EFL Betting Tips: Bruised Leeds United back in action as promotion races solidify

It’s about the time of year now where people start taking note of how the tables look, and things are really starting to take shape in the English Football League. 

Boxing Day has been and gone, and now comes the day where all of the EFL’s clubs wave goodbye to the year of 2023, hoping to go out with a bang and a big three points.

There are key clashes at the top of all three divisions below the Premier League, and we’ve picked out one from each as we draw a line under another eventful 12 months: 

Championship

West Bromwich Albion v Leeds United

Kick off: 8.15pm Friday

Not too long back this was a top-flight fixture, Leeds bettering the Baggies on both occasions when they met in the 2020/21 campaign, but plenty has happened since then as the two sides look to get back to the promised land.

The Whites are the favourites at 2.3, but their form has been up and down of late – especially on the road. A brilliant 4-0 home win over Ipswich Town was bookended by away defeats to Sunderland and Preston North End, so this weekend’s hosts won’t be overly phased by being the slight outsiders (at 3.3 for victory).

Carlos Corberan’s WBA have lost just twice in 12 games at the Hawthorns so far this season, scoring in all but two of them, but face a Daniel Farke side that have only been outscored by three teams in the entire division. Both teams to score, you ask? That’s at 1.65. But 11 of West Brom’s last 12 matches have seen less than 3.5 goals scored.

Prediction: Under 2.5 goals @ 1.95

League One

Oxford United v Derby County

Kick off: 7.45pm

Oxford may have home advantage, but Derby go into this fixture having won all but one of their last eight League One fixtures, and you have to go back to October to find the last time they lost one. It’s why you find Paul Warne’s outfit at 2.48 for victory here.

It’s a big opportunity for The U’s though, knowing that a win would take them three points clear of their promotion rivals – it’s something that becomes even more important given that the Rams do have a game in hand.

Derby have scored in all of their last 14 across all competitions, and with the hosts hardly rolling in clean sheets it’s no surprise to see a home shutout at 3.55. An away one is at 3.1. There have been over 2.5 goals in eight of Oxford’s last 10, so that could be worth a look.

Prediction: Both teams to score and over 2.5 goals @ 2.2

League Two

Mansfield Town v Doncaster Rovers

Kick off: 7.45pm

Considering the league positions of these two it’s no shock to see 20th-placed Doncaster Rovers seen as outsiders (at 8) as they travel to third-placed Mansfield, and for the hosts it offers up the potential opportunity to leapfrog Wrexham and improve their chances of automatic promotion.

Just the one team has managed to beat the Stags so far this season, and on home soil they’re even more of a force to be reckoned with – winning six of their 10 league matches and keeping seven clean sheets. They’re at 2.2 to keep another one against Rovers, a side that has scored just one in their last four 

The visitors also happen to have one of the worst defensive record in the division, conceding 42 so far, and Nigel Clough will be very confident as his outfit – with the best defence in League Two – look to secure three more points before 2023 comes to an end. 

Prediction: Mansfield to win to nil @ 2.5

Recommended Bets

Back under 2.5 goals in West Brom v Leeds @ 1.95
Back BTTS and over 2.5 goals in Oxford v Derby @ 2.2
Back Mansfield to beat Doncaster to nil @ 2.5