EFL Betting Tips and Preview: Cardiff and Mansfield to come out on top

We’re back to the bread and butter of English football as the EFL returns up and down the country, and there are some big games to return to the full swing of things.

Both League One and League Two have continued their football over the past couple of weeks as they pay no mind to the international break around the world, but the Championship is back with a bang this weekend for some fascinating encounters.

As always we’ve picked a game from all three divisions below the Premier League, and there are some tasty fixtures on the horizon.

Championship

Cardiff City v Swansea City

Kick off: 7.45pm Saturday

A fierce rivalry that goes all the way back to the 1920s, but one that has been almost entirely dominated by the Swans in recent years – for the best part of a decade, in fact.

Neither side is in good form heading into this fixture in the Welsh capital, but the hosts (2.62 favourites) can be optimistic about ending a four-game losing streak against their fellow countrymen given that they are the ones slightly higher up the league table.

Swansea are winless this season with one of the leakiest defences in the division, while the Bluebirds have just one win and an even leakier defence. They have scored in all of their last seven games, though, while the visitors’ haven’t kept a clean sheet in the Championship since April.

Prediction: Both teams to score and Cardiff to win @ 5

League One

Derby County v Portsmouth

Kick off: 3pm Saturday

 Two sides that very much consider themselves to be bigger than the league that they currently find themselves in, and two sides that are eager to take their place back in the Championship next season.

 As the hosts, Derby are the favourites at 2.26, but Pompey are in better form – and on a 17-game unbeaten run in the third tier – so are an interesting look at 3.5 to be victorious at Pride Park.

John Mousinho’s side have only conceded one in their last five league games, but have struggled to win on the road for some time having won just one League One game away from home since the start of February. They’re at 3.6 to get a clean sheet here.

The Rams beat Fleetwood Town in their last home fixture to end a torrid run of four consecutive defeats on their own turf, but this task is likely to be tougher than that one.

Prediction: Both teams to score @ 1.77

League Two

Colchester United v Mansfield Town

Kick off: 3pm Saturday

The Stags are one of only five teams in the whole EFL who remain unbeaten as they head into the next round of fixtures, and they’ll be well aware of the fact that a win could take them top if other results also go their way.

Colchester struggled at the start of this season, but a mightily impressive demolition of high-flying Gillingham and a win against Tranmere Rovers last time out will give this weekend’s visitors reason to be wary.

Mansfield are unbeaten in 10 games stretching back to last season, however, and a 3-0 win over Accrington Stanley in their last game on the road will give them bundles of confidence as they make the trip to the Colchester Community Stadium.

Prediction: Mansfield Town to win @ 2.02

Recommended bets

Back both teams to score and Cardiff to beat Swansea @ 5
Back both teams to score in Derby v Portsmouth @ 1.77
Back Mansfield Town to beat Colchester @ 2.02