The second weekend of the Sky Bet EFL season is here and we have compiled the Sporting Life Accumulator, which involves four teams involved in Saturday afternoon's fixtures.
Bristol City (to beat Birmingham)
Bristol City weren't given a kick in their opening game defeat by Leeds, but they are unlikely to face such a good side on such good form often and will expect to still be pushing for the Sky Bet Championship play-offs. They've reacted to that defeat by buying impressively this week, including striker Benik Afobe.
Birmingham earned an impressive first win at Brentford, but they were hammered in that game in truth and scored with their only shot of the match. In mid-week a heavily changed side were beaten 3-0 by Sky Bet League One outfit Portsmouth.
West Brom (to beat Millwall)
West Brom began life under Slaven Bilic with a 2-1 win at Nottingham Forest and since have boosted their ranks with four additions, including Charlie Austin and Matheus Pereira. Bilic knows The Baggies must be better at home this season and will have targeted this as the perfect stage to set a high example. Millwall have rebuilt their squad and gained a good opening day victory, but they were dominated on their own patch by Preston in reality.
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Gillingham (to beat Burton)
Gillingham, under the much loved Steve Evans - cough - opened their season with a solid draw at last season's play-off semi finalists Doncaster. On home soil, Evans will be confident of their first victory of the campaign against a Burton side that were defeat by The Gills twice last season and lost on the opening day to Ipswich. In fact, Nigel Clough's side have only won one of their last five Sky Bet League One matches.
Blackpool (to beat Southend)
Southend avoided relegation on goal difference last term and their summer recruitment does not point to a massive improvement this time around. Blackpool have their feel good factor back with new owners and Simon Grayson returning as manager. They beat Bristol Rovers on the opening weekend, while Southend lost to homeless Coventry, where they managed just one shot on target. Expect Blackpool to have a big travelling support this season, which should aid their away performances.
Southend have won just four times in 2019, with two of those back in January. Yes it is a new season, but losing is a hard habit to kick.
