5 things to watch for in the EFL – Matchday 9

We’re getting into the stage of the season the place followers can formally cease saying that it’s too early to take a look at the desk within the EFL. The switch window has closed till January, groups are discovering kind, slumping from scorching begins, or choosing themselves again up after early struggles.

As at all times within the EFL, each recreation issues – and there’s some large ones forward this weekend within the Championship, League One and League Two.

Right here’s 5 issues to look at for within the EFL on Matchday 9.

Clarets and Canaries conflict

Two of the favourites for promotion from the Championship meet on Friday evening at Turf Moor, as Burnley host Norwich. Each side have proven no hangovers after final 12 months’s relegation from the Premier League and are in nice kind heading into this one. Norwich sit second within the desk after 5 consecutive league wins, and can fancy their probabilities of inflicting an upset: the Canaries are 11/5 to win and bounce to the highest of the desk. Josh Sargent has been in nice goalscoring kind to this point this season, and we’ve Enhanced Odds of 16/1 that Sargent scores, Norwich win, and there are beneath 3 objectives within the match.

Burnley, although, are just some factors behind Norwich, and have an excellent document towards the guests. The Clarets have received eight of the final 13 league conferences with Norwich, shedding simply two – though they did fail to beat the Canaries in each video games final season. Burnley to win on Friday is 6/5, whereas a draw is 23/10.

Can Rotherham blunt the Blades?

Sheffield United are high of the Championship heading into Matchday 9, though Norwich might have displaced them on the summit by the point the Blades kick off their Yorkshire derby towards Rotherham. The Blades have a 100% dwelling document this season, whereas Rotherham are but to win away, so the house aspect are sturdy favourites on this one. United striker Oli McBurnie has scored in every of his final three video games after going 43 league appearances with out discovering the web – the Scotland worldwide is 4/1 to attain the opener on Saturday.

It’s over 20 years since Rotherham scored a league objective at Bramall Lane – in truth, present supervisor Paul Warne was enjoying for the Millers the final time they discovered the again of the web right here in December 2001. Rotherham have conceded simply six instances of their seven video games this season – three of which got here within the defeat to Sunderland – and can hope to maintain it tight towards United. Beneath 1.5 objectives within the match is 9/4, whereas a draw is 3/1.

Robins flying excessive

Bristol Metropolis are one of many surprises of the season to this point – the Robins have been in excellent kind, sitting fourth within the desk having scored 16 instances of their eight video games. They’ve been pushed on by striker Andreas Weimann, who has three objectives and 4 assists already.

For the reason that begin of final season, Weimann has been concerned in additional Championship objectives than every other participant at present within the division – a outstanding 25 objectives and 14 assists. This week’s opponents, Preston, have been stubborn in defence thus far – however a Bristol Metropolis win with Weimann scoring any time is 16/5.

Preston are but to play a league recreation this season through which a couple of objective was scored – it’s 2/1 that there are beneath 1.5 objectives scored on this match.

Tractor Boys to stall towards Cambridge?

For the second Saturday operating, 4 of the highest six in League One face one another. We’ve bought our eyes on Portman Street the place league-leaders Ipswich City host fifth-place Cambridge. Ipswich are considered one of simply two unbeaten groups left in League One however have by no means overwhelmed Cambridge within the Soccer League in 4 earlier encounters. The Tractor Boys are odds-on to finish that streak with three factors on Saturday.

Cambridge, although, received right here as just lately as 5 months in the past – a 1-0 triumph in April. They’re 13/2 to assert one other away win on Saturday, whereas a draw is 10/3.

Crawley to depart the Gills feeling blue?

Is Matchday 9 too early for a six-pointer? Inform that to followers of Crawley and Gillingham, whose sides sit simply outdoors the dreaded drop zone heading into this one. Twenty-first-place Gillingham make the journey to Twenty second-place Crawley, with only one win in fourteen video games between them.

The goal-shy Gills have scored only a single objective of their opening seven league video games, though Crawley have solely discovered the web 5 instances themselves. This appears to be like set to be a good one, with 7/4 on beneath 1.5 objectives within the match. Crawley are 11/8 to get the house win, whereas Gillingham, who’ve received two of their three away league video games towards the Reds, are 21/10 to get the victory.