Expert EFL predictions and football betting tips from Dan Childs

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

When to bet

Kick-offs 3pm Saturday

Best bets

Crewe
3pts 6-4 Hills

Ipswich draw no bet
3pts 5-4bet365, BoyleSports

Walsall
2pts 7-5 Betfair

Fulham-Fulham double result
2pts 5-6BoyleSports

Crewe v Gillingham

League One survival looks a tough ask for basement boys Crewe, who are six points adrift of safety, but the Railwaymen can register a second league win of the season when they host injury-ravaged Gillingham.

Crewe are keen to keep faith with manager David Artell, who has done some excellent work since his appointment in January 2017.

But Artell needs a change of fortunes to bolster his position and the match with Gillingham offers an excellent opportunity to return to winning ways.

The Gills are seven points above Crewe and are just one of the teams the Alex are looking to overtake.

And the Kent club head to Cheshire in state of turmoil due to injury doubts over a host of senior players and question marks over the future of manager Steve Evans, who was a target for Stevenage earlier this week.

Evans prioritised quality over quantity when assembling his squad but a lack of depth has been exposed in recent weeks.

Ten injured players, including captain Kyle Dempsey and top-scorer Vadaine Oliver, were absent for Tuesday's 1-0 loss at Cheltenham in an FA Cup first round replay, and two more, Danny Lloyd and Ben Reeves, were forced off with injuries.

Evans has said he will leave it as late as possible to name his starting 11 but Gillingham could be well below full strength and Crewe can take advantage.

Sunderland v Ipswich

Ipswich were under pressure after making a slow start to the season but they have climbed from 19th to ninth since the start of October and can continue their progress by defeating seventh-placed Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.

Both clubs would consider a top-six finish as a minimum expectation and discontent is growing among Sunderland fans after three successive league defeats.

The Blacks Cats have also crashed out of the FA Cup following a 1-0 loss at home to League Two strugglers Mansfield and the standard of recent performances will be a concern to manager Lee Johnson as he prepares for another difficult fixture.

Ipswich are four points below Sunderland but have lost just one of their last 11 games and seem to relish taking on fancied teams.

They were 4-0 winners at Portsmouth last month and kicked off their November schedule with a superb 4-1 success at Wycombe.

Paul Cook's side are still getting to know each other after a frantic summer recruitment drive but they seem to be getting better each week and can take another major scalp on Wearside.

Walsall v Rochdale

Walsall's had gone six league games without defeat before a disappointing 3-1 loss at home to Harrogate last Saturday but Matt Taylor's side can bounce back at home to Rochdale.

The Saddlers should be more competitive this weekend with combative midfielder Joss Labadie set to return after a one-game suspension.

They like to play with a high press and Labadie's physicality and work-rate could be key to unsettling Rochdale, who have won just once on their last five League Two road trips.

Rochdale dug deep to win 2-1 at National League highflyers Notts County in an FA Cup first-round replay on Tuesday, but they could be carrying a few tired legs and may suffer their sixth league defeat of the campaign.

Fulham v Barnsley

Fulham were flying before the international break, winning six games in succession, and can climb to the top of the Championship table by beating second-bottom Barnsley.

Barnsley like to think outside the box in the recruitment of players and coaching staff and have entrusted former Gothenburg manager Poya Asbaghi with the task of keeping them up.

However, Asbaghi inherits a team who have lost eight of their last nine fixtures and immediate improvement seems unlikely against the highflying Cottagers, who should forge into an early lead and run out comfortable winners.

Accumulator

Blackburn 13-10, MK Dons 4-5, Rotherham 4-9, Forest Green 23-20
£1 acca returns £12.82 with bet365

First scorer

Kieffer Moore Preston v Cardiff
at 13-2 bet365

The Cardiff centre-forward followed up his two goals in the 2-1 success at home to Huddersfield with the equaliser for Wales against Belgium on Tuesday and his purple patch could continue at Deepdale.

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