Sky Bet EFL preview: Nick Hext's weekend tips
Nick Hext backs Huddersfield to win at Brentford as his strongest fancy in the Sky Bet EFL on Saturday.
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Huddersfield to beat Brentford, Sky Bet Championship
Huddersfield's promotion charge was put back on track by a 1-0 win at home to Aston Villa in midweek. The Terriers sit six points behind second-placed Brighton but they do have a game in hand so the Seagulls are far from out of sight. Saturday afternoon's task for David Wagner's side is a trip to mid-table Brentford and I like the visitors at 13/8 with BetVictor and Marathon Bet to get the win. Huddersfield have won six of their last nine matches on the road and I'm sure they've got the class to keep the pressure on Brighton. Brentford are tough opposition but it's the promotion contenders with the momentum.
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Newcastle to beat Fulham, Sky Bet Championship
I'm tipping both the Sky Bet Championship and League Two leaders to win at home this weekend at just short of even-money. Followers of my ante-post tips will be delighted by Newcastle's recent wins at Brighton and Huddersfield to sit three points clear at the Championship summit. I, in an uncontroversial pick admittedly, backed the Magpies at 19/10 for the title before a ball was kicked this season and they are now as short as 2/7 to finish at the top. Newcastle host Fulham on Saturday afternoon and I'm predicting another three-point haul for the leaders. Fulham are fighting for a play-off place but they haven't won away from home against any of the sides above them this term and I don't see that changing at St James' Park.
Chesterfield to beat Shrewsbury, Sky Bet League One
Chesterfield ended a seven-match winless run with victory at fellow strugglers Swindon last weekend. The Spireites lost 1-0 at in-form Walsall in midweek but they can't dwell on that setback if they are to push for survival. Gary Caldwell's side are nine points from safety so victory just has to be secured at home to Shrewsbury. The Shrews are in great form on their own turf but they've only won one of their last eight away games so Chesterfield are worth a chance at over 2/1 to get the victory.
Oldham to draw with Bury, Sky Bet League One
Local rivals Oldham and Bury meet at SportsDirect.com Park on Saturday afternoon and I don't think there will be a winner. These two sides sit 20th and 19th respectively in Sky Bet League One and are separated by just one point. There was only an own goal between the teams earlier in the season when Bury won 1-0 and another tight contest is ahead. The draw is available at 23/10 and that price looks inviting to me.
Colchester/Draw in Double Chance market against Portsmouth, Sky Bet League Two
It won't shock regular readers of these tips that I think Portsmouth are too short a price to win on Saturday. Pompey have climbed into the automatic promotion places in Sky Bet League Two but I can't be having them as odds-on favourites to claim victory at play-off hopefuls Colchester. The U's have won seven and lost just one of their last eight home games so they have to be worth support when priced up as over 3/1 outsiders to bag the three points. I recommend though playing it a little bit safer and getting with the close to even-money for Colchester to win or the match to end in a draw in the Double Chance betting.
Doncaster to beat Cheltenham, Sky Bet League Two
Sky Bet League Two leaders Doncaster have stuttered lately but I think close to even-money is more than a good enough price to back them to win at home to Cheltenham. Rovers still have a four-point lead at the summit and an even more commanding 11-point advantage in the automatic promotion places. Cheltenham have pulled clear of trouble in recent weeks but they are a long way short of Doncaster's quality and I can't see an upset at the Keepmoat Stadium.
Posted at 1740 GMT on 9/03/17.