Ryan Ledson

Free betting tips and odds: Sky Bet EFL preview

15:04 · SAT October 07, 2017

Nick Hext has an 18/1 first goalscorer selection for this weekend's action in the Sky Bet EFL, plus Soccer Saturday Super 6 picks.

Saturday's TV game

Both teams to score in Barnet v Coventry, Sky Bet League Two (Saturday, 1230 BST, Sky Sports Football)

The opening live Sky Sports contest of the weekend comes from Sky Bet League Two as Barnet host Coventry at The Hive. Coventry can move to the top of the table, temporarily at least, with a big victory but I don't think the Sky Blues will have it all their own way. Barnet are on a six-match winless run but they've proven their quality by beating highly-fancied Luton and Swindon earlier this season so I'm sure improvement is in the offing. Both teams have scored in all of the Bees' last nine outings and I'm expecting a winner in the BTTS market once again. Coventry have netted in all of their previous seven games so it's an easy suggestion to make for this encounter.

First goalscorer selection

Ryan Ledson to score first in Oxford v AFC Wimbledon, Sky Bet League One (Saturday, 1500 BST)

I've got a first goalscorer fancy for Oxford's clash at home to AFC Wimbledon. Tenacious midfielder Ryan Ledson is the newly-appointed penalty taker for the U's, netting from the spot against Walsall a couple of weeks ago, and he offers big value at 18/1 to open the scoring. The former Everton youngster also benefits from the quality of playmaker Jack Payne in the Oxford's line-up. Payne was the provider for goals by midfielders Josh Ruffels and Joe Rothwell in the 4-1 win at Peterborough last weekend and Ledson can become the latest beneficiary from the Huddersfield loanee's assists.

Iron to show mettle

Scunthorpe/Draw double chance v Wigan, Sky Bet League One (Saturday, 1500 BST)

Wigan are without captain Sam Morsy, away on international duty with Egypt, when they travel east to Scunthorpe on Saturday afternoon. The midfielder is a big miss for the Latics and I like Scunthorpe as the outsiders for three points on their own turf. The Iron are out to make it three home victories in a row and Wigan have fallen to defeat in three of their last five outings on the road. Getting with Scunthorpe and the draw in the double-chance market is available at close to even money and that's well worth a look.

Sunday's TV game

Under 2.5 goals in Gillingham v Portsmouth, Sky Bet League One (Sunday, 1430 BST, Sky Sports Football)

Gillingham's clash against Portsmouth is Sunday's offering from Sky Bet League One live on Sky Sports. The Gills parted company with head coach Adrian Pennock a couple of weeks ago and a season of struggle is ahead. Portsmouth are in the middle of the pack at the start of Kenny Jackett's reign and they've been hit and miss recently with three wins and three defeats in their last six outings. That makes this a tough contest to call but I'm going to suggest going low on goals. Only one of Gillingham's previous six matches has contained three or more goals and Pompey are without star striker Brett Pitman following knee surgery. A tight contest is expected so go under 2.5 goals at Priestfield.

Portsmouth manager Kenny Jackett

Soccer Saturday Super 6 picks

The Soccer Saturday Super 6 game is the free-to-play football prediction game that puts your football knowledge to the test.

A jackpot of £250,000 is up for grabs and all you have to do is correctly predict the scores in the six selected matches. The Premier League and Sky Bet Championship clubs are resting during the international break so the focus goes to four Sky Bet League One games, the trip to Solihull Moors for Jeff Stelling's Hartlepool in the Vanarama National League and Super 6-sponsored Salford taking on Leamington in the Vanarama National League North.

Here are the predictions of our Sky Bet EFL expert Nick Hext...

Posted at 0715 BST on 06/10/17.