EFL Betting Tips: Expect several cagey encounters this weekend

The Championship features a potential title clash on Friday night while League One’s feature game sees the most in-form goal scoring team in the EFL host struggling minnows. Buckle up for this week’s EFL Betting Tips.

Sunderland vs Leeds

Friday, 20:00, Sky Sports

Table toppers Sunderland host fellow promotion chasers Leeds at the Stadium of Light in Friday night’s live Championship action. A 2-0 win over Derby made it four straight home wins to start the season for the Black Cats – the first time in their history they have achieved this. 

Leeds looked good in spells away at Norwich, but Daniel Farke’s pragmatism was their undoing, with his side failing to capitalise on areas of dominance. The injury to midfield lynchpin Ilia Gruev after 20 minutes has dealt Leeds a massive blow, with Ethan Ampadu’s absence until at least Christmas weakening their midfield strength. 

A major criticism of Sunderland’s summer recruitment was their lack of a ‘clinical’ striker signing, with Wilson Isidor signed on loan from Zenit St Petersburg after a respectable but unflattering goal record.

The 24-year-old was only given 17, 11 and nine minutes in the opening three games but was trusted with a start against Watford. In just 74 minutes, Isidor registered three shots, scoring after 49 minutes. He was given another start against Derby, scoring after 55 minutes from another three shots.

Isidor should be trusted with another start, and looks a tempting price to add to his ever-growing goal tally. 

Recommended Bet: Wilson Isidor to score @ 3.70

Burnley vs Preston

Saturday, 12:30, Sky Sports

Two local rivals face off on Saturday morning as Burnley welcome Preston to Turf Moor. 

Burnley currently sit second on 17 points. Their opening two wins (1-4 vs Luton and 5-0 vs Cardiff) suggested that the Clarets would take the league by storm again, but since then, they’ve been somewhat more reserved. 

Since then, Burnley’s matches have averaged just 1.33 goals, winning three, drawing two and losing one. 

They host a Preston side who sit just outside the relegation zone. The Whites have won just two games this season. The rapid dismissal of Ryan Lowe suggested all is not right at Deepdale. Ex-Sheffield United manager Paul Heckingbottom was hired to steady the ship. 

Away from home, Preston have been swept aside convincingly by Swansea, Oxford United and Millwall. Burnley are rightly favourites to win a cagey affair. 

Recommended Bet: Burnley win and under 4.5 goals @ 1.82

Wycombe vs Crawley

Saturday, 15:00

Wycombe are the only team in the top four English leagues to have scored two or more goals in every game, and they will be looking to extend this record against a lowly Crawley side. 

Midweek saw a 2-2 draw against a strong Barnsley side, with victory snatched from them in the game's dying embers. Matt Bloomfield’s side sits third in the EFL for goals in 2024, with 68 in total. They also rank second in goals this season in all competitions with 25. 

The Chairboys started the season with back-to-back 3-2 losses to title favourites Birmingham and Wrexham but are unbeaten since. 

Crawley defied all odds to get promoted to League One last season, but survival looks an arduous task. Not only did their promotion-winning squad get decimated by wealthier clubs, manager Scott Lindsey has just departed to MK Dons. 

The Red Devils started the season with wins over Blackpool and Cambridge but have taken just one point in their next six games. 

Lindsey’s final game was a 2-1 defeat at Wrexham. Caretaker manager Ben Gladwin oversaw back-to-back home defeats to Bolton and Mansfield. The new manager, Rob Elliot, will be in the dugout on Saturday, but he faces a difficult task in containing free-scoring Wycombe. 

Recommended Bet: Wycombe win and over 1.5 goals @ 1.83

Salford vs AFC Wimbledon 

Saturday, 15:00

It is a return to league football for AFC Wimbledon after the devastation to their ground, as they travel north to face Salford. Karl Robinson’s side currently sit 20th with just nine points to their name after eight games. The sale of Callum Hendry to fellow League Two side MK Dons has significantly weakened the Ammies, as only Tranmere (4) have scored less than them. 

However, defensively they are resolute, conceding just nine goals. Salford games are averaging just 1.75 goals, with 6/8 seeing under 2.5 goals. The only home game that saw over 2.5 goals land was a 2-1 win over Cheltenham, in which there was a combined xG of just 1.32. 

AFC Wimbledon have conceded the second fewest goals (4), keeping a clean sheet in their last four league games. Jonnie Jackson prefers to keep it tight, particularly on the road, with away games averaging just one goal a game. 

The Womble’s last four games have seen under 2.5 goals, including every away game and we can expect similar on Saturday.

Recommended Bet: Under 2.5 goals @ 1.74

Bristol City vs Cardiff 

Sunday, 15:00, Sky Sports

This weekend’s EFL slate ends with another instalment of the Severnside derby as Bristol City host Cardiff at Ashton Gate. 

Ever since their promotion in 2015, Bristol City have been the epitome of mid-table mediocrity, finishing inside the top half just once. This season, they’re conforming to type - currently occupying 13th place. 

Liam Manning’s side have two wins, four draws and two losses in an inconsistent season. Back-to-back draws at Swansea and at home to Sheffield Wednesday, have frustrated the red side of Bristol, with supporters longing for some more entertaining football - exactly half of Bristol City games have seen under 2.5 goals.

Cardiff make the short journey to Bristol on Sunday, perhaps buoyed by their first win of the season. The Bluebirds are still rooted to the foot of the table, but will be jubilant following their first win in the post-Erol Bulut era. 

Cardiff have looked feeble in attack, scoring just three goals in eight games – the fewest in the league. Six of their eight games this season have seen under 2.5 goals – the joint second most in the league.

In recent history, this fixture is a cagey one, with the last four - and eight of the last ten - seeing under 2.5 goals.

Recommended Bet: Under 2.5 goals @ 1.74

Recommended Bets

Back Wilson Isidor to score in Sunderland vs Leeds @ 3.70
Back Burnley to win and under 4.5 goals vs Preston @ 1.82
Back Wycombe to win and over 1.5 goals vs Crawley @ 1.83
Back Under 2.5 goals in Salford vs AFC Wimbledon @ 1.74
Back Under 2.5 goals in Bristol City vs Cardiff @ 1.74