EFL Acca: Back Millwall, Swansea and Norwich all to claim vital wins

League One and Two teams may be in the FA Cup this weekend, but the Championship continues. Find value bets here with EFL expert Jack Goddard’s Championship predictions.

Sheffield United v Burnley

Kick-off: 12:30pm Saturday

Burnley won their fourth game on the bounce on Wednesday, but they certainly didn’t make it easy for themselves. A goal down to ten-man Rotherham entering stoppage time, they scored in the 91st and 100th minutes to turn the game on its head.

Vincent Kompany’s team have been slightly fortuitous in the last couple of games, and there is a strong possibility that the Blades will end their winning run here. However, the Clarets are always good for a goal, as proven by the fact they have scored in each of their last 17 games in all competitions.

Encouragingly for Sheffield United, Burnley have also conceded in four of their last five matches. Paul Heckingbottom’s team is back in form, coming from two goals down at home to Norwich before defeating West Brom and Bristol City on the road, so they should go toe-to-toe with the league leaders.

The Blades have failed to score just twice since the opening day, so this should be a rip-roaring encounter. Back both teams to get a goal.

Prediction: Both teams to score @ 1.8

Millwall v Hull

Kick-off: 3pm Saturday

I’ve got a quick game for you. Here are Millwall’s last four results: WWLD. Can you guess in which of those matches the Lions were at home and in which they were away?

If you can’t work it out, this may help you: Millwall are the joint-best home side in the Championship with 2.33 points per game. They are the second-worst team on the road, however, with just one win and five defeats. Fortunately for the East Londoners, their next game is at the Den, so we can expect a pretty swift return to winning ways.

Hull aren’t a whole lot better than their hosts away from home. They’ve actually won their last two matches on their travels, but don’t let that deceive you - one was against a Blackpool side that had three men sent off in their previous game, while the other was at lowly Rotherham. 

Those are their only two away victories of the season, and they preceded four consecutive defeats. To win at Millwall you need to be better than that.

Prediction: Millwall to win @ 1.89

Swansea v Wigan

Kick-off: 3pm Saturday

Swansea have been maddeningly inconsistent of late. Just as it looked like things were clicking perfectly into place for Russell Martin, his team have entered a tricky spell of form that has seen them win just two of their last five matches.

The blueprint is still there, though. In both the Swans’ last two games - a draw at Bristol City and a loss at Preston - they had 72% of the possession, while they managed a staggering 83% in the South Wales derby two weeks ago. You can’t concede if you have the ball.

Meanwhile, Wigan have had just four shots on target in their last three games - and that’s in contests where they had way more possession than they will in this one. I like Swansea to completely stifle their opponent and claim an important victory, while the Latics slump to their sixth consecutive defeat.

Prediction: Swansea to win @ 1.99

Rotherham v Norwich

Kick-off: 3pm Saturday

On Wednesday, Norwich showed exactly why they’ve been so underwhelming this season. They deserved to beat QPR on balance (the match finished goalless), but the huge chances missed at either end of the field proved that the Canaries are both wasteful in front of goal and defensively fragile.

Teemu Pukki may have scorned a hatful of chances in midweek but the positive for Dean Smith is that, for the first time this season, his side are actually starting to ply their main man with genuine scoring opportunities - previously the Finn had to carve them out by himself.

Rotherham, meanwhile, have proven themselves to be awful at the back lately. The Millers have conceded ten goals in their last four games as they struggle to find form post-Paul Warne. Since their former manager left, they’ve amassed just eight points from nine games. 

Josh Sargent, who has scored eight goals this season, is also expected back for Norwich in this one. I expect him and Pukki to blow their hosts away.

Prediction: Over 2.5 goals @ 2

Championship predictions

Sheffield United v Burnley: Both teams to score @ 1.8
Millwall v Hull City: Millwall to win @ 1.89
Swansea City v Wigan Athletic: Swansea to win @ 1.99
Rotherham United v Norwich City: Over 2.5 goals @ 2

Accumulator odds: 13.54 decimal, 12.54-1 fractional