Dan Childs: Free football tips & predictions for Saturday's EFL matches

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

When to bet

Kick-offs from 3pm

Best bets

Cambridge United
2pts 6-5 Hills
Shrewsbury
1pt 23-20Betfred, Betway
Carlisle
1pt 29-20Betfred, Hills

Cambridge Utd v Barrow

League Two leaders Newport can enjoy a free weekend after their clash at Grimsby was postponed due to international call-ups but they could pay a short-term price by relinquishing top spot to Cambridge, who look a solid bet to beat Barrow at the Abbey Stadium.

Cambridge consolidated second place with a 2-1 victory at home to big-spending Salford and have the incentive of moving to the summit if they see off the 18th-placed Cumbrians.

The lack of fans doesn't seem to have affected Mark Bonner's highflyers, who have taken 14 points from six home games.

Bonner's side have been excellent at both ends of the pitch and are the EFL's top scorers having netted 24 times in 11 games.

Barrow are in for a tough test and their away record of four losses in five games does not inspire much confidence.

David Dunn's side have competed well in all of their matches and are yet to lose by more than one goal.

However, the fine margins are often going against them and both of their victories - 4-2 away to Mansfield and 1-0 at home to Brarford - came against teams who were reduced to ten men for a large portion of the game.

The Bluebirds' main aim this season will be to stay up but it would not be a huge surprise if they suffered a fifth away defeat on one of their toughest trips of the season.

Shrewsbury v Swindon

Shrewsbury are the only League One team without a home win this season but they can prevail at the sixth attempt by defeating fellow strugglers Swindon.

Shrews manager Sam Ricketts promised a more attacking brand of football this term but his plans have been disrupted by injuries with winger Shaun Whalley (calf) and striker Leon Clarke (hamstring) among the players forced onto the sidelines.

However, the treatment room has been less busy in recent weeks and Shrewsbury responded last weekend with an impressive 2-0 victory away to Cambridge in the FA Cup first round.

They followed up with a 4-3 success at Crewe in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday and should be feeling more confident as they get ready to face a fifth-bottom Swindon side who are just two points and two places above them in the table.

Swindon are finding life a struggle in the third tier and could taste defeat for the fifth successive time on their league travels.

Carlisle v Cheltenham

Carlisle are one of three EFL teams with a 100 per cent home record and they can keep it going by defeating promotion rivals Cheltenham at Brunton Park.

Chris Beech's side are playing with intensity and showed they are a match for any side in the division by winning 3-2 at home to Newport in their last home game.

They are among the early frontrunners on merit and may be a shade too strong for Cheltenham, who have suffered 2-1 defeats at Port Vale and Oldham in their last two away fixtures.

Accumulator

Peterborough (11-10), Bradford draw no bet (17-20), Morecambe (11-8), Oldham (11-10)
£1 acca returns 19.42 with Hills

First scorer

Tom Eaves Hull v Burton
9-2 bet365

Hull forward Josh Magennis is on international duty for Northern Ireland so there should be a recall to the starting line-up for Tigers target man Tom Eaves, whose aerial power should cause problems for Burton's shaky defence.

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