David Prutton's EFL predictions: Newcastle and Leeds to slip up
Friday 7 April 2017 21:10, UK
David Prutton returns with his Sky Bet EFL predictions ahead of more big games in the Championship, League One and League Two.
Following Friday night's clash at Loftus Road as QPR hosted Brighton, the cameras then head to Hillsborough on Saturday evening as Sheffield Wednesday host Newcastle on Sky Sports 1.
But who is Prutton tipping for victory? Read on to find out...
Sheff Wed v Newcastle, Saturday from 5.15pm - live on Sky Sports 1
You can see Newcastle doing what they did to the likes of Huddersfield at Sheffield Wednesday, allowing them to dominate the ball and hitting them on the counter.
Automatic promotion is paramount for Newcastle, but because of the cushion they have in the top two, and with Wednesday needing a result to stay in the pack, I think it will be a draw.
Prutton predicts: 2-2 with Dwight Gayle to score first (50/1 with Sky Bet)
Live EFL
Birmingham v Derby, Saturday 3pm
This will be a great barometer for where Gary Rowett has got Derby in the space of a few weeks compared to how far Birmingham have fallen behind. He doesn't seem like a man who will bear a grudge, but he'll want to prove a point at St Andrew's.
Gianfranco Zola was brought in for a specific style of football, and if the players there can't provide that then the owners have to now back him to get the players in who will. They need balance, stability and good, solid investment.
Mathematically the play-offs are not beyond the realms of Derby, but Rowett will just want to crack on with the games in front of them, and I think they'll get the win.
Prutton predicts: 0-2 with David Nugent to score first (40/1 with Sky Bet)
Bristol City v Wolves, Saturday 3pm
Wolves are flying. Paul Lambert has got hold of the team after a bit of a fallow period and they'll be full of confidence.
Bristol City have gone from the sublime against Huddersfield to the ridiculous against Preston and, with the calibre of players Wolves have, it's hard to see them coping.
Prutton predicts: 1-3 with Helder Costa to score first (100/1 with Sky Bet)
Fulham v Ipswich, Saturday 3pm
The pressure is on Fulham here, but they'll be able to lay down a bit of a marker before Wednesday play later in the evening.
Ipswich are in that weird middle area of the table, games are running out and they're comfortable enough. Fulham, meanwhile, have something massive to play for in trying to get back into the play-offs, which should see them over the line.
Prutton predicts: 2-1 with Chris Martin to score first (20/1 with Sky Bet)
Leeds v Preston, Saturday 3pm
This one is nicely poised. Simon Grayson has done a superb job at Preston and has a great affinity with Leeds, but will feel he has something to prove at his former club.
Leeds have had a couple of poor results since the international break, but they've come too far this season to let it go from here and I think they'll get the draw here and go on to make the play-offs.
Prutton predicts: 1-1 with Chris Wood to score first (18/1 with Sky Bet)
Norwich v Reading, Saturday 3pm
Norwich were very unlucky to concede the first goal against Huddersfield on Wednesday night after what was, in my view, a foul on Yanic Wildschut in the build-up. But after that they completely collapsed.
They'll find it tough against Reading, who head to Carrow Road full of confidence and should get the win.
Prutton predicts: 0-2 with Yann Kermorgant to score first (70/1 with Sky Bet)
Nottingham Forest v Huddersfield, Saturday 3pm
Huddersfield bounced back well against Norwich after some out-of-character performances against Burton and Bristol City. But David Wagner will keep his team's feet on the ground as he's done all season and they should have too much for Nottingham Forest.
Mark Warburton's job is simply to keep them in the division, but they could be in even more trouble after Saturday.
Prutton predicts: 0-2 with Elias Kachunga to score first (30/1 with Sky Bet)
Northampton v Sheff Utd (League One), Saturday 3pm
This is when Sheffield United go up for me. Northampton couldn't really stand in Chris Wilder's way when the Blades came calling, and the fact he can go back to his old team and get promoted has a nice bit of symmetry to it.
Barring the first month of the season they've been fantastic.
Prutton predicts: 0-2 with Billy Sharp to score first (14/1 with Sky Bet)
Doncaster v Mansfield (League Two), Saturday 3pm
Doncaster have been super this season, and Darren Ferguson will want to wrap promotion up here before going up to Sky Bet League One as champions.
Mansfield will try to frustrate them as they try to nick a spot in the play-offs themselves, but Doncaster have got too many good players going forward.
Prutton predicts: 3-1 with John Marquis to score first (35/1 with Sky Bet)
Friday: QPR v Brighton
This will be a tough one for QPR. Ian Holloway has done a fantastic job and he'll have an eye on Brighton because they're a fantastic example to follow.
It'll be tight but I think Brighton will get a result here and continue their promotion push. It's getting very near to that time for them after a couple of years of coming up short.
Prutton predicted: 1-2 with Glenn Murray to score first
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