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

Harrogate draw no bet
2pts 6-5 general

Peterborough or draw double chance
2pts 3-4Hills

Cheltenham
1pt 2-1 general

Charlton
1pt 7-4general

Sutton Utd v Harrogate

More than half of the weekend's League Two fixtures have been postponed but there are opportunities for some clubs to make headway, including playoff-chasing Harrogate, who look a decent bet to defeat sixth-placed Sutton at Gander Green Lane.

Simon Weaver's side got off to a flying start, taking 13 points from their first five games, but suffered a dip in results when their small squad became stretched by injuries.

However, Harrogate's injury situation has started to improve and they can take heart from a string of excellent away performances, including a 2-1 success at Portsmouth in the FA Cup second round and a 1-1 draw at promotion-chasing Swindon.

Harrogate could return to the top seven and should fancy their chances against Sutton, who have gone four games since their last victory.

Sutton have adapted well in their debut EFL season and approach the end of the year with ambitions to stay among the promotion-chasing pack.

However, they are hampered by several injury concerns and must make do without captain Craig Eastmond, who serves the second game of a three-match suspension.

Sutton did okay without Eastmond last Saturday, drawing 2-2 against 10-man Bradford, but they appear to have lost the winning habit and could taste defeat this weekend.

Blackpool v Peterborough

Peterborough have got the worst away record in the Championship having lost on ten of their 11 road trips but they may be worth chancing at Blackpool this weekend.

Darren Ferguson has tried different tactics and formations and the input of a psychologist to try and get the Posh performing on their travels, and will have been encouraged by his team's effort in a 2-0 loss to Nottingham Forest a fortnight ago.

Peterborough stood up well for long periods against in-form Forest, and the match was in the balance until midfielder Joe Garner nudged the home side in front in the 72nd minute.

The Posh took some positives away from the City Ground and backed up the performance with a well-deserved 2-1 success at home to Millwall last Saturday which lifted them to within two points of safety.

There is more work to be done for Peterborough to get away from the bottom three, but they have looked better since switching to a 4-4-2 diamond formation and should benefit from a return to prominence for key striker Jonsson Clarke-Harris, who came off the bench to score against Millwall.

A few away wins will be needed to get out of trouble and Ferguson should be targeting three points against Blackpool, who are starting to feel the strain of second-tier football.

Neil Critchley's side have slipped to 17th after seven games without a win and their poor run is set to continue.

Shrewsbury v Cheltenham

Cheltenham have been punching above their weight against some huge clubs in League One and may feel that this weekend's trip to Shrewsbury is one they can target for maximum points.

Michael Duff's mid-table side have gone through a sticky spell (no win in four) but may be ready for lift off again after Matty Blair secured them an injury-time equaliser in last Saturday's 2-2 draw at home to Lincoln.

The Robins have taken 27 points from 21 league games and can demonstrate their superiority over the Shrews, who are nine points worse off and at serious risk of relegation.

Plymouth v Charlton

Johnnie Jackson has been confirmed as Charlton's permanent manager after turning their season around and he can celebrate by masterminding a victory over Plymouth at Home Park this weekend.

Jackson inherited a Charlton side who were stuck in the League One relegation zone but he has got their supporters dreaming of a New Year push for promotion.

The Londoners have racked up four successive victories and three more points could follow against Plymouth, who have slipped from first to sixth after taking just one point from the last five games.

Accumulator

Blackburn 20-21, Nottingham Forest 20-21, Salford 21-20, Newport 7-4
£1 acca pays £21.44 with Boylesports

First scorer

Lewis Grabban Nottingham Forest v Hull
at 9-2 Betway

The veteran striker has discovered a new lease of life under Nottingham Forest manager Steve Cooper and he can add to his seasonal nine-goal tally.

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