Dan Childs: Free football tips & predictions for Saturday's EFL matches

Free football tips, best bets and expert accumulator advice for the weekend's League One and League Two matches.

When to bet

Kick-offs from 3pm Saturday

Best bets

Salford
2pts 13-10 Betfred

Ipswich
2pts 17-20Betfred, Hills

Northampton draw no bet
2pts Evs general

Leyton Orient draw no bet
1pt 11-10Betfred

Walsall v Salford

Big-spending Salford will feel their have plenty of room for improvement after taking 12 points from their opening ten League Two fixtures but they are only three points adrift of the playoff places and can take closer order by beating lowly Walsall at the Bescot Stadium.

There were some early-season teething problems for new-look Salford, who took just two points from their opening four matches. However, results have improved and last Saturday's dominant 2-0 success at Colchester was their most convincing performance of the season.

The Ammies have a lot further to go but should fancy their chances of taking three points from the Saddlers, who have gone three games without a victory.

Walsall played well in their 2-2 draw at Exeter last time out when Barnsley loanee George Miller grabbed both of their goals.

Miller has been a revelation, netting four times in five league appearances, but quality attacking alternatives are thin on the ground with Rory Holden and Conor Wilkinson still injured.

Walsall are further weakened this weekend with on-loan goalkeeper Carl Rushworth is away with England's Under-21s. His understudy, Jack Rose, is well thought of, but could be in for a busy afternoon against improving Salford.

Ipswich v Shrewsbury

League One leaders Wigan and Sunderland have been afforded a weekend off due to international call-ups and their inaction should encourage fellow promotion hopefuls Ipswich, who look solid favourites to see off Shrewsbury at Portman Road.

It has been an extremely disappointing start to the season for Ipswich, who are 19th after last Saturday's 2-1 loss at Accrington.

However, the Tractor Boys are hugely ambitious and had been showing encouraging signs prior to that reverse, taking seven points from their last three fixtures in September.

They were 6-0 winners at home to Doncaster in their last home outing and should have too much firepower for Shrewsbury even though Kosovan attacker Bersant Celina is on international duty.

Paul Cook has an array of quality attackers at his disposal, including Joe Pigott and Conor Chaplin who took advantage of rare starts by scoring in Tuesday's 2-0 success at Gillingham in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy.

However, the main threat to the Shrews will be QPR loanee Macauley Bonne, who has netted seven goals in his last six appearances.

Shrewsbury will have their work cut out containing the 25-year-old and could slump to their fifth loss in six away league games.

Hartlepool v Northampton

Northampton were left stunned by Sutton last weekend – going down 2-0 at home to the EFL new boys – but they are still among League Two's promotion-chasing pack and can respond by beating Hartlepool at Victoria Road.

Cobblers manager Jon Brady wasn't happy with his side's performance against Sutton, but his players were up against a strong opponent who had triumphed 4-0 at home to Carlisle the previous weekend.

Brady's side had been on a three-game unbeaten run prior to that defeat and are likely to face an easier task against Pools, who are on the slide after taking two points from the last four games.

Key trio Tyler Burey, Gavan Holohan and Gary Liddle remain sidelined for the hosts, who could suffer their first home league defeat of the campaign.

Barrow v Leyton Orient

Leyton Orient conceded two injury-time goals in last Saturday's painful 3-2 loss at Port Vale but they remain well-placed in the promotion race and can bounce back by defeating Barrow at Holker Street.

The Londoners are League Two's second-highest scorers thanks largely to the exploits of forwards Harry Smith, Aaron Drinan and Theo Archibald.

And their high-class attack could give them the advantage over the Bluebirds, who rose to eighth after last weekend's hard-fought 1-0 win at Mansfield.

Accumulator

Plymouth 6-5, Ipswich 17-20, Wycombe 8-13, Harrogate 4-6
£1 acca returns £11.01 with Betfred

First scorer

Courtney Baker-Richardson
Newport v Bradford
at 15-2 Betfred

Newport striker Courtney Baker-Richardson made 17 appearances in the Championship for Swansea in 2018-19 and can bag his second goal in as many games for the Exiles against Bradford.

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