Expert EFL Predictions and football betting tips from Dan Childs

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

When to bet

Kick-offs from 3pm Saturday

Best bets

Birmingham draw no bet
3pts Evs general

Shrewsbury or draw double chance
3pts 4-6bet365

Cheltenham
3pts 20-23 Coral, Ladbrokes

Cambridge draw no bet
3pts 5-6bet365

Southend
2pts 19-10 general

Birmingham v Stoke

Clubs are often criticised for making managerial changes but Championship strugglers Birmingham are experiencing a timely bounce under Lee Bowyer and can pull further clear of the drop zone by beating mid-table Stoke.

Bowyer was a League Cup winner in his playing days with Birmingham and returned as the club's manager last month at a critical moment of the season.

At the time of his appointment Birmingham were three points above third-bottom Rotherham and had four fewer games left to play.

To make matters worse, Bowyer's first four games were against top-six teams.

However, Bowyer has always relished a challenge and got an immediate response from his new charges, who racked up seven points from a possible 12.

Home wins over Reading and Swansea were well deserved and a valuable point was added with a gutsy 0-0 draw at Brentford on Tuesday.

Birmingham's predicament has improved but they have work to do and will be hungry for three points against Stoke, who have seen their playoff hopes disappear.

Stoke were 2-1 losers at home to Millwall on Monday – leaving them 11 points outside the top six – and may not return to peak performance until next season.

Gillingham v Shrewsbury

Gillingham's hopes of finishing in the League One playoffs were significantly damaged by a 4-1 loss at Blackpool on Monday and they could suffer another blow against Shrewsbury, who are decent value to take at least a point at the Priestfield Stadium.

Steve Evans has done well to get the Gills into the top half but he operates with a small squad and there were signs of fatigue from his players in the loss at Bloomfield Road.

Only a string of wins would get Gillingham back in the mix but they face a tough test against stubborn Shrewsbury, who have lost six of 24 league games since appointing Steve Cotterill last November.

Cotterill has not been in the dugout since late-December due to a tough battle recovering from a bout of Covid but his management team, fronted by Aaron Wilbraham, have done a superb job and they can steer the Shrews to a decent result in Kent.

Cheltenham v Leyton Orient

Second-placed Cheltenham are showing no signs of flinching in the battle for promotion from League Two and look solid favourites to see off playoff-chasing Leyton Orient.

Michael Duff's side have won four of their last five home games, including an outstanding 4-0 success over promotion rivals Tranmere last Friday.

They have opened up a five-point gap to fourth-placed Bolton and can cement their position at the expense of Orient, who laboured to a 0-0 draw at home to lowly Walsall on Monday.

Cambridge v Exeter

League Two leaders Cambridge are keeping their cool in big games and can take another step towards promotion by defeating eighth-placed Exeter.

Mark Bonner's side have taken ten points from their last four games – all against teams in the current top nine – and can get the job done against the Grecians, who have lost on their last three road trips.

Southend v Crawley

Phil Brown can get his second Southend stint off to the perfect start. Second-bottom Southend have largely been written off as relegation fodder but can give themselves a lifeline against mid-table Crawley.

The Shrimpers picked up a deserved 1-1 draw at promotion-chasing Morecambe on Tuesday and have a better chance of beating Crawley, who are winless in six.

Accumulator

Bolton 21-20, Port Vale 11-8, Salford 11-10, Tranmere 11-8
£1 acca returns 24.39 with Hills

Click here to add Dan Childs's accumulator to your William Hill betslip

First scorer

Ian Henderson Salford v Stevenage
at 9-2 bet365

Salford striker Ian Henderson turned 36 in January but he is one of the most accomplished finishers in League Two and approaches the weekend full of confidence after bagging both goals in his team's 2-0 success at Forest Green on Monday.

Not got a bet365 account? Sign up today and get up to £100 in bet credits

Up to £100 in Bet Credits for new customers at bet365. Min deposit £5. Bet Credits available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply.

CLAIM OFFER HERE

MORE FREE BETS

Today's top sports betting stories

Follow us on Twitter @racingpostsport