5 things to watch for in the EFL – Matchday 5

We’re only a few weeks into the new season, but the three divisions of the EFL are already starting to take shape.

There are some surprise names to be found at the top and bottom of the Championship, League One and League Two tables, but still plenty of time for teams to flip the script – starting this weekend.

It’s Matchday 5 of the EFL, and it all kicks off under the Friday night lights at Carrow Road.

Lions to claw back another deficit against Norwich?

Norwich finally got their first win of the season midweek, beating Huddersfield 2-1, and now have another home game as they search for back-to-back wins. However, their opponents, Millwall, are the comeback kings of the Championship’s early knockings.

The Lions have gone behind 2-0 in each of their last two games, and incredibly rallied back to take four points. There may not be a more dramatic turnaround in the whole EFL this season than Millwall salvaging a 2-2 draw at Swansea courtesy of two – yes, two – injury time own goals.

Millwall, though, are winless in 18 away league matches against Norwich, with their last victory at Carrow Road coming all the way back in November 1968. However, their boss, Gary Rowett, has never lost a Championship game against Norwich in seven previous meetings. The Lions are 16/5 to win at Norwich, and we have Enhanced Odds of 11/2 that Millwall score in both halves of the game. Another draw for the battling Lions is 23/10.

Unbeaten records on the line at Deepdale

Two of the Championship’s last unbeaten sides face off at Deepdale on Saturday, as Preston North End host Watford. Preston have had a remarkable start to the season, with four consecutive clean sheets. The home side are the only EFL team yet to concede a goal so far this campaign.

Preston have never kept five consecutive clean sheets to start a season before, so history could be made this weekend. Watford haven’t scored more than once in any of their last 13 league games, and under 1.5 total goals in the match is 7/4. A Watford win would be their third in a row against the Lilywhites, and an away win is 17/10.

Blades or Blackburn to top the table?

It’s 4th v 1st at Bramall Lane this weekend as Sheffield Utd host Blackburn. A win for the Blades could see them top the Championship table if other results go their way, while Blackburn will cement their status at the summit with an away win.

Rovers, though, have a poor record at this ground, losing four of their last five at Bramall Lane and failing to score in their last four visits. Blackburn haven’t enjoyed crossing the Pennines at all of late, going winless in their last nine trips to Yorkshire, losing seven times. Rovers may be table-toppers but the Blades are 7/10 favourites to get the win. United have only kept one clean sheet so far this season, and a home win with both teams scoring is 3/1. Brighton loanee Reda Khadra will face his former team in this one, and the German attacker is 6/1 to open the scoring for the Blades.

Wanderers winning ways to continue against Wednesday?

The pick of the weekend’s games in League One takes place at the University of Bolton Stadium, as what’s sure to be a big crowd will see 4th-place Bolton play 8th-place Sheffield Wednesday. The Wanderers have won their first two home games this season – the last time they won their first three was 1996/97, in which they went on to win the second tier and secure promotion.

Bolton, though, have failed to win any of their last five EFL meetings with Wednesday, and are slight underdogs at 9/5. The Owls may have lost to Peterborough midweek, but they haven’t lost consecutive league games since the start of January. A Wednesday win is 6/4.

Doncaster to down Salford?

Doncaster Rovers and Salford City meet for the first time in their history this weekend, with both sides enjoying hot starts to the new League Two season. Salford top the table but could be displaced by Doncaster if the home side can take them down on Saturday.Rovers are 21/10 to end Salford’s unbeaten start with a win. Four of Doncaster’s six league goals this season have been scored in the 90th minute, and Rovers are 12/5 to win the second half and 7/2 to score in both halves.