Gab Sutton's EFL Winners & Losers - March 31
With the international break in full flow, all eyes were on the EFL this weekend as the domestic schedule continues to speed towards its conclusion.
Our EFL pundit here at Free Bets, Gab Sutton, takes a look at another busy weekend of EFL action across the three leagues.
Winners
Long Kelvin's Double
Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan isn’t renowned for goals.
The tall forward had only scored six of them going into Saturday’s 3-0 victory over Wigan, having played a rotational role this season that has seen him come off the bench 21 times in the league.
Nonetheless, the 22-year-old showed his capabilities at the weekend with a well-taken brace, leading the line superbly – he even helped out defensively on the left flank – and made his presence felt whilst linking up nicely with Charlie Savage, Kamari Doyle and, when he came on, Paddy Lane.
‘Long Kelvin’ is now onto nine for the season, and more performances like this one will ensure he finishes it with a respectable double-figured tally.
Barrow Wheels in Motion
Barrow’s 2-1 come-from-behind victory over Bromley at the weekend feels pivotal.
It came off the back of a 5-0 drubbing a Grimsby for Sam Foley’s side, who had looked passive, sluggish and devoid of belief in Lincolnshire, yet showed the fight to overturn a second half deficit against the leaders thanks to goals from Josh Gordon and Danny Rose.
The switch to 4-4-2 has given the Bluebirds some new-found solidity and simplicity at a tough time, but they needed a result to show for it.
Had Barrow lost to Bromley, they would be five points adrift with seven to play, ahead of an Easter Weekend that begins with the hardest fixture in the calender, a trip to MK Dons,
With the win, and a game in hand, they’re two points off safety heading into the business end, and they have a chance.
Winning Start for Kazim-Richards
After Crawley’s controversial sacking of experienced manager Scott Lindsey, who led the club to promotion from this level in 2024, they took the ultimate gamble in placing faith in Colin Kazim-Richards.
Since his playing days, the former well-travelled striker had only coached Arsenal’s Under-16s, so to assume he would know what to do with seasoned League Two footballers at a key stage of the season was a massive jump.
As big as the risk was, however, it’s so far, so good with victory in his first game in charge, thanks to injury-time goals from Taylor Richards and Tobi Adeyemo.
In fact, Crawley fielded two Adeyemos: Tobi, and Ade. We’re not aware that they’re related. Just a fun coincidence we presume.
Losers
Burton's Late Blow
Burton travelled to Blackpool three points andplaces better off than their hosts, who lay just inside the relegation zone on goal difference, and keen to keep their opponents at arm’s length by denying them all three points.
Understandable as the strategy was from Gary Bowyer’s side, who mustered just a solitary effort at goal all afternoon, their plans came undone as late as injury-time, when Leighton Clarkson laid off CJ Hamilton for the winner.
The result mean the Brewers look vulnerable to an anticipated late resurgence from the Pool, and their West Lancashire neighbours Wigan, and reliant on 21st-placed Exeter continuing to falter.
Harrogate in a Hole
Harrogate’s weekend could hardly have gone much worse.
Simon Weaver’s side lost 2-0 at home to Notts County in the lunchtime kick-off, and have to watch club legend James Belshaw celebrate in front of the away fans rather than their own, then see immediate relegation rivals Barrow, Newport and Crawley all win via turnarounds and late goals.
February’s five-game unbeaten run gave the North Yorkshire outfit hope, but March has brought four defeats in five, ahead of an unenviable trip to Grimsby on Good Friday.
Henry Gray’s confidence took a knock with an error at the weekend, while defenders Cathal Heffernan and Liam Gibson look like they struggled with Alassana Jatta’s physicality – good job they haven’t now got to face Andy Cook, right? Ah.
The Top Three
Oddly, each of the top three going into the day all lost, just when Bromley, MK Dons and Cambridge had looked set to form an established order at a crucial stage.
The Ravens remain in a fantastic position, seven points clear of fourth, but MK Dons and Cambridge are under siege by the form of Notts County – who travel to the latter in April.
Plus, Salford’s victory over MK Dons means Karl Robinson’s side are still in the mix for automatic promotion: it’s three from six.
EFL Betting at Free Bets
Gab Sutton provides weekly football tips for Free Bets, featuring a thoroughly researched longshot acca alongside sharp analysis of the key talking points and standout moments from the weekend's action at the start of each new week.
