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

Best bets

Cheltenham draw no bet
3pts 6-4 bet365, Betfred, BoyleSports

Peterborough
2pts 29-20 Coral, Hills

Rotherham
3pts 21-20bet365

Sheff Wed
2pts 13-10 Hills

Bolton v Cheltenham

Cheltenham boss Michael Duff is quite happy for his team to go under the radar but they are up to to tenth in League One – six points outside the playoffs – and look overpriced to win at Bolton this weekend.

Speaking after his players won 2-0 at Gillingham on Tuesday, Duff said that he doesn't see Cheltenham as a top-ten team.

However, the results are speaking for themselves and Cheltenham look more at ease with third-tier football with every passing week.

They were crowned League Two champions last season after conceding just 39 goals, the lowest in the division.

And their successful transition to third-tier football is all the more impressive because their three-man rearguard has had to be replaced with Ben Tozer sealing a switch to Wrexham and Charlie Raglan and Will Boyle injured.

Watford loanee Mattie Pollock has helped plug the gap with a series of strong performances and Cheltenham have carried a threat at the other end, where summer signing Kyle Vassell and Swansea loanee Kyle Joseph increase their attacking options.

Finishing in the top half will be tough but Cheltenham have a great chance to pick up points against Bolton, who are without several key players.

Winger Lloyd Isgrove, right back Gethin Jones and midfielders Jordan Williams and Josh Sheehan are on the Trotters' treatment table and they are further depleted because of top-scorer Oladapo Afolayan's one-match suspension.

Ian Evatt's under-strength side triumphed 3-0 at home to second bottom Doncaster on Tuesday but they face a sterner test from Cheltenham, who look the likelier winners.

Peterborough v Barnsley

Championship strugglers Peterborough have enlisted a psychologist to help get to the bottom of their dismal away record of one win and nine losses, but they have been competitive in the majority of home games and can see off relegation rivals Barnsley.

At some stage Peterborough will need to pick up a few more away points to have a decent chance of staying up.

But they are a different beast on home soil and gave leaders Fulham a tough game in a narrow 1-0 loss before the international break.

The Posh were 2-1 winners at home to promotion-chasing QPR last month and they have a great chance against Barnsley, who are second-bottom after losing ten of their last 11 fixtures.

Barnsley manager Poya Asbaghi took the reins for the first time on Wednesday and watched his team lose 2-0 at home to Swansea.

Asbaghi's side were restricted to a 21 per cent share of the ball against the possession-hungry Swans and, given the likelihood of a few tired legs, the short turnaround could work against them.

Oxford v Rotherham

Rotherham reached the League One summit on Tuesday after a ruthless 2-0 success at Ipswich but manager Paul Warne will not allow standards to drop and can steer them to victory over promotion rivals Oxford at the Kassam Stadium.

The Millers are unbeaten in 15 games, which have included hugely impressive victories at home to Portsmouth and Sunderland plus away to MK Dons.

They have shown they can demolish the bigger teams in the league and are tackling Oxford at a good time because their hosts have been affected by a coronavirus outbreak.

Oxford overcame the absence of 13 players to win 3-1 at home to Fleetwood on Tuesday – triggering the departure of opposition manager Simon Grayson, who left his position the next morning.

However, they face a far tougher test against the Millers and are unlikely to take any points.

Sheffield Wednesday v Wycombe

Sheffield Wednesday fans have needed to be a patient bunch but they have seen their team pick up three successive victories and could be celebrating after this weekend's key fixture at home to Wycombe.

Darren Moore's Owls have been hampered by injury problems but key players have recently returned to the fold, including Lee Gregory and Josh Windass, who were on target in Tuesday's well-deserved 2-1 win at home to MK Dons.

The Yorkshire giants are starting to punch their weight and they can land a significant blow against second-placed Wycombe, who arrive at Hillsborough five points and three places above their hosts.

Accumulator

Swansea 4-5, Burton 4-5, Portsmouth 17-20, MK Dons 21-20
£1 acca returns £12.29 with Hills

First scorer

George Miller Carlisle v Walsall
at 11-2 bet365

Barnsley loanee George Miller is top of the Walsall scoring charts with seven league goals and his pace and movement could expose struggling Carlisle in the League Two encounter at Brunton Park.

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