Sky Bet EFL betting tips: Saturday preview

Recommended bet: EFL

2pts Fleetwood to beat AFC Wimbledon at 11/10 – Cod Army have to be backed at odds-against to keep their place in the automatic promotion places

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Fleetwood to beat AFC Wimbledon, Sky Bet League One   

Fleetwood suffered a disappointing defeat at home to promotion rivals Bolton last weekend but they bounced back on Tuesday night with an impressive 1-0 win at Walsall. The Cod Army remain in the Sky Bet League One automatic promotion places with a one-point advantage over Bolton, who have a game in hand, and they need victory at home to AFC Wimbledon on Saturday to at the very least keep that advantage. I have to back Fleetwood at odds-against to get the three points they need. Uwe Rosler’s men have only suffered that one loss against Bolton in their last 14 home games in the league and they can get the better of their mid-table opponents, who have only won one of their last 10 away games. AFC Wimbledon also have to focus again after claiming a historic win over MK Dons in midweek and I reckon they will find the trip to Highbury a step too far.   

Other bets worth considering:   

Preston (draw no bet) to beat Blackburn, Sky Bet Championship  

It’s definitely worth finding a way to support Preston when they make the short trip to Blackburn on Saturday (1300 GMT kick-off). North End still have hopes of a play-off place, they are six points behind sixth-placed Sheffield Wednesday, and that would be an incredible achievement for Simon Grayson’s men given the superior resources enjoyed by other clubs in the Championship. Blackburn are fighting just to maintain their place in the second tier and I can’t be having them as clear favourites in this match. There has been an upturn in form since Tony Mowbray replaced Owen Coyle as manager but they are still simply not as good a side as Preston. North End are odds-against in the draw-no-bet market and that’s where my interest is. I fancy Preston for the win but the three draws in their last four away games and Blackburn’s three draws in a row have to be taken into account.   

Brighton to beat Leeds by one goal, Sky Bet Championship   

The live Sky Sports offering from the Championship on Saturday evening sees Leeds host Brighton in an intriguing clash at the top of the table. Leeds, who sit fourth, are 11 points behind second-placed Brighton and it’s fair to say that defeat to the Seagulls would end the outside automatic promotion hopes of Garry Monk’s men. I think the hosts are up against it and Brighton should be backed for a narrow win. The Seagulls are back on song after recovering from defeats against Newcastle and Nottingham Forest by claiming back-to-back victories against Rotherham and Derby. Chris Hughton’s men have been claiming some convincing wins lately but I recommend going for the 3/1 for Brighton to beat a strong Leeds outfit by just one goal.   

Bolton to beat Northampton, Sky Bet League One   

I’m backing Bolton to keep the pressure on Fleetwood with victory at home to Northampton. Wanderers have won back-to-back games on the road, 4-2 at Fleetwood and 4-0 at Gillingham in midweek, so they should be feeling pretty good about things before hosting the Cobblers. Bolton have only lost one of their last nine outings and I think close to even money is worth taking for the promotion chasers to win, especially with Northampton now free of any relegation worries in mid-table and not at their strongest on the road.   

Cambridge to beat Cheltenham, Sky Bet League Two   

Cambridge are worth backing at 7/4 to win on the road at Cheltenham. The U’s have won back-to-back away games, including an impressive 3-0 victory at promotion chasing Carlisle last weekend. Tuesday night’s 1-0 defeat at home to struggling Hartlepool was a big disappointment but I think that can add extra motivation for the trip to the LCI Rail Stadium. Cheltenham are still fighting to maintain their Sky Bet League Two status and I think the U’s can add to the Robins’ two defeats suffered in a row on their travels.   

Morecambe to beat Plymouth, Sky Bet League Two   

Plymouth’s stuttering bid to win promotion from League Two continues on Saturday when they host Morecambe at Home Park. The Pilgrims have lost three of their last four home games to miss the chance to pull away from their rivals for automatic promotion and the pressure is on again when they host the Shrimps. Morecambe have lost their last three matches but Plymouth just can’t be trusted currently as odds-on favourites so the Shrimps could be worth a small show of support.

Posted at 1230 GMT on 16/03/17.