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Expert EFL predictions and free football tips from Dan Childs: Back Sunderland

Black Cats poised to bounce back to form against Doncaster

Sunderland manager Lee Johnson is focusing on promotion
Sunderland manager Lee Johnson is focusing on promotionCredit: Harry Trump

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

When to bet

Kick-offs 3pm Saturday

Best bets

Sunderland
2pts Evs Betfred, Hills

Cardiff
2pts 11-10BoyleSports, Hills

MK Dons or draw double chance
2pts 5-6Betway

Click here to get Dan Childs's predictions for Saturday's Super 6 matches

Sunderland v Doncaster

Sunderland are growing increasingly frustrated by their struggle to impose themselves on the League One promotion race but they are capable of putting a run together and can defeat promotion rivals Doncaster at the Stadium of Light.

One of the advantages Sunderland have over many third-tier rivals is the depth of their squad.

They have decent options all over the pitch and the challenge for manager Lee Johnson is to come up with the right selection.Sunderland suffered a setback on Tuesday, losing 2-1 at Shrewsbury, but they were unbeaten in the previous five games, including a 3-0 EFL Trophy quarter-final success at MK Dons which was achieved despite Johnson making five changes to the starting line up.

The Black Cats' strength in depth should come in handy with games coming thick and fast and it might give them the edge over Doncaster, who have fewer senior players.

Donny are more reliant on keeping players fit and free of suspension and they are without influential centre-back Tom Anderson, who was forced off with concussion in the early stages of Tuesday's 3-1 loss at Fleetwood and is expected to sit out the next two games.

Doncaster's back-line looked far more vulnerable without Anderson and it could be exposed by a Sunderland side spearheaded by powerful striker Charlie Wyke, who has netted 13 league goals this season.

Cardiff v Coventry

Mick McCarthy knows the Championship inside out and his strong start in the Cardiff dugout can continue with a victory over Coventry.

McCarthy inherited a side closer to the relegation places than the playoffs but has transformed the mood in a short space of time.

His team are unbeaten in four games, coming from behind to post draws away to Barnsley and at home to Millwall and leading from the front in successes at Bristol City and Rotherham.

Reaching the playoffs looks a long-shot but Cardiff are playing well and McCarthy seems to have found the perfect position for Liverpool loanee Harry Wilson, who is playing in a central attacking midfield role.

Coventry's season will be a success if they can consolidate last season promotion.

They are playing some decent football and have a three-point cushion between themselves and the drop zone but could experience a nervous couple of months before their fate is decided.

The Sky Blues have lacked a cutting edge without injured striker Matt Godden and their toothless attack could cost them this weekend.

Hull v MK Dons

MK Dons have repaired a lot of the damage from their slow start to the season and their push towards the top half of League One can be maintained at second-placed Hull where they look decent value to avoid defeat.

Russell Martin's Dons have lost just one of their last six away games and are closer to the top six than the bottom four.

They went toe-to-toe at home to Sunderland last Saturday, earning a 2-2 draw, and can match another of the division's biggest clubs in Yorkshire.

Hull have been in promotion contention throughout the campaign and haven't been outside the top three since November.

However, they were out of sorts in last Saturday's 1-0 loss at basement boys Burton and struggled to create clear chances in Tuesday's 0-0 draw at home to Lincoln.

Grant McCann's side seem to be going through a sticky patch and are opposable at fairly short odds.

Accumulator

Watford (6-10), Norwich (4-5), Oxford (8-15), Bristol Rovers (5-4)

Click to add Dan's football accumulator to your William Hill betslip

First scorer

Sam Nicholson Bristol Rovers v Swindon
at 7-1 bet365

Sam Nicholson was injured for much of January but he is a big player for Bristol Rovers and can make his mark against Swindon in a key League One relegation battle.


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Dan ChildsRacing Post Sport

Published on 12 February 2021inFootball tips

Last updated 15:45, 12 February 2021

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