Dan Childs: Best bets for Sunday's EFL football

Free football tips, bets and analysis for Sunday's EFL games.

When to bet

Kick-offs from 1pm Sunday

Best bets

Gillingham
3pts 4-6 generalBristol City
2pts 3-4 Coral
Coventry
2pts 19-10 bet365
Colchester
2pts 6-4 Coral
Scunthorpe +0.5 on Asian handicap
2pts 21-20 bet365
Swindon
2pts 11-8 bet365

Betting previews

Bristol City v Luton 3pm

Four successive defeats have severely dented Bristol City's Sky Bet Championship promotion hopes but the Robins can wrap up 2019 with a home victory over Luton.

City manager Lee Johnson was massively frustrated on Thursday after watching his side throw away a 2-1 lead in a 3-2 loss at Charlton.

But he has a deep squad and one of his more attractive options is to recall winger Niclas Eliasson to the starting line-up.

Eliasson is second on the second-tier assists table with nine despite starting only seven of the 24 league games.

And he gave Johnson another hefty nudge on Thursday when he came off the bench to provide an assist and a goal within 15 minutes of his introduction.

With Eliasson's help, City should have the edge over the struggling Hatters.

Luton have the worst defence in the division and will be feeling low after conceding an injury-time equaliser in a 3-3 draw at home to Luton on Thursday.

That result leaves the Hatters in the bottom three and manager Graeme Jones may need to target a few January deals to give the club a fighting chance of staying up.

Wycombe v Coventry 3pm

Coventry are the only team in League One without an away win but they can break their duck with a victory at leaders Wycombe.

The third tier is incredibly tight with four points separating second-placed Ipswich from tenth-placed Blackpool.

Leaders Wycombe have a six-point cushion but they will feel far from comfortable after back-to-back losses at Oxford and Portsmouth.

Gareth Ainsworth's side won a lot of tight games earlier in the season but they looked tired at Fratton Park and have a major disadvantage against ninth-placed Coventry, who did not have a game on Thursday.

The Sky Blues are just one point outside the playoffs and, if they can get their away form right, they could emerge as automatic promotion contenders.

Colchester v Exeter 3pm

Colchester acquitted themselves admirably when losing 3-0 to Manchester United in the EFL Cup quarter-finals but the Sky Bet League Two promotion race is their priority and they look overpriced to defeat fellow highflyers Exeter.

John McGreal's side are unbeaten in eight league games and should be full of confidence after victories at home to Carlisle (3-0) and away to Leyton Orient (3-1).

They are showing no signs of tiredness and may have the edge over Exeter, who played on a heavy pitch in Thursday's hard-fought 1-0 success at home to Newport.

Crewe v Scunthorpe 3pm

Scunthorpe have won their last four away games and look dangerous opponents for League Two promotion hopefuls Crewe at Gresty Road.

The Iron triumphed 1-0 at Forest Green earlier this month and can take at least a point against Crewe, who were well below par in a 3-1 loss at Salford on Thursday.

Port Vale v Swindon 3pm

League Two leaders Swindon have dropped just two points in their last nine games and they can stay on the winning trail when facing tenth-placed Port Vale in the Potteries.

All eyes will be on Swindon's top scorer Eoin Doyle, who is bidding to score for a 12th successive league match.

But it is not all about Doyle as winger Keshi Anderson bagged a hat-trick in Thursday's 4-0 success at home to Cambridge, and Swindon's classy attack may be too slick for Vale, who are winless in five.

Gillingham v Rochdale 1pm

Gillingham are eyeing up a Sky Bet League One promotion push and they can put themselves in a better position by defeating struggling Rochdale.

Steve Evans has had to be patient with his Gills side, who looked more like relegation candidates than promotion hopefuls in the early part of the season.

But Gillingham have steadily improved and have gone five games unbeaten after a 0-0 draw at Ipswich on Thursday.

Going into the Ipswich game the Gills might have settled for a draw, but they left Portman Road feeling short-changed after creating the better chances.

Ipswich did not register a shot on target but they are far from alone in struggling to breach a stubborn Gillingham defence.

Evans' team have conceded just three goals in their last nine matches and may be just a striker short of mounting a bold bid for a top-six finish.

Watford loanee Alex Jakubiak is their top scorer with five goals but has had to settle for fleeting appearances off the bench lately.

Due to the heavy schedule Jakubiak may get his chance against Dale, who are getting dragged into relegation trouble.

Brian Barry-Murphy's side play some nice football but have lost seven of their last eight league games and another reverse looks likely.

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