EFL Betting Tips: Can Southampton get closer to the automatic promotion places

As we approach the crunch-stages of the EFL season, every match is very important. This article looks at two-promotion chasers in the Championship, a side battling bravely against the drop in League One and a side in League Two who have lost just twice at home as they aim to win the title.

Norwich vs Rotherham

Kick Off: 15:00

As ever, the Championship play-off race is extremely exciting with a flurry of teams competing for a top six finish. One of these teams is Norwich, who will be looking to gain another valuable three points against a Rotherham side who are on course to break the record low points total in Championship history. 

At the time of writing, David Wagner’s side currently sit seventh, just two points off Hull with a game in hand (away to Middlesbrough Wednesday night). 

The Canaries home form has been a major reason for their successful season thus far, gaining 38 points from 18 home games and scoring 32 goals. Norwich have won seven of their last eight home games, with the only blight on this record a 1-1 draw with Southampton on New Year’s Day. 

Their visitors Rotherham are having a dismal season and are all but relegated after picking up just 19 points from 36 games. To put their shambolic campaign into context, the 19 points they are adrift from 23rd place Sheffield Wednesday is the same gap point wise as Sheffield Wednesday to the playoffs. 

The Millers are on a run of eight straight defeats and the 5-0 hammering to Coventry in midweek has only further put the nail in the coffin. The appointment of Leam Richardson has flattered to deceive, with Rotherham accumulating just four points in his 17 games in charge.

Away games in particular have been miserable for the Yorkshire faithful, picking up just four draws, scoring just 13 and conceding 48.

With Norwich flying high in the league and Rotherham dead and buried, expect Norwich to rack up a few goals in Norfolk on Saturday,

Prediction: Norwich -1.5 Asian Handicap @ 1.82

Southampton vs Sunderland

Kick Off: 15:00

After three defeats in their last five, Southampton have slightly dropped behind the trio of teams above them chasing the automatic places. A 25-game unbeaten run gave Saints fans promotion fever but with Leeds and Ipswich looking unbeatable, the Saints have to put a consistent winning run together again and they will see a home match against Sunderland as the perfect opportunity to do just this. 

At home, Southampton have been electric. Russell Martin’s side have gained 35 points from 17 games, scoring 41 goals in the process- the second highest total in the league. 

Before their back-to-back home blips, losing against Hull and Millwall, Southampton had won nine straight league home games, scoring 28 goals in the process. 

Sunderland started the season with real promise but the decision to hire Michael Beale de-railed any promotion aspirations the Black Cats had. The 43-year-old only averaged 1.2 points per game in his spell in charge before being sacked after a 2-1 defeat at Birmingham. 

Things haven’t been much easier for caretaker manager Mike Dodds who has lost all three of his games in charge, making it five defeats in a row for them.

Sunderland currently rank only 17th for away form, picking up just 17 points from 18 away games in the league. The Black Cats have also lost their last three away games in a row.

With the respective form of either side, Southampton will be expecting to win on Saturday.  

Prediction: Southampton -1 Asian handicap @ 1.67

Charlton vs Carlisle

Kick Off: 15:00

Despite a summer spending spree that saw them amongst one of the favourites for promotion, Charlton have been embroiled in a relegation scrap for the majority of the season. 

Dean Holden was relieved of his duties early in the campaign, before being replaced by Michael Appleton. The 48-year-old was a hugely unpopular appointment, with his bland style of football failing to produce results for the Addicks. 

The passionate Nathan Jones was hired as his replacement and the Welshman has re-united the fanbase after leading them to a six-game unbeaten run. Since his opening game defeat at Reading, Charlton have drawn at home to Lincoln and Portsmouth and away to Bolton and Northampton, as well as beating high-flying Derby and in-form Cheltenham on the road. 

Alfie May’s goal against Cheltenham midweek was his 18th of the season, putting him top of the League One top scorer rankings. The 30-year-old will be crucial in Charlton’s survival bid.

Making the long journey down south on Saturday are a lowly Carlisle side who have lost nine of their last 10 games. 

Paul Simpson’s side have endured a brutal return to League One winning just five times and the Cumbrians are currently 15 points from safety. Away from home has been a struggle for Carlisle, losing 12 of their 17 away games, conceding 30 in the process. 

In their last ten games, eight have seen Simpson’s side lose and concede more than once and I expect similar fate against an in-form Charlton. 

Prediction: Charlton win & over 1 goal @ 1.71

Mansfield vs Swindon

Kick Off: 15:00

League Two is the most competitive it has been for years, with five points separating MK Dons in fifth and Mansfield in first. The Dons inflicted the Stags second home defeat of the season in midweek so Nigel Clough’s side will be itching to bounce back.

The 1-2 defeat perhaps came as a surprise to those at the One Call Stadium, especially given that the previous two home games had seen 5-1 and 9-2 victories. Of their 17 home games this season, Mansfield have accumulated 33 points.  

They host a Swindon side who rank 21st for their away record, with the Robins winning just twice on the road. Gavin Gunning’s side currently sit 17th, ten points off the play-offs with nothing to play for.   

Away from home, Swindon have conceded the second most goals in the league (39), so will not relish the trip to a side who have scored fifteen in their last three home games.  

Prediction: Mansfield -1.0 Asian Handicap @ 1.85

Recommended Bets:

Back Norwich to beat Rotherham with a -1.5 Asian Handicap @ 1.82
Back Southampton to beat Sunderland with a -1 Asian Handicap @ 1.67
Back Charlton to Beat Carlisle and to Score over 1 goal @ 1.71
Back Mansfield to beat Swindon with a -1 Asian Handicap @ 1.85