Early Bird Tips for EFL: Championship and League Two value plays ahead of the International break

Just as the EFL leagues begin to take shape, we are about to pause, but before we do, there’s enough time to peck out some Early Bird tips for the EFL from the final complete round of Saturday fixtures before the Championship takes an international break.

Two of the favourites for promotion from the second tier feature, as well as one of the most entertaining sides in League Two.
A clean sweep gives odds of 6.36.

• Early Bird Leeds vs Sheffield Wednesday: Leeds -1 Asian Handicap
• Early Bird Rotherham vs Norwich: Over 2.5 Goals
• Early Bird Doncaster vs Swindon: Over 2.5 Goals

Acca odds: 6.36

Odds via William Hill as at 10:58, August 29th. Odds may now differ.

Leeds vs Sheffield Wednesday: Leeds returning frontline have Sinisterra intentions for wonky Wednesday

England, Championship, Saturday, September 2nd, 15:00 (UK)

Leeds finally announced themselves as promotion contenders last weekend with their first league win of the season. Coming back from a goal down to win a thriller at Ipswich 4-3 and end the host’s 100% start to the campaign in the process.

The early season league leaders had gone 21 games without defeat until Daniel Farke claimed his first win in the Elland Road hot seat. In what capped an excellent week for the Yorkshire club, the German Head Coach hailed the win as “massive” but stressed his side needs to keep focused on the “relentless” Championship.

There were goals from the “reintegrated” pair of Luis Sinisterra and Willy Gnonto, who were excellent throughout. Record signing Georginio Rutter also netted his first goal since a £36m move from Hoffenheim.

Despite all that positivity, the best news, in my opinion, was capturing Joël Piroe from Swansea – a proven goalscorer in the English second tier for a fee that could rise to £16m. This was immediately demonstrated by scoring the other goal at Portman Road on Saturday to mark an impressive debut.

The recently turned 24-year-old is tall, strong, generally keeps fit and is a natural finisher, with his 41 league goals in the last two seasons for the Swans testament to that. He will get ample opportunities in this Leeds side under Farke.

Next up is the only team in the English Football League without a point to their name, Sheffield Wednesday. The Owls came close to getting off the mark on Saturday only to concede a 97th-minute penalty, which was duly dispatched by Ryan Wintle to claim a 2-1 victory for Cardiff.

Manager Xisco Munoz bemoaned the mistakes his side kept making, but after their play-off promotion, that is something they are quickly finding gets punished at this level. Leeds certainly have the firepower to do just that here.

As for the bet, the Whites now look to have plentiful firepower to score multiple times at home to the side rooted to the bottom of the table. But at 1.50, it’s not a price to get involved with. However, the -1.00 Asian Handicap sees us get a void bet (refund) if Leeds wins by exactly one goal but a full return if they win as expected by two or more.

• Selection: Leeds -1.00 Asian Handicap
• Best Odds: 1.80
• Bookmaker: William Hill

Rotherham vs Norwich: More goals expected from Barnes-storming Canaries

England, Championship, Saturday, September 2nd, 15:00 (UK)

Rotherham put up another gutsy performance on Saturday, only slipping to defeat against league leaders Leicester with 83 minutes on the clock. That loss leaves the Millers at the wrong end of the table, still in search of their first Championship win of the season with just one point to their name.

To his credit, Matt Taylor has swatted back claims he is fighting on an uneven playing field, with the resources of opponents generally far outweighing that of his own club. Another recently relegated side armed with the benefit of parachute payments awaits here. But Taylor has simply pointed out that his men need to “be where we need to be, and that is a front-foot team.”

After a turgid effort last season, Norwich needed a quick and positive start this term. They certainly got it.

An unbeaten pre-season, which had followed shrewd pick-ups in the (free) transfer market, gave reason for optimism. The Canaries continued that form when the real action got underway with an emphatic 4-0 defeat of Huddersfield on Saturday, a third win from four unbeaten league games.

Ashley Barnes is spearheading a vibrant, fluid City attack, pulling on his experiences in playing for the dominant champions at this level last term, Burnley. However, academy product Jonny Rowe has grabbed the headlines with a goal in each of his opening five appearances across all competitions for the club.

This clash pitches the league’s top scorers (13) against the leakiest defence (10). With all eight of their respective games in the Championship this season seeing at least three goals. In fact, Norwich fixtures average a league-high 4.75 per game, with Rotherham the fourth highest at 3.75.

There were a few angles in here, with the visitors being a surprisingly attractive price to win. But in the end, this game just looks to have plenty of goals, so Over 2.5 Goals is the play.

• Selection: Over 2.5 Goals
• Best Odds: 1.91
• Bookmaker: William Hill

Doncaster vs Swindon: Robins could Grant Rovers Return to non-league in another feast of goals

England, League Two, Saturday, September 2nd, 15:00 (UK)

Fans of Doncaster Rovers would have hoped the powers that be at their club would have heeded the warnings of last season. An 18th-placed finish last term was the lowest since they were promoted back to the league in 2003.

Defeat to MK Dons on Saturday saw Grant McCann’s men slip to the bottom of the table. They are the only side in the fourth tier without a league win so far this term.

On a positive note, Rovers had 61% of the ball, created more chances and with 18, had more than twice as many attempts at goal as their hosts. A repeat will lead to a very open game against an unbeaten Swindon Town side.

Michael Flynn’s outfit sits 8th in the embryonic League Two table with a game in hand. But they are even nearer the top when it comes to entertainment.

With 15 goals, they are the top goalscorers across England’s top four divisions. But in achieving that, they take risks and leave the back door more than a little ajar.

Eight goals conceded from their four games so far doesn’t tell the whole story. The Robins have allowed a whopping 70 attempts at their goal. At 17.5 per match so far, that is the highest average across the entire league.

Their last road trip saw them score five goals and still not win! The loan signing from Bradford Jake Young is instrumental to that.

The 22-year-old’s four goals at the County Ground on Saturday bring his tally for the season to seven and sit him on top of the goalscoring charts for League Two.

It is no surprise to learn all of Swindon’s league games this campaign have seen over 2.5 goals land. After an opening day 1-0 home defeat to Harrogate, Doncaster’s next four league games have also featured three or more goals.

With the underlying data suggesting Rovers may be improving and could definitely come to the party here over 2.5 goals, it looks like a very attractive price.

• Selection: Over 2.5 Goals
• Best Odds: 1.85
• Bookmaker: William Hill

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