Dan Childs: Free football tips & predictions for Saturday's EFL matches

Free football tips, best bets and expert accumulator advice for the weekend's EFL matches.

When to bet

Kick-offs 3pm

Best bets

Fleetwood
4pts 20-23 BoyleSports

Bradford
3pts 5-4bet365

Newport
2pts 7-5 Coral

Salford draw no bet
2pts Evsgeneral

Fleetwood v Gillingham

Stephen Crainey celebrated his first win as Fleetwood's caretaker manager when the Cod Army triumphed 3-0 at home to Bolton on Tuesday and his chances of landing the job permanently could improve further with a victory over League One relegation rivals Gillingham.

Plenty of clubs value continuity when it comes to managerial appointments and the case for Crainey looks strong because he has been doing some excellent work within the Fleetwood academy set-up.

The club has some talented young players coming through and Crainey has been happy to hand them a chance in the first team, despite the pressure to climb out of the relegation zone.

Four Fleetwood academy graduates started the success over Bolton, including Ged Garner, who bagged his seventh league goal of the season.

Garner and pacy West Brom loanee Callum Morton caused the Trotters all sorts of problems and they should enjoy themselves against injury-hit Gillingham, who look destined for League Two.

The third-bottom Gills have not won in ten league games and their losing sequence was extended to five by a 5-1 loss at Rotherham on Tuesday.

The midweek result was an accurate reflection of the play (Gillingham lost the shot count 29 to one) and a red card for Ryan Jackson and injuries to striker John Akinde and Max Ehmer further reduce the options of beleaguered boss Steve Evans.

The January transfer window is still three weeks away and, in the meantime, Evans's threadbare side look well worth opposing.

Bradford v Sutton United

Too many draws (ten in 20 League Two games) are hampering Bradford's promotion push but the Bantams have a great opportunity to take maximum points when tackling injury-hit Sutton United at Valley Parade.

The pressure is building on Bradford manager Derek Adams, who oversaw an unsatisfactory 0-0 draw at home to Colchester on Tuesday, leaving his team six points outside the playoffs.

However, striker Caolan Lavery's return from injury as a second-half substitute was something positive to take out of the game, giving Adams an extra attacking option for a key encounter.

Sixth-placed Sutton are among the teams Bradford need to catch but they are not at full strength for their trip to Yorkshire as central defenders Coby Rowe and Louis John are struggling with injuries and key midfielder Craig Eastmond is suspended.

Eastmond was sent off during Tuesday's loss at Newport, which was a hard one to take because Sutton had led 2-0 at half-time.

However, the Amber and Chocolates could have few complaints after losing the shot count 30 to four and they may lack the mental and physical capacity to respond.

Newport v Port Vale

Newport's midweek success over Sutton lifted them to eighth in League Two and another home victory looks achievable against highflying Port Vale.

It has been less than two months since James Rowberry replaced Michael Flynn in the Newport hotseat but he has started impressively with four league wins, two draws and one defeat.

Rowberry's side have been free-scoring, averaging 2.29 goals per league game, and their attacking approach could give them the edge over Vale, who head to south Wales without several injured attackers.

Vale midfielder Ben Garrity was pushed into an advanced role for Tuesday's 2-1 success at Bristol Rovers and came up trumps with two first-half goals.

However, Vale's attacking department suffered another blow with Devante Rodney's first-half injury and he joins David Amoo, Jamie Proctor and James Wilson in a busy treatment room.

Vale manager Darrell Clarke will have to get creative until the situation improves but a lack of firepower could leave his side short at Rodney Parade.

Mansfield v Salford

Big-spending Salford have taken a long time to get going this season but they have taken seven points from their last three League Two games and should fancy their chances at Mansfield.

Both teams have been on decent runs but Mansfield have injury concerns over key trio Rhys Oates, Oli Hawkins and Ollie Clarke and could be the next victims of Salford's steady rise up the standings.

Accumulator

West Brom 9-20, Sheffield Wednesday 10-11, Leyton Orient 7-10, Forest Green 4-5
£1 acca returns £8.47 with Betfred

First scorer

Aaron Drinan Leyton Orient v Crawley
at 9-2 bet365

Leyton Orient strikers Aaron Drinan and Harry Smith have amassed goal tallies of ten and 11 in League Two this season and Drinan (acquired from Ipswich this summer) looks the man most likely to break the deadlock at home to struggling Crawley.

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