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

Free football tips, best bets and expert accumulator advice for Sunday's EFL matches.

When to bet

Kick-offs from 1pm

Best bets

Rotherham
2pts 8-11 Coral

Rochdale
1pt 33-20 Coral

Plymouth
1pt 11-8BoyleSports, Coral, Hills

Barrow or draw double chance
1pt 3-4BoyleSports

Accrington v Rotherham

Rotherham were one of the clubs worst affected by postponements in the 2020-21 season, but they seem to be having better luck this winter and can maintain their League One promotion push with a victory at mid-table Accrington.

Last season the Millers ended up with a fixture pile-up which impacted significantly on their battle to stay in the Championship.

Paul Warne's side were forced to play 12 matches in little more than a month and won one only of them as they ended up two points inside the drop zone.

It was a harsh way to be relegated but they have responded superbly and are firmly on course for an immediate return to the Championship.

Rotherham are on a 21-match unbeaten run which has included outstanding successes at home to Portsmouth and Sunderland, and a victory over Accrington would see them move seven points clear of third place.

They will be prepared for a stern test because Accrington are decent at home and have posted six of their nine league victories at the Wham Stadium.

Stanley boss John Coleman has had plenty of injury problems to deal with, especially in midfield with Matt Butcher, Joe Pritchard and Seamus Connelly missing chunks of the campaign, and has done well to get them to tenth