Nick Hext is backing Brighton to win at Wolves as the top tip for Good Friday's action in the Sky Bet EFL.
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Brighton to beat Wolves, Championship
Brighton travel to Wolves on Friday evening, kick-off is at 1700 BST, for the first of two back-to-back matches involving the Sky Bet Championship’s top two live on Sky Sports 1. The Seagulls are on offer at a best price of 31/20 to get the win and that’s an inviting price, just like the odds-against available prior to last week’s success at QPR. Chris Hughton’s men will be playing in the Premier League next season with three victories in a row putting them in pole position for automatic promotion. Wolves are in good form too, last weekend’s defeat at Bristol City ended a five-game winning run, but they are short of Brighton’s quality and intensity so it has to be the away victory backed at Molineux.
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Newcastle to beat Leeds by one goal, Championship
Newcastle’s clash against Leeds follows on Sky Sports 1 with kick-off at 1945 BST. I’m sure there will be a few takers for the 5/1 on offer for Leeds to win given Newcastle’s recent inconsistencies but I’m going with the hosts at St James’ Park. Newcastle proved their class when dispatching Leeds 2-0 earlier in the season and I think they are still a step ahead of the Elland Road outfit. Newcastle did suffer a surprise defeat at home to Fulham a month ago but their record on their own patch remains very strong. The Magpies have only lost against the Cottagers in their previous 10 home games and they’ve been finding a way to get the job done. Five of Newcastle’s last seven victories have arrived via a one-goal winning margin and I think that record will extend to six wins from eight games when they meet play-off bound Leeds.
Burton to draw with Ipswich, Championship
Ipswich have drawn seven of their last 10 games so I don’t need much persuading to back the Tractor Boys to pick up a point on the road at Burton on Friday afternoon. Mick McCarthy’s men are almost safe from the drop with a nine-point gap to third-bottom Blackburn with five matches of the Sky Bet Championship season remaining. Burton have a little more work to do as they are only five points ahead of Rovers and it will be a fantastic effort if they do survive in the second tier. The Brewers have drawn five of their previous nine matches, including 1-1 at home to Aston Villa last time out, so it’s clear that a tight contest is in store.
Shrewsbury to beat Walsall, League One
Shrewsbury got their Sky Bet League One survival bid back on track last weekend with victory at home to Rochdale. That win ended a four-match losing run that had seen the Shrews catapulted back into relegation trouble. The Shrews still have plenty of work to do in order to stay up, starting with Saturday’s clash at home to mid-table Walsall. The 14th-placed Saddlers are assured of another season in the third tier and their recent form has been patchy. Walsall haven’t won in their last five games and I reckon Shrewsbury are a solid bet at a decent odds-against quote to get a vital victory. Paul Hurst’s men have enough attacking talent to avoid the drop and three of their final four games are against teams sitting in the mid-table ranks.
Millwall to beat Northampton, League One
Millwall are a simple choice to win at home to Northampton on Friday afternoon. The Lions are one-point ahead of Bristol Rovers in the final Sky Bet League One play-off place with four matches of the season remaining. The Lions, beaten play-off finalists last term, will consider it a failure to miss out on a top-six finish this season but I don’t think they will as a three-match unbeaten run shows things coming together at the right time. Northampton are winless in four games as they sit safely in mid-table and I don’t expect that run to come to an end at The Den.
Plymouth to beat Portsmouth (Draw No Bet), League Two
Portsmouth host Plymouth in Sky Bet League Two’s Dockyard Derby, which is live on Sky Sports 1 at 1430 BST on Friday. Both of these clubs are almost certain to celebrate promotion at the end of the campaign. Second-placed Plymouth are 12 points ahead of Stevenage, who sit fourth, and Portsmouth are just four points further behind Argyle in third. I don’t think Portsmouth can be trusted as such strong favourites to win this Fratton Park clash. Plymouth are on offer at 5/1, which is amazing for a side that has won five and drawn two of their last seven away games. That includes an impressive 1-0 victory at leaders Doncaster a couple of weeks ago. I don’t expect there to be much in this game so Plymouth are worth support in the Draw No Bet odds.
Mansfield to beat Wycombe, League Two
Mansfield are a solid shout to extend Wycombe’s problems at home. The Chairboys are winless in their last six home games and that looks like costing them in the congested scrap for a Sky Bet League Two play-off place. Mansfield also join Wycombe in looking up at the top seven but the Stags are progressing under Steve Evans and 2/1 is a decent price for the away victory in this contest. Both of these sides will meet again next season but Mansfield are the choice to get the three points on Friday.
Posted at 1510 BST on 13/04/17.