Early Bird Tips for the EFL: The Canaries Shot Down Whilst The Mariners Are All At Sea

The second international break of the season has just been ticked off, meaning we can look forward to the return of not only a full EFL fixture list this weekend, but also an Early Bird Tips pick from each of the Championship, League One and League Two.

We’ll see a former hero setting his sights on a winning return, a new boss looking to extend his unbeaten record, and new leaders aiming to stay on top.

A clean sweep gives odds of 8.67, overseen by our expert, Jack Wright.

• Early Bird Norwich vs Leeds: Leeds
• Early Bird Charlton vs Reading: Charlton
• Early Bird Stockport vs Grimsby: Stockport -1 Asian Handicap

Acca odds: 8.67

Odds via bet365 as at 08:10, October 17th, 2023. Odds may now differ.

Norwich vs Leeds: Title winning former manager to take the points on return to Nor-Farke

England, Championship, Saturday October 21st, 15:00 (UK)

This Saturday sees Daniel Farke return to the place he used to call his living room. Unlike the numerous occasions when he made the “four yellow walls” happy en route to claiming two Championship titles, I am taking him to mastermind a win for his current employers, Leeds United.

Norwich started the season superbly, winning five of their opening six games in all competitions. However, long-term injuries to strike duo Josh Sargent and Ashley Barnes have seen that initial promise a distant memory for fans of the Norfolk club.

The Canaries may only be one point adrift of the play-off positions, but four defeats in their last six outings mean they are only three points ahead of Middlesbrough in 16th. Such is the discontent. Despite a 1-1 draw, tempers flared, and scuffles broke out in the away end after the most recent poor showing at Coventry.

Leeds are in form and have the players to take full advantage of what could become a toxic Carrow Road. The Yorkshire club are up to 5th in the table but have a nine-point gap to bridge to the top two.

On their last visit to East Anglia, Farke’s side returned up north with all three points after shading a seven-goal thriller at Ipswich. They are the only side to beat the Tractor Boys this term and so much as take a point off them at Portman Road.

A front line boasting the likes of Crysencio Summerville, top scorer Joel Piroe and £35m record signing Georginio Rutter is the envy of any Championship side. The Whites have lost only one of their last ten and have won three of their last four league games, and I fully expect that positive seam of form to continue this weekend.

• Selection: Leeds to win (TRACKED BET)
• Best Odds: 2.38
• Bookmaker: Betfair
• Stakes: 8/10

Charlton vs Reading: May back at number 10 to fire Addicks to victory

England, League One, Saturday October 21st, 15:00 (UK)

Charlton once again showed their fighting spirit in their last outing before the international break. Coming from 2-0 down at home to Blackpool with 81 minutes on the clock to salvage a point.

That extended Michael Appleton’s unbeaten start at the club to five matches and made it six without defeat for the club in total. However, they are doing it the hard way, having fallen behind in seven of their 11 league games so far this term, claiming eight points from losing positions.

The draw with the Tangerines did end a run of three successive victories at The Valley, but they have the best opportunity to get back to winning ways here. Visitors Reading are firmly entrenched in another relegation battle, having fallen through the Championship trapdoor last season.

The Royals are in 22nd, and even without their four-point deduction for financial issues, they would still be in the relegation zone. The most significant contributing factor to that is their away form.

Rubén Sellés is yet to see his side pick up a point on the road following six defeats from their opening six away games in the league – the latest coming at newly promoted Leyton Orient in the last game before the international break.

The protracted sale of the club rumbles on with the potential new owner somehow seemingly less popular than current keyholder Dai Yongge. That lengthy bout of travel sickness is something that is also set to continue.

Only three clubs have scored fewer than Reading’s nine goals. While only Port Vale, largely down to an opening day 7-0 thumping at Barnsley, have shipped more than their 13 away from home.

This Charlton attack led by Alfie May could have a field day. The summer signing from Cheltenham hit his seventh League One goal of the season in the 2-2 draw against the O’s despite being asked to play in the deeper number 10 role.

Such is his work rate; the 30-year-old can be all over the pitch but still pop up in the right place at the right time, linking well with the likes of Chuks Aneke, Chem Campbell, and Miles Leburn. Expect the home side to outscore their struggling visitors in South London.

• Selection: Charlton to win
• Best Odds: 1.95
• Bookmaker: Coral
• Stakes: 7/10

Stockport vs Grimsby: Top Hatters set to have Mariners all at sea

England, League Two, Saturday October 21st, 15:00 (UK)

Stockport are, without doubt, the most in-form team in England’s top four tiers. A 3-1 win at Harrogate was their eighth in succession in all competitions.

After a sluggish start to their campaign, reminiscent of the one they made last season, the Hatters have swept all before them to sit atop League Two. Aston Villa loanee forward Louie Barry continues to catch the eye.

The 20-year-old has recaptured the form of his 2021/22 loan spell at Swindon, where he bagged six goals in 16 appearances. With seven goals and two assists from his first 13 appearances this term, Barry scooped the EFL Young Player of the Month for September whilst being named the League Two Player of the Month.

The well-traveled youngster appears to be the missing piece of the jigsaw for a side that was seven minutes away from promotion last season and is determined to go one better this time around. Dave Challinor certainly has his side firing after getting them going too late last term, and I expect them to kick on from this position of strength.

That starts against a lowly Grimsby side who are yet to win on the road this season and have lost two of their last three road trips. Paul Hurst has seen his side only win once in their last nine in all competitions, losing five of the previous seven, including in a 2-0 defeat at home to Accrington on Saturday.

To compound the loss, the Mariners also saw captain Luke Waterfall sent off for two bookable offences who, as a result, will miss this clash. While County’s boss has said his side’s sequence of wins has given them an “indestructible feeling” he has urged them to keep churning out results, be that by “steam-rollering teams” or by having to “dig in”.

With that laser focus, there is nothing but a home win on the cards here. Understandably prohibitive odds for a straight win means I am taking Stockport -1 on the Asian Handicap.

That means we need a Stockport victory by two or more goals for a win. However, if the home side only defeats the visitors by a single goal, we get a full refund.

• Selection: Stockport -1 Asian Handicap (TRACKED BET)
• Best Odds: 2.00
• Bookmaker: bet365
• Stakes: 10/10

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