We’ve got your Saturday lunchtime covered.
The Championship was its unpredictable self in midweek, and with the games coming thick and fast, Matthew O’Regan has a 6/1 treble for the early kick-offs at 12.30pm on Saturday.
EFL early kick-off Treble tips
Coventry v Watford
Coventry -1
Ipswich v West Brom
Over 2.5 Goals
Portsmouth v Stoke
Under 2.5 goals
A treble on these bets pays at approximately 6/1 with Paddy Power. CLICK HERE TO ADD IT TO YOUR BETSLIP.
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
WHERE: Coventry Building Society, Coventry
TV: Sky Sports+
Coventry -1
Coventry’s hunt for a Premier League return after a 24-year hiatus is taking shape, with the Sky Blues still unbeaten after 11 games. Frank Lampard’s front-footed approach to games has reaped rewards — no team has scored more than Coventry’s 31.
They have also been effective at the other end, with Middlesbrough the only side to have conceded fewer. Portsmouth’s last-minute goal in midweek was the first goal conceded by Coventry for 613 minutes – a club record. At home, The Sky Blues have taken 11 points from a possible 15, scoring 13 goals and conceding just two.
Watford are the visitors to the CBS Arena, looking to arrest an awful away record that sees them at the bottom of the away form table. The Hornets are already onto their second manager of the season, with popular manager Javi Gracia back at the helm. Watford lost to struggling Sheffield United in his first away game, and a similar result is expected on Saturday lunchtime.
WHERE: Portman Road, Ipswich
TV: Sky Sports Main Event
Over 2.5 Goals
Pre-season bookie favourites Ipswich have had a disappointing return to the Championship, currently sitting 14th after a shock 0-3 defeat to Charlton. With a huge summer outlay, pressure is building on Kieran McKenna to turn his side’s fortunes around.
McKenna took a risk in the summer, disposing of key parts of their back-to-back promotions on top of the hefty fees received for Omari Hutchinson and Liam Delap. As expected with a new crop of players, Ipswich games lack cohesion and structure, making for chaotic viewing.
At Portman Road, The Tractor Boys look to play on the front foot and seize the initiative in front of an expectant home crowd. The hosts have scored 16 goals and conceded eight in six games in Suffolk, for an average of 3.5 goals per game. Of these six games, five have seen over 2.5 – the exception being the home opener against Southampton.
These high-scoring games align with their last stint in the Championship, with 74% of games seeing over 2.5 goals in their promotion season.
It has been a mixed start to Ryan Mason’s managerial tenure, with West Brom sitting 10th in the table. The Baggies have been inconsistent, winning just twice in their last seven games. Mason’s inexperience has shown at times this season, particularly in midweek’s 2-1 loss at Vicarage Road.
Despite Isaac Price firing his side into a lead, Gracia’s half-time tactical switch gave the hosts the upper hand, with Mason too reactive in his substitutions and tactical switches.
This inexperience could lead to goals at Portman Road as McKenna looks to steer his side back on track. 4/6 West Brom away games have seen over 2.5 goals – pointing to goals in the East.
WHERE: Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
TV: TNT Sports 1
Under 2.5 goals
Despite the two games between these sides combining for 11 goals last campaign, unders look to be the bet on Saturday.
Despite a late Makenzie Kirk consolation, Portsmouth succumbed to a 1-2 defeat at home to table toppers Coventry, confining them to 17th position. John Mousinho’s side have failed to get going this campaign, so they will be looking to bounce back in front of a raucous Fratton Park crowd.
With 10 goals scored, Pompey have the fourth-fewest in the league, while their 12 goals conceded is the second-fewest in the bottom half, making Portsmouth games extremely low-margin. Games involving Mousinho’s side have averaged just two goals, with 7/11 seeing under 2.5 goals click.
Stoke have the joint-second-best defence in the league, conceding just eight times in 11 games. Mark Robins’ side sit sixth in the table after a 2-0 defeat at the Den midweek. The Potters were toothless in their pursuit of a goal, racking up just 0.44 xG, despite chasing the game for 80 minutes.
The performance perhaps epitomised their attacking woes in recent weeks. Stoke opened the season with eight goals from three games and have followed this up with just four from the next eight.
Stoke games are averaging 1.8 goals, with 1.25 if you exclude the opening three games — all of which have seen fewer than three goals.
EFL early kick-off Treble tips
Coventry v Watford
Coventry -1
Ipswich v West Brom
Over 2.5 Goals
Portsmouth v Stoke
Under 2.5 goals
A treble on these bets pays at approximately 6/1 with Paddy Power. CLICK HERE TO ADD IT TO YOUR BETSLIP.
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
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