Who cares about the English Football League? You do, that’s why we’re here. You’re here because you’re interested in Accrington Stanley and Luton Town rather than either Manchester side or any other EPL giant. Here for your consideration is our preview of all thing English Football League.
What a time to follow the English Football League with at least three games a week going into Fox Sports land courtesy of the new BeIN Sports deal. You don’t even need an Optus phone.
You just need a passing interest or even less in the English Football League. For that passing interest for all one of you, we have our range of top fives.
5 THINGS FROM LAST WEEKEND’S ACTION
Here’s the things you missed from last weekend’s action, so you don’t have to look.
- Aston Villa finally won a game. It took months and a drop down a division, but Aston Villa finally won last weekend. They beat Rotherham 2-0, but could only draw as a follow up midweek.
- Newcastle United didn’t – opening up their season with two losses. Thankfully for Toon fans they won during the midweek.
- Just one team remain at 100% after 3 rounds. Previously busted arse Bolton Wanderers have started off life in the third with a bang
- Are Blackburn the new Bolton. Last year saw former EPL mainstay Bolton drop down to the third tier, and fellow relegatee of the same season Blackburn look like this year’s fallen giant from the Championship. 3 losses from their first 3 games is not the greatest start after flirting with the bottom three last year.
- Midweek action. Nothing like a boredom buster from midweek.
5 THINGS TO LOOK OUT FOR THE EFL ENGLISH FOOTBALL LEAGUE THIS WEEKEND
- The Old Farm derby between Ipswich Town and Norwich City. The match up of East Anglia’s finest returns after Norwich dared to achieve in the EPL and were relegated. Ipswich haven’t beaten Norwich since 2009. Live on BeIN Sports on Sunday evening (Oz Time) at 8:55pm
- Derby County v Aston Villa. BeIN Sports get another goodun. Two teams expected to challenge Newcastle meet early. Both have four points after three games.
- Birmingham v Wolves rounds out the BeIN Sports games this weekend, but is another high quality clash of playoff contenders. Both undefeated with a win and two draws and sitting beside each other in ladder.
- Millwall v Sheffield United. Every year seems to be the year for Sheffield United to break out of the third tier. Not a great start with just one draw from their first three.
- Luton Town v Stevenage – two teams separated by almost as many kilometres as positions on the ladder.
5 INTERESTING TEAM NICKNAMES
Each week we try and come up with a top 5 of pure filler to break up the page. This week it is all about team nicknames.
English Football League teams have great nicknames, far beyond the usual clichéd Tiger or colour. Here’s our first lot of five favourites.
The Tractor Boys – Ipswich Town
The Railwaymen – Crewe Alexandra
The Pilgrims -Plymouth Argyle
The Brewers – Burton Albion
The Monkey Hangers – Hartlepool Untied
5 PACKS OF OUR BEST BETS
Here’s our list of best bets for the weekend’s action. Can we double up and win again and better our $100+ multi from League One last weekend? Read on and find out.
CHAMPIONSHIP MULTI
NORWICH CITY to beat Ipswich Town
SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY to beat Leeds United
BURTON ALBION to beat Blackburn Rovers
BRIGHTON to beat Reading
NEWCASTLE to beat Bristol City
$1 pays $55
LEAGUE ONE MULTI
BURY to beat Oldham
CHARLTON ATHLETIC to beat Walsall
MILLWALL to beat Sheffield United
MILTON KEYNES to beat Rochdale
CHESTERFIELD to beat Shrewsbury Town
$1 for $120
LEAGUE TWO MULTI
LUTON to beat Stevenage
PORTSMOUTH to beat Colchester
YEOVIL to best Morecambe
ACCRINGTON STANLEY to beat Exeter
PLMYOUTH ARGYLE to beat Mansfield
$1 for $40
DRAWS? YOU BET.
Here’s for of our finest for weekend draws across all the leagues,
DRAW – Birmingham v Wolves (CH)
DRAW – Bolton/Rotherham (L1)
DRAW – Cheltenham/Doncaster
DRAW – Crewe/Newport
DRAW – Hartlepool v Notts County.
$1 for $157
