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Back Ipswich, Leyton Orient and Sheffield Wednesday in a boosted EFL Trophy treble

The EFL Trophy group stage concludes this week, and you can cash in with Planet Sport Bet.

Europe's top leagues are taking a break this week as international soccer takes centre stage, but with the qualifying action not set to begin until later in the week, the EFL Trophy has stepped into fill the football-shaped hole.

The competition may be much-maligned but can count Sunderland, Portsmouth and Coventry City among its recent winners and attracted 85,000 to Wembley the last time it was played in front of fans.

As the group stage comes to an end, there are some important issues still to be settled. And you can share the excitement with a Planet Sport Bet-boosted treble of Ipswich, Leyton Orient and Sheffield Wednesday all to win at 13/2 (from 11/2). 

Ipswich Town vs Colchester

Ipswich and Colchester fight it out at Portman Road in what is essentially a knockout match.
The winner will progress into the next round alongside West Ham under-21s, while the other will crash out. A draw favours Ipswich on goals scored.

Both teams have a win apiece in the group, with both tending to use weakened sides for the competition.

With the same motivation and same selection policy, it essentially comes down to which club has the greater squad depth, and higher-division Ipswich certainly come out on top there.

Leyton Orient vs Charlton

Orient may be the lower league opposition in this one, but they have lost just once in their last 14 matches and that's a run they'll be keen to protect.

Part of that run has been two wins out of two in the EFL Trophy, so it's certainly a competition they take seriously.

Charlton are on a good run of form themselves since sacking Nigel Adkins and handing Johnnie Jackson the reins on a caretaker basis.

Jackson has won three of his four games in charge, and like Leyton Orient the Addicks have a 100% record in the competition.

With neither team needing to win, though, it may come down to who wants the bragging rights more and that is likely to be the home side.

Sheffield Wednesday vs Harrogate Town

It's a Yorkshire derby at Hillsborough as Sheffield Wednesday and Harrogate vie for top spot in Group H.

These two teams have identical records in the competition, so it could be a tight one.

However, Harrogate have suffered three defeats in their last five matches, while Wednesday have become hard to beat of late. They are unbeaten in eight, although only three of those have been wins.

Owls boss Darren Moore made eight changes for his side's previous EFL encounter and is expected to start midfielders George Byers and Massimo Luongo as they continue their returns from injury.

Their presence should help ensure the Owls make it four wins from nine.

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