EFL Good Friday tips: Why Fulham could go goal crazy at Derby

With the climax of the season fast approaching, the Easter weekend promises to be a pivotal period in the campaign.

Here are five outstanding tips for Good Friday's action across the Championship and League One.

Bournemouth v Middlesbrough

Sky Sports Football, 3pm

Bournemouth, despite a few indifferent results, remain a seriously strong team in Championship terms. And, having failed to return to the Premier League at the first attempt last year, the pressure is on to do it now before a prolonged spell in the Championship forces them into a large trimming of their playing squad.

The good news for them is that, despite having failed to win in their past two matches, things are very much still in their own hands as they sit in a comfortable second place, four points ahead of Huddersfield with two games in hand. Nottingham Forest (a further two points back but having played the same number of games) could be their biggest threat to a return.

They need to get back to winning ways, though, as Middlesbrough still harbour ambitions of the play-offs, as do Coventry City, where they travel on Monday, as well as Blackburn Rovers and Millwall, whom they face before the end of the season. There is also the matter of games against Fulham and Forest too.

Middlesbrough are in danger of seeing their season, which has been so impressive since Chris Wilder took over as manager, fall away after they suffered two home losses in a week to Fulham (understandable) and Hull City (less so).

But apart from their stuffing of Peterborough, goals have not been free-flowing for Middlesbrough and Bournemouth will be a difficult place to get a result against a fired-up home side.

Recommended bet: Bournemouth to win to nil @ 3.2

Boro boss Chris Wilder and his side face a difficult trip to Bournemouth

Derby County v Fulham

Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Football, 8pm

In a division with much left to play for, it seems the fates of these two clubs are virtually sealed and they will be disappearing from the Championship in opposite directions this summer.

For a long time it seemed like Derby would be capable of producing a remarkable escape, having been hit by a deduction of 21 points while spending the season coping with being in administration and transfer embargoes.

But the task now looks too big for them and they are nine points off safety with just five games remaining. Just the wrong time to be playing Fulham - Derby could be down by Monday night.
By contrast, the next two games could see Fulham confirming their promotion. And after a surprise slip-up at home to Coventry City on Sunday, expect them to come out all guns blazing against Derby to set up a potential celebration on Tuesday at home to Preston.

Recommended bet: Fulham over 2.5 goals @ 3.45

Huddersfield Town v QPR

Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Football, 5.30pm

At this time in the season, you are always looking for a form team going into the play-offs and there could not be a bigger contrast than these two. Two wins since the international break, including a big win over potential play-off rivals Luton Town, has seen Huddersfield surge up to third - four points behind Bournemouth, having played two games more - and they can kill off any lingering promotion ambitions from QPR if they beat them.

QPR’s slump has been spectacular. A few weeks ago they were in third themselves and targeting the automatic places. Now they are 11th and couldn’t buy a win, with manager Mark Warburton’s job under threat according to some newspapers.

At the heart of the QPR slump has been injuries, having lost four goalkeepers for the season and last week in the warm-up at Preston, Kieran Westwood, their second emergency goalkeeper signing, fell ill.

It’s not only keepers, though. The influential pair Chris Willock and Rob Dickie are out for the season too, while some of their senior players seem to have hit a wall.

The only doubt about what seems a certain home win is Warburton’s declaration that they need to win their last five games to make the play-offs. So they should be going for it.

Recommended bet: Huddersfield to win and both teams to score @ 4.3

Sheffield United v Reading

Sky Sports Red Button, 3pm

There was a time earlier this year when it looked like Reading might never win again. And while they remain inconsistent, the improvement since Paul Ince stepped into the hot seat in place of Veljko Paunovic is enough that they are no longer staring the prospect of relegation in the face. Safety could be secured this weekend, although it seems more likely that other sides' poor form rather than Reading’s own results will secure it.

Not that Sheffield United have been a particularly consistent side of late, but having spent the early part of the season trying to shake off the hangover of their relegation from the top flight, they do still have plenty to play for as they cling on to the last place in the play-offs.

Apart from their final day home game against Fulham (who will probably be champions by then), their run-in does not look the toughest. Still, a home game against Reading must count as a banker win if they are going to retain hopes of returning to the top flight and they can achieve that in some style.

Recommended bet: Sheffield United win to nil @ 2.5

Portsmouth v Lincoln City

3pm

It has been a tough week for Portsmouth's flagging play-off hopes as they lost away to Cheltenham Town before letting a lead slip as they drew away to Bolton Wanderers. Now 10 points off the play-offs with games fast running out, their outside chance will be all but over unless they beat Lincoln City at Fratton Park.

After flirting with the lower reaches of the table in recent months, Lincoln now look safe and can plan ahead after a disappointing season.

Being the only team with something to play for can spell pressure, but Portsmouth have shown they are a decent side this season and while promotion will likely prove beyond them this term, a good finish to the season can see them look ahead with promise after some dark years.

Recommended bet: Portsmouth and over 2.5 goals @ 3.0

Recommended bets

Bournemouth to win to nil @ 3.2

Fulham over 2.5 goals @ 3.45

Huddersfield to win and both teams to score @ 4.3

Sheffield United win to nil @ 2.5

Portsmouth and over 2.5 goals @ 3.0