5 EFL Goalscorer Tips - 15/4/22

Derby County host table-topping Fulham at Pride Park on Friday evening in a game in which the result feels inevitable.

Wayne Rooney’s Derby side are 23rd in the table, on a measly 28 points after 41 games played. The Rams are struggling for form and points, and are practically confirmed to be playing in League One next season after a brave battle this season.

In stark contrast, The Cottagers are currently top of the Championship with 83 points, 10 ahead of 2nd-placed Bournemouth, and they will be playing their football in England’s top flight next season.

Fulham’s Serbian striker Aleksandar Mitrovic has already scored a quite astonishing 38 goals in 38 appearances this season, at a rate of a goal every 88 minutes. His exploits this season mean he has broken the all-time Championship scoring record, previously held by Ivan Toney with 31 goals. And with the striker having scored the opener in a game 19 times so far this season, three of which have come in his last six starts, we are backing him to do it again against the struggling Rams in this game.

Promotion-chasing Sunderland host lowly Shrewsbury at the Stadium of Light on Friday afternoon in what is a crucial game, with the Black Cats in desperate need of points to ensure that they finish in the top six and make the play-offs.

Sunderland are currently in sixth place on 73 points, as are fifth-placed Sheffield Wednesday and seventh-placed Wycombe.

A win here would be very valuable for Alex Neil’s men, as competitors Wycombe face a tough test when they host fourth-place Plymouth and could drop points in that match, which is why a win for Sunderland is vital. 16th-place Shrewsbury are relatively safe from the relegation places and so have nothing to play for here.

We are backing Sunderland’s top scorer this season, Ross Stewart, to add to his tally of 22 goals in this game. Shrewsbury have shipped 40 goals this season, and with a clinical striker like Stewart, who has averaged 2.8 shots per game this season, it is very likely that he will get his name on the scoresheet at some time in this game.

League One leaders Wigan Athletic host midtable Cambridge United at the DW Stadium on Saturday evening, with the Latics the only side with something to really play for in this fixture.

Wigan currently sit on 87 points, with second-place MK Dons only four points behind them on 83.

If Leam Richardson’s side want to get their hands on the trophy come the end of the season over the Dons, then they will need as many points as possible from their final five matches and hope that MK Dons slip up, with two of their final four games coming against top six opposition.

Cambridge currently sit 13th in the table, and with no threat of relegation but also with no play-off hopes at this stage of the season, The U’s have nothing to play for here.

Wigan currently have two players with over 10 league goals this season, with winger Callum Lang on 14 goals and striker Will Keane on 21 goals. That means that the pair have scored 35 of Wigan’s 73 league goals this season. And that is why we are backing both of them to score in this one – with Cambridge having already shipped 64 goals this season, dangerous forward like Keane and Lang will be able to cause problems for their defence.

With both players having scored two in their last three league appearances, they should have no problem bagging against this uninspired Cambridge side.

Relegation-threatened Barrow host league leaders Forest Green Rovers at Holker Street on Friday afternoon, with Barrow in desperate need of points as they fight to stay in the Football League.

The Bluebirds are in a precarious situation at the moment, currently sitting in 21st place on 37 points, with 22nd-place Oldham and 23rd-place Stevenage both also on 37 points. Any points would be helpful to Barrow’s hopes of survival, but they face an almost impossible task, with opponents Forest Green in good form and also on the hunt for points as they look to pip Exeter to the top spot and be crowned league champions.

Barrow come into the fixture on the back of four consecutive league defeats, with their last win coming against bottom-side Scunthorpe. Forest Green come into this with three wins and two draws from their last five matches, and they are capable of scoring many against this lowly Barrow side.

Rovers have scored 69 goals this season and only let in 33, as opposed to Barrow only scoring 34 and conceding 48 times. Striker Jamille Matt will be looking to add to his 17-goal haul this season in this game, and we expect him to do exactly that in this one and take advantage of the opposition’s porous defence by scoring multiple times.

Leyton Orient hosts rock-bottom Scunthorpe United at Brisbane Road in an afternoon kick-off on Friday, with another defeat for Scunthorpe meaning that they would edge closer and closer to hearing the confirmation that they will be playing in English football’s fifth-tier next season.

Scunthorpe have had an abysmal campaign, picking up just four wins all season and losing a stunning 25 games. They sit on 24 points, 13 points from 23rd-place Stevenage. Leyton Orient will be looking at a midtable finish for another season, as they currently sit in 14th on 49 points, with no chance of making the play-offs.

Scunthorpe have let in an astonishing 76 goals this season, and that is why we are backing a big scoreline here.

Aaron Drinan has been one of the Orient’s standout players this season, with 12 goals and four assists to his name. His impressive goalscoring return this season means that we are backing him to score here, as we are with young striker Ruel Sotiriou.

The Cypriot U-21 striker has bagged eight times for his club this season, as well as grabbing two assists. With the season coming to an end, he will likely be given a run-out against this poor Scunthorpe side and could get on the scoresheet.