5 things to watch for in the EFL – Matchday 31

Burnley continue their relentless quest to claim the Championship title, while Huddersfield have hit the panic button and are searching for their third new manager of the season.

Things are now starting to get tense for teams up and down the Football League, as they look to hit their pre-season objectives or try to avoid relegation.

It’s another weekend with plenty of stake across each of the three divisions, where we’ve picked out five things to look out for.

Check out all the latest Football League betting at William Hill.

A Midlands derby to kick off the action

The weekend’s EFL action starts with Birmingham hosting high-flying West Brom at St Andrew’s in front of the Sky cameras.

West Brom look to have fended off Leeds’ rumoured advances for head coach Carlos Corberan. The Spaniard has transformed the Baggies since taking over. It’s seen them climb into sixth after a recent run of five wins in their last six league games – the only blip coming against runaway leaders Burnley.

The Baggies are priced up at 21/20 to continue their fine run of form, while the draw is 9/4. Last Friday night, Grady Diangana scored the only goal of the game as West Brom beat Coventry. He features in our Enhanced Odds. Plus, he’s 7/2 to score anytime.

Birmingham ended a five-game losing run with an entertaining 4-3 win at Swansea last weekend, coming from 3-2 down to score twice in stoppage time to steal the three points.

The Blues are 13/5 to make it consecutive wins for the first time since October. While they’re looking to complete their first league double over West Brom since the 1998/99 season. Scott Hogan scored a hat-trick in the reverse fixture and it’s 7/1 (was 5/1) that Hogan scores first with Enhanced Odds.

A six-pointer at the DW

Huddersfield are searching for a new manager after sacking Mark Fotheringham on Wednesday. The Scot exited after a 2-2 draw against fellow strugglers Blackpool. The Terriers led twice but were pegged back by the Tangerines despite having a man advantage after Gary Madine’s first-half dismissal.

The West Yorkshire club are winless in five (D3 L2) and haven’t had a longer such run since January and February 2021 (eight games). You can get 9/4 on them turning things around under interim boss Narcis Pelach.

Wigan’s first game under Shaun Maloney ended in a goalless draw against Lancashire rivals Blackburn. It sees the Latics remain bottom the Championship table, but they know that victory in this one will see them leapfrog their opponents.

The Latics won 2-1 at the John Smith’s Stadium earlier in the season and can complete their first league double over Huddersfield. Maloney’s men are 13/10 for three points, while a share of the spoils is 21/10.

The play-off race is heating up

The middle of the Championship table is always tight, and this season is proving no different with 18th-placed Reading only seven points behind fifth-placed Watford. Blackburn are a point behind the Hornets and head to Vicarage Road on Saturday.

Slaven Bilic’s side have only lost once in their last five (W2 D2) but will have been disappointed to allow a two-goal lead slip in last weekend’s 2-2 draw at Reading. It’s 19/20 that the Hornets return to winning ways – they’ve won four of their last five home games against Blackburn.

Rovers are on the slide after winning just one of their last six (D2 L3). That’ll concern Jon Dahl Tomasson, as will his side’s failure to create too many clear sights of goal against Wigan on Monday night.

Rovers have drawn back-to-back games for the first time this season and another level game is 23/10. But the Lancashire club ran out 2-0 winners in the reverse fixture and are 29/10 to complete a double over the Hornets.

Owls to continue to soar?

It’s third versus first in League One when Ipswich welcome Sheffield Wednesday to Portman Road. Can the Tractor Boys reduce the gap to the top two to three points?

Both sides exited the FA Cup after replays in midweek, so the league can now take full priority. That might be a relief to Kieran McKenna who has seen his side win just one of their last six in the league (D4 L1).

However, Ipswich are pretty strong at Portman Road. They’ve only fallen to one home defeat all season, winning eight of their 14. Last time out here, they were 4-0 up at half-time against Morecambe. They’re 11/10 to win.

That said, Wednesday are unbeaten in their last five league games against Ipswich (W3 D2), with the Owls scoring in each of their last 17 league meetings. The visitors are 5/2 to win and keep hold of top spot. While it’s 17/20 that both teams score.

Darren Moore’s side have been defensively solid of late. They’ve kept five shutouts in a row, winning three consecutive games 1-0. If it finishes 1-0 to Wednesday, we’ll pay out at 17/2.

Dale in a ‘Spot’ of bother

Rochdale prop up the Football League, sitting five points from safety. A home game against promotion-chasing Northampton isn’t what they need in their quest for points.

Jim Bentley’s side tend to struggle in front of their own fans. Dale have the worst home record in League Two, winning just twice at Spotland and only picking up eight points. However, they’re unbeaten in each of their last 10 EFL games against Northampton (W4 D6). It’s 27/10 that Rochdale win, while Dale Draw No Bet is 13/8.

But considering Rochdale’s home form, things look fairly ominous when you see that

Northampton boast the second-best away record in the division (W7 D4 L3). Three points for the Cobblers could see them climb into the top three – something they’re 21/20 to do.

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