Dan Childs: Best bets for Saturday's EFL football

When to bet

Kick-offs 3pm Saturday

Best bets

Accrington draw no bet
3pts 10-11 Betfred
Salford
2pts 11-8bet365, Betfred, Betway
Bradford
2pts 7-8 Betway
Oldham or draw double chance
2pts 10-11 Betfred

Verdicts

Rochdale v Accrington Stanley

Improving Accrington have lost just one of nine matches in all competitions and their climb away from Sky Bet League One relegation danger can continue with a victory over struggling Rochdale.

John Coleman's side made sure of qualification for the EFL Trophy knockout stages by winning 3-0 at Oldham on Tuesday but their main priority is to move into a more comfortable position in the league.

They started the season poorly, taking one point from the first four games, but the tide has turned and there were positive signs in last Saturday's 2-2 draw at home to Oxford.

Stanley twice came from behind against Oxford, who had gone into the game on a three-match winning sequence which included a stunning 6-0 success at Lincoln and a 4-0 home win over Premier League West Ham.

But Coleman's side gave as good as they got and showed they can compete with one of the sides expected to push for promotion.

Playing at that standard, they should be too strong for Dale, who have not won since August.

Brian Barry-Murphy did a great job keeping Rochdale up last season but his skills are being tested by an injury crisis which sidelined key players Stephen Dooley, Eoghan O'Connell and Jim McNulty for last weekend's 3-2 defeat at Wimbledon.

Barry-Murphy has to make at least one more enforced change with regular left-back Rhys Norrington-Davies on international duty with Wales Under-21s and his understrength team look there for the taking.

Salford City v Cambridge United

Salford have taken time to find their feet in Sky Bet League Two but they were convincing 3-0 winners at Walsall last Saturday and can follow it up by defeating Cambridge at Moor Lane.

Considerable investment has reaped rewards for Salford, who have won four promotions in the last five seasons and are determined to do more than simply make up the numbers in League Two.

Despite their slow start, Salford are only six points adrift of the playoffs and their win at Walsall, who went into the match with four successive victories, was a sign that they are starting to click.

Salford manager Graham Alexander will be striving for greater consistency and the match against Cambridge offers a great chance for them to secure back-to-back wins for the first time this season.

Cambridge are two points better off but have gone three games without a win and played poorly in a 2-2 draw at home to Macclesfield last Saturday.

On-loan Tottenham midfielder Jack Roles provided the moment of the match against Macc, scoring with a sumptuous long-range strike, but he will be absent this weekend due to a call-up to the Cyprus Under-21 squad.

Centre-forward Jabo Ibehre is also out of contention after sustaining a long-term knee injury, leaving Colin Calderwood short of attacking options.

Calderwood's team drew 1-1 at basement boys Stevenage on their last road trip but they may be heading for defeat against the Ammies.

Morecambe v Bradford City

Sixth-placed Bradford are arguably the biggest club in League Two and they can get a little closer to where they feel they should be by defeating second-bottom Morecambe at the Globe Arena.

A decent atmosphere looks guaranteed with 1,600 Bradford supporters packing into the away end and the visitors should be slightly stronger on the park with key striker James Vaughan set to return from a one-game ban.

Bradford took a little time to shake off last season's relegation hangover but performances have steadily improved and last Saturday's well-deserved 2-1 victory at home to promotion rivals Swindon was encouraging.

A top-three finish will be their aim but survival is the only thing on the mind of Morecambe boss Jim Bentley, who has got used to working with one of the lowest budgets in the EFL.

Bentley has done a fantastic job in his eight years at the helm but his team haven't won since August and may struggle to halt Bradford's charge up the table.

Mansfield Town v Oldham Athletic

Mansfield have been one of the major disappointments in League Two this season and look poor value odds-on favourites to defeat fellow strugglers Oldham at Field Mill.

Under-fire Stags' boss John Dempster was relieved after watching Mansfield dig out a 1-0 win at Grimsby last Saturday with an injury-time goal from centre-back Krystian Pearce.

But it was far from a polished performance and the chances of a follow-up success over the Latics are hampered by suspensions for defenders Hayden White and Matt Preston.

Oldham have shown signs of improvement under their new manager Dino Maamria and battled hard to secure a 1-1 draw at home to highflying Cheltenham last Saturday.

A largely second-string Oldham side lost 3-0 at home to Accrington in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday but the return of the senior players including key defender David Wheater should help them avoid defeat.

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