Tuesday’s EFL acca tips and predictions: Southampton vs Preston, Portsmouth vs Barnsley and more

Tuesday’s EFL acca focuses on the promotion race and the relegation battle in the Championship, League One and League Two.

Our midweek effort is priced at 13/1 at the time of writing.

Planet Sport Bet special: Bet on an acca with a minimum of five selections and if you win, your payout will be boosted by 50%

 

Tuesday’s EFL acca

Southampton vs Preston: Both teams score

Bristol Rovers vs Cambridge: Both teams score

Portsmouth vs Barnsley: Both teams score

Mansfield -1 Asian handicap

Colchester vs Grimsby: Both teams score

 

Southampton vs Preston North End

Flynn Downes’ 99th-minute goal kept Southampton’s promotion hopes alive, but the Saints will need to win their next two and then beat Leicester to be in with a realistic chance.

That can only happen if they beat Preston on Tuesday and although the Lilywhites have been stubborn opposition, Leeds, Leicester and Ipswich beat them at home.

Ryan Lowe’s side have nothing to lose as the play-offs are probably beyond them, but it doesn’t hurt to try and win their remaining games.

They’ll have to take risks but should be rewarded as the previous seven visitors to St Marys have scored a combined 13 goals with those matches averaging 4.28.

 

Bristol Rovers vs Cambridge United

Bristol Rovers ended a seven-match goal drought by putting three past Cheltenham Town, the side who went 13 matches without one of their players scoring to start the season.

Tuesday’s visitors Cambridge sit six points clear of the drop zone with a game in hand so while they’re likely safe, they’d like one more win to be certain.

They’ve also struggled for goals on their travels losing five of their previous six and have been outscored 14-2.

They’ll probably find the Gas more hospitable hosts as they’ve allowed 23 of 25 visitors to score, including non-league Whitby Town who managed two.

 

Portsmouth vs Barnsley

Portsmouth need one point to secure a long-awaited return to the Championship while a win would see them crowned League One champions.

Barnsley were in the thick of the automatic promotion race for much of the season but a recent collapse has condemned them to the play-offs.

One win in six means the Tykes still have some work to do to guarantee their spot in the post-season jamboree but they should be able to play with some freedom at Fratton Park.

Pompey have claimed 14 wins at home and have found the net in all but three matches. On the other hand, they’ve conceded in their last 10 at home.

 

Mansfield Town vs Accrington Stanley

Mansfield were temporarily out of the automatic promotion places when Max Dean fired MK Dons ahead on Saturday, but an emphatic turnaround saw them run out 4-1 winners.

Nigel Clough’s side are now five clear of the Dons and could confirm promotion to League One by winning their game in hand against Accrington on Tuesday.

That shouldn’t be too hard as Stanley donned flip-flops during their 4-0 thrashing against Doncaster on Saturday.

Most of their defeats on the road have been by a two-goal margin and the hosts won’t want to leave anything to chance.

 

Colchester United vs Grimsby Town

Both teams have scored in 17 of Colchester’s 20 home matches and 13 of Grimsby’s 21 away matches.

United have four games remaining and sit one point ahead of Sutton, who occupy the final relegation place. Town are in a better position as they sit six points clear.

Mathematically, the visitors aren’t safe, but they’ll know they’ve done enough. There’s no pressure on them and the U’s struggle to win at home.