Our best bets for the latest round of Sky Bet EFL action
Our best bets for the latest round of Sky Bet EFL action

Free betting tips: Preview for the Sky Bet EFL weekend of 11/12 August


Following five correct predictions from seven last week, Tom Carnduff looks ahead to the latest round of Sky Bet EFL action.


Recommended EFL bets

2pts Leeds to win and over 2.5 goals in the match at 6/1

2pts Portsmouth to win at 17/10

For details of advised bookmakers and each-way terms, visit our transparent tipping record


Derby v Leeds

Pride Park, Saturday 11th August, 1730 BST, Sky Sports Football

Leeds United celebrate Liam Cooper's goal against Stoke City
Leeds United celebrate Liam Cooper's goal against Stoke City

Marcelo Bielsa couldn't have asked for a better start to life at Leeds United as his side comfortably beat Stoke 3-1 on opening weekend.

His side created a number of opportunities for goals across the 90 minutes, while their intense pressing made the opposition look uncomfortable in possession.

It's that off-the-ball pressing that can help them once again when they come up against Derby in Saturday's late kick-off.

Like Bielsa, Frank Lampard's spell at a new club also started with victory, as Tom Lawrence's wonderful header wrapped up the three points away at Reading.

Derby's new style of play sees them look to play out from the back, although central defenders Richard Keogh and Curtis Davies struggled to do so despite the win.

Reading would have left disappointed that they couldn't have secured all three points, with Keogh presenting them with two clear chances for goals in the first-half.

It's not just their two central defenders, but the Rams found themselves turning over possession throughout the opening 45, even with little pressure from Paul Clement's Reading.

On the contrary, Leeds punished title favourites Stoke when they were given the chance to do so.

The Whites exploited space in midfield and thrived with Samuel Saiz and Pablo Hernandez's creative in the opposition half, and that could again pay dividends for them here.

What makes it more impressive is that Bielsa's side did this without £7m striker Patrick Bamford, who didn't enter the action from the bench. Jack Harrison, brought in to improve Leeds' right-side, only came on with minutes remaining and even then had two good chances to score.

If Leeds play with the intensity they did against Stoke, it will be difficult for a lot of teams to come up against. It's a long 46-game season, but 30/35 repeat performances like that will be enough to end the club's 14-year absence from the Premier League.

Recommended bet: Leeds to win and over 2.5 goals in the match at 6/1


QPR v Sheffield United

Loftus Road, Saturday 11th August, 1500 BST

George Baldock battles Martin Olsson for the ball
George Baldock battles Martin Olsson for the ball

Both of these sides started with defeat on opening day, but Sheffield United will probably question how they didn't kill Swansea off in the first-half.

Graham Potter's recently-relegated men came from behind to beat the Blades 2-1 at Bramall Lane and QPR suffered a 1-0 loss against Preston.

While some clubs will look to add before Thursday's transfer deadline, QPR's transfer embargo all but ensures a quiet few days ahead.

Alongside their showing at Preston, there's not a great deal of confidence that they will be able improve their fortunes on Saturday.

United, on the contrary, have made a number of promising additions with John Egan, Dean Henderson and Ben Woodburn top-quality additions for any side at this level.

That highlights the difference in where these two sides are, and the 17/10 available on a victory for the visitors is more than generous.

QPR are clearly a club in transition and find themselves a million miles away from the promised land of the Premier League once again.

They were Sporting Life's tip for relegation in our outright tips, and they'll struggle to get much against sides who should feature in and around the play-offs this season.

The R's may look to take confidence in playing under their own fans, but there still remains the question marks surrounding the supporter's faith in Steve McClaren.

Recommended bet: Sheffield United to win at 17/10


Rochdale v Peterborough

Crown Oil Arena, Saturday 11th August, 1500 BST

Steve Evans will be looking to lead Peterborough to the Sky Bet Championship
Steve Evans will be looking to lead Peterborough to the Sky Bet Championship

It's a clash of two sides who are outside fancies for promotion to England's second-tier, and Peterborough have enough about them to get past Rochdale at the Crown Oil Arena.

Two goals in the opening 26 minutes was enough for Posh to wrap up victory over Bristol Rovers, and they'll be full of confidence despite being away from home.

It won't be easy though, which is reflected in their 3/1 price for victory here.

Rochdale have welcomed six new faces to a squad which narrowly avoided relegation last season, but they did start the season off with an away win against Burton.

It's intriguing to see what Keith Hill can do with this Rochdale team this season, although Peterborough are a side that don't warrant a price as big as the one on offer.

Posh have had a strong summer in the transfer window, despite Jack Marriott leaving for Derby.

Goalkeeper Aaron Chapman was a standout performer for Accrington as they secured League Two glory last season, with Louis Reed, Tyler Denton and Isaac Buckley-Ricketts all exciting prospects.

Alex Woodyard was a regular in the Lincoln midfield and has been named Posh's captain for the season, while Matt Godden struck 14 last season for Sky Bet League Two side Stevenage and has managed to net one already for his new club.

It should be a close encounter, but one that Peterborough are more than equipped to come out from with victory.

Recommended bet: Peterborough to win at 3/1


Blackpool v Portsmouth

Bloomfield Road, Saturday 11th August, 1500 BST

Portsmouth boss Kenny Jackett
Portsmouth boss Kenny Jackett

They were involved in one of just two games that saw a 0-0 draw on opening weekend, and Blackpool's start got even worse when manager Gary Bowyer resigned earlier this week.

For many, Bowyer could be seen as the glue that was holding together a fractured atmosphere at the club - and Blackpool can potentially fear relegation despite the season being at an incredibly early point.

Given the situation, it's fairly remarkable that Portsmouth are available at a best price of 17/10.

Kenny Jackett's side started off the season with a win over a Luton team who can be viewed as play-off outsiders, and they'll travel to Blackpool looking to exploit the situation that the hosts find themselves in.

Combine that with the fact that Pompey had a decent end to last season away from home, losing just two of their final seven on the road, and it's obvious to see why the advantage is with the visitors.

Portsmouth are down as winners in Sporting Life's preview of the Sky Bet League One season, and they'll need to win against clubs like Blackpool if they are to secure that success.

Terry McPhillips has a huge job on his hands during his spell as caretaker. The biggest problem will be trying to galvanise this squad in the current atmosphere, and then trying to motivate them enough to get anything against a promotion favourite.

If this game was at Fratton Park, it's guaranteed that Portsmouth would be odds-on for victory, especially after recent events.

Recommended bet: Portsmouth to win at 17/10


Morecambe v Exeter

Globe Arena, Saturday 11th August, 1500 BST

Jim Bentley is looking to keep Morecambe in the EFL
Jim Bentley is looking to keep Morecambe in the EFL

No side likes to lose their first game of the season, but to lose it 6-0 takes that disappointment to another level.

One positive is that fact that Norwich lost their opener 7-1 before going onto win the League One title in 2009/10, but Morecambe shouldn't expect a repeat of that.

They're 9/4 favourites for the drop, and Jim Bentley needs to try and find a way to make his players turn around their fortunes when they welcome an Exeter team who started with a win.

There were plenty of questions surrounding the future for Exeter after their defeat in the play-off final, and even more so when then-manager Paul Tisdale departed for MK Dons.

Matt Taylor though, managed to get all three points in his first game in senior management as they beat Carlisle, who are contenders for the top-seven this season.

They've hired someone who knows the club at all levels, and as it showed in their first game, it can pay off on the pitch when someone understands the squad throughout.

You can sympathise with Bentley, his Morecambe side don't have the biggest budget in the division and that's set to cost them this season.

This campaign does look like the one that will end their 12-year spell in the EFL, but looking more short-term, you have to question how they'll be able to prepare themselves and recover for this encounter.

Recommended bet: Exeter to win at 5/4


Yeovil v Mansfield

Huish Park, Saturday 11th August, 1500 BST

Yeovil's Darren Way
Yeovil's Darren Way

Bad habits have passed over from last season for Yeovil, as they find themselves with more than one player suspended for a game.

The Glovers had two players sent off on three separate occasions last season, and they were in a similar situation when Tom James and Jordan Green received their marching orders last weekend.

To make it even worse, Bury managed to net an 89th-minute winner to deny Yeovil a point.

They now have two first-teamers suspended for this one, which is far from positive against a Mansfield side who managed to score three in their win against Newport.

Yeovil will know all about Otis Khan, after he switched them for Mansfield during the summer transfer window, and he struck twice on his debut and comes into the one in-form.

David Flitcroft vowed to build a promotion-winning squad back in May, having only been in the job since March, and he has looked to do that by adding six new players.

Five of those six signings started in that win over Newport, highlighting that they are all set to play a big part for the Stags going forward.

Combine all that with the fact that Flitcroft has won both of the games he has overseen against Yeovil, then everything points towards a Mansfield victory here.

Recommended bet: Mansfield to win at 11/10


Odds correct at 1750 BST (07/08/18)

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