Ian Holloway: Victory for Newcastle, QPR tipped for Barnsley draw
Wednesday 17 August 2016 20:25, UK
Sky Sports pundit Ian Holloway is back to give us his views on the midweek Sky Bet EFL action.
On Tuesday, Ollie successfully predicted a draw between Aston Villa and Huddersfield, and Norwich's win over Bristol City.
Here are his tips for Wednesday's games...
Barnsley v QPR - Sky Bet Championship, 7.45pm
It's been a brilliant start to the season for QPR and I'm absolutely delighted for Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink. His methods are really starting to be implemented now and it's showing on the pitch after two excellent results.
Barnsley also had a terrific result at the weekend and for me they are a similar sort of side to QPR. This one is very close to call and I can't separate the two sides.
OLLIE PREDICTS: 1-1 (5/1 with Sky Bet)
Newcastle v Reading - Sky Bet Championship, 7.45pm
I'm sorry Reading fans, but I just can't see Newcastle losing for a third game in a row.
Full credit should go to Huddersfield for the way they played at St James' Park and Reading will be well organised under Jaap Stam, who was one of the best defenders I've seen play the game.
Over time I'm sure that defensive quality will rub off on the Royals but I fully expect Newcastle to bounce back in front of their home fans. However, it will be tight and Matt Ritchie, who should surely start, can grab the winner.
OLLIE PREDICTS: 1-0 (9/2 with Sky Bet)
Bristol Rovers v Bolton - Sky Bet League One, 7.45pm
Sorry Bolton fans, you know where I'm going to go here! There's a great atmosphere in Bristol at the moment with what City and Rovers are doing.
Darrell Clarke's side are on a roll at the moment after beating Cardiff in the EFL Cup and they followed that up with a superb win at home to Oxford last Sunday.
Matt Taylor and Jermaine Easter can the grab the goals again in another 2-1 victory and, in particular, Easter deserves a lot of credit.
I had him at Palace and he's an unbelievable professional. He believed in what's going on at the Memorial Stadium and his hard work is rubbing off on everyone around him.
OLLIE PREDICTS: 2-1 (17/2 with Sky Bet)
Ollie's earlier predictions...
Aston Villa v Huddersfield
What a start to the season for Huddersfield. They have done much better than I expected, but now I look at it they've made some excellent signings. Jack Payne is a player I was raving about last year and he scored the winner at Newcastle on Saturday.
Well done to their owner and the manager! It's a fantastic start - and it's only a start - but well done to them.
They go to Villa with Roberto Di Matteo's side coming into this one on the back of their first win - a 3-0 victory over Rotherham. They have got that monkey off their back but I don't think they'll follow it up with another one.
Huddersfield are playing so well at the moment and I'm backing them to keep going with a draw at Villa Park. Nahki Wells can also carry on his fine form by grabbing the first goal.
OLLIE PREDICTED: 2-2 - RESULT: 1-1
Brentford v Nottingham Forest
Brentford were a side I was not holding out too much hope for after they sold Jake Bidwell and David Button during the summer but after a disappointing start at Huddersfield, they picked up a superb result against Ipswich.
They will be looking to follow that up with victory against Forest at Griffin Park, but I'm expecting a tight affair in west London.
It's always difficult for any new manager to come into the Championship - just ask Rafael Benitez - but Forest will be hoping Philippe Montanier can get up to speed quickly.
He will be helped by the fact he has a proven goalscorer in Britt Assombalonga available, who I'm backing to score first in this one.
OLLIE PREDICTED: 1-1 - RESULT: 1-0
Burton v Sheffield Wednesday
I'm loving the Burton story but they are coming up against tough opposition in Sheffield Wednesday.
It is brilliant to see what Carlos Carvalhal is building at Hillsborough. Last year, they had a free shot at promotion because no-one expected them to be up there but this year they are one of the favourites to reach the top-flight.
That brings its own pressures but they are well placed with the squad they have to cope with that. There is the problem of Fernando Forestieri, who is set to return to the squad after apologising to his team-mates and staff at the club, but the owners have to listen to what the manager is saying on that situation. He will know what the atmosphere is like in the squad and whether it is affecting the players.
The owners will have to trust whatever decision he makes but it will not be affecting them tonight. I'm predicting a 2-1 win at the Pirelli Stadium with Steven Fletcher sending them on their way with the first goal.
OLLIE PREDICTED: 1-2 - RESULT: 3-1
Leeds v Fulham
I have to apologise to the Fulham fans. I thought it would be a difficult season at Craven Cottage with the club selling some of their top stars, but Slavisa Jokanovic is proving to be a brilliant manager.
For Garry Monk, it has been a difficult start, but it was always going to be with all those new signings bedding in and Garry trying to get across a different style of football.
I predict there will be more disappointment for them tonight with Fulham continuing their excellent start to the season. Unfortunately for Leeds, it's the wrong time to be playing Jokanovic's side!
OLLIE PREDICTED: 1-2 - RESULT: 1-1
Norwich v Bristol City
Norwich were unlucky not to get more from the game against Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday evening, but full credit to Carvalhal's side for the way they defended. The Owls were exceptional at the back.
However, I don't expect another frustrating evening for Alex Neil's side, who have enough firepower to see of Bristol City in front of their own fans.
Lee Johnson's side have had a brilliant start to the season with two wins from two and that is why I'm giving them a goal but Norwich should prove too strong, especially with Wes Hoolahan running the show.
OLLIE PREDICTED: 3-1 - RESULT: 1-0
MK Dons v Bradford
Karl Robinson's side had a superb result at the weekend against a Millwall side who will be right up there at the business end of the season in League One.
They can take a lot from that result, starting against Bradford at Stadium mk where I expect them to take all three points and continue their unbeaten start to the season.
It was a debut to remember for MK Don's record signing Kieran Agard at the weekend. He scored a quick-fire double on his first start since joining the club from Bristol City and I'm backing him to continue his scoring touch with the first goal against Bradford.
OLLIE PREDICTED: 2-0 - RESULT: 1-2
Mansfield v Yeovil
What a start it's been for Yeovil and my mate, Darren Way.
Getting a draw at Luton at the weekend was a real confidence booster and I'm backing them for another positive result on the road - but this time they'll sneak a 1-0 win with Otis Khan grabbing the goal.
OLLIE PREDICTED: 0-1 - RESULT: 1-0
