Football 
Tennis 
Horse Racing EFL Acca Tips and Predictions: Gems still to be found in what’s left of an international break
If the international fixtures aren’t your cuppa tea (or even if they are), Jack Wright has delved into the remaining EFL fixtures to bring you the three bets that catch his eye.
Plentiful reasoning included for one of the two games in League One and a couple from League Two. A clean sweep here gives us odds of 8.61.
EFL Acca Tips and Predictions
- Blackpool vs Shrewsbury: Blackpool -1 Asian Handicap
- Accrington vs Wrexham: Wrexham Win
- Harrogate vs Swindon: Harrogate +0.25 Asian Handicap
EFL Acca Tips odds: 8.61
EFL Acca Tips Odds via bet365 as at 08:00, November 15th, 2023. Odds may now differ.
Blackpool VS Shrewsbury: Tangerines to put the squeeze on travel-sick Shrews
England, League One, Saturday November 18th, 15:00 (UK)
Blackpool’s massive travelling army of 4,171 returned home disappointed following a 1-0 defeat at Bolton last Saturday. With his side already through to the next stage, Neil Critchley then made 11 changes to the starting lineup for the final group game of the EFL Trophy on Tuesday evening. A game they went on to win to top their section and secure home advantage.
The Tangerines have produced pretty solid home form this season so far. Losing just twice to promotion rivals Derby and Peterborough. Only League One leaders Portsmouth and 3rd placed Bolton have picked up more points on home soil.
Last week, I backed Shrewsbury to beat Reading. For much of the afternoon, that looked like a forlorn hope. Trailing from the 12th minute against a side who had not picked so much as a point up from their first seven road trips. However, a 92nd-minute Chey Dunkley goal and a 96th-minute Jason Sraha strike saw the Shrews deliver a late, late come-from-behind victory.
That selection was largely based on the Royals’ horrific away record. This week, the shoe is on the other foot. Only Reading has a worse record on the road than Matt Taylor’s side.
Salop has lost six of their eight away league games, as well as cup ties at Leeds and Forest Green Rovers of League Two. This represents a massive opportunity for the home side to draw level on points with Barnsley in the final play-off place, and I expect them to take it. Odds on a straight win are a little prohibitive, so instead, I am happy to play the -1 Asian Handicap – meaning if Blackpool only win by a single goal, we will get a full refund of our stake.
Accrington VS Wrexham: Fire-breathing dragons too hot for out-of-sorts Stanley
England, League Two, Saturday November 18th, 15:00 (UK)
After a fine run of form, which saw Accrington record four successive league wins, they have hit the buffers. Back-to-back defeats at home to a struggling Colchester side and last weekend at out-of-form Crawley have seen Stanley drop out of the play-off places.
Jack Nolan had given the Reds the lead against a side that hadn’t won since September, and the 3-1 defeat was compounded by a red card for on-loan Norwich defender Brad Hills. John Coleman’s side also had the added distraction of their FA Cup replay with Doncaster on Tuesday night, which went to Extra Time, before returning focus back to the league.
Accrington have a decent home record with five wins and a draw from their nine games at The Wham Stadium. However, two of those three defeats came against Stockport and Mansfield, showing they have struggled against the top sides in the fourth tier.
Wrexham, of course, come into that category. After a very shaky start to their first season back in the EFL, Phil Parkinson has seen his side regain their composure and climb the table.
Ollie Palmer made light of striker Paul Mullin’s absence through a one-game suspension by scoring in the first minute at Gillingham. Ben Tozer made the points safe and propelled Wrexham into second place in the League Two table.
The Red Dragons are now unbeaten in 11 games across all competitions and have won eight of their last nine. With a week free to rest and prepare for this fixture, unlike the hosts, expect them to take full advantage to keep the pressure on at the top of the division.
Harrogate VS Swindon: Harrogate boss looking to Weave his magic on home soil
England, England, Saturday November 18th, 15:00 (UK)
Swindon was another side I opposed last weekend and another side that gave me a fright. Twice going ahead against League Two leaders Stockport, twice being pegged back before going on to lose 4-2.
I have previously outlined that it is not just shortcomings on the pitch that make the Robins worth taking on but issues behind the scenes, too. Michael Flynn has since gone on record to say his side does not know how to do the “nasty side” of the game needed to win a match. He went on to state his men are too easy to score against and defend appallingly at times.
The defeat to County was a fifth in succession across all competitions and an eighth in the last ten. So much is the unrest at the County Ground that I’m prepared to take them on again with a side not in the best of form themselves.
Most of Harrogate’s woes have been on home soil. They have actually won their last five in all competitions on the road, including the last four in the league.
In fairness, the last three home games have seen the Sulpherites host each of the top three sides in League Two. Prior to the last match at the EnviroVent Stadium against Crewe, Simon Weaver called for his players to break through the “psychological barrier” to improve their home form.
This represents a much easier assignment on paper, and we just need the hosts to harness a fraction of their road form to take care of business here. The odds for a Harrogate victory are too big at 3.40, in my opinion, but that does mean we can get them onside via a very appealing handicap line.
By taking +0.25 on the Asian Handicap, we will get some profit even if the match ends in a draw. The first goal will be crucial, given each side’s brittle confidence, but I am prepared to go against the odds here.
NOVEMBER 13-19 IS SAFER GAMBLING WEEK 2023
November 13-19 marks an important date in the calendar. Safer Gambling Week is a significant industry-wide event that aims to shed more light on responsible betting. For more information and advice, head to the bettingexpert Safer Gambling hub or our brief explainer below.
