Thursday's televised EFL match tips and predictions: best bets for the three Boxing Day TV games

When to bet

Stoke vs Leeds
Live on Sky Sports Main Event & Football, 8pm Thursday

Derby vs West Brom
Live on Sky Sports Main Event & Football, 5.30pm Thursday

Charlton vs Cambridge
Live on Sky Sports Football, 3pm Thursday

Best bets

Leeds to win & under 3.5 goals
1pt 6-5 Coral, Ladbrokes

Derby draw no bet
1pt 10-11 Betfair, Hills

Charlton
3pts 8-13 Hills, Ladbrokes

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Thursday's televised EFL predictions

Stoke vs Leeds predictions

Leeds have won only one of their last seven Championship away games but such is the current crisis at Stoke that it is hard to see their title aspirations suffering a blow at the bet365 Stadium.

Daniel Farke’s side have found things tough going on their travels but they start the day just three points behind leaders Sheffield United and they arrive on a high after Saturday’s convincing 4-0 victory at home to Oxford.

Most Championship outfits see Leeds as their biggest home game of the season but Stoke are winless in eight, having endured four defeats in their last five, and may struggle to rise to the occasion.

The Potters limped to a 2-0 loss at Sheffield Wednesday last time out, when the Owls went down to ten men in a goalless first half, and Leeds are likely to prove too lively for them.

Only two of Stoke’s last 14 league games have featured more than three goals and the visitors may settle for a low-scoring win as they attempt to heap the pressure on the Blades.

Stoke vs Leeds team news

Stoke: Tottenham loanee Ashley Phillips is back from illness but Enda Stevens needs to be assessed. Jordan Thompson, Million Manhoef, Sam Gallagher, Ben Pearson and Bosun Lawal remain sidelined.

Leeds: Junior Firpo and Ilia Gruev are long-term absentees while Maximilian Wober is a doubt. Joe Rodon cut his head in the recent win over Oxford and faces a late fitness test.

Stoke vs Leeds key stat

Eight of Leeds’ ten away league games this season have gone under 2.5 goals.

Best bet for Stoke vs Leeds

Leeds to win & under 3.5 goals
1pt 6-5 Coral, Ladbrokes

Derby vs West Brom predictions

Carlos Corberan is reportedly set to leave West Brom and become the new manager of Valencia and that potential upheaval could leave them vulnerable against Derby at Pride Park.

The Baggies remain in the Championship playoff mix but Corberan’s future is an unwelcome distraction and, despite their lofty position, they have won on only one of their last eight road trips.

So Derby, sure to be roared on by a big Christmas crowd, may be able to capitalise and they tend to save their best for their familiar surroundings.

The Rams have recorded five of their six league wins this season at Pride Park and they have suffered only three defeats in ten home outings, keeping a clean sheet in every victory.

Paul Warne’s side made light work of Portsmouth in their last home league outing, winning impressively 4-0, and this may be the perfect time to host West Brom, who are the second-lowest scorers in the current top nine with only 26 goals in 22 games.

Derby vs West Brom team news

Derby: Eiran Cashin, Jake Rooney, Ryan Nyambe and David Ozoh are all out.

West Brom: Semi Ajayi, Callum Styles and Daryl Dike are all out until the New Year but Paddy McNair and Grady Diagnana are back in contention.

Derby vs West Brom key stat

Five of West Brom’s last seven away league games have ended in draws.

Best bet for Derby vs West Brom

Derby draw no bet
1pt 10-11 Betfair, Hills

Charlton vs Cambridge predictions

Charlton snapped a three-game winless run in League One in style with Saturday’s 5-0 rout of Northampton and they are fancied to follow up when they entertain relegation-threatened Cambridge.

It has been a stop-start season for Charlton, who have endured as many lows as they have highs, but they remain within four points of the playoff spots and should have too much quality for their struggling visitors.

The Addicks have defeated Birmingham and Bolton at The Valley this season, while also holding highflyers Wrexham and Stockport to draws, and that crushing of the Cobblers should have restored plenty of the belief that had gone missing.

Cambridge suffered a 4-0 hiding at home to Huddersfield most recently and they hold the worst away record in League One having collected a meagre five points from ten games.

Seven of those road trips have resulted in defeat and since the beginning of November they have been brushed aside 6-1 at Peterborough and outclassed 3-0 at Reading, suggesting another tough time is in store for the side who sit third from bottom.

Charlton vs Cambridge team news

Charlton: Manager Nathan Jones is unlikely to make too many changes from the side that eased past Northampton, although Chuks Aneke, Daniel Kanu, Dan Potts, Kayne Ramsey and Tennai Watson are still missing.

Cambridge: James Gibbons, Paul Digby and Mamadou Jobe all remain on the sidelines for the visitors.

Charlton vs Cambridge key stat

Charlton are unbeaten in seven meetings with Cambridge.

Best bet for Charlton vs Cambridge

Charlton
3pts 8-13 Hills, Ladbrokes

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