Expert EFL predictions and free football tips from Dan Childs

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

When to bet

Kick-offs from 3pm Saturday

Best bets

Middlesbrough
3pts 8-11 bet365, Betfred, BoyleSports

Ipswich -1 on Asian handicap
3pts 7-10bet365

Cheltenham draw no bet
1pt 13-10Coral, Ladbrokes

Salford
2pts 29-20 bet365

Peterborough v Middlesbrough

Since the turn of the year Middlesbrough have finished just one weekend inside the Championship playoff places, but they are odds-on for a top six finish and can strengthen their promotion claims by winning at lowly Peterborough.

Boro's last action before the international break was a 2-0 defeat at home to Chelsea in the FA Cup fifth round.

However, they are well positioned in the league with two points separating them sixth-placed Blackburn, who have played two games more.

Chris Wilder's side have a reasonably clean bill of health after key players Paddy McNair and Dael Fry shook off minor injuries and are in good shape to attack their last nine league games.

Meanwhile, the outlook for Peterborough is about as promising as the recent English weather.

They won 3-1 at QPR last time out but are seven points from safety and manager Grant McCann looks like being forced into two changes with defender Ronnie Edwards testing positive for Covid and midfielder Ollie Norburn picking up a knee injury.

The Posh have taken just two points from their last seven home league games and another reverse looks likely.

Ipswich v Cambridge

Ipswich are holding out hope of making a late dash towards the League One playoff places and can extend their unbeaten sequence to 12 with a convincing victory over Cambridge at Portman Road.

There is very little room for error from the Tractor Boys, who are five points below Oxford and Sheffield Wednesday, who are fifth and sixth have played one game less.

Kieran McKenna's side will be targeting a 100 per cent record from their remaining games and might have one eye on boosting their goal difference against mid-table Cambridge, who are 15 points clear of the relegation zone.

Cambridge manager Mark Bonner has suggested that he will use all of his squad over the next three games but any relaxation of standards could be punished by Ipswich, who have won three of their last five without conceding a goal.

Accrington v Cheltenham

Cheltenham are 12th in League One with less than a month of the season to go and can stay in the top half for at least a few more days by beating mid-table Accrington at the Wham Stadium.

Given budget constraints Michael Duff's Robins are having a superb season and they look worth a draw-no-bet wager against Stanley, who have lost five of their last eight games.

Hartlepool v Salford

Salford are going under the radar in the League Two promotion race but they can edge closer to the playoff places with a victory over Hartlepool at the Suit Direct Stadium.

The Ammies have gone ten games unbeaten, winning their last three, and although they lie 11th, they are four points from seventh with a game in hand.

Hartlepool are one place and seven points worse off but they have little to play for and could suffer their 16th league defeat of the campaign.

Accumulator

MK Dons Evs, Sheffield Wednesday 4-11, Wycombe 4-11, Bristol Rovers 21-20. £1 acca returns £7.58 with Coral

First scorer

Oumar Niasse Morecambe v Burton 3pm
at 7-1 bet365

Former Everton striker Oumar Niasse has shown his quality with three goals in the last four matches and can break the deadlock for Burton away to struggling Morecambe, who have the worst defensive record in League One.

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