Tuesday’s EFL predictions, betting odds and tips: Saints to keep marching in clash with Hoops
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Where to watch
Southampton vs QPR
Sky Sports Main Event & Sky Sports Football, 8pm Tuesday
Best bets
Southampton
2pts 4-5 Hills
Watford draw no bet vs Ipswich
1pt 11-8 Hills
Middlesbrough to win & both teams to score vs Leicester
2pts 11-5 bet365
Tuesday’s EFL predictions
Southampton vs QPR
With 13 games left for most teams in the Championship, the clubs in a congested mid-table will still be harbouring hopes of gatecrashing the top six.
Southampton and QPR, who are separated by goal difference in 11th and 13th, fall firmly into that camp as the pair prepare to meet at St Mary’s on Tuesday.
Saints looked set for a wasted campaign after a poor start under former boss Will Still, but they have turned things around under his replacement Tonda Eckert and have won five and drawn two of their last seven games.
By contrast, QPR have struggled with consistency. The Hoops have won only three of their last 11 and only Sheffield Wednesday, Leicester and West Brom have conceded more goals than their 47.
A change in fortunes seems unlikely against Southampton, whose squad is simply a level above that of Rangers. Taylor Harwood-Bellis is an England international, Cyle Larin started 32 games for Mallorca in La Liga last season and scored seven goals, while fit-again striker Ross Stewart is one of the most dangerous strikers in the EFL when available.
That’s before you consider that Cameron Archer has 20 goals and seven assists in 42 starts in the second tier and can’t get into the Saints’ starting line-up at present.
Watford vs Ipswich
Ipswich’s title bid is falling by the wayside and the stuttering Tractor Boys are worth taking on at Watford on Tuesday.
Town have lost three of their last five games, shipped five in defeat at Wrexham on Saturday and are now 11 points adrift of league leaders Coventry, albeit they have two games in hand.
Ipswich’s away form has been patchy all season – they rank 14th in the Championship on their travels – and in Watford they are taking on a side who do most of their best work at home.
The Hornets have lost only three of their 17 games at Vicarage Road and were good value for their 2-0 win over Derby at the weekend.
Take the stalemate out of the equation and back Watford in the draw-no-bet market.
Middlesbrough vs Leicester
Despite being 20 places higher than Leicester in the Championship standings, Middlesbrough have scored only four league goals more than the beleaguered Foxes.
But for all their attacking endeavour, a soft defence has been Leicester’s downfall. Only relegated Sheffield Wednesday have let in more goals than Gary Rowett’s men, who have conceded 53 times in 33 league outings and 12 in their last five.
Boro were held to a 0-0 draw by Oxford at the weekend and desperately need to win as they attempt to chase down league leaders Coventry.
Of their 18 league victories this term, 11 have featured goals at both ends and that seems a likely outcome once again on Tuesday.
Both teams have netted in all but two of Leicester’s last 18 matches and they can get themselves on the scoresheet at the Riverside, albeit in defeat.
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