Weekend tipping: Predictions, betting preview and free tips on Saturday's EFL

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

When to bet

Kick-offs 3pm Saturday

Best bets

Derby
2pts 7-5 Betfair, Betfred
Shrewsbury
1pt 13-10 Betfred, Hills
Charlton
1pt 10-11 general
Carlisle
2pts 8-11 Betway

Derby v Preston

Derby’s trip to Rotherham last weekend was postponed following a Covid-19 outbreak in the opposition camp, but extra rest over a hectic Christmas schedule may bolster their Boxing Day chances at home to Preston.

Derby find themselves embroiled in a Championship relegation scrap having collected just 16 points from 19 games, but the temporary appointment of Wayne Rooney has sparked significant improvement.

Rooney’s Rams stretched their unbeaten league run to six with a 2-0 win at home to third-placed Swansea ten days ago and it was their best performance of the campaign.

Derby were fully deserving of maximum points at Pride Park as the promotion-chasing Swans failed to register a shot on target and that defensive organisation has been the catalyst for their recent growth.

That was a fourth straight clean sheet for the resilient Rams, who also held top-seven duo Brentford and Stoke to goalless draws and ground out a 1-0 victory against Millwall at The Den.

With confidence on the rise, Derby’s squad depth should soon see them ease away from the drop zone and they are worth backing to punish Preston’s inconsistencies.

Alex Neil’s men have lost ten of their opening 20 games - only three Championship teams have suffered more defeats - and they often struggle to back up victory with another positive performance.

Preston were 1-0 winners at home to Bristol City last time out but they capitalised on an injury-hit Robins missing 12 first-team players and, even then, were hanging on for the final whistle.

The Lilywhites have lost four of their last five away league games, which includes on trips to Rotherham, Luton and Barnsley, and an improving Derby may also have their measure.

Wigan v Shrewsbury

Replacing rookie boss Sam Ricketts with the experience of Steve Cotterill has had the desired effect at Shrewsbury and they can record a fourth straight League One away success at relegation-threatened Wigan.

The Shrews had collected just nine points from 13 fixtures under Ricketts but have more than doubled that tally since the arrival of Cotterill, who has yet to taste defeat in five league outings.

Cotterill’s first two games in charge saw Shrewsbury record home draws with playoff hopefuls Accrington and Charlton and they have since franked that promise with three consecutive 1-0 wins at Hull, Lincoln and Doncaster - they sit second, third and fourth respectively.

Given those results against some of League One’s leading lights, Shrewsbury look too big to ignore at a Wigan side who find themselves second-bottom and are as short as 1-4 to endure consecutive relegations.

The Latics have been hit hard by financial troubles and although performances are improving, their squad is inexperienced and there have been more bad days in the third tier than memorable ones.

Wigan have won only two of their nine home league games this term and were trounced 5-0 by Rochdale, who forced 21 shots, in their last DW assignment.

Charlton v Plymouth

League One is proving the most competitive of England's top four divisions and Charlton, who sit seventh but only four points off the pace with a game in hand, can enhance their promotion credentials with a home win over Plymouth.

The Addicks have made a solid start to the season considering the defensive injuries they have been battling with, but there is more a settled look to their backline with Jason Pearce, Ben Purrington and Deji Oshilaja back competing for places.

Even so, it is their attacking quality that can exploit a Plymouth side who are leaking goals at a high rate and are troubled on their travels.

The Pilgrims boast the fourth worst defence in League One with 32 goals conceded in 18 games and they have collected only two points from eight away trips this season, losing each of their last four on the road.

Carlisle v Bolton

Carlisle have carried all before them at Brunton Park this season and can bolster their strong home record with victory over unreliable Bolton.

The Cumbrians are within two points of the League Two summit after winning eight of their nine home games, which includes claiming the scalps of early pace-setters Newport and playoff contenders Morecambe and Salford.

Chris Beech's side can maintain their home superiority against a Bolton side failing to live up to expectations as pre-season title favourites and languishing in 15th in the table.

The Trotters have lost three of their last four league matches, shipping six at home to Port Vale and being brushed aside 3-0 by Tranmere last time out.

Accumulator

Southampton draw no bet (4-6), Blackpool (6-10), Carlisle (7-10), Cheltenham (4-7).

£1 acca returns £7.13 with Hills.

First scorer

Anwar El Ghazi Aston Villa v Crystal Palace
15-2 BoyleSports

The Dutch winger, who is on penalty duty, has scored three goals in as many appearances since being reinstated to Villa's starting line-up. He opened the scoring in recent wins at Wolves and West Brom and may be overpriced to strike first against Palace.

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