As the season reaches its crunch stage, promotion and survival battles are intensifying. Matthew O’Regan has built a 17/1 win Acca backing promotion contenders to beat teams struggling near the bottom.
Ipswich vs Leicester
Leg 1: Ipswich To Win
Best odds of 13/25 at BetMGM UK while publishing.
Both Ipswich and Leicester were relegated from the Premier League last season, but their fortunes in the Championship have been very different.
The Tractor Boys edged past Hull in midweek, extending their unbeaten run at Portman Road to nine games - eight of those victories. Kieran McKenna’s deep squad has allowed him to rotate more than most of his rivals, keeping performances and results consistent.
Over the last 25 matches, no side has taken more points than Ipswich’s 50, while only leaders Coventry have collected more points at home this season.
Leicester, meanwhile, were hit with a six-point deduction for breaching PSR rules, leaving them one point from safety with 11 games remaining. Marti Cifuentes was dismissed after a dismal spell, and the appointment of the experienced Gary Rowett has yet to bring a turnaround.
The Foxes are now ten games without a win and face a daunting trip to a buoyant Ipswich.
Sheffield United vs West Brom
Leg 2: Sheffield United To Win
Best odds of 3/4 at BetMGM UK while publishing.
Relegation to League One is becoming a real concern for a West Brom side that has spent years fluctuating between the top two divisions. Risks on inexperienced managers Ryan Mason and Eric Ramsay failed to pay off, leaving interim boss James Morrison with a huge task.
The Baggies are now 13 games without a win - a run stretching back to 2025. Only bottom club Sheffield Wednesday have a worse away record, and West Brom haven’t won on the road since October.
Sheffield United, by contrast, have enjoyed a resurgence. A slow start under Ruben Selles had them looking like relegation candidates, but club legend Chris Wilder has sparked a turnaround.
Across the last 20 games, only Ipswich have taken more points than The Blades, who now sit just nine points off the playoffs. Wilder’s men have also won five of their last seven at Bramall Lane, with their only defeats coming against top-two sides Coventry and Middlesbrough.
Bradford vs Leyton Orient
Leg 3: Bradford To Win
Best odds of 17/20 at BetMGM UK while publishing.
Leyton Orient’s playoff final defeat to Charlton last season had a lingering effect, with several key players departing in the summer. The O’s have struggled as a result and currently sit in the relegation zone.
Richie Wellens’ side have also found life difficult on the road, picking up just 13 points from 16 away games. Conceding 56 goals makes them the division’s worst defensive side, often relying on attacking quality to stay competitive.
However, an injury to Aaron Connolly and Dom Ballard managing just one goal in seven games has compounded their problems.
Bradford, meanwhile, are chasing back-to-back promotions and a first Championship campaign since 2004. Sitting fourth, the Bantams have built their push on excellent home form, winning 13 of their 17 matches at Valley Parade.
Graham Alexander’s side were equally strong at home in League Two last season, taking 55 points from 23 games, so will fancy their chances against an out-of-sorts Leyton Orient.
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Chesterfield vs Shrewsbury
Leg 4: Chesterfield To Win
Best odds of 4/5 at BetMGM UK while publishing.
Five straight wins moved Shrewsbury clear of the relegation zone before defeat to Walsall halted their momentum, leaving them 17th. Results have improved under new manager Gavin Cowan, but concerns remain about their away form -only Crawley have lost more games on the road.
Chesterfield were among the pre-season favourites but have been hampered by inconsistency. Paul Cook’s side sit sixth, six points off the automatic promotion places.
The Spireites have lost just twice at home all season, though seven draws from 17 games show their struggle to convert one point into three. January arrivals Sammy Braybrooke, Malik Owolabi-Belewu, Sam Curtis and Sil Swinkels have added much-needed depth. On their day, Chesterfield can be electric, as shown in their dominant 3-0 win over Colchester last time out.
Tranmere vs Oldham
Leg 5: Oldham To Win
Best odds of 11/10 at BetMGM UK while publishing.
Ten defeats in 11 games cost Andy Crosby his job as Tranmere manager, with Andy Parkinson stepping in on an interim basis. With only two teams going down from League Two, Rovers should have enough to survive, but nerves will be jangling in Birkenhead.
Travelling to Prenton Park are an Oldham side unbeaten in five and boasting four consecutive clean sheets.
Micky Mellon’s men also beat their bosses former side 3-1 earlier in the campaign and possess the second-best defensive record in the league -a solid foundation against a struggling Tranmere outfit.
Best odds of above Five-Fold Acca is 17/1 at BetMGM UK at the time of publishing. As short as 14/1 elsewhere.
