The Panel's EFL Tips: Tom Lee's Double For Game Week 12

Tom Lee's Panel Tips For Saturday, October 19:

• Tom Lee's Panel Tip 1: Wigan To Beat Cambridge - 13/10 With William Hill
• Tom Lee's Panel Tip 2: Plymouth To Beat Cardiff - 13/5 With Bet365

Cambridge Vs Wigan, Saturday, 3pm

Unblocked.

That's the word I'll use to describe Wigan Athletic, 2013 FA Cup winners and until recently League One goalless draw aficionados. 

Consecutive 0-0 stalemates at Lincoln, then at home to both Stevenage and Exeter, made September a month to forget for boss Shaun Maloney's strikers, who lest we forget operate at a club which just 11 years ago were plying their trade in English football's top tier. 

Their trusty club mascot, Crusty The Pie, has had to become accustomed to them operating at a lower level of late, but the cogs could now be beginning to whir for the team based at what's currently known as the Brick Community Stadium. 

It's fair to say league positions don't always tell a full tale. The Latics are 16th in League One, but despite this they're only nine points off the summit, suggesting a winning run could rapidly carry them up the table. 

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Is one on the way? What's been missing in the early part of the campaign?

The departure over the summer months of not one, not two, but three senior forwards didn't help. Charlie Wyke, Stephen Humphrys and Josh Magennis all headed through the exit door.

In their place have come raw youngsters, talented newbies laden with potential, but far from the finished article. 

Manchester United man Joe Hugill and Nottingham Forest starlet Dale Taylor have big boots to fill during their loan spells. 

Hugill is currently sidelined, but Taylor looks ready to explode onto the scene.

Service is key, and the return to availability of another loan star, Brentford man Michael Olakigbe, could be exactly what's required. 

Unfortunate to suffer a broken leg in pre-season, Olakigbe started the game at home to Peterborough on October 1, running riot in wide areas. 

Seeing plenty of the ball at long last, Taylor duly notched twice in a 3-0 victory against talented opposition.

Another 0-0 draw at Stockport underlined Wigan's defensive strength (only five goals conceded in 10 games), before success at Carlisle in the Football League Trophy, a game which featured a goal for that man Olakigbe.

Things are starting to bubble nicely then, Olakigbe scoring and assisting, Taylor getting the service he needs - and that's before you factor in another name returning to the fray, Jonny Smith.

A pacy winger with a thunderbolt shot, previously injured Smith came off the bench against both Peterborough and Stockport, before getting the nod from the start at Carlisle.

Both he and Olakigbe will be keen to start when their side embark on Saturday's 376-mile round trip to Cambridge, who are rock bottom on one point after nine games.

Their goal difference of -11 is predictably the worst in the division, and this could be a terrible time to be facing resurgent Wigan. 

At 11/8 with football betting sites, I'm suggesting Wigan as the strongest bet in the EFL this weekend, and therefore my headline tip as we work to up a column Profit & Loss tally currently on +9.83 to a £1 level stake. 

Tom Lee's Panel Tip 1: Wigan To Beat Cambridge - 13/10 With William Hill

Cardiff Vs Plymouth, Saturday, 12.30pm

Leg two of this weekend's EFL double comes from the early kick-off in the Championship and I am hoping, just like with Cambridge, the team sitting at the foot of the table will taste defeat.

In opposition, Wayne Rooney's Plymouth will be roared on by 3,200 members of the Green Army as they head to Cardiff for a fixture which ended 2-2 on Boxing Day last season. 

Much improved under Rooney, Argyle are a big price at 13/5 with betting apps as they go in search of a first away victory of 2024/25.

The Pilgrims head to Wales armed with the knowledge they pushed high-flying Burnley and West Brom all the way in recent 1-0 away defeats when they probably deserved a point from both games.

Argyle have quickly made Home Park a fortress under their new boss, winning consecutive games against leaders Sunderland, relegated Luton and Blackburn, but an away-day success would break new ground and you sense it is coming.

Managerless at the time of writing, Cardiff have improved since sacking Erol Bulut, amassing four points from two scrappy games against Millwall and Bristol City, but this will be far harder.

Whoever does eventually step into the Bluebirds hot-seat, whether it's Tony Mowbray, Slaven Bilic, Ryan Lowe, Steve Schumacher or someone else, they've got quite a job on their hands!

Tom Lee's Panel Tip 2: Plymouth To Win At Cardiff - 13/5 With Bet365

Tom's double on Wigan and Plymouth pays almost 15/2 (7.28/1) with William Hill