Expert EFL predictions and free football tips from Dan Childs: Saints can snap losing sequence

Best Thursday EFL bets

All matches kick off at 3pm Thursday

Best bets

Southampton
2pts 4-5 Coral, Hills

Derby draw no bet
1pt 6-5 general

Bradford
1pt 6-5 Hills

Cheltenham or draw double chance
2pts Evs general

Dan Childs's Thursday EFL acca

Ipswich 3-10
Southampton 4-5
Bradford 6-5
Notts County 10-11
£1 acca returns £9.83 with Hills

Best EFL first goalscorer bet

Charlie Whitaker in Harrogate vs Tranmere
at 8-1 bet365

The Tranmere attacking midfielder has netted in each of his last four away appearances.

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Dan Childs's EFL predictions

Southampton vs Millwall predictions

Southampton seemed reasonably happy to take a point from Monday's 1-1 draw away to Birmingham, but they aim to win all of their Championship home games and should seal maximum points against Millwall in a clash between promotion rivals.

Despite starting 2026 in the bottom half, Southampton are widely expected to mount a push towards the playoffs.

They approach the Millwall game on a four-game winless run but have shown improvement under rookie head coach Tonda Eckert, who has steered them to six wins, two draws and three defeats in his two months in the dugout.

Saints have averaged 2.27 goals per game under the attacking-minded Eckert and their free-flowing football could be too much for Millwall, who have been operating with a severely depleted midfield for several weeks.

Millwall have done well to remain among the promotion-chasing pack but they had to ride their luck in Monday's 2-1 triumph at home to Bristol City, where they were pushed back for long periods and lost the shot count 16 to eight.

Lions manager Alex Neil would love to give a breather to some of his regular starters but he has a lack of depth to his squad and may feel compelled to send out a similar starting 11.

Southampton's extra freshness and quality could be key to deciding the game. 

Derby vs Middlesbrough predictions

Second-placed Middlesbrough stuttered in the final throes of 2025, taking just one point from three matches, and their promotion hopes could be further damaged by a defeat at mid-table Derby.

Kim Hellberg got off to a flying start as Boro manager with wins in his opening four matches but the last few weeks have shown him why the Championship is so often described as one of the most competitive leagues.

By mid-December, Boro had a largely healthy squad and were playing with bundles of confidence.

But they have failed to find the net in the last three fixtures and have become stretched at the back with centre-backs Dael Fry, George Edmundson and Alfie Jones joining fellow defender Darragh Lenihan and attackers Riley McGree and David Strelec in a crowded treatment room.

Boro's backline consisted of four full-backs for Monday's fixture at home to Hull and their vulnerability was exposed by Darko Gyabi's 12th-minute goal in a 1-0 triumph for the visiting side.

Hellberg is looking for solutions and may hand a debut to Adilson Malanda, who has completed a loan spell at Charlotte FC.

However, Derby are sure to sense an opportunity as they go in search of only their fourth home win of the season.

The Rams were beaten 2-1 at Leicester on Monday despite going toe to toe with the Foxes but they will be determined to bounce back and can inflict Middlesbrough's third loss in four games.

Mansfield vs Bradford predictions

Bradford boss Graham Alexander is seeking a second straight promotionCredit: Getty Images

League One highflyers Bradford start the new year with high hopes of pushing for a second successive promotion and they can add another vital three points by defeating injury-hit Mansfield at Field Mill.

The Bantams have won five of their last six league games and are taking on Mansfield at the right time.

Nigel Clough's Stags have risen from fourth-bottom to 11th in an incredibly congested League One table thanks to hard-fought away wins over Barnsley and Bolton.

But Mansfield's players seemed to be running on fumes towards the end of the Bolton game and they might not have much more to give against a talented and uncompromising Bradford side.

Crewe vs Cheltenham predictions

Cheltenham suffered a 2-0 loss at home to Swindon in their final League Two match of 2025 but they can respond at mid-table Crewe.

The Robins are in 18th place, but they have taken 23 points from 13 matches under Steve Cotterill and look tough opposition for Crewe, who are winless in three after Monday's dismal 2-0 reverse at Newport.

Read more top football tips from the Racing Post:

Premier League accumulator tips: Jack Ogalbe has a 14-1 fourfold for Thursday  

EFL accumulator tips for Thursday January 1: Back our acca at 8-1 with bet365 

Blackburn vs Wrexham predictions, team news, betting tips and odds 

Sheffield United vs Leicester predictions, team news, betting tips, odds and Bet Builder 

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