Phil Agius’ tips for Saturday’s Football League action include wins for Coventry and Preston.
There is a full programme of EFL action to look forward to this weekend as the Championship and League One and Two tables start to take shape.
We have picked out a four-fold accumulator which takes in matches from all three divisions.
Saturday EFL tips
Coventry to beat Norwich
17/20
Preston to beat Oxford
9/5
Bristol Rovers to beat Cambridge
19/20
Bromley to beat Crewe
19/20
Four-fold pays 21/1
Coventry vs Norwich (Saturday, 12:30)
It has not been a good start to life in the Norwich dugout for Johannes Hoff Thorup, who has seen his side win only once in five matches across all competitions, with their previous two away games ending in defeats to nil.
That is a record that is unlikely to be improved upon when they visit an upwardly-mobile Coventry, who have picked up three wins and a draw since losing on the opening weekend at Stoke.
Mark Robins’ side have two wins from two games on home soil this season and they can get the better of a Norwich side who are still stuck in the starting blocks.
The Canaries’ cause is not helped by an away record that has been poor for some time, as despite making the play-offs last season, they lost more games on the road than relegated Huddersfield. Coventry should be licking their lips ahead of this one.
Oxford vs Preston (Saturday, 15:00)
Preston did not have a league goal, never mind a win, before Paul Heckingbottom’s arrival as manager last week, but the former Sheffield United boss has since guided North End to a narrow Championship success over Luton and a 5-0 thrashing of League Two Harrogate in the EFL Cup.
Next up is a trip to an Oxford side who started the season strongly, but are currently on a three-game losing streak across all competitions, as they continue to get to grips with life in the second tier after a quarter of a century away.
Oxford have been strong at home, losing just two of their last 13 matches at the Kassam Stadium, but only one of those has come at Championship level and they may come unstuck against revitalised Preston.
Bristol Rovers vs Cambridge United (Saturday, 15:00)
Bristol Rovers have not won since the opening weekend, but that is also the last time they played a league match at the Memorial Stadium and they will be confident of picking up a result against struggling Cambridge.
The visitors claimed their first point of the season at home to Blackpool last weekend, coming from 4-1 down to draw 4-4, but they have won only one of their last nine away matches, failing to score in the other eight.
Only relegated Carlisle picked up fewer away points than Cambridge in League One last season and it could be another miserable afternoon for Garry Monk and his side on Saturday.
Bromley vs Crewe (Saturday, 15:00)
Bromley have taken to life in the EFL well, as they have won two of their three league games and even their sole defeat, at Bradford last time out, had extenuating circumstances as midfielder Ashley Charles was sent off after just eight minutes.
The Ravens beat AFC Wimbledon in their first home fixture in League Two and they can put struggling Crewe to the sword as well.
The Railwaymen have been suffering something of a hangover after last season’s play-off final defeat and despite a more encouraging result in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday, they may come up short against a side who are still on a high from their own successful promotion campaign.
Visit Betway’s football betting page.
