EFL preview and tips: West Bromwich Albion and Bristol Rovers looking good for three points
- George Dempsey
- 11 March 2023
Another weekend of EFL action presents another 36 matches chock full of betting opportunities as clubs up and down the country are set to battle the conditions as well as each other.
Plenty of League One and Two games are expected to be affected by the snow, particularly across the Midlands and Yorkshire, but we'll plough on anyway! Apologies for the poor weather-related joke. There's betting profit to be made and it's snow joke. (groan!)
Strugglers continue to struggle
One match in the Championship stands out as particularly lopsided this week.
Huddersfield Town do quite literally get battered everywhere they go at present, averaging 0.82 goals on their travels, and beaten 3-0, 4-0 and 4-0 in recent weeks.
Regardless of overall form, West Brom remain formidable at home, with an 89th-minute Blackburn equaliser the only time the Baggies have conceded in their past nine home games, of which they won the other eight.
The recent appointment of Neil Warnock has had absolutely no impact on a doomed Town team, and it's starting to look like a three-month paycheck and a nice summer break ahead for Sharon. Back West Brom to win and keep a clean sheet.
Bristol Rovers' vegan vengeance
It's been an up-and-down season for Joey Barton's men, and one that started in quite disappointing fashion. Forest Green Rovers were the opening day visitors to the Memorial Stadium and a very professional away performance saw them deservedly snatch the points late on.
Rovers are inconsistent but a mid-table finish seems quite likely, whilst it would take a mighty effort for the hosts to survive at this point. They're 11 points adrift and have failed to score more than once in their last 15 games, drawing six blanks.
That seems particularly relevant as Bristol Rovers tend to yo-yo and seem to be trending upwards thanks to their newfound resilience. They've kept clean sheets against Ipswich, Barnsley, and Oxford in their last four games.
Scoring has never been the problem with 25 goals in 17 away games and that could be enough to edge this one. Back Bristol Rovers to win.
Goalscorers collide
When you look at the most prolific teams in League Two, Hartlepool United are conspicuous by their absence. They've scored 37 goals in 35 games and conceded at an unhealthy rate, and unfortunate combination that makes relegation a very real possibility.
Northampton Town are their opponent this weekend, and they're the fifth most prolific side in the league with a pretty sound defence to boot. The playoffs aren't guaranteed but they'll be aiming for automatic promotion after last season's heartbreak.
Despite their differing form, a large majority of the goals Northampton have conceded have been on their travels. Hartlepool's goals have been evenly distributed but they have found the net consistently at home.
Both teams have scored in 60 per cent of Hartlepool's home games this season, while both teams have scored in 59 per cent of Northampton's away games. There's plenty on the line for both sides and there's no reason to hold back, so both teams to score is a reasonable bet.
Suggested bets
West Brom win to nil
Bristol Rovers to win
Hartlepool vs Northampton Both Teams To Score
