5 EFL Goalscorer Tips - 18/2/23

Since the appointment of Michael Carrick, Middlesbrough have seen a sensational rise up the table, with Carrick taking over with them placed 21st in the league and after taking 37 points from a possible 48, they have shot up to 3rd in the league and now face QPR who have just one win from their last 17 games, keeping only three clean sheets.

Scoring goals has been a hallmark of Carrick’s tenure at Middlesbrough so far, with his side scoring the most goals in the division since his appointment, with Chuba Akpom being his main man with 14 goals in 17 games under Carrick and despite being a recent loan addition to his side, Cameron Archer has fitted in very well, with three goals in his last two appearances, including two versus Sheffield United.

This young Sunderland side has been the surprise of the Championship this season, with them currently holding a playoff spot straight after promotion, and 22-year-old Jack Clarke, who has been ever-present on their left-hand side has found some great goal-scoring form recently.

Clarke, who had just three goals in 50 appearances before this season, has scored eight goals in 33 appearances for Sunderland this season, including four goals in his last five appearances, which included goals in both FA Cup games against high-flying Premier League side Fulham and a brace in his previous game against QPR.

With Shrewsbury one of the in-form teams in League one, scoring 16 goals in their past seven games, you would’ve thought that their striker was in great form, but this isn’t the case with Christian Saydee, who scored three goals in the first two games of this run, but hasn’t netted since.

Due to Shrewsbury being in this great form, it seems it will be only a matter of time for Saydee to find the net again, and coming up against Accrington Stanley should help this, with Accrington holding the 6th worst defence in League One this season, keeping only three clean sheets in their last 19 games.

This weekend’s game between the two Wanderers, Bolton and Wycombe, is a game between two of the most in-form teams in the league, with Wycombe winning their past four games, scoring ten and conceding twice, whilst Bolton have won their past five, scoring 14 and conceding just once.

Both these sides' form has coincided with their strikers finding the back of the net, with Sam Vokes scoring twice in four games since being reinserted back into Wycombe's starting lineup, whilst Dion Charles has been in-form for longer, scoring 11 goals in his last 14 appearances in League One.

After just two goals in his first 18 appearances this season, it was safe to say Lucas Akins was not in the best of form, but as of late he been much improved, scoring four goals in his last seven appearances and his absence in the middle of this run was really noticed by Mansfield, with the side losing twice and drawing once in the three matches without him, but with him in the side, they have won five and drawn twice.

Akins ability to score will be helped by the form of both teams, with Tranmere only managing four wins in their last 18 games, whilst Mansfield are one of the in-form teams in the league, losing just two of their last 11 games, winning five games to put them just three points off an automatic promotion spot.

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