Derby and Reading are backed for wins as two of Nick Hext's top betting tips for the Sky Bet EFL on Saturday afternoon.
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Sky Bet Championship
Back Derby to beat Fulham
Derby are on a roll. The Rams have won seven matches on the spin to climb up to fifth in the Sky Bet Championship at the time of writing. Saturday sees Steve McClaren's men make the tricky trip to Fulham but odds of over 2/1 have to be taken for such an in-form side to pick up three points. Fulham are on a five-match unbeaten run at home, including big victories over Huddersfield and Reading, but Derby are the better side in this game and the price is big enough to make plenty of appeal.
Back Reading to beat Blackburn
I've been showing plenty of support for Reading in the last few weeks and I'm going to side with the Royals once again on Saturday. I was puzzled by the performance in the 2-0 defeat at Leeds on Tuesday night. Reading absolutely bossed possession but lacked any kind of cutting edge as Garry Monk got his tactics spot on to get the best out of his Leeds side. Royals boss Jaap Stam didn't see it that way but not many managers are happy after a defeat. Despite the loss at Leeds, I still think Reading have much to offer for the remainder of the season and they are well worth backing as slight outsiders to win at Blackburn. Rovers have lost back-to-back matches and are a long way short of Reading's quality.
Sky Bet League One
Back Rochdale to beat Northampton
Rochdale are a simple choice for me at over 2/1 to win at Northampton. Dale are going fantastically well in Sky Bet League One with four wins claimed from their previous five outings and they were superb in last weekend's 3-2 success at home to leaders Scunthorpe. Northampton are on the other end of the form scale. The Cobblers lost 1-0 at non-league Stourbridge in the FA Cup in midweek and they've won one of their last five games in the league. I still think Northampton will get back on track in the coming weeks but Rochdale are another team making appeal at the prices available.
Back Oldham to draw with Southend
Oldham are proving hard to beat at the moment. Three draws have been picked up in a row in League One, including last weekend's 1-1 draw at Oxford with 10 men for over 30 minutes. The Latics are going to find it tough to stay up this season but they're proving hard to beat and that's not a bad quality to have. Southend are Saturday's visitors to SportsDirect.com Park, the more romantic Boundary Park in old money, and the Shrimpers have drawn three of their last four games in all competitions. That's if you ignore a defeat on penalties in the Checkatrade Trophy. Both sides are drawing plenty so that's the call for this clash.
Sky Bet League Two
Back Mansfield to beat Exeter
My two pre-season promotion tips clash in Sky Bet League Two on Saturday as Exeter host Mansfield at St James' Park. Home advantage isn't good news for the Grecians though as they have the worst record on their own turf in the division with no victory and just two draws picked up from nine games. Exeter's away form is much better, the second-best behind Plymouth in League Two, but their home results are preventing a promotion push. I'm more confident of Mansfield's chances for the rest of the campaign since Steve Evans was appointed as manager. The former Leeds boss isn't everybody's cup of tea but he has a fantastic record in this division and I'm confident the Stags will secure profit from my tip for a top-seven finish. I'm surprised to see Mansfield at over 2/1 to win at Exeter, they've won three of their last five games, and I have to make that my top tip for the weekend.
Back Wycombe to beat Leyton Orient
Seven wins in a row in all competitions has optimism high at Wycombe ahead of Saturday's clash at home to Leyton Orient. The Chairboys have climbed up to the Sky Bet League Two play-off places and they are good value at odds-against to beat the O's. Orient have only won three of their last 17 games and are still a long way short of quality despite some improvement since Andy Edwards took charge. Wycombe for the home win is a simple choice.