EFL Acca: Back Swansea, Derby and Barrow to win on Tuesday

The EFL continues this Tuesday, which means more tips from expert Jack Goddard - read on for value bets and EFL predictions from the Championship, League One and League Two.

Preston v Swansea

Kick-off: 7.45pm Tuesday

Swansea are really cooking now, with 18 months of Russell Martin’s tutelage finally bearing fruit. After briefly floundering in the bottom three earlier this season, the Jacks now sit on the verge of the automatic spots and remain in good form as they push for promotion. 

The Swans have won six of their last eight games - a 4-0 thumping by Burnley was their only loss in an otherwise incredible six weeks - and have been especially prolific late in games, scoring 11 second-half goals during their recent run. This means they have won at least one half in seven of their last eight matches.

Preston have now abandoned any pretense of defensive solidity and have conceded 11 goals in their last six games (seven more than in their first 12 matches combined), while they still have the joint-worst attack in the league. I fancy Swansea to notch at least one goal without immediate reply.

Prediction: Swansea to win either half @ 1.97

Morecambe v Derby

Kick-off: 7.45pm Tuesday

Morecambe have patched together some moderate form lately, taking five points from their last four games to move off the bottom of the League One table. They still have plenty of room for improvement though - especially at the Mazuma Stadium, where they’ve won just once all season.

Derby also lack consistency but have massively improved away from home since Paul Warne took the reins. The Rams were yet to score an away goal this season when the former Rotherham manager took over, but since then they’ve scored five in three games, leading to two wins and a solitary defeat to second-place Ipswich.

Despite their low-scoring start, Derby have always been hard to break down on the road and have conceded just four away goals this term. The Shrimps have netted just four times in total on their own patch, so I expect the Rams to comfortably take care of business here.

Prediction: Derby to win @ 1.85

Barrow v Colchester

Kick-off: 7.45pm Tuesday

Colchester took my column personally on Saturday, earning a brilliant point at home to Stevenage after I called them rubbish. I’m doubling down here, though, and fancy a resurgent Barrow side to take all three points.

After a four-game winless run, Pete Wild’s Barrow team have won two back-to-back home games against Grimsby and Crewe without conceding. Those positive results mean they’ve won 75% of their matches at Holker Street this season, amassing 18 points from just eight games.

The Us really are rubbish away from home. No, honestly -  they have just a single point from seven attempts so far this term and have scored a paltry four times. There can surely only be one outcome here, right?

Prediction: Barrow to win @ 1.88

Bristol City v Sheffield United

Kick-off: 8pm Tuesday

Both Bristol City and Sheffield United have been wildly inconsistent of late. It’s hard to know what to expect from either side other than goals - and plenty of them.

Besides Burnley, no Championship team has scored more goals than Sheffield United (28) or Bristol City (26). Ironically, the Robins also have the second-worst defence in the division (27 goals conceded), meaning their 18 matches have seen 53 goals - 2.94 a game.

The Blades have defended much better over the course of the season, but they have struggled recently. Prior to their clean sheet at West Brom at the weekend, they’d shipped nine goals in just four matches. I doubt either side will be able to contain the other at Ashton Gate.

Prediction: Over 2.5 goals @ 1.86

Tuesday EFL predictions

Preston North End v Swansea City: Swansea to win either half @ 1.97
Morecambe v Derby County: Derby to win @ 1.85
Barrow v Colchester United: Barrow to win @ 1.88
Bristol City v Sheffield United: Over 2.5 goals @ 1.86

Accumulator odds: 12 decimal, 11-1 fractional