Don Goodman's Predictions for this Weekend's EFL

During our most recent Interview with Don Goodman we delved into the specifics of how this weekend might pan out in the EFL Championship and he was good enough to run through each game including the big one between Ipswich and WBA. Will you be considering these at the bookies this weekend?

Q. The Championship returns on Friday night with Rotherham vs Leeds. How do you see that one playing out?

DG - Rotherham are struggling and they're without a manager at the moment. Leeds have found their mojo and they'll be clear favourites. Rotherham are clearly stronger at home and they've won the majority of their points there, so it won't be easy. They'll make it as hard as possible for Leeds, but I can only see one win - a Leeds one.

I’ve gone for Rotherham 0 - 2 Leeds, for obvious reasons.

Rotherham vs Leeds Betting Odds

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Q. (Follow up on prediction) How impressed have you been with Leeds United's recent run? They seem to be clicking into gear now.

DG - Leeds tended to draw a lot of games they should really have won earlier in the season but they seem to be firing now with their forward line. I covered Leeds' victory at Leicester, and the midfield pairing of Kamara and Ampadu were sensational. It's taken a bit of time and Daniel Farke had a lot of adversity at the start of the season. Players going on strike, wanting to leave and the club not able to recruit properly until it all settled down. It was always going to take time.

Leeds are there, and I'd be surprised if they don't have a really good go at closing down the top two. I expect a real push from Leeds.

Q. The next game is Swansea vs Hull City.

DG - I've gone for Hull to beat Swansea. 

Swansea have stuttered at home a bit, and Hull are a developing team. Liam Rosenior is a brilliant young coach, and something tells me Hull will go to Swansea and pip them.

Hull are in a reasonable run of form, winning four out of their last five. Hull to win 2-1, I think.

Swansea v Hull Betting Odds

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Q.  Leicester vs Watford. Leicester have had a few defeats recently

DG - People are wondering if Leicester's recent losses will blow the promotion race wide open. I don't think it will, as Leicester are the best team in the league by miles.

I think they were unlucky to play Leeds and Middlesbrough back to back. I only see four or five teams who can really have a go at Leicester, and those are two of them. Sunderland are another one, and they produced a great performance against them despite losing 1-0.

I don't see Watford as a team who can take it to Leicester. I expect them to bounce back. 

I'm going 2-0 to Leicester.

Leicester v Watford Betting Odds

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Q. Plymouth vs Sunderland

DG - Plymouth are never easy at home. I think this is a team who are better than their league position suggests and to be honest, it's a difficult place to go and it's a long trip. Maybe  Sunderland will fly there but it will still be difficult!

Having said that, Sunderland are in a good place, and when they're away, the onus will be on the home team to come after them. That's where Sunderland are at their best. The forward players, like Jack Clarke and Patrick Roberts, are flying and they can cause any Championship team problems. 

I've gone for goals here – Sunderland to take it 3-1, I think.

Plymouth v Sunderland Betting Odds 

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Q. Birmingham City vs Sheffield Wednesday - two teams who aren't in form at the moment

DG - Birmingham City vs Sheffield Wednesday is a massive game. 

Wayne Rooney is going to win a game at some point, and I think this will be the one.

Danny Rohl has gone into Sheffield Wednesday in what I think is a brave appointment. It could pay dividends if they're patient in the long term. I don't know if that means survival this season as they only have six points. It's a bit now or never for them when it comes to picking up points. 

Birmingham's home form has been decent, aside from the loss to Middlesbrough and they did draw 2-2 with Ipswich. I may have gone for a different outcome had this game been at Hillsborough.

I've gone for Birmingham to win this 2-1.

Birmingham v Sheff Weds Betting Odds

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Q. Bristol City vs Middlesbrough

DG - Bristol City are one of those teams who can blow hot and cold. I like a lot of their players, particularly some of their brilliant youngsters. Conway and Sykes are really good young players. They also have a young manager who's keen to impress, but they'll be up against a team who have found their mojo.

I've played in teams who have lost play-offs before, and it can be very tough to go back and do it again the next season. Middlesbrough found it tough and they lost all of their previous forward line. It was always going to be difficult, but Middlesbrough seem to have settled. 

I've gone for Middlesbrough to win 3-1.

Bristol City v Middlesbrough Betting Odds

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Q. Norwich vs QPR - two more teams not in form.

DG - The Cardiff win was massive for Norwich and David Wagner, but this game is at Carrow Road, where they've struggled.

QPR have a new manager with a different style, so it won't be easy for Norwich to prepare. Having said that, I think the boost of the win over Cardiff should be enough to give them the confidence to win. They need a fast start as the crowd at Carrow Road are ready to turn if things don't go well and make it hard for the home players, let alone the away ones. 

I'd expect them to have enough - I'm going for 2-0 Norwich.

Norwich v QPR Betting Odds

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Q. Stoke City vs Blackburn.

DG - It's difficult to call Stoke City vs Blackburn. Stoke's home form is OK and they've had some good results, but they've also had some bad ones.

I think Blackburn can be better away from home, with their dynamism and pace. They're a young team who I think will cause Stoke problems. 

I can't split them, so I'll go for 1-1.

