EFL Betting Tips: Who will get bragging rights in the North East?

This week's EFL Tipsheet features the three televised Championship games, including rivalries between Sunderland and Middlesbrough as well as Preston and Blackburn. Goal-heavy games in League One and League Two also feature. 

Stoke vs Hull

Friday 20 September
Kick Off: 20:00
Live on Sky Sports Football

Stoke shocked the EFL by parting ways with manager Steven Schumacher, despite the young manager building an exciting young team in the Midlands. The Potters have appointed Norwich assistant manager Narcis Pelach and the 36-year-old starts with a game against a winless Hull side. 

Sat in thirteenth just three points off the playoff places, it does seem an odd decision to sack Schumacher this early into the season. However, it was felt that the 40-year-old was struggling to entertain expectant supporters. 

Stoke have scored just three league goals, conceding only six. Three of their five league games have seen under 2.5 goals, with their games averaging just 1.8 goals. 

Hull are also in a new era, choosing to part ways with Liam Rosenior at the end of the season, with the owners wanting a change in style. The chaotic Tim Walter was appointed as the new manager, but the German has struggled in his opening games. 

The Tigers currently occupy 22nd and are yet to win this season, having drawn three games and lost two. The season started with 1-1 draws at home to Bristol City and away to Plymouth before a 0-0 draw at home to Millwall made it three draws from three. 

Tough games against Yorkshire counterparts Leeds and Sheffield United followed, with Hull losing both 2-0. Their games are averaging just 1.6 goals, with Walters’ side scoring just two goals – the second-fewest in the league.

All five Hull games have seen under 2.5 goals and against a Stoke side that has struggled for goals, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see this trend continue in front of the Sky cameras on Friday night. 

Prediction: Under 2.5 goals @ 1.94

Sunderland vs Middlesbrough

Saturday 21 September
Kick Off: 12:30
Live on Sky Sports Football

Saturday’s Championship early kick-off comes from the Stadium of Light as Sunderland host Middlesbrough.

Regis Le Bris was appointed as new manager in the summer, swapping Lorient for Tyne and Wear. The Black Cats started the season superbly, winning their first four games against Cardiff, Sheffield Wednesday, Burnley and Portsmouth. Their first defeat came last week against Plymouth, as Joe Edwards scored a last-minute goal for the hosts. 

Sunderland have a young, exciting team and look in good shape to finish in the top six – despite the loss of Jack Clarke to Ipswich. 

Romaine Mundle has stepped up to replace Clark, scoring in every game since the departure of the 23-year-old. The Tottenham academy graduate struggled for game time last season, starting just five times. The 21-year-old scored in one of these starts and is looking to cement his place in the side this year. 

His first goal came in the 1-0 win over Burnley, a fine right-footed finish. He then scored with his left foot in the win at Portsmouth, before scoring with his right foot again in the defeat at Plymouth. 

A talented player capable on both feet, Mundle looks a good price to make it four goals from four in an exciting Sunderland side,

Prediction: Romaine Mundle to score @ 4.90

Wycombe vs Cambridge

Saturday 21 September
Kick Off: 15:00

Under Matt Bloomfield, Wycombe currently sit tenth in League One, playing entertaining football that is not normally associated with The Chairboys.

Wycombe set up in a 4-3-3 formation, with the supremely talented trio of Aaron Morley, Josh Scowen and Cameron Humphreys pulling the strings in midfield. 

They started the season with a 3-2 loss at League One new boys Wrexham, losing by the same scoreline against title favourites Birmingham. Their first win of the season came against Rotherham, with Cameron Humphreys and Kieran Sadlier scoring in a 2-0 victory.

Bloomfield’s side then gained a very credible draw at Blackpool before a 1-2 win at Northampton. It means all five Wycombe League One games have seen them score two or more goals.

They host bottom-of-the-table Cambridge on Saturday. Garry Monk’s side have drawn one game and lost four as they sit three points from safety. In three away games, the U’s have lost 2-0, 2-0 and 2-1 to Stockport County, Bristol Rovers and Mansfield respectively. Their two home games have also seen them lose 0-1 to Crawley and draw 4-4 with Blackpool. Four of Cambridge’s five games have seen them concede at least two goals, with the exception being the game against low-scoring Crawley. 

In the cup, Cambridge lost 1-2 to QPR and drew 3-3 with Bromley, meaning in all competitions they have conceded at least twice in 6/7. 

Prediction: Wycombe over 1.5 goals @ 1.80

Swindon vs Carlisle

Saturday 21 September
Kick Off: 15:00

Swindon endured a sticky start to the season, failing to win any of their opening five games. However, a dominant 4-0 home win against Newport County, a game in which all four goals came in the first half.

Mark Kennedy’s side have now seen all three home games land ‘over 2.5 goals’, losing 1-2 to Notts County and 0-4 to Walsall. In what is set to be a tight and nervy relegation battle, Swindon need to improve their home record – something they will look to do against a Carlisle side who have lost all three away games. 

Much-adored manager Paul Simpson was sacked as Carlisle manager after a disappointing start to the League Two season after relegation from League One. The season started with a 4-1 drubbing at the hands of Gillingham. The Cumbrians bounced back with a 1-0 win in a cagey game against Barrow. 

However, since then it has been a tumultuous start to the season. Losses to MK Dons (3-0), Tranmere (1-2), Bradford (2-1) and Fleetwood (2-3), sees The Blues rooted to the bottom of the table. 

5/6 of their games have seen over 2.5 goals, with all three games away from home seeing at least three goals. 

Prediction: Over 2.5 goals @ 1.79

Preston vs Blackburn

Sunday 22 September
Kick Off: 12:00
Live on Sky Sports Football

Sunday’s action comes from Deepdale, as Preston host Blackburn in a Lancashire derby.

Preston were the Championship team to sack their manager, with Ryan Lowe dismissed after just one game. Paul Heckingbottom was appointed as the new manager and his side sit 21st – just one point clear of the relegation places. 

Blackburn come into this game unbeaten, having won three and drawn two of their opening five games. John Eustace prides himself on defensive resilience but his side have been potent in front of goal, scoring 12 goals – the most in the league. After signing from Sanfreece Hiroshima in the summer, Yuki Ohashi has been in stellar form, bagging four goals in just two league starts. 

Rovers have been clinical with their shots, scoring four from 11 against Derby, two from seven against Norwich and three from just nine against Bristol City. Eustace’s side have only hit more than 12 shots on one occasion in the Championship, averaging 11 shots per game – the 18 hit against Oxford a big outlier. 

Preston have only conceded more than 12 shots on two occasions and have kept just one clean sheet – a game in which they conceded 1.64 xG to Luton.

Prediction: Under 12.5 shots for Blackburn and over 0.5 goals for Blackburn @ 2.14

Recommended Bets:

Back Under 2.5 goals in Stoke vs Hull @ 1.94
Back Romaine Mundle to score Sunderland vs Middlesbrough @ 4.90
Back Wycombe to score over 1.5 goals vs Cambridge @ 1.80
Back Over 2.5 goals in Swindon vs Carlisle @ 1.79
Back Under 12.5 shots for Blackburn and Over 0.5 goals for Blackburn @ 2.14