EFL Weekend Tips and Predictions: Best Bets Preview

Jack Wright returns for another installment of his weekly EFL duties here at bettingexpert with weekend tips and predictions covering the three best leagues in the world. With the first international break of 2025 upon us domestic focus switches to England’s third and fourth tiers. 

Northampton will look to keep moving clear of the League One relegation zone as they welcome Steve Bruce’s Blackpool to Sixfields. In League Two, after successive defeats Grimsby will look to get their play-off push back on track against mid-table Newport, while one of the division’s form teams, Swindon host an Accrington side who aren’t quite safe yet. 

• Northampton vs Blackpool Prediction: Both Teams to Score
• Grimsby vs Newport: Danny Rose to score
• Swindon vs Accrington: Both Teams to Score

Northampton vs Blackpool Prediction: No sole scorers in Cobblers fixtures – both teams to score is a shoo-in 

England, League One, Saturday, March 22nd, 15:00 (UK) 

Our Northampton vs Blackpool prediction is for Blackpool to win the match 1-2.

An unbeaten run of four games has seen Northampton edge six points clear of the relegation zone but given the congested nature of the League One table a win here could see them end the weekend as high as 15th. That recent form will boost confidence in Kevin Nolan repeating the survival trick he performed in his last managerial role when he inherited a Notts County team only one point clear of the League Two trapdoor and that had lost its last ten matches.

Last weekend saw a spirited draw against runaway leaders Birmingham who had to come from behind to leave Sixfields with a point. That followed a 2-1 defeat of play off chasing Leyton Orient and another 1-1 home draw this time against fifth placed Stockport – far from an easy run of fixtures. 

Visitors Blackpool were left to rue a catalogue of missed chances last weekend as they slipped to a 2-1 defeat at home to the O’s, just a third loss in the last 21 games across all competitions. However, too many draws (10 in their last 18 league games) sees the Seasiders in 11th, 10 points adrift of the play-off places with just nine games remaining. 

Steve Bruce was happy with the chances his side created, going as far to say “like last week, we’ve slaughtered them” but acknowledged his strikers will need to put their misses to the back of their mind and go again. He will point to an away record which has seen his side score 30 goals, a number which can only be topped by league best travellers Wycombe. 

Northampton have seen both teams score in eight of their last 10 league games including each of the last six. Goals have been scored by both teams in all of the last four games at Sixfields and in five of the last six. 

Only Peterborough have seen both teams score in more games than Blackpool this season. This bet has clicked in 62% of the Seasiders League One outings this term. That includes in 11 of the last 15 and in four of the last six on the road. 

• Northampton vs Blackpool: Both teams to score (TRACKED BET)
• Best Odds: 1.90
• Bookmaker: bet365
• Stakes: 10/10

Northampton possible starting lineup:
Burge; Magloire, Dyche, McGowan; Odimayo, Perry, Taylor, Pinnock; McGeehan, Costelloe, Hoskins

Blackpool possible starting lineup:
Tyrer; Offiah, Pennington, Casey, Coulson; Apter, Morgan, Evans, Carey; Fletcher, Ennis

Grimsby vs Newport Prediction: Danny set to haul and be thorn in the side of old foe once again. 

England, League Two, Saturday, March 22nd, 15:00 (UK) 

Our Grimsby vs Newport prediction is for Grimsby to win the match 2-1.

Grimsby’s play-off hopes have been dented by back-to-back defeats, results even more disappointing given both were on home soil. Therefore they will be hoping it is a case of third time lucky with Newport next up at Blundell Park.

David Artell would have been disappointed with his side allowing Salford to end a run of six games without a win last weekend but surely knows nothing other than three points will suffice here. County have the second worst away record in the fourth tier having picked up just 13 points from a possible 57 and have conceded a league high 38 goals on their travels. 

The Exiles have lost six of their last eight on the road shipping 21 times. They allowed multiple goals in all of those defeats, with both Bromley and Accrington, their last away day, hitting the back of the net five times. 

That will be music to the ears of the Mariners 12-goal top scorer Danny Rose. Despite having three attempts in both of those last two games the 31-year-old blanked, ending a run of scoring in each of his side’s last four home fixtures and in six of his last eight across all venues. 

The reverse fixture ended 0-0 but Rose has enjoyed his previous encounters with the Welsh side and has not scored more goals against any other opponent having hit eight in 16 appearances. After joining Town in the summer of 2023 the former Northampton, Mansfield and Stevenage striker was on the scoresheet in both meetings last term. 

This looks an ideal opportunity to both get back amongst the goals and reignite his side’s play-off hopes as the campaign enters the home straight. 

• Grimsby vs Newport Prediction: Danny Rose to score
• Best Odds: 2.38
• Bookmaker: bet365
• Stakes: 7/10

Grimsby possible starting lineup:
Wright; Warren, Tharme, Rodgers; Svanthorsson, Khouri; McEachran, Hume; Green; Rose, Luker

Newport possible starting lineup:
Townsend; Evans, Clarke, Baker; Thomas, Brennan, Kamwa, McLoughlin, Driscoll-Glennon; Ajiboye, Baker-Richardson.

Swindon vs Accrington Prediction: High goal Count-y Ground

England, League Two, Saturday, March 22nd, 15:00 (UK) 

Our Swindon vs Accrington prediction is for Swindon to win the match 3-1.

What a job Ian Holloway has done at Swindon Town. Having been out of management since his resignation at Grimsby in 2020 there was no sign of what was to come as he lost three of his opening four games in charge with his new side dropping to the foot of the League Two table. 

The 62-year-old soon turned things around however and was named manager of the month for January and celebrated by thumping Carlisle 5-1 away from home in the first fixture of February. Something of a theme as his Robins have provided plenty of entertainment with his 23 league games as manager seeing an average of 3.26 goals. That average rises to 3.73 when only taking the 11 games at the County Ground into account.

Seven of Swindon’s last 10 league games across all venues has seen both teams score with the same applying in 10 of their last 13 at home. Over the whole campaign a league high 65% of their games has clicked for both teams to score bettors. 

Visitors Accrington aren’t as prolific but will fancy their chances of getting on the scoresheet against hosts who allow plenty of opportunities. Holloway has only seen his side keep three clean sheets in his 28 games in charge across all competitions. 

Stanley drew 1-1 with Gillingham last weekend and smashed five past Newport before that. Therefore, confidence should be pretty high as they look to further widen the gap to the bottom two which currently stands at 10 points.

Only Swindon themselves have seen both teams to score click in more away games than Accrington’s 11.  This fixture also has a history of goals with 30 scored in the last eight meetings at an average of 3.75 and both teams contributing in six of those fixtures including each of the last five. 

The two sides have already met twice this season as they were drawn together in the FA Cup. Both matches were at the Wham Stadium and ended in 2-2 draws. 

• Swindon vs Accrington Prediction: Both teams to score 
• Best Odds: 1.87
• Bookmaker: Betfair
• Stakes: 10/10

Swindon possible starting lineup:
Ripley; Clarke, Wright, Freckleton, McGregor; Kilkenny, Nichols, Butterworth; Ameen, Smith, Tshimanga

Accrington possible starting lineup:
Crellin; Matthews, Rawson, Ward; Love, Coyle, Woods, Batty; Walton; Mooney, Woods

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