Sky Bet EFL: Match previews and best bets for fixtures on Saturday December 7
We're back to a full round of fixtures following the FA Cup weekend. Tom Carnduff picks out his best bets in the Sky Bet EFL.
Recommended bets
2pts Over 11.5 corners in Huddersfield v Leeds at 15/8
2pts Sheffield Wednesday to beat Brentford at 13/8
For details of advised bookmakers and each-way terms, visit our transparent tipping record
Huddersfield v Leeds
- 12:30 GMT kick-off on Sky Sports Football
We're treated to a West Yorkshire derby in front of the TV cameras on Saturday as Huddersfield welcome Leeds to the John Smith's Stadium.
Leeds will be full of confidence as they sit five points clear of the play-off places after a winning run of five games.
The Terriers meanwhile have found themselves dragged back into the battle to avoid the drop. They experienced a positive start to life under the Cowley brothers but four games without victory has left them two points above the drop zone.
The visitors sitting at -1 on the Asian Handicap highlights how the money is behind a Leeds victory here. They're looking to keep the pressure on West Brom, who are two points ahead at the top, but most supporters would likely be more satisfied in creating that gap between themselves and third.
Given how Fulham play Bristol City and Nottingham Forest have to head to Millwall, there's every chance they could be eight points clear by Sunday evening.
The best bet though, given how Leeds are an odds-on price, comes in the corner markets and taking the 7/4 available on there to be over 11.5 in the contest.
Marcelo Bielsa's side have established themselves as having a high corner count on average. Four of their last five have seen them take at least three more corners than their opponents - one to consider if the corner handicap is also available.
They'll face a battle to 'win' this statistic on Saturday. Huddersfield saw a total of 17 corners in their last home encounter with Swansea, while there were 16 in their recent trip to Preston.
This will be a game in which both teams want to attack and Leeds will look to use Helder Costa and Jack Harrison down both flanks to create opportunities to score.
Along with goals, that should hopefully lead to corners too, making the attractive 7/4 price on a high corner count a bet worth backing in this one.
Best bet: Over 11.5 corners at 15/8
Opta facts
- This is the first meeting between Huddersfield and Leeds since February 2017, when the Terriers won 2-1 in a Championship fixture.
- Leeds have lost their last three league matches against Huddersfield – they haven’t lost four in a row against their Yorkshire rivals since a run of six between 1928 and 1931.
- After a run that saw them lose 14 of 16 home league games, Huddersfield are now unbeaten in their last six at the John Smith’s Stadium (W2 D4).
- Leeds have won their last five Championship games, their longest run since a run of seven between November/December 2018.
- Since scoring his first Huddersfield goal on February 9th, striker Karlan Grant has ended on the losing side in eight league matches in which he’s scored – more than any other player in the top four tiers of English football.
- Leeds midfielder Mateusz Klich has created the most chances from open play in the Championship (40) and been involved in the most open play sequences ending in a shot (117) – despite that, the Polish midfielder has registered just one assist this season.
Sheffield Wednesday v Brentford
All the talk surrounding Sheffield Wednesday has been about matters off-the-pitch in the week, although it shouldn't have too much impact on them in the short-term.
The EFL has insisted that it has sufficient evidence to charge Sheffield Wednesday with misconduct over the sale of Hillsborough stadium.
Wednesday informed the EFL on Wednesday that the charges were "unlawful" and have threatened to take legal action.
The Sky Bet Championship club have denied all allegations put forward by the EFL after it opened an investigation into the Owls' profitability and sustainability submission for 2017-18.
What this could result in, if found guilty, is a potential 21-point deduction for the Owls. Automatic relegation has also been speculated as a punishment.
That's out of the hands of the players though and Wednesday's start to the season has largely been positive. They have struggled for consistency in recent weeks though and Garry Monk will be eager for his side to record back-to-back victories following success over Charlton last time out.
They've made Hillsborough into a bit of a fortress with just one home defeat in their nine league games this season. Brentford's away form is decent enough, although no draws in ten signals that it's all-or-nothing on the road.
While the Owls' position in the table in good, the data shows how they have been under-performing throughout the course of the campaign.
They could be battling towards the automatic promotion spots had they taken some of the chances they've been creating for themselves. The positive though is that they are getting in positions to score, which is far less of a concern compared with struggling to create.
Both sides are floating around the same rough mark in terms of odds, although Wednesday claim favouritism. This should be a tight affair, highlighted by the 0 split on the Asian Handicap, but Wednesday have enough to wrap up another three points.
Best bet: Sheffield Wednesday to beat Brentford at 13/8
Opta facts
- Sheffield Wednesday have won four of their last five home league matches against Brentford (L1), winning the last two in a row.
- Brentford have lost their last two league visits to Sheffield Wednesday but have never lost three consecutively.
- Sheffield Wednesday are unbeaten in six home league games (W2 D4), though each of the last three have ended level.
- Brentford have won six of their last eight Championship games (L2) – no side has won more over this period in the competition.
- Sheffield Wednesday midfielder Barry Bannan has started 29 open play sequences ending in a shot in the Championship this season – four more than any other player.
- No Championship player has been involved in more open play sequences ending in a goal than Brentford’s Ollie Watkins this season (17) – he has been directly involved in 10 goals in his last 11 league games (8 goals, 2 assists).
Odds correct at 1450 GMT (05/12/19)