Saturday 17 March 2018 15:16, UK
David Prutton returns with his predictions ahead of this weekend's Sky Bet EFL matches.
But who is he tipping for victory? Read on to find out...
Fulham are absolutely flying but what a result for QPR against Aston Villa on Tuesday night. This one feels like a home win for me - Slavisa Jokanovic's men have lost just twice at Craven Cottage in the league all season, Ryan Sessegnon continues to impress and has just been called up to the England U21 squad and I just don't think QPR will be able to get past them in their vein of form.
Prutton predicts: 3-1 with Aleksandar Mitrovic to score first (25/1 with Sky Bet)
The defeat to QPR was a real surprise for Villa after their big win against Wolves last weekend, but I can still see them beating Bolton. I think Bolton have got progressively better after a terrible start to the season and I think anything above the top three is a superb season's work. Villa should just shade this one, though.
Prutton predicts: 0-1 with Robert Snodgrass to score first (25/1 with Sky Bet)
This has got to be a Cardiff away win for me, purely because of their seven-game winning streak. They rode their luck for about 20 minutes against Brentford in midweek and could've been three down, but they are just a good team doing exactly what Neil Warnock wants. Derby are stuttering somewhat even though Gary Rowett is determined not to buckle at this stage of the season, but they haven't won in seven games now and I think that run will continue this weekend.
Prutton predicts: 1-2 with Kenneth Zohore to score first (35/1 with Sky Bet)
With the managerial change that they made, I think people were predicting Bradford to be absolutely flying under Simon Grayson, but they are mid-table and taking on a Doncaster side languishing in 16th so I'll back the visitors to win this one. Bradford are still looking to get in the playoffs, Donny now, you'd think, will be looking at consolidation.
Prutton predicts: 1-2 with James Coppinger to score first (150/1 with Sky Bet)
This is a huge one and I think if it had been a couple of weeks ago before these last couple of results for Hull, I'd have been fearing for them here, but Birmingham boss Garry Monk has a ridiculous amount of work to do. Hull seem to have picked up at the right time and have scored seven in their last two games. This very much feels like a relegation scrap but I'm going for a Hull win that will see them just about edge into a position of relative safety.
Prutton predicts: 0-1 (6/1 with Sky Bet)
I was speaking to Dean Smith on Wednesday and he was very happy with certain elements of his squad, but though Brentford have lost a lot of points after going ahead, I think he fancies their chances this weekend. It'll be a different proposition to what Cardiff were as they seem to just do one thing and do it really well, whereas Boro have got the players to play in different ways.
Prutton predicts: 1-1 (5/1 with Sky Bet)
Two of my former clubs face off at Elland Road - Wednesday need to ensure they aren't dragged into a very late-season relegation fight, while with Leeds you feel that it's more about Paul Heckingbottom being able to assess how good his squad is between now and the end of the season. I think Leeds will come out on top here, but both clubs need to do better.
Prutton predicts: 2-1 (15/2 with Sky Bet)
We talk about Preston being dark horses and operating under the radar, which is true because we just don't seem to talk about them, such is the good job that they've been doing. I'm going for a Preston win, because it'll take a miracle for Sunderland to get out of the situation they are in now.
Prutton predicts: 0-2 (8/1 with Sky Bet)
The disappointment of losing to Villa was put right against Reading in the week and how good they've been this season reflects in games such as this, where you'd think it would be tough for Burton to contain Wolves. It's not impossible, but I just feel that that nice 10-point gap Nuno's men have got between themselves and third spurs them on to make sure they do eventually get automatic promotion.
Prutton predicts: 3-1 (11/1 with Sky Bet)
There's not much between these two as they look for promotion to Sky Bet League One, but though Mansfield have drawn their last three games and I think they will be looking to keep up momentum in the playoff race.
Prutton predicts: 1-2 (9/1 with Sky Bet)
