Saturday 31 December 2016 07:35, UK
David Prutton returns with his predictions over the New Year weekend, including Brentford v Norwich
There is plenty of Sky Bet EFL action on offer as we head into 2017, with the Bees hosting Alex Neil's Canaries live on Sky Sports on New Year's Eve.
But who is Sky Sports pundit Prutton tipping for success? Here, he gives his predictions for fixtures across all three leagues...
What we have seen from Derby since Steve McClaren came back in is they have gone back to the way they were at their best under him previously. It is a strange position when a manager comes back because there are question marks as to why but he has quite obviously shown he knows what he is doing there.
The players are playing very comfortably and he has brought the best out of the likes of Darren Bent. I feel like the run they are on and with how Wigan have found it this season, I think the Latics are going to have a tough time at the iPro.
PRUTTON PREDICTS: 2-0 (Sky Bet odds 5/1)
This is a funny one. I think we will definitely see a reaction from Preston after losing to Leeds. There were a couple of decisions that were by the finest of margins.
With Wednesday going up to Newcastle and winning, it was a big statement from them. We expected more from them this season, purely because of how well they did last season, but if we look where they are just nestled inside the top six and they finish there, it will be as good of as season as they had last year.
PRUTTON PREDICTS: 2-2 (Sky Bet odds 14/1)
It has been quite exciting to watch Wolves because you never know what you're going to get. In regards to how they line-up and how Paul Lambert has them playing, I fancy them now.
They are playing a QPR team who don't necessarily lack confidence, despite the results they have had, we've seen them compete and play in those games, they just lack a cutting edge. They've got players that can win games, they're just not performing to their full potential.
Ollie has got a hell of a job on his hands there and going to a team like Wolves who are coming off the back of a good result, they will have the confidence. With full respect to QPR, they should have full confidence that they can play them and win it.
PRUTTON PREDICTS: 2-0 (Sky Bet odds 7/1)
I've seen Brentford a few times this season and I've seen them dominate games as well as being dominated by teams - the Fulham game at Griffin Park stands out. It is steady progress from Dean Smith, with the likes of Scott Hogan and Romaine Sawyers who can compete and shine at this level.
Norwich seem drastically out of sorts. They have their own bright sparks in the likes of Jacob Murphy but they are just not clicking in a way you would presume they would. Because we've seen Brighton consistently be at the top of the league and Newcastle doing the same albeit with a few dodgy results here and there, overall we would assume the dominant force would have been Norwich but we just haven't seen that from them yet.
It is going to be a tough place for Norwich to go. Brentford shouldn't have any reservations or be scared by Norwich.
PRUTTON PREDCITS: 2-1 and Scott Hogan to score first (Sky Bet odds 22/1)
Bolton have lost one of the last five and are coming off a good win against Shrewsbury. Scunthorpe haven't exactly been pulling up trees in their last six or seven games and aren't looking as imperious as they were earlier on in the season.
Bolton can be good at home with the likes of Zach Clough and Gary Madine leading the line but with Scunthrope having Paddy Madden and Josh Morris, beating the likes of Millwall in recent weeks and drawing against Bradford, I think they have a good substance to them so I'm going for a draw.
PRUTTON PREDICTS: 1-1 (Sky Bet odds 9/2)
I think with the kind of form Doncaster are in, up against a decent Mansfield team, it is going to be a tough job for Steve Evans. Mansfield lost their last game against Morecambe which doesn't bode well against a Doncaster team who are high on confidence with the likes of Andy Williams scoring goals.
If Doncaster have any aspirations of going back up automatically, this is one of those ones where they have got to go there, be professional and get the result.
PRUTTON PREDICTS: 0-2 (Sky Bet odds 17/2)
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