In a weekend of football, the English Football League (EFL) presents a trio of high-stakes matches that are set to captivate fans with their promise of goals and intense action.
The fixtures – Notts County vs Stockport, Plymouth vs Cardiff, and Barrow vs Crewe – each hold significant implications for the league standings and are poised to deliver on the excitement with teams showcasing their offensive prowess and competitive spirit.
Notts County vs Stockport
Notts County take on league leaders on Saturday afternoon and it’s a game that looks to be goal heavy. County will be feeling positive after securing Stuart Maynard from National League outfit Wealdstone but he has a lot to sort out defensively in 36 hours. County have conceded an average of 1.46 goals at home this season with matches seeing a massive 4.15 goals.
The hosts have kept just three home clean sheets this season with both teams finding the net in nine of their 13 home fixtures and over 2.5 goals landings in 12. County have scored in 25 of 27 league games this season so they should score again here. Despite looking at promotion, only four sides have conceded more shots and shots on target in their home games in League Two than Notts County. Offensively they look strong with the 5th highest xG and 2nd most goals scored in home fixtures.
Stockport have an away record of W6-D3-L3 finding the net in 11 of 12 away fixtures. However they have also conceded in 10 meaning both teams to score has landed in 10.
Their away games average 3.25 goals with nine of their 12 fixtures having at least three goals. They score an average of 1.92 goals on the road and have found the net twice or more in 8. Their underlying performance is impressive with a xG of 2.07.
With both sides so strong in attack we should see goals and therefore I’m keen to take both teams to score and over 2.5 goals at 5/6 with Bet365
Plymouth vs Cardiff
Plymouths season looks to be unraveling. They have lost their manager who moved into Stoke and have then seen three key players have their loans cut short by their parent clubs and sold to other rivals. The positive for them is that Morgan Whittaker remains with the club. Whittaker is destined for the PL and looks a cut above. He has 14 goals and five assists so far this season. He will be supported by Ryan Hardie who has eight goals in Arygles first season back in the championship.
The hosts love goals especially at Home Park where this season it’s averaging 4.23 goals with Plymouth scoring in 12 of 13 games and finding the net at least twice in 10. It’s a remarkable run for a newly promoted side. If they want to avoid relegation then they must keep up their home form which is now 27 wins from their last 36 games over the last two seasons. Yet despite their good attacking qualities they struggle defensively with just six clean sheets all season with three at home. Their last three home games have finished 3-3, 3-3 and 3-2. 26 of their last 36 home games have seen them score at least twice.
9 of 13 have seen both sides score and 12 have had at least three goals with seven having at least four goals.
Cardiff have won their last two away games by a score of 2-1. The Bluebirds aren’t prolific on the road, failing to score in five of 13 away fixtures but three of the five were against sides in the top 9.
Eight of their 13 away games have seen over 2.5 goals so they aren’t a negative boring side. Given that Plymouth have such a leaky defence and missing key players in the middle of the park, whilst having their attacking players available I’m confident both sides with oblige here and find the net in what should be an open game.
Over 2.5 match goals at 10/13 with Unibet
Barrow vs Crewe
Thomas Parsons is back for this weekend and this man loves a card. He has taken charge of nine EFL games this term dishing out a massive 49 yellow and two red cards, an average of 60 booking points per fixture. His amazing record doesn’t end there. In the opening 45 mins he has handed 22 yellow cards including one red.
Over the nine games five have seen at least 19.5 1st half booking points with eight have at least 9.5 booking points. Eight of his games have seen at least 39.5 booking points
Barrow home games have averaged 40.43 booking points with eight of their 12 home fixtures seeing both sides collect 9.5 booking points each and 50% of games having at least 39.5 booking points.
Crewe on the road have seen their games average 49.62 booking points. They have collected 9.5 booking points in 11 of their 13 away games and 19.5+ in nine. 10 of their games have resulted in both sides collecting 9.5+ booking points each with nine ending with at least 39.5+ match booking points.
The game is 4th vs 5th in the league table with Barrow just one point outside the automatic promotion places and Crewe just a further two points back. These two sides meet just before Christmas with both sides collecting 10 booking points each in the opening 45 mins and ending the games with 30 each.
Over 19.5 1st half booking points and over 39.5 match booking points at 21/20 with William Hill
