Expert weekend predictions and football betting tips from Aaron Ashley

Free football tips, bets and analysis for this weekend's Premier League, EFL and European action.

Best bets

Wolves
2pts 11-8 Hills

Exeter draw no bet
3pts 4-5 Hills

Empoli
1pt 5-6 Hills

Watford v Wolves

3pm Saturday

Wolves are one of three teams in the Premier League still awaiting their first point of the campaign, but there has been enough promise in their performances to suggest they can get off the mark at Vicarage Road.

Wolves have suffered a trio of 1-0 defeats against Leicester, Tottenham and Manchester United but deserved better on each occasion and should relish this easier test.

Bruno Lage’s men won the shot count in all three of those fixtures, registering a total of 57 shots to just 27 against, and could be travelling to Watford protecting an unbeaten start had they been more ruthless in front of goal.

Wolves have adopted a more attacking style in the early days of Lage’s reign and although results are yet to follow, wide men Adama Traore and Francisco Trincao are two players to have stood out.

That pair look ready to do some damage and even if Wolves are without star striker Raul Jimenez, who could be unavailable after being stopped from playing for Mexico during the international break, they look worthy of a wager.

New boys Watford got their campaign off to a perfect start with a 3-2 win at home to Aston Villa, but losses to nil at Brighton and Spurs have followed and as the season progresses a lack of firepower may hurt them.

Scunthorpe v Exeter

3pm Saturday

Draws are becoming all too common for Exeter, who have shared the spoils in four of their first six League Two matches, but they should make their presence felt at Scunthorpe.

A 3-0 humbling at Leyton Orient remains the Grecians’ only defeat of the campaign and their draws with Harrogate, Forest Green and Bradford - the current top three - now look better than they first appeared.

Scunthorpe saw their budgets drastically cut over the summer and their only victory from six attempts this season was a 1-0 win at home to Tranmere, when a fourth-minute penalty from Myles Hippolyte was all that separated the sides.

That is one of just four goals scored by the Iron, who were toothless in a 2-0 reverse at Northampton last weekend, and their defence could now also be an area of weakness.

The influential Emmanuel Onariase is suspended and fellow centre-back George Taft is an injury doubt, which enhances the chances of Exeter claiming maximum points.

Empoli v Venezia

2pm Saturday

Empoli and Venezia both celebrated promotion from Serie B last season but it is the hosts who have settled best in the Italian top flight.

Empoli were Serie B champions last term - finishing 14 points ahead of playoff winners Venezia - and recorded a shock 1-0 success at Juventus prior to the international break.

Venezia, on the other hand, have suffered defeats to nil at ten-man Napoli and Udinese and look set for another dismal awayday at the Stadio Carlo Castellani.

Aurelio Andreazzoli’s side ended last season’s title-winning campaign unbeaten on home soil and their fortress should see them get the better of rock-bottom visitors Venezia.

Weekend accumulators

Banker
Leyton Orient
Orient have recorded home wins over Exeter and Bradford and should outclass second-bottom Oldham, who have lost five of their opening six games.

Blowout
Sheffield United
Goals remain a concern for Sheffield United, who have collected only two points from five games under Slavisa Jokanovic and scored just once. Peterborough may frustrate the blunt Blades at Bramall Lane.

Accumulator
Fulham 4-7, Wigan 6-10, Leyton Orient 4-5, Exeter 6-4.
£1 acca returns £11.30 with BoyleSports & Betfred

Both teams to score
Games at Southampton 4-7, Ipswich 7-10, Walsall 17-20. £1 treble returns £4.98 with Hills

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