The Early Bird: Weekend football predictions & free betting accumulator tips from James Milton

The Early Bird best bets 

Sunderland or draw double chance vs Manchester United
3pm Saturday
2pts 8-5 BoyleSports

Grimsby draw no bet vs Salford 
3pm Saturday
3pts 6-5 bet365, Paddy Power

Atletico Madrid to beat Celta Vigo 
Premier Sports 2, 8pm Sunday
3pts 5-6 Coral, Ladbrokes

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Best Premier League bet

Manchester United vs Sunderland

3pm Saturday

Manchester United and Sunderland are at opposite ends of the league table in terms of fan satisfaction and the Black Cats have little to fear on their trip to Old Trafford.

The ante-post relegation favourites have picked up 11 points from six games, demonstrating the kind of character and defensive resilience that Ruben Amorim's United lack.

A 2-0 loss at fellow promoted club Burnley is the only blot on Sunderland's record and their last two away results were a 0-0 draw at unbeaten Crystal Palace and a 1-0 win at Nottingham Forest.

Regis Le Bris' young side have done most of their best work in the second half of matches and summer signings such as goalkeeper Robin Roefs, defenders Nordi Mukiele and Omar Alderete and midfield general Granit Xhaka have settled in superbly.

United, in contrast, still look a disjointed side. They rode their luck in home wins over Burnley and ten-man Chelsea before their defence was exposed in comprehensive away defeats at Manchester City and Brentford.

Best EFL bet

Salford vs Grimsby

3pm Saturday

Grimsby knocked Manchester United's current crop out of this season's EFL Cup and Salford, owned by United's Class of '92, are in their sights this weekend.

The Mariners won 1-0 at Sheffield Wednesday, setting up a home League Cup fourth-round tie against Brentford, and they are also serious promotion contenders in League Two.

After a hectic start to the season, Grimsby have had a week to bask in their 7-1 rout of bottom club Cheltenham and they appeal with the draw no bet at Salford.

This selection is more pro-Grimsby than anti-Salford, who scored crucial late goals in wins over Tranmere, Shrewsbury and Swindon before losing 2-1 at Bristol Rovers last weekend.

The hosts are without a clean sheet in six league games and are short enough against Grimsby, who have beaten leaders Walsall and ante-post favourites MK Dons on the road.

Best European bet

Celta Vigo vs Atletico Madrid

Premier Sports 2, 8pm Sunday

Suggestions that the Diego Simeone era at Atletico Madrid might be petering out have been silenced by two emphatic victories in the last week.

Atleti beat Real Madrid 5-2 in La Liga last Saturday, putting five goals past their rivals for the first time since 1960, and followed up with a 5-1 Champions League drubbing of Eintracht Frankfurt.

Admittedly, Eintracht are hardly a model of defensive grit, conceding eight goals in their previous two Bundesliga games, but Atletico should continue on their merry way with a win at Celta Vigo.

They will benefit from a longer break than Celta, who were in Europa League action against PAOK Salonika on Thursday, having lost 2-1 at Stuttgart on matchday one.

The hosts are winless in La Liga, with two defeats and five 1-1 draws from seven games, and scoring once is unlikely to be enough against Atletico.  

Bankers, longshots and acca tips 

The Early Bird Banker

Lincoln 3-4
The Imps beat ante-post favourites Luton 3-1 in their last home fixture in League One and opponents Exeter have lost all six of their games against teams above them.

Weekend longshot

Under 1.5 goals in Borussia Dortmund vs RB Leipzig 6-1 
Dortmund scored four goals from an xG of just over one against Athletic Bilbao on Wednesday and visitors Leipzig have conceded only once in their last four Bundesliga games. 

The Early Bird Acca

Newcastle 4-6
Bolton 4-9
Lincoln 3-4
Atletico Madrid 5-6

£1 accumulator returns £7.70 with Coral and Ladbrokes

Both Teams To Score Treble

Brentford 8-13
Swansea 10-11
Juventus 4-5

£1 accumulator returns £5.57 with bet365

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Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are 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. Registration required.

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