Dan Childs: free football tips for Saturday's EFL

Free football tips, bets and analysis for Saturday's EFL games.

When to bet

Kick-offs 3pm Saturday

Best bets

Colchester draw no bet
2pts 11-10 general

Crewe
2pts 7-8 Betway
Blackpool +0.5 on Asian handicap
2pts 4-5 bet365
Wimbledon or draw double chance
2pts 4-5 general
Back this tip with bet365

Betting previews

Scunthorpe v Colchester

Colchester have a massive EFL Cup quarter-final at Manchester United to look forward to on Tuesday but they also have a major interest in the Sky Bet League Two promotion race and can boost their chances with victory over Scunthorpe at Glanford Park.

John McGreal's side have taken ten points from last four games to climb to eighth, just one point outside of the playoffs and five adrift of the top three.

They will need to guard against being distracted by thoughts of the game at Old Trafford but have recent experience of performing well on the cusp of big cup matches.

The Essex outfit won 1-0 at home to Northampton three days before knocking Crystal Palace out of the EFL Cup, and they were 2-1 winners at home to Leyton Orient three days before they vanquished Tottenham.

Winning promotion is their top priority and they are playing well enough to topple Scunthorpe, who go into the match on a five-game winning sequence.

Scunny have repaired some of the damage of their dismal start to the season but are still well short of where they expected to be and take on Colchester with an understrength midfield.

Matt Lund and Levi Sutton are serving suspensions and there may be a temptation for manager Paul Hurst to recall Yann Songo'o, who is back in training after being out for a month with a dislocated toe.

Given their selection problems, Scunthorpe look poor value and there are grounds for backing Colchester at odds-against with the draw no bet.

Crewe v Mansfield

Highflying Crewe are among the most attractive teams to watch in League Two and their free-flowing football should be too much for struggling Mansfield, who are this week's visitors to Gresty Road.

The Railwaymen are the division's second-highest scorers with 32 goals and were comprehensive 5-0 winners against Morecambe in their last home league game.

They are just one point outside top three but have a game in hand on each those teams and are evens to be promoted this season.

Promotion was the pre-season ambition for Mansfield, who made some eye-catching summer signings including the captures of forwards Andy Cook and Nicky Maynard.

But the Stags have had a miserable time and have slipped to 18th after taking just one point from their last four matches.

They have failed to score in their last three league games and their supporters were not too impressed by last Saturday's 3-0 defeat at home to Cheltenham.

Mansfield's confidence seems to be draining away and they look in no fit state to take points from one of their toughest away games of the season.

Sunderland v Blackpool

Blackpool fans will look back fondly on 2019 – the year which saw the end of the unpopular ownership of the Oyston family – and they may have more to celebrate this weekend because the Seasiders look overpriced to pick up at least a draw against Sunderland on Wearside.

The Seasiders have won six of the last eight games in all competitions and are unbeaten in the last six Sky Bet League One matches.

They rose to fourth with a 3-1 victory at home to Fleetwood last Saturday and should not be fearful of Sunderland, who are punching well below their considerable weight.

Incredible loyalty is being shown by Sunderland fans, who continue to turn out in their droves to watch an ordinary team.

The Black Cats have not won in seven fixtures since an unconvincing 1-0 success at home to struggling Southend six weeks ago.

If anything performances are getting worse under new manager Phil Parkinson, who has been criticised for an unattractive style of play.

Parkinson's side have not scored more than one goal in any of their last ten matches and a lack of firepower could cost them against Blackpool, who usually find the net.

Blackpool's attack, spearheaded by 11-goal top scorer Armand Gnanduillet, is their strong suit.

If they score at the Stadium of Light, it should pave the way for them to secure at least a draw.

Wimbledon v Doncaster

Wimbledon have looked a better side since Glyn Hodges was promoted from assistant manager to manager in September and they can boost their League One survival hopes with a point or better at home to Doncaster.

At the age of 56, Hodges is sampling life as a permanent manager for the first time and it looked a tough gig with the Wombles on just three points after ten games.

But Hodges has approached the task with calmness and clarity and the players have responded by taking 14 points from nine games.

The Wombles are unbeaten in their last six home matches and can add to their tally against mid-table Doncaster, who are on a poor run.

Darren Moore's side have taken two points from their last three league games and they have exited two knockout competitions this month, losing 3-0 at Gillingham in the FA Cup and 3-0 at home to Leicester Under-21s in the EFL Trophy.

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