Expert FA Cup and EFL predictions and free football tips from Dan Childs

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Saturday's FA Cup third round and EFL matches.

When to bet

Kick-offs from 12.30pm Saturday

Best bets

Reading 12.30pm
3pts 7-5 Coral

Boreham Wood draw no bet 3pm
2pts 11-10general

Bristol Rovers 3pm
3pts 13-10 general

Colchester draw no bet 3pm
2pts 7-5Betfair, Power

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Reading v Watford

Watford have experienced three FA Cup third-round exits since reaching the final in 2019 and their poor recent record in the competition could continue when they take on Championship rivals Reading.

The FA Cup has a special place in the heart of Reading manager Paul Ince, who has two winners' medals from his Manchester United days.

Ince plans to make a few changes as a consequence of the busy recent schedule but has ruled out the large-scale use of academy players.

And a Reading team featuring a combination of regular starters and fringe players should be too strong for injury-ravaged Watford, who are missing 15 senior men for the trip to Berkshire.

Hassane Kamara's suspension, 13 injuries and the ineligibility of new signing Mateus Martins, who is awaiting international clearance, account for the Watford absentees, and there is every chance of Hornets manager Slaven Bilic making additional changes to protect what is left of his first-team squad.

Bilic's side pulled off a remarkable 1-0 victory at Norwich on Monday to move fourth in the Championship, but they paid a heavy price with Keinan Davis, Christian Kabasele and Samuel Kalu suffering injuries.

The Croat will not expect his squad to dig as deep in Berkshire and a drop-off in performance should afford Reading a smooth passage to the fourth round.

Boreham Wood v Accrington

Boreham Wood flew the flag for the National League by reaching last season's FA Cup fifth round and they can maintain a presence in this season's competition by beating Accrington at Meadow Park.

The Hertfordshire side sprang a surprise in the second round by winning 2-0 at Bristol Rovers and they should fancy their chances of taking another League One scalp.

Accrington are fifth-bottom in League One having won just one of their last 12 league games and their absentee list has grown over the last ten days with creative midfielder Joe Pritchard and right back Mitch Clark suffering major injuries.

Stanley manager John Coleman will be wheeling and dealing in the transfer market to give his team the best hope of staying up but his squad looks stretched at the moment and Boreham Wood could take advantage.

Cambridge v Bristol Rovers

Joey Barton's Bristol Rovers are eyeing up a League One playoff push and can move to within three points of the top six by defeating injury-hit Cambridge at the Abbey Stadium.

The Pirates have plundered maximum points from three of their last five league games and they can topple sixth-bottom United, who are expected to be missing injured defenders Harrison Dunk, Zeno Ibsen Rossi and Lloyd Jones.

Harrogate v Colchester

Colchester have enhanced their League Two survival hopes with two wins in their last three games and they look the likelier winners against fellow strugglers Harrogate at Wetherby Road.

The Essex outfit are playing much better than they were earlier in the season and can expose their Yorkshire hosts, who have gone five games without a clean sheet.

Accumulator

Nottingham Forest 4-5, Ipswich 3-5, Mansfield 20-21, Newport 13-10
£1 acca returns £12.92 with Coral

First scorer

Zian Flemming Millwall v Sheffield United
at 15-2 bet365

The Millwall attacking midfielder has scored ten goals in 22 Championship appearances and can open the scoring against Sheffield United in the FA Cup third round.

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