Pieters, available at a massive 20/1, which looks huge. Pieters has proven that he can provide an attacking threat down the left-hand side, scoring in away games against Preston and West Brom.
He has had opportunities in recent outings, too. The full-back has managed one shot on goal in each of his last three starts for the club, but did miss three games in the earlier stages of November.
He still had a strike in that win over Derby, and I'm more than willing to put my faith in him to score against a struggling Reading side at the odds on offer.
It's also worth considering that the goal that Reading conceded against Leeds in their last game was a result of the left-back overlapping and having an opportunity in the area. Perhaps Pieters can do something similar.
Best bet: Erik Pieters to score anytime at 20/1
Opta facts
- This is the first time Reading and Stoke have faced since February 2013 in the Premier League – the Potters won 2-1.
- Stoke haven’t won an away league match at Reading since December 1992 – they are winless in 13 matches there since (D5 L8).
- Reading have picked up 10 points out of a possible 15 (P5 W3 D1 L1) from their last five games at the Madejski Stadium – they had lost each of their previous five league games there prior to this.
- Stoke manager Gary Rowett has never lost an away Championship match at the Madejski Stadium against Reading (P4 W2 D2 L0).
- No team has won fewer games in the Championship than Reading since the start of last season (14 of 65; ever-present sides only).
- Stoke’s current six-match unbeaten league run away from home (W2 D4) is their longest such streak on their travels since April 2010 in the Premier League, last going seven without a loss in January 2008 when they were promoted from the Championship.
Odds correct at 1540 GMT (29/11/18)