Tuesday 6 March 2018 19:19, UK
David Prutton returns with his predictions ahead of the midweek Sky Bet EFL matches.
But who is our resident expert tipping for victory? Read on to find out...
Coming off the back of getting heavily beaten in quite a timid way against Middlesbrough on Friday night, Paul Heckingbottom will be looking for a bit of a reaction. Wolves have had an extra couple of days off after their game was called off, so that might give them some much-needed freshness.
Leeds have got some serious work to do between now and the end of the season. It's a massive push for them to get into the top six but now is a really good time for Heckingbottom to really look at the squad and see what he's got.
I really want to say Leeds, but though Wolves aren't exactly pulling up trees, they look all at sea. Wolves will be looking to bounce back as they haven't won in three, so I'm going to go for am away win, but a very tight one.
Prutton predicts: 0-1 with Diogo Jota to score first (17/1 with Sky Bet)
For Burton, it's very much a case of as it was last season - clinging on to their Championship status. As long as they get that then again it's a very successful season. I think Nigel Clough called it 'miraculous' last time. They are currently in 23rd and Brentford 10th and nicely nestled in the middle of the table.
Are the Bees going to make a late surge for the playoffs? They are seven points off and with a game in hand there's still a chance. I think they'll be a tough proposition as they will still have designs on the top-six.
Prutton predicts: 0-1 (13/2 with Sky Bet)
With Barnsley suffering from their manager leaving in what's been quite an up-and-down season, they'll be another side who are looking to finish just outside the bottom three by a couple of points.
For them it'll be consolidation, but I think for second-place Cardiff there's a huge carrot being dangled in front of them, with the gap between themselves and Wolves having shrunk to six points. What Neil Warnock is doing is wonderful and we love what he does because he doesn't change for anyone.
Prutton predicts: 2-0 (11/2 with Sky Bet)
Fulham are flying, even more so at home. On their run of form, they aren't necessarily gatecrashing the playoffs, but to get themselves into the playoffs after a gradual rise has been superb. They had a good win against Derby on Saturday, with Mitrovic and Sessegnon at the fore once again so that's why I fancy them in this fixture.
Prutton predicts: 2-1 (15/2 with Sky Bet)
Bristol City were very impressive against Sheffield Wednesday at the weekend and Preston are quietly going about it, which I've really quite enjoyed. They are the kind of team who flies under the radar and I think that's played to their advantage. They did well to come from behind to win against Bolton.
There's only three points between them and, depending on other results, a win gets them closer to the top-six so I think it'll be a high-scoring but closely fought game.
Prutton predicts: 2-2 (14/1 with Sky Bet)
This is a tough one. Derby are stuttering of late and I don't know whether a bit of pressure has got to them in terms of where they are and how close they've been to the automatic places. Sometimes it's tough to predict QPR as they've been quite hit and miss at times this season, but there's a nice nine-point cushion between them and the bottom three so Ian Holloway's men are very much looking upwards.
Prutton predicts: 1-1 (5/1 with Sky Bet)
As much as they are capable of pulling a result out of the bag when you least expect it, it feels like they won't have enough to beat Villa here. They earned a good, battling point away to Millwall on Saturday, but I just think that Steve Bruce's men should have the quality to overcome what is quite a toxic situation at the Stadium of Light.
Prutton predicts: 1-2 (8/1 with Sky Bet)
The Turkish Messi netted at hat-trick for the Saddlers against Southend last time out and Rochdale have been doing wonderfully well, taking Tottenham to a replay at Wembley in the FA Cup. But they very much need to concentrate on the league form because they are very much in the thick of it at the wrong end of the table.
Prutton predicts: 2-1 (9/1 with Sky Bet)
There's a new manager in charge at Mansfield in Gary Flitcroft against Danny Cowell {???} this is a good match-up, I like it. The hosts are doing really well and find themselves among the playoff places going into this one, but though Lincoln are slowly creeping up, I'd back Mansfield to shade it.
Prutton predicts: 1-0 (6/1 with Sky Bet)
