football | Tuesday, November 7, 2023 3:02 PM

Early Bird Tips for the EFL Championship, League One and Two: If it isn’t broke, don’t fix it

Jack Wright

Clubs from the third and fourth tier of English football return from their FA Cup exploits meaning Jack Wright has a full schedule to pick his EFL Early Bird Tips from. The best selection from each of the Championship, League One and League Two are outlined below.

A clean sweep here gives odds of 10.75.

Early Bird Tips for the EFL Championship, League One and League Two

Cardiff vs Norwich: Cardiff to Win
Shrewsbury vs Reading: Shrewsbury to Win
Swindon vs Stockport: Stockport to Win

Acca odds: 10.75

Odds via SkyBet as at 12:00, November 7th. Odds may now differ.

Cardiff vs Norwich: Bluebirds to soar into Play-Offs after caging Canaries

England, Championship, Saturday November 11th, 15:00 (UK)

Apologies for the repetition in recent editions of the EFL Early Bird. But how Cardiff can be priced up at odds against here, I have no idea, so therefore, they have to be included.

Leeds at 2.38, Sunderland at 2.25 and Blackburn at 3.25 have all been correctly advised in the past month to topple the Canaries. A list that doesn’t include a midweek win for Middlesbrough at odds of 2.75.

David Wagner has now seen his side lose eight of their last ten games in all competitions, with a series of pitiful displays which seem to get worse with each passing fixture. A run of form has seen them slide down the table to 17th, and they could be just four points clear of the relegation zone by the time this game kicks off.

The Norwich manager looks like a broken man, and executive director Zoe Webber all but gave the dreaded vote of confidence in her program notes ahead of the 3-1 loss to Rovers on Sunday. Stating the club’s position at this point in the campaign “falls below our expectations, and we’re well aware that performances have not been at the level required. We know we must improve.”

The Canaries Trust, the third-largest shareholder in the club, released a statement on Monday demanding change. However, despite all of that, I would still be shocked if Wagner was relieved of his duties ahead of the trip to Wales. There is, after all, a two-week International break immediately after it, and new Sporting Director Ben Knapper is not due to start until November 27th.

As a result, we should expect more of the same from a Norwich side that has lost five of their last six away games, shipping 16 goals in the process. Having conceded a league-high 18 times from seven road trips this season, including six at Plymouth and three on their last away day at Sunderland.

They visit a Cardiff side that sits 7th in the table, one point adrift of the play-offs following a goalless draw at Stoke on Saturday. Early season success has been built on a formidable home record.

Since joining the club in June, Erol Bulut has only seen his side beaten on home soil once. Winning five of their last six Championship encounters at the Cardiff City Stadium.

The draw in the Potteries at the weekend saw a third consecutive clean sheet, and the Bluebirds have now only conceded four goals in their last seven games. They look exceptional value to sign off for the international break with another home win and take the three points, which will likely see them burst back into the top six.

Selection: Cardiff to Win (TRACKED BET)
Best Odds: 2.15
Bookmaker: bet365
Stakes: 10/10

Shrewsbury vs Reading: Shrews to tame league’s worst travellers

England, League One, Saturday November 11th, 15:00 (UK)

At the time of writing, both these sides have midweek league games to navigate prior to their meeting at the weekend. Shrewsbury are at home to promotion-chasing Bolton, with Reading hosting mid-table Bristol Rovers.

Results in either contest do not concern me, although, of course, a win for the Shrews would certainly rubber-stamp this selection. It is the Royal’s alarming away form that drew me to this fixture as my best bet from League One.

Last season, Reading were ultimately relegated from the Championship due to their six-point deduction. However, they also “boasted” the worst away record in the second tier.

Their 23 road trips yielded just 12 points, and they suffered a whopping 17 defeats, shipping a league-high 44 goals. Now playing at a lower level, the travel sickness persists, having lost all seven away games by an aggregate score of 17-4, once again the worst defensive record.

For Shrewsbury, a win here is vital, given they currently only enjoy a three-point buffer to the relegation zone. They, too, have struggled away from home but have a top-10 record on home soil, winning their last two league games at The Croud Meadow.

Matt Taylor also described his side as “totally dominant” in winning their weekend FA Cup tie at home to Colchester. He will be expecting more of the same and for his men to take advantage of the turmoil both on and off the field at Reading.

Selection: Shrewsbury to win (TRACKED BET)
Best Odds: 2.50
Bookmaker: SkyBet
Stakes: 7/10

Swindon vs Stockport: Top Hatters to extend winning streak by rocking Robins

England, League Two, Saturday November 11th, 15:00 (UK)

After five defeats from their last seven fixtures in all competitions, including both of the last two in the league, Swindon would have been hoping a home FA Cup tie against non-league opposition would have provided a much-needed confidence booster. What they got was an emphatic, embarrassing hammering at the hands of Aldershot.

Jack Barham set the tone for the afternoon by opening the scoring in the first minute for the Shots, who went in at the interval 4-0 up. The goals continued to flow, and when Barham completed his hat trick just before the hour, his strike had incredibly put his side 7-0 ahead—the first-ever non-league side to score seven goals against a Football League team in the FA Cup.

Four late consolation goals for the Robins meant the final deficit was “only” three, but by then, the damage was done. The fact Michael Flynn had named a near full-strength starting eleven made matters worse and prompted owner Clem Morfuni to release a statement on Sunday.

Describing the defeat as “shocking”, he assured fans he shared their sense of pain and that, as owner, he takes full responsibility. He went on to deny allegations that players had been paid late and that he had put the club up for sale – off-field drama the football department could well do without.

The Robins have a midweek date with bogey side Colchester, who they have beaten just once in the last eight meetings, ahead of this weekend’s clash. Stockport, in contrast, has a free week to rest and prepare.

Unlike the hosts, County made short work of their non-league cup opponents. Having made ten changes from the side that started their last League Two outing against Tranmere, it was the only survivor, Kyle Wootton, who caused the damage by plundering four goals.

The Hatters have now won 12 successive games across all competitions, with 10 of those victories coming in the league and by an aggregate score of 25-6. To see the leaders priced up at odds against a side whose confidence must be shot to pieces is surprising, but these are odds I am very happy to take.

Selection: Stockport to win (TRACKED BET)
Best Odds: 2.10
Bookmaker: Betfair
Stakes: 10/10

NOVEMBER 13-19 IS SAFER GAMBLING WEEK 2023

November 13-19 marks an important date in the calendar. Safer Gambling Week is a significant industry-wide event that aims to shed more light on responsible betting. For more information and advice, head to the bettingexpert Safer Gambling hub or our brief explainer below.

What is Safer Gambling Week?

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