Nick Hext brings you his selections for the latest round of Sky Bet EFL matches, including Wolves' clash with Bristol City.
Saturday afternoon's Sky Bet Championship selection
Leeds to beat Birmingham by one goal, Sky Bet Championship (Saturday, 1500 GMT)
Leeds ended our Festive Fancies feature on Boxing Day with a 100/30 winner thanks to the 2-1 victory at Burton. I backed Thomas Christiansen's side to win by one goal against the Brewers and I'm going with the same selection again for Saturday's trip to bottom-of-the-table Birmingham. Leeds are out to make it seven matches in a row unbeaten and this could be the fourth consecutive match that the Elland Road outfit have won by just one goal. Three of Birmingham's previous four defeats have been by the narrowest of margins so it makes sense to stick with my Leeds success from Boxing Day.
Saturday's Sky Bet League One selection
Oldham to beat Bristol Rovers, Sky Bet League One (Saturday, 1500 GMT)
Oldham fell to a 2-1 defeat at home to Fleetwood on Boxing Day but I reckon they will bounce back with victory against Bristol Rovers on Saturday. The Latics have won six of their previous nine home games to climb out of the Sky Bet League One relegation zone and their form at SportsDirect.com Park will be key to their survival bid. Rovers are only two places and one point above Oldham in the table and their record in the last couple of months doesn't make for good reading with only two wins picked up. Oldham are the pick at odds-against for a three-point haul.
Saturday's Sky Bet League Two selection
Lincoln to beat Forest Green to nil, Sky Bet League Two (Saturday, 1500 GMT)
Lincoln are on the move as they look to win promotion for the second season in a row. The Imps have climbed to third in Sky Bet League Two on the back of a six-match unbeaten run and I can only see another victory against bottom-of-the-table Forest Green on Saturday. Lincoln have claimed all of their last three victories without conceding a goal and I'm going with Danny Cowley's side to win to nil once again. Forest Green, who went up alongside the Imps from the Vanarama National League last season, have only scored one goal in their last four matches so it all points to another clean sheet for the promotion contenders.
Saturday's TV game
Wolves to beat Bristol City, Sky Bet Championship (Saturday, 1730 GMT, Sky Sports Football)
The Sky Bet EFL action in 2017 ends with a cracker as Bristol City host Wolves in a clash between two serious promotion contenders. The Robins have only lost one of their last 13 games to climb to the centre of the promotion scrap but they still have a long way to go to catch leaders Wolves. Nuno's side are eight points ahead of the Robins before Saturday evening's kick-off and I reckon they can stretch that advantage to 11. The Molineux outfit haven't lost in 10 outings and they've won at Sheffield Wednesday, Birmingham, Reading and Norwich during that run. This is a chance to back Wolves at odds-against for victory and I will take that opportunity as I reckon they are the stronger team despite City's recent success.
Friday's TV game
Cardiff are looking to bounce back on Friday night after slipping out of the automatic promotion places following a 4-2 defeat against Fulham on Boxing Day. The Bluebirds host Preston at the Cardiff City Stadium and this is a tough challenge for Neil Warnock's men. North End have joined the scrap for a play-off spot thanks to an eight-match unbeaten run and this will be good chance for Sky Sports viewers to check out their promotion credentials. I'm going for the most goals to be scored in the second half as my best bet. This has been a winner in four of Preston's last five outings and all of Cardiff's previous three matches. The odds-against is worth taking for more action after the break.
Recommended bet
2pts Leeds to beat Birmingham by one goal at 3/1
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Posted at 1725 GMT on 28/12/17.
