Expert EFL predictions and free football tips from Dan Childs

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for the weekend's EFL matches.

When to bet

Kick-offs from 12.30pm Saturday

Best bets

Norwich 3pm
3pts 21-20 general

Oxford 12.30pm
2pts 6-4general

Shrewsbury or draw double chance 3pm
2pts 5-6 Betfair, Hills, Power

Barrow or draw double chance 3pm
3pts 4-5bet365, BoyleSports

Hull v Norwich

Championship promotion hopefuls Norwich are off to an uncertain start, taking one point from a possible six, but they have 44 games to go and can win the next of them by overcoming Hull City at the MKM Stadium.

The second tier is a marathon rather than a sprint and there were signs of Norwich lengthening their stride in a 1-1 draw at home to Wigan last Saturday.

Dean Smith's side produced a much-improved second half performance and were unlucky not to take all three points after finishing with 70 per cent possession and bossing the shot count 22 to six.

Smith will be urging his players to produce a 90-minute performance against Hull and if he gets his wish three points should be there for the taking.

Hull have taken four points from two games but they benefited from a controversial penalty award in their 2-1 success at home to Bristol City and were largely dominated during last Saturday's 0-0 draw at Preston.

Shota Arveladze's Tigers crashed out of the EFL Cup on Thursday, losing 2-1 at League Two Bradford, and look set to suffer a second defeat in five days.

Bristol Rovers v Oxford

League One rivals Bristol Rovers and Oxford have each taken three points from their first two games but there could be a gap in class at the Memorial Ground, where the visitors look good value to get the victory.

Oxford are perennial promotion contenders and their 76-point haul last term – only enough for eighth place – was actually two more than the previous campaign when they ended up in the playoffs.

They have started solidly enough this term – following up a 1-0 loss at Derby with a 1-0 success at home to Cambridge – and will be looking at the top six as their minimum target.

The outlook could be very different for newly-promoted Rovers, who are trying to re-establish themselves in League One with a weaker squad.

They are sorely missing Elliot Anderson and Connor Taylor, who were key loan signings last season, and are set to suffer a second home defeat following their 2-1 loss against Forest Green.

Wycombe v Shrewsbury

High expectations have dampened at Shrewsbury after they took just one point from two League One games, but the Shropshire side can show their quality by avoiding defeat at promotion-chasing Wycombe.

The Shrews should improve on last season's 18th place and they can cause problems for Wycombe, who lost 3-0 at Bolton last weekend.

Sutton v Barrow

League Two Barrow are gaining greater respect after registering 3-2 wins away to Stockport and at home to Bradford and their excellent start can continue with at least a point against Sutton at Gander Green Lane.

Sutton have taken one point from two games as they adjust to the summer departure of winger David Ajiboye and goalkeeper Dean Bouzanis and their winless start could be extended.

Accumulator

Portsmouth 23-20, Bolton 13-10, Wimbledon Evs, Northampton 5-6
£1 acca returns £18.10 with Betfred.

First scorer

Mikael Mandron Tranmere v Gillingham
at 7-1 Betfred

Powerful centre-forward Mikael Mandron scored a superb goal in Gillingham's 2-0 success at Wimbledon in the EFL Cup first round on Tuesday and he looks a likely first scorer against Tranmere at Prenton Park.

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