Sky Bet EFL: What to watch out for in Tuesday night's games
The Sky Bet Championship takes centre stage on Tuesday night, with 13 games in total across the English Football League.
There are eight fixtures in England’s second tier tonight while surprise package Shrewsbury are in action in League One alongside three games in League Two.
Tom Carnduff takes a look at the things to keep an eye out for in tonight’s action...
Sheffield United – back on the promotion charge?
The Blades went top of the Sky Bet Championship table when they beat Leeds at Elland Road in October and many were tipping it to be a shoot-out between Wolves and Sheffield United for the top spot.
Since then, Chris Wilder’s men have fallen out of the automatic promotion picture and are now looking to fire themselves back into the top six.
Queens Park Rangers have struggled away from home this season, winning just two of their 16 games outside of Loftus Road.
Sheffield United can be backed at 10/11 to beat QPR with Sky Bet.
United already have a game in hand over the teams around them, a win would see them move back to within a point of the top six ahead of Bristol City’s tie against Fulham on Wednesday.
Despite results going against them previously, Billy Sharp’s double helped fire the Blades to three points in a 2-1 win over Leeds last time out at Bramall Lane. They’ll be looking to make it three home wins out of their last four against QPR.
Top seven clash at Villa Park
Third face seventh at Villa Park respectively as Aston Villa host Preston North End.
Villa, as expected, are flying high under Steve Bruce this season and will still consider themselves contenders for automatic promotion as they sit just two points behind second-placed Cardiff City.
Whilst the usual candidates of Fulham, Derby and Middlesbrough are in the running for the play-offs, Preston have continued to go from strength-to-strength under Alex Neil following his appointment in the summer.
Aston Villa v Preston North End to draw is 9/4 with Sky Bet.
North End sit three points behind Bristol City who occupy the final play-off position and will be looking to capitalise on City failing to win their last three league games.
Villa have been in fine form in front of their crowd, winning their four home games in 2018.
Despite that, Preston have picked up points on their travels and have only lost one game in their last ten away from Deepdale. That’ll give them hope when they head to the West Midlands.
Shrewsbury could return to the top
Arguably the story of the 2017/18 Sky Bet EFL so far this season, Shrewsbury Town could go back to the top of the League One table with victory over Gillingham at the Montgomery Waters Meadow.
Town were 5/4 favourites for the drop to League Two at the start of the season, but remarkably have defied the odds and find themselves well in the hunt for promotion to the Championship.
They’ve hit a slight rough patch in recent weeks though, losing at home to both Rotherham and Plymouth.
Shrewsbury are evens to beat Gillingham with Sky Bet.
Salop welcome a Gillingham side who have hit good form. They’ve won four out of their last five away games and have propelled themselves to 11th in the standings, six points off Charlton in sixth.
Despite back-to-back defeats in Shropshire, Paul Hurst’s men will be looking to leapfrog Blackburn once again following their victory over Bury on Monday night.
Exeter to move back into the top seven?
The race for promotion in Sky Bet League Two is open as ever with 14 teams in with a possibility of securing a spot in League One next season.
One of those sides is Exeter, who travel to face struggling Crewe Alexandra.
Crewe currently sit five points above the drop zone out of the EFL and have won just one of their last seven games.
Exeter are 13/8 to beat Crewe with Sky Bet.
Exeter are one point behind Lincoln City, who occupy the final play-off spot, with two games in hand over their promotion rivals.
Whilst their form away from home hasn’t been the best in recent weeks, The Grecians still find themselves firmly in the promotion picture and will look to get back into the top seven at Gresty Road on Tuesday evening.
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