Expert EFL predictions and football betting tips from James Milton

Free football tips, bets and analysis for Friday's EFL action.

Best bets

Swansea to beat Barnsley
3pm Friday
2pts 3-4 Betfred

Under 2.5 goals in Doncaster v Bolton
3pm Friday
3pts 20-23 BoyleSports

Draw-Sunderland double result v Shrewsbury
3pm Friday
1pt 7-2 Betfair, Hills, Paddy Power

Best EFL bets

Swansea v Barnsley 3pm Friday

This time last season Swansea and Barnsley were on their way to meeting in the Championship playoff semi-finals but the clubs face a less exciting conclusion to the 2021-22 campaign.

Swansea came through that playoff clash 2-1 on aggregate before losing to Brentford in the final and they are eight points off the top six with just six matches remaining.

However, Swans boss Russell Martin will want to finish his first season at the club strongly and his side look primed to take three points against visitors who are on the brink of relegation.

Swansea have won four of their last five league matches, including a 4-0 derby victory away to Cardiff, while Barnsley's miserable away form continued with a 4-1 loss at Millwall last time out.

That result made it 15 defeats in 20 road trips for the Tykes and they are unlikely to enjoy Friday's visit to south Wales.

Doncaster v Bolton 3pm Friday

Bolton briefly threatened to crash the League One playoff places during a golden run of eight wins in ten matches in January and February, including an eye-catching 6-0 rout of Sunderland.

The goals have dried up for the Trotters, however, and they may struggle to turn on the style against lowly Doncaster on Friday.

Bolton's last six league games have all ended with under 2.5 goals and they have been unable to take the initiative in those fixtures. Three of the five goals they have scored during that run came in injury-time and the other two in the 76th and 83rd minutes so Donny will be confident of keeping their visitors quiet early on.

A 2-0 home win over relegated Crewe last weekend boosted Doncaster's slender hopes of survival but they are also lacking attacking firepower, failing to find the net in their five previous games, and a cagey contest is expected.

Sunderland v Shrewsbury 3pm Friday

Sunderland's 2-1 win at Oxford last weekend enhanced their chances of making the League One playoffs but the in-form Black Cats face a trappy home fixture against Shrewsbury.

The hosts start the latest round of fixtures in the final playoff spot but only goal difference separates them and seventh-placed Wycombe so they cannot afford to slip up.

Sunderland have won four of their last five matches but they were not leading going into the final ten minutes of any of those victories and needed goals in the 95th and 89th minutes to see off Gillingham and Oxford in their last two outings.

More patience and spirit may be required when they take on resurgent Shrewsbury, who have won three of their last five games including a 5-0 rout of Morecambe and a 3-0 win at third-placed Rotherham.

The Shrews held Ipswich to a 1-1 draw last weekend and could stand firm at least until half-time against a Sunderland side who have been level at the break in eight of their last ten games.

Friday accumulators

Banker
Stoke
The Potters have won three of their last four in the Championship, including victories over West Brom and Sheffield United, while visitors Bristol City have lost 11 of their last 14 on the road.

Blowout
Blackburn
Peterborough are heading down to League One but they have lost only two of their last seven Championship games under Grant McCann and inconsistent Blackburn look too short at London Road.

Accumulator
Stoke 3-4, Swansea 8-11, Leyton Orient 1-2, Newport County 19-20. £1 accumulator returns £8.86 with Coral.

Both teams to score
Games at Accrington 4-6, Charlton 3-4, Fleetwood 4-5. £1 treble returns £5.23 with bet365.

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