EFL Betting Tips & Preview: Ipswich to march on and Derby to triumph in big weekend

Another international break is almost upon us, but before that there are some crucial English Football League matches to take place up and down the country.

We’ve got two teams still unbeaten, two without a win to their name, and for the fans of poor Cheltenham Town they’d just like to see their side score a goal as they head into game 12 of the campaign.

As always we’ve selected one match from each division to delve into as they look to head into a two-week hiatus on a high.

Championship

Ipswich Town v Preston North End

Kick off: 3pm Saturday

It’s safe to say that these two were proving to be a surprise package this season. Ipswich, on the back of their promotion, were expected to be solid but maybe not contenders, while Preston’s early form saw them dream of more than mid-table obscurity.

One has certainly been more prolific than the other, though, and the Tractor Boys are favourites (at 1.64) for two reasons – they’ve won more games and scored a LOT more goals. Kieran McKenna’s outfit have found the back of the net 21 times, including 11 in their last four.

For the Lilywhites, you could be forgiven for thinking that maybe their bubble has burst. After going eight games unbeaten they’ve lost their last two, and lost them badly. Falling 4-0 to West Bromwich Albion at home and then 3-0 away at Leicester City hit them hard.

Only three of Ipswich’s games this season have not seen over 1.5 goals, and three of their last four have been over 2.5 – you can get that eventuality at 1.85 for this one.

Prediction: Ipswich to win and over 1.5 goals @ 1.93

League One

Cheltenham Town v Derby County

Kick off: 3pm Saturday

Cheltenham have got to score at some point. So far they’ve played over 1000 minutes of football without finding the back of the net in League One, and are one of only two teams in the EFL yet to win a match in 2023/24. They’re at 2.46 to score once in this game.

The Robins are outsiders (7 to win) of course), and that’s not helped by the face that Paul Warne’s Derby appear to have found their form a little bit after a rocky start – they’re now five unbeaten in all competitions and have scored in all but one of their last 10 matches.

A strong 3-1 win over Blackpool in midweek saw Martin Waghorn get his sixth league goal, and with three consecutive clean sheets before that you wouldn’t bet against them keeping another one here (2.12).

Prediction: Derby County to win and both teams to score – no @ 2.54

League Two

Mansfield Town v AFC Wimbledon

Kick off: 3pm Saturday

Mansfield are one of the two EFL teams still unbeaten at this point in the season, but they’ve also not won too many either. If you include penalty shootout wins over Sheffield Wednesday and Peterborough United they’ve drawn nine of their 14 matches – if you fancy them to do so again this weekend you can get that at 3.45.

Wimbledon are flying, though. They’ve only lost one game in League Two themselves, and the only other team to have beaten them this season is Premier League outfit, Chelsea. They’ve also got the second best defence in the division with 10 conceded – a record only bettered by the Stags.

The Dons have won three on the bounce and scored in all but one of their matches in all competitions, while Mansfield have only failed to score in two. Both teams to score at 1.76.

Prediction: A 1-1 draw @ 6.8

Recommended Bets

Back Ipswich to win and over 1.5 goals @ 1.93
Back Derby County to win and BTTS - no @ 2.54
Back 1-1 in Mansfield Town v AFC Wimbledon @ 6.8