Football League Acca: Jack Goddard expects Norwich to bounce back against Hull

The EFL is back and as eventful as ever. Here, Jack Goddard will help you make sense of it all as he looks to find some winners among the chaos.

Sunderland v Queens Park Rangers

Kick-off: 3pm Saturday

Both Sunderland and QPR put three goals past their opposition at the weekend. The Black Cats came from behind to defeat Bristol City, while the Super Hoops blitzed Middlesbrough with three first-half goals.

Unfortunately, they also shipped two goals apiece, a factor that strengthens my confidence that this weekend’s encounter at the Stadium of Light will feature numerous thrills and spills.

The respective 3-2 victories seemed to represent each sides’ previous season in microcosm. Sunderland were League One’s third-highest scorers last year, but shipped 53 goals, which was more than any other side in the top seven. That put them at an average of 2.9 goals per game (GPG), while QPR’s shoddy defending saw their matches play out at 2.6 GPG.

One word of caution, however. In Alex Neil’s 18 games as the Black Cats’ manager last season, his side conceded just 11 times. They have already conceded three in two matches at a higher level though, so I still expect plenty of action in the goalmouths.

Selection: Over 2.5 goals @ 2

Hull City v Norwich City

Kick-off: 3pm Saturday

Norwich haven’t started the season as well as expected, with a limp loss against Cardiff being followed by a home draw against newly-promoted Wigan. Hull, on the other hand, have made a surprisingly pleasant start with a surprising victory over Bristol City and a draw at Preston.

These unusual results have culminated in pretty tasty odds for the status quo to return at the MKM Stadium on Saturday.

The Canaries are perennial heavyweights in the second tier, a reputation that has been built due to their away form - in each of their last two Championship seasons, Norwich amassed more away points than any other team. With limited squad turnover since their last title-winning campaign, it’s fair to say this team knows how to win on the road.

Meanwhile, the Tigers were extremely unfortunate to escape Deepdale with a point on Saturday. They are still an unknown quantity thanks to an influx of players from Turkey, as well as Georgian manager Shota Arveladze, who led Hull to safety with 22 points from the final 19 games of last season. Hull’s home form remained dreadful all year, however, and I’ll be backing Norwich to win this one.

Selection: Norwich City to win @ 2.1

Accrington Stanley v Burton Albion

Kick-off: 3pm Saturday

Burton haven't pulled up any trees in their first two games, accumulating zero points and recording a goal difference of -7. But starting the season with a trip to Wycombe before having to play an entire match with ten men isn’t a fair sample.

Burton will look to kick start their season this weekend, and Stanley might be a good team to face on paper. Despite finishing in the top half of League One last season, Accrington conceded a whopping 80 (yes, 80) goals - an almost unprecedented feat considering their 12th-place finish.

However, it’s fair to say that John Coleman’s side has started off well. They drew 2-2 with Charlton on the opening day despite dominating, before they recorded a crucial away victory against ten-man Shrewsbury last week.

This strong start to the season, coupled with the fact the Brewers picked up just 17 points on the road last season, suggests an Accrington victory here.

Selection: Accrington Stanley to win @ 2.04

Tranmere v Gillingham

Kick-off: 3pm Saturday

This one really does have ‘snoozefest’ written all over it. Tranmere and Gillingham have scored just one goal each so far this season - the Prenton Park side bagged in their recent home defeat while the Gills scraped home for a 1-0 victory against Rochdale in the first gameweek this season.

This shyness in front of goal does have previous. Gillingham were the lowest scorers in the 2021/22 League One campaign, netting just 35 times and failing to score on 19 occasions.

Tranmere, on the other hand, failed to score more goals than any other top 14 team in the fourth tier last year. They also conceded just 40 goals, the second-best defensive record in the league, meaning no side’s fans saw fewer goals in League Two last season than Tranmere’s faithful (93).

Considering all that, this hardly stands to be a classic back-and-forth. I doubt both teams will find the net.

Selection: Both Teams To Score - No @ 1.8

Blackburn Rovers v West Bromwich Albion

Kick-off: 3pm Sunday

West Brom battered Watford on Monday night. They’ll win most games comfortably with performances like that but their opposition had a top-class player in Ismaila Sarr, who scored from 55 yards.

I daresay Blackburn do not have a player like that (although midfielder Lewis Travis has already doubled his goal tally from last year), but they are at least putting their chances away. The Baggies cannot currently convert their many opportunities, and that is already costing them. They scored only one goal from 19 shots on Monday, while Rovers scored three from five against Swansea.

West Brom’s other major problem is that they’re absolutely abysmal away from home. In nine away games under Steve Bruce they have amassed just eight points courtesy of just two wins - and they came against Reading and Hull, who had the 20th and 22nd-best home records respectively last season.

Blackburn, meanwhile, are confident, clinical and yet to concede a goal this season. I will back them to continue their great start to the season, even if they might ride their luck a bit to do so.

Selection: Blackburn Rovers to win @ 2.86

Recommended bets

Back Sunderland-QPR Over 2.5 goals @ 2
Back Norwich City to win @ 2.16
Back Accrington Stanley to win @ 2.04
Back Tranmere-Gillingham Both teams to score - No @ 1.79
Back Blackburn Rovers to win @ 2.86