The Premier League is on an international break but there is still so much to look forward to on a busy weekend where the EFL takes centre stage.
Pick the Cherries for Oakwell Success
Fulham are looking good for a place in the Premier League but the race behind them is tight with three teams separated by four points and Bournemouth can give their promotion hopes a push in the right direction with a win at Barnsley.
Oakwell has not been a fortress for the Tykes this term with bottom-club Barnsley having won just twice and it’s hard to see how they will avoid relegation.
They have lost 14 of their last 18 league games and scored just once in their last four home league games with injured star striker Cauley Woodrow’s continued absence a major blow.
Bournemouth are missing Jamal Lowe, however, the third-placed Cherries have enough firepower to cover that Covid-impacted issue.
Scott Parker’s side have scored at least twice on 16 occasions in this season’s Championship – the same as Fulham – and are worthy 5/7 favourites.
Forest Fancied to Claim Another Win
Sunday’s Championship clash between Cardiff and Nottingham Forest can go the way of the visitors, who are on a magnificent run of form in 2022 thanks to a hat-trick of league successes as well as a FA Cup giantkilling over Arsenal.
The midweek stroll over Barnsley did not take much out of the legs with Brennan Johnson once more proving his class. Forest reportedly turned down a bid from Brentford for Johnson this week and promotion is clearly the aim for the Tricky Trees.
Cardiff, who have taken two points from their last six matches, are without a league clean sheet since the second matchday on August 14 and Forest are fancied at 8/5.
New Signings Aid Imps
Lincoln have been a disappointment for much of this season but finally the Imps are starting to pick up and their January form suggests they can overcome Burton at Sincil Bank at 23/20 on Saturday.
Being 16th in League One is a little false as Michael Appleton’s men have matches in hand on most of those teams above them, but either way, a play-off place was the hope in pre-season so things needed to improve.
Recent results suggest Lincoln are trending in the right direction with January wins over Oxford, Sunderland and Plymouth – all teams currently in the top seven. Target-man striker John Marquis scored against Argyle and is one of a number of new faces this month.
Marquis should once again be a threat against a Burton team with four defeats in six on their League One travels.
Stevenage Shooting up the Standings
The League Two table says Stevenage are the 19th best team in the division but that does not take into account the massive overhaul at the club since the wily Paul Tisdale was appointed as Boro’s new boss in late November.
Tisdale has been able to reshape the side in January with Ed Upson, Michael Bostwick and Christy Pym just a few of those to arrive.
Results have been good with wins over Crawley and Walsall and draws against Sutton and Hartlepool in the last four matches and but for late equalisers those share of the spoils would also have ended in victory.
Harrogate have lost four of five in the league and the hosts appeal at 7/5.
Finally, it could be worth chancing moneybags Salford at 53/20 for their trip to Northampton.
Cobblers are slipping down the table following two points from the last 12 available just as Salford are going the other way thanks to three away wins in four.
The signing of giant Matt Smith from Millwall could be a big one for Salford, who should be doing better than ninth given the size of their budget.
*All odds correct at time of writing.