Stoke v Blackburn Betting Odds

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Q. Preston vs Cardiff City.

DG - We all keep waiting for Preston to fall a bit and tumble down the table. They were winning games that you could argue they didn't deserve to, but they were ruthless and clinical. I saw them beat Blackburn in the Lancashire Derby the other Friday.

Preston are organised and hard to play against. They can dig it out more than most other teams in this league. 

Cardiff will be smartened from the Norwich loss, but I'd go for Preston to pip this one 2-1.

Preston v Cardiff Betting Odds

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Q. Huddersfield vs Southampton - polar opposites.

DG - Southampton have found their mojo after having a wobble. They were winning games despite being unconvincing, and then they had a run of four defeats where they looked terrible. They were trying to play these ridiculous passes through the eye of a needle in their own defensive third and they were punished when it went wrong! They've settled down since, though.

I think the Saints will be too strong for Huddersfield and I expect them to win 3-1.

Huddersfield v Southampton Betting Odds

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Q. Millwall vs Coventry City

DG - In my opinion, Coventry are arguably the team in this league who should have picked up more points than they have from the performances they’ve given. They've rarely played badly, aside from a couple of occasions.

They're a decent team who are missing a boatload of chances, and they're paying the price. It's always tough going to The Den, even if Millwall haven't set the world on fire.

I think Millwall have the third-worst home record in the league, but they do have a new manager and they'll be confident after smashing Sheffield Wednesday 4-0.

I can’t split them - I'm going for 1-1.

Millwall v Coventry Betting Odds

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Q. The big one - WBA vs Ipswich!

DG - I think West Brom are doing a bit better than I thought, and that's down to Carlos Corberan's organisation and motivation. They're brilliant at set-pieces, difficult to play against, and unlucky to lose against Southampton.

This will be a tough game for Ipswich, who have had a couple of draws recently against Birmingham and Rotherham. Ipswich have played Preston, Bristol City, Plymouth, Birmingham, Rotherham, and Swansea recently - games where you'd expected them  to get plenty of points from and they have. This is a test. Away at The Hawthorns always is. 

They're a brilliant team and I'm not surprised that Ipswich are challenging for a play-off spot, but I'm surprised they're fighting for an automatic promotion spot.

These are two good teams, and this one will have plenty of goals. Ipswich are the top scorers in the league, but they do concede. 

West Brom score plenty, and that's why I'm going for 2-2.

WBA v Ipswich Betting Odds

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Q. Portsmouth vs Blackpool

DG - Portsmouth haven't lost this season, and I've gone for them to beat Blackpool 2-0, even if Blackpool are a decent League One team.

Q. Peterborough vs Burton Albion

Darren Ferguson is a friend of mine and I know how he likes to play football. He likes to play on the front foot and score as many goals as possible. Peterborough are the top scorers in the league. Burton are in the middle of the pack, and I'd have to go for a home win with goals.

Peterborough to win 3-0.

Q. Wycombe vs Reading

Wycombe vs Reading speaks for itself. 

Reading haven't got one point away from home this season - they've lost all of them. Wycombe aren't pulling up trees, but I'd expect them to be too strong for Reading. 

It's gone horribly wrong at Reading, so I'll go for 2-0 Wycombe.

Q. Derby vs Bristol Rovers

Derby are under pressure and they expected to do better. They need to, and they probably will. They've won their last two home games, against Northampton and Barnsley. I'd expect it to be a tough game, but I think Derby will have a bit too much for Bristol Rovers. 

I'm going for a Derby win, 2-1. It will be a tight game.

Q. Bolton vs Exeter.

I predicted Bolton to be automatically promoted before a ball was kicked, and I haven't seen anything to change my mind. They've just won five in a row .

Exeter have found it tough and they're hovering near the relegation zone.

I'm going for 3-1 Bolton.

Q. Wrexham vs Morecambe

Morecambe have just lost Derek Adams, who has gone to Ross County. I went for Wrexham to win 2-0. It will be difficult. 

Morecambe are punching above their weight as they always seem to do, but they just lost their last two away games. 

I would think Wrexham will be strong, I'm going for 2-0.

Q. Tranmere vs Gillingham

Tranmere are down the bottom of the league and Nigel Adkins has just taken over. They beat Forest Green 3-0 in their last home game before drawing to bottom-placed Sutton. 

They've taken four points against the teams below them, but this is a different matter as Gillingham are expected to be in the promotion spots.

Tranmere can be a difficult place to go, however, and I've gone for a 1-1 draw.

Q. AFC Wimbledon vs Notts County

DG -  AFC Wimbledon are just outside the play-offs. I don't know where they're expected to finish, but I'd imagine it's where they currently are. Notts County have taken the confidence they gathered from last season into this one.

On the back of the Bradford win, I'd say I fancy Notts County. 

Wimbledon's home record is one of the worst, and that's why I’ve gone for Notts Country to win 2-1.

Q. Bradford City vs Accrington Stanley.

DG - Things have to change for Bradford. Andy Cook needs to start scoring again and I'm sure he will.

Accrington Stanley always punch above their weight, but they do a lot better at home than they do away.

I've let my heart rule my head on this one, as I have gone for Bradford to win 2-1.