The Sky Bet EFL continues this weekend with most teams in action. Tom Carnduff has found a trio of goalscorers to back.
Recommended bets
1pt Said Benrahma to score anytime in Brentford v West Brom at 13/5
1pt Semi Ajayi to score anytime in Rotherham v Norwich at 14/1
1pt Adam Reach to score anytime in Sheffield Wednesday v Blackburn at 19/5
For advised bookmakers and each-way terms, visit our transparent tipping record
Brentford v West Brom
Brentford will be left wondering how they didn't get anything from their game against Sheffield United on Tuesday night.
The Bees were beaten 2-0 in a game where they had 69.5% possession. They had nearly three times the amount of shots than their opponents, but ended up empty-handed.
Said Benrahma was our anytime goalscorer tip in that game and while he failed to do so, it's worth keeping faith in him here given the fact he posted a total of eight shots in that game. That's two less than the entire Sheffield United team.
Prior to that game at Bramall Lane, the winger was enjoying a wonderful spell in front of goal, which includes a hat-trick in their 5-1 hammering of Hull.
His goal at Middlesbrough made it five in four games. Benrahma has had a direct involvement in 24 goals for Brentford in all competitions this season.
He's a player who is playing with confidence and it's clearly showing in his performances. The game at Sheffield United highlights how he has the belief in his ability to find the net, that's reflected in the high number of shots.
It's a game where Brentford will be looking for a win as they continue their late push for the play-offs. Thomas Frank's men need to close a seven-point gap between them and the top-six. It seems a big ask, but given Derby and Bristol City's recent poor form it's not impossible.
West Brom did boast the best away record before they were heavily beaten at Leeds. That was under Darren Moore so it's difficult to tell what this side will be like on the road now that he has left.
Brentford's home record is very strong though. Only the current top three have a better record in front of their own supporters, with the Bees winning their last seven at home in all competitions.
Best bet: Said Benrahma to score anytime at 13/5
Opta facts
- Brentford haven’t hosted West Brom since August 1998 in a League Cup match – the Bees won 3-0.
- West Bromwich Albion are unbeaten in five league games against Brentford (W3 D2 L0), though those five games are spread across 70 years (between 1948 and 2018).
- Brentford are looking to win six consecutive home league matches for the first time since May 2014 (a run of seven).
- West Brom won 3-2 away at QPR in February – they haven’t won consecutive away league matches in London since March 2007.
- Said Benrahma has been involved in 16 goals in 12 Championship starts at Griffin Park for Brentford this season (7 goals, 9 assists), having a hand in at least one goal in 11 of those starts.
- West Brom striker Dwight Gayle has scored three goals in two Championship starts against Brentford.
Rotherham v Norwich
What should be a straightforward result at a glance of the league table is actually a difficult game to call as Rotherham welcome Norwich to the New York Stadium.
The Millers are now unbeaten in their last three games in front of their own supporters and picked up their first away victory of the season at QPR in midweek.
They're still in the relegation zone but are closing in on safety. It's goal difference that separates the Millers, Wigan and Reading, while 19th place Millwall are only a single point ahead.
Paul Warne's men have started to perform when it matters and have lost just one of their last eight games - that being away at Norwich's title rivals Sheffield United.
Rotherham were also beaten by Leeds in their last game against a top-six side, although they did take the lead and gave Leeds a scare at half-time.
The player who grabbed the Rotherham goal that day was Semi Ajayi. The centre-back has relished his move into midfield and has found himself on a prolific run in front of goal.
The 25-year-old has scored five goals in his last four games. By comparison, Norwich's Teemu Pukki has managed three over the same period.
Since that move to midfield, he's posted shots in all games but one (the defeat to Sheffield United). It shows that he is now given the freedom to get forward more and join the attack and it's reflected in the goals he's scoring.
He's a player in-form too, not just down to the goals. He's starting to prove himself as a key player if Rotherham are to stay up this season and a permanent positional move has benefited both the player and his team.
The 14/1 on offer with Unibet is the best price available, but the value is still there in the general 13/2 and 15/2 prices with most other firms.
Best bet: Semi Ajayi to score anytime at 14/1
Opta facts
- Rotherham have won just two of their last 22 matches against Norwich in all competitions (D10 L10).
- Norwich have won just one of their last 11 league visits to Rotherham (D4 L6), a 3-1 win in September 1967.
- Rotherham are looking to win consecutive Championship matches for the first time since April 2016, when they beat Ipswich and Leeds under Neil Warnock.
- Since drawing 0-0 with Hull City in November, Norwich have scored in all 18 of their Championship games, scoring 43 goals – seven more than any other team in that time.
- Emiliano Buendía has been involved in 10 goals in his last 10 Championship appearances for Norwich City (4 goals, 6 assists).
- Rotherham defender Semi Ajayi has scored six Championship goals in his last nine Championship appearances – one more than he scored in his previous 101 Football League appearances (5, including play-offs).
Sheffield Wednesday v Blackburn
A nice fixture for Steve Bruce's in-form Owls to continue their push for the play-offs as they take on Blackburn.
Rovers are winless in their last four away games, losing three, and have slipped down to 16th having previously been an outside contender for the top-six.
That run should extend to five as they travel to Hillsborough. Wednesday have seen an upturn in form since Bruce took over at the club, going from bottom-half certainties to promotion hopefuls.
The home side are a good team to include in the accumulators this weekend, although the value is in another goalscorer and backing Adam Reach to net his ninth league goal of the season.
The midfielder has already had direct involvement in 15 goals for Wednesday in all competitions this season (goals and assists). He was a top performer anyway, but he has shown further improvement under a new manager.
He's a player who isn't afraid to try his luck. 13 league games this season have seen at least three shots - with their recent away draw at Derby bringing a total of five.
He's a had a run of four games without a goal now following a brace against Swansea but he has proven to be an attacking threat throughout - the assist in their win over Bolton in midweek showing that.
Reach is a player who suits the way they want to play and the fact that he has played 90 minutes in all-but-one game he has been involved in this season shows the impact he brings to the side.
A price of 19/5 with 888sport is worth a small play for Reach to snap the four-game scoreless run and fire Wednesday to another victory in front of an expectant Hillsborough crowd.
Best bet: Adam Reach to score anytime at 19/5
Opta facts
- Sheffield Wednesday have lost just one of their last 10 home league games against Blackburn (W5 D4 L1), a 1-2 loss in March 2015.
- Blackburn are looking to complete a league double over Sheffield Wednesday for the first time since the 1994-95 season, when Rovers won the Premier League title.
- In all competitions, Steve Bruce has won nine of his last 10 home games against Blackburn (D1) since losing 0-4 in December 2003 with Birmingham City.
- No Championship team have conceded more away goals this than Blackburn Rovers (38, level with Hull and Wigan).
- Sheffield Wednesday have lost just one of their last 15 league matches (W7 D7 L1) and are unbeaten in their last 10 in a row, conceding just four times in that run.
- Since the start of the 2017-18 season, Charlie Mulgrew has scored 10 penalties in league football for Blackburn – in that time, only Luka Milivojevic and Billy Kee (15 each) have scored more penalty goals in the top four tiers of English football.
