George Pitts sits in for Tom Carnduff to look across the best bets from Good Friday's Sky Bet EFL action.
Recommended bets
2pts Dan James to score anytime in Swansea v Rotherham at 47/20
1pt Kamil Grosicki to score anytime in West Brom v Hull at 5/1
2pts Oldham to score in the first half at 23/20
For advised bookmakers and each-way terms, visit our transparent tipping record
- All three games kick off at 1500 BST on Friday April 19, 2019
Swansea City v Rotherham United
The play-offs may be out of reach for Swansea, but they can finish the season strongly to seal a top-half finish under Graham Potter.
They have won five home games in a row now and their Easter weekend sees them come up against battling Rotherham and already-relegated Ipswich in the space of four days.
Paul Warne's Millers are two points from safety and will no doubt put up a fight, but the appealing price on this match is an anytime goalscorer for the hosts at 12/5.
When Dan James nearly joined Leeds in a reported £10m deal on Deadline Day, it is fair to say the winger was still little known outside of South Wales.
His stock has risen considerably since, a series of strong displays in the second half of the season making him one of the hottest properties in the Championship. With a number of clubs interested in acquiring his services, Swansea may face a fight to keep him.
The 21-year-old has five goals and five assists for the Swans this term and his lightning pace has often caught the eye, with the below video from his strike in the FA Cup demonstrating the change of pace he has in his locker.
Look at the pace here from Dan James 😳
— Sporting Life Football (@SportingLifeFC) February 17, 2019
No one's catching him 🔥 #FACup #Swans
👇pic.twitter.com/eo8bpT3B8G
📕 Define: Never say die attitude
— Sporting Life Football (@SportingLifeFC) April 3, 2019
🔎 See also: Dan James
👏 #Swans @SwansOfficial pic.twitter.com/Y0rTqI0aqE
James's direct approach is refreshing and he has had an impressive 13 shots in his last three appearances at the Liberty Stadium, seven of which came in their last home outing against Stoke.
Aided by the fact he has completed 90 minutes six times (and over 80 minutes twice) in his last nine Championship appearances, the price on him to find the back of the net looks a great option here against opponents who have shipped 72 league goals this term.
Best bet: Dan James to score anytime at 12/5
Opta stats
- Swansea last hosted Rotherham in a match in any competition in August 2014, in the League Cup second round, a 1-0 victory for the Swans.
- Rotherham haven’t completed a league double over Swansea since the 1974-75 season.
- Swansea haven’t won six consecutive home league matches since a run of 10 between November 2007 and February 2008 under Roberto Martinez.
- Rotherham have won just two of their last 19 league matches on Good Friday (W2 D7 L10), beating AFC Wimbledon in both 2012 and 2013.
- Swansea’s Matt Grimes has completed more passes than any other Championship player this season (2,429).
- Nine of Rotherham’s last 12 league goals have been scored via set pieces (four throw-ins, three corners, a free-kick and a penalty).
West Brom v Hull
Kamil Grosicki has cropped up a couple of times in Tom Carnduff's EFL previews this season and it is hard to leave the Hull man out this week with the price available on him finding the back of the net.
Grosicki has nine goals to his name this season, including two braces in his last four appearances, yet he is still at 5/1 to score anytime at The Hawthorns.
The Poland international, whose brace against Reading earlier this month can be seen below, averages nearly three shots per game for the Tigers this season as he gets in positions to support Frazier Campbell and other wide man Jarrod Bowen from midfield.
Considering the threat he poses, and the fact Hull still have a slim chance of making the play-offs, Grosicki could be key to getting a result in the Midlands.
Their opponents West Brom have lost two of their last three and, even if the Baggies triumph, Grosicki can still get on the score sheet in what could be an entertaining game.
At 5/1 anytime, the midfielder is worth a small play as he continues to be overlooked in the betting.
Best bet: Kamil Grosicki to score anytime at 5/1
Opta stats
- In all competitions, West Bromwich Albion have won their last three home matches against Hull.
- The last time West Brom and Hull met at the Hawthorns in the Championship was in February 2008, the Tigers won 2-1 on their way to promotion that season.
- West Brom have won just four of their 35 league matches on Good Friday (11%), though they did win most recently in April 2010 against Leicester.
- Hull have lost their last three league matches on Good Friday, losing in 1980, 2000 and 2007; their last win on Good Friday came in April 1976 against Oldham.
- No Championship side have score more home league goals than West Brom this season (48 – level with Aston Villa).
- Nigel Adkins has lost both of his Championship matches on Good Friday, losing 2-4 to Blackpool in April 2010 with Scunthorpe and 0-3 to Wigan in April 2014 with Reading.
Cheltenham v Oldham
An appealing price from Sky Bet League Two is with Oldham, one of the division's form teams who are on a four-match unbeaten run.
Pete Wild's Latics still have a slim chance of making the play-offs, as they sit seven points adrift with 15 points left to play for.
Oldham possess interesting stats when you look at their goals this season. They have scored in both halves 11 times and have netted 25 times in the first half this term.
They have scored in the opening 15 minutes an impressive 12 times, which makes the 13/2 price on them to take an early lead here attractive, but there preference is to back them to get on the score sheet in the first half at the Jonny-Rocks Stadium.
They have scored at least two goals in their last four games, with at least one coming before half-time, and that makes the odds-against price of 23/20 on them to score their first goal in this period too good to turn down.
Best bet: Time of Oldham's first goal - first half at 23/20
Sky Bet Price Boost: Oldham to win and BTTS - enhanced to 5/1
Opta stats
- Cheltenham have won just one of their nine Football League meetings with Oldham (D4 L4), winning 2-0 at Boundary Park in April 2007.
- Oldham are unbeaten in their four previous away league games against Cheltenham, though three of those have ended in draws (W1).
- Cheltenham have scored in each of their last 14 home league games and are unbeaten in their last eight at Whaddon Road (W6 D2).
- Oldham won their last away league game against Colchester but haven’t won back-to-back matches on the road since September.
- No team has taken (11) or faced (10) more penalties than Cheltenham in League Two this season.
Odds correct at 1045 BST on 18/04/19
