The Panel's Football League Tips: Tom Lee's Midweek Double

Tom Lee's Midweek EFL Double

• Tom Lee's Panel Tip 1: Burnley To Beat Derby - 7/10 With Ladbrokes
• Tom Lee's Panel Tip 2: Watford To Win At Hull City - 11/5 With Unibet

A full complement of Championship fixtures on this midweek coupon has more than a whiff of opportunity about it, so let's see if we can unearth a pair of winners to haul us back up the profit and loss league table (currently +1.87).

Seven second-tier games on Tuesday night are swiftly followed by five more on Wednesday and there are a few eye-catching matches which came close to getting the vote.

Can embattled Wayne Rooney conjure a badly needed three points for his struggling Plymouth side as they entertain Swansea? 

Given you could currently throw a picnic blanket over the current top four of Sheffield United, Leeds, Burnley and Sunderland, which team will go into the weekend top of the table?

Is Portsmouth's resurgence for real? Will West Brom draw for the 11th time in 12 games? Can Ruben Selles perform a survival miracle for Hull City?

Burnley Vs Derby County, Tuesday 7.45pm

As it is, only one of the teams mentioned above make the cut for this latest double, which kicks off on Tuesday evening as Burnley welcome Derby County to Turf Moor.

The Clarets currently sit third, two points off the top. Sheffield United dropped points on Sunday and are struggling for fit defenders prior to their difficult trip to Millwall.

Leeds have a very difficult assignment of their own as Middlesbrough visit Elland Road, so perhaps now is the time for Scott Parker's men to pounce. 

To do so, they'll need to find their shooting boots. Their run of five consecutive clean sheets in November undermines their gritty defensive strength.

With only seven goals conceded all season, Burnley have by far the stingiest back line in the division, but it's in front of goal where they'll be judged come May.

Output up front has been a talking point for the Clarets ever since August, when they began with a 4-1 rout away at Luton.

That was quickly followed by a 5-0 demolition of Cardiff. Since then, the Lancashire outfit have failed to score more than two in any of their subsequent 17 appearances. 

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That said, after a frustrating, draw-laden autumn, they're in the groove now and despite not winning last time out, showed a depth of character to fight back and take a point on Friday night against impressive Boro. 

Paul Warne's Derby County are currently 16th. I've witnessed the Rams twice in the flesh in recent weeks and it's fair to say they'll be thrilled if a mid-table finish can be achieved following their promotion.

I watched Derby nearly scrap their way to a point before losing 2-1 away to Stoke City. A week later they drew 1-1 draw at home to Plymouth Argyle, a game memorable for a truly outstanding strike from Jerry Yates. Look it up on YouTube. You won't be disappointed. 

Away from home though, Derby have struggled, taking just six points from their 10 games away from Pride Park.

Burnley should have enough to bag the victory on football betting sites, which could see them go top if other results work in their favour.

Tom Lee's Panel Tip 1: Burnley To Beat Derby - 7/10 With Ladbrokes

Hull City Vs Watford, Wednesday 7.45pm

Regular readers will know I was deeply impressed when seeing Watford in the flesh in mid-November, since when they helped us secure a winning bet when getting the better of Bristol City. 

This week I'm hoping the Hornets have got enough sting in their tail to further damage rock-bottom side Hull's survival chances.

This game comes just days after the Tigers appointed former Reading gaffer Ruben Selles to try and rescue them.

Away wins are a tricky currency to come by in the Championship, and like many others, Watford have hardly been ripping it up away from Vicarage Road.

However, there have been flashes of what they're capable of, notably their 3-2 success on the opening day at Millwall, as well as an extraordinary scoreline when dismantling Sheffield Wednesday 6-2 at Hillsborough.

With a play-off spot firmly in their sights, this is a game Watford believe they can win. 

Hull have been absolutely rotten. Who knows what they were thinking of when sacking the excellent Liam Rosenior back in May?

Replacement Tim Walter didn't cut the mustard. His team's trio of draws as October ticked over into November was quickly followed by six miserable defeats, one after another.

In that spell, they found the net only twice and Selles has quite the job on his hands.

With odds of 21/10 available on betting apps, I'm backing Watford to win away and underline quite how difficult his new role will be. 

Tom Lee's Panel Tip 2: Watford To Win At Hull City - 11/5 With Unibet

Tom's double on Burnley and Watford to win pays out at just under 9/2 with Unibet.