5 things to watch for in the EFL – Matchday 35

The FA Cup took centre stage in midweek, and it showed the strength of the Football League with four of the eight quarter-finalists coming from outside the top-flight.

This season’s fairytale belongs to League Two Grimsby, who showed the magic of the cup by knocking out Premier League Southampton in a dramatic tie at St Mary’s. It’s the first time the Mariners have reached this stage in 84 years.

But after their cup heroics attention returns to the league. And we’ve picked out five important games across the three tiers of the EFL this weekend.

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

Baggies to bounce in Hull?

Friday Night Football comes from the Championship as two mid-table sides meet at the MKM Stadium. West Brom sit 11th and have a six-point gap to bridge if they want to make the play-offs.

The Baggies kept themselves in the hunt with a big 2-0 win over in-form Middlesbrough last weekend, where Daryl Dike scored twice in the opening 10 minutes to send them on their way.

Albion have enjoyed recent trips to Humberside, winning on their last two visits to Hull. It’s 11/8 they make that three. While there are 10/3 Enhanced Odds on Dike having two or more shots on target.

Hull resurgence under Liam Rosenior has slowed in recent weeks, with the Tigers now winless in four (D2 L2). Part of their problem has been putting the ball in the opposition net – something they’ve only done once in those four games, albeit three of those have been on the road.

At home in the league, the Tigers have been quite strong. They’re unbeaten in six at the MKM Stadium (W2 D4). Get 21/10 on a Hull win, while the draw is the same price.

One thing Hull do well is defend. They put bodies on the line and don’t give too many clearcut chances to their opponents. Rosenior’s men have kept three consecutive home clean sheets, so will prove tricky for the visitors to break down. Fancy them for a fourth shutout? It’s 9/4.

FA Cup quarter-finalists clash in the league

After their FA Cup exploits in midweek that then saw them drawn to face each other, Blackburn and Sheffield United clash in front of the Sky cameras.

Rovers went to Leicester and dispatched the Foxes, while the Blades knocked out Spurs after Iliman Ndiaye’s excellent individual effort, which was their only shot on target.

Now, Blackburn are looking to strengthen their grip on a play-off place. Jon Dahl Tomasson’s side are unbeaten in their last seven league games and have won their last three. It’s 5/2 Blackburn make it four on the bounce.

The Blades dug deep to beat Watford last weekend courtesy of an own goal from Ryan Porteous. However, they’ve not won on the road since December (D2 L1) and lost on their last visit to a side in the hunt for a top-six finish (3-2 at Millwall).

But Paul Heckingbottom’s men are looking to win three consecutive league games against Blackburn for the first time since August 1987, something they are 21/20 to do.

Tyrhys Dolan has two in three for Blackburn in all comps after scoring the opener against Leicester on Tuesday. He’s 8/1 to score first here, while it’s 15/4 he bags at any time.

Lions to roar at The Den?

It’s fifth against seventh when Millwall welcome Norwich to The Den. The Lions missed the chance to strengthen their grip on a play-off place after allowing a 2-0 lead slip in the second half at Luton on Tuesday.

The Lions are only two points ahead of their opponents, who sit just outside the top six. But they’ll be happier with home comforts. They’re unbeaten in their last 11 home league games (W6 D5). It’s 29/20 they take all three points.

Since David Wagner took over at Norwich, they’ve won five of their last eight league games (D1 L2). That includes victory in three of their last four, although they’ve all been at Carrow Road.

The Canaries have enjoyed plenty of success against Millwall in recent meetings. They’ve won seven of their last 11 (D3 L1) and are 15/8 to extend that run, while the draw is 11/5.

When the sides met in August, Josh Sargent scored two second-half goals to earn Norwich three points. The American is 23/10 to score anytime, while it’s 14/1 he repeats the feat and nets twice.

The Owls to continue to soar?

League One has one of the country’s in-form sides in Sheffield Wednesday. The Owls made it 20 unbeaten in the third tier (W14 D6) with a 1-0 victory against Charlton following Liam Palmer’s early goal.

Darren Moore’s side have the chance to maintain their three-point lead at the top of the table when they welcome Peterborough to Hillsborough, which has been something of a fortress. The Owls have won six consecutive home games, averaging 2.8 goals per game; they last had a longer run in October 2011.

The hosts could be one to put in an acca at 8/11. Their last two home wins have been by 3-0 and 5-2 scorelines; you can back them to win with three or more goals in the match at 8/5.

Play-off chasing Posh have little room for error between now and the end of the season. They’re unbeaten in three after thrashing second-place Plymouth 5-2 last Saturday, before playing out a goalless stalemate with Charlton after Josh Knight saw red.

Peterborough have had the advantage in recent meetings, winning four of the last five (L1), including a 2-0 win in August’s reverse fixture. It’s 15/4 they extend that excellent record against the Owls with another victory.

Jonson Clarke-Harris scored in the last meeting between the sides, and he was on the scoresheet twice on Saturday against Plymouth. He’s 23/10 to bag anytime.

Cobblers to pile pressure on Crawley?

Northampton were held to a 1-1 draw at Harrogate on Tuesday meaning it’s just one defeat in their last seven league games (W2 D4). Now, they can continue to eye up an automatic promotion spot, with them just two points behind third-placed Carlisle.

The Cobblers welcome struggling Crawley to Sixfields and are looking to complete their second double over the side in 23rd after winning the reverse fixture 3-2 in August. John Brady’s side are odds-on to win, while it’s 11/4 they pick up three points and both teams score.

Crawley are winless in their last six (D1 L5), leaving them in the relegation zone, two points off safety. Last Saturday, they were hammered 5-2 at home to Carlisle, before a midweek defeat at Tranmere, in which Dominic Telford missed a penalty 10 minutes from time.

Scott Lindsay’s side now need to pull a rabbit out of the hat and win their first away game of the season, something they haven’t managed in 16 previous attempts. In fact, they’ve only picked up six points and scored 12 times on their travels.

Crawley can take solace in the fact they went to Sixfields and won 1-0 in January 2022. Get 11/2 on an away win, while the draw is priced up at 14/5.

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