EFL Tips | Gab Sutton

Birmingham have enjoyed impeccable form thus far in League One, winning nine of their first 12 league games, albeit having dropped points in a 1-1 draw at Mansfield last time out.

Marc Leonard made League One’s Team of the Year on loan at Northampton last season, from Brighton but, now a Birmingham player after a permanent move in the summer, the playmaker hasn’t been able to get into the team due to the form of Tomoki Iwata and Paik-Seung Ho.

Blues have exerted great dominance on most of their games this season, but it hasn’t always been reflected in the data, which ranks them as only the eighth-highest in xG For at 19.92 – but that’s partly because they treasure possession when in the lead and don’t give it up easily.

Chris Davies’ side should make their superiority count against Northampton, who have taken some of the pressure off this match by hauling themselves up to 18th with seven points from their last four.

Huddersfield have put September’s five-game losing streak firmly behind them, taking 10 points from their last four in October, although they did begin November with a 1-0 FA Cup loss at National League side Tamworth.

The midfield trio of Ben Wiles, David Kasumu and Herbie Kane looks a winning one for Michael Duff’s side, who could climb into the top six with a win.

Hosts Crawley have lost nine of their last 12 games, and have the league’s joint-worst defensive record, with the relegation strugglers having shipped 25 goals all season.

Duff’s sides tend to excel at pressing, and may be grateful for weaker opponents looking to play out from the back against them.

Scott Hogan has scored two goals in his first three league starts after signing for MK Dons as a free agent in early October, and seems to be benefiting from Scott Lindsey’s expansive, possession-based style.

The Buckinghamshire outfit are creating more chances under Lindsey’s guidance, with the former Crawley promotion-winner bringing excellent man management qualities to Stadium:MK – and his side will be keen to bounce back from last weekend’s 2-0 FA Cup defeat to AFC Wimbledon.

Visitors Swindon have begun Ian Holloway’s reign with successive cup victories, as well as a last-minute equaliser against Gillingham to earn themselves a point, but it’s hard to see the appointment working out in the long run.

So far, the Wiltshire outfit have won just two of their opening 14 league games.

Norwich are going through one of the toughest points of their 2024-25 campaign, suffering with injuries to key players, like Josh Sargent in attack, and Kenny McLean and Marcelino Nunez in midfield.

Missing around eight first-team players, the Canaries are bound to not be at their sizzling best every week, but they do have a wide man in Borja Sainz likely to provide a sprinkling of magic, with the Spaniard producing some fine individual strikes.

Visitors Bristol City lost 2-1 to Sheffield United in midweek, deservedly leading late on, only to be pegged back with two goals, ending their unbeaten run in the league at eight games.

Both teams have found the net in nine of the Severnsiders’ 14 league encounters, and it’s the same for their hosts, giving us a 64% chance of a repeat occurrence in this one.

Reading are making the best of a difficult situation off the field by providing inspiration on it, with Ruben Selles’ talented young side winning five of their previous seven league games.

The midfield trio of the intelligent Ben Elliot, the incisive Lewis Wing and the tenacious Charlie Savage complement one another superbly for the Royals.

Hosts Stevenage are enduring something of a rocky patch in their transitional season under Alex Revell, having lost their last three league games, before defeating Northern Premier League side Guiseley only on penalties in the FA Cup.

With that in mind, it’s surprising that the visitors are priced as such big outsiders.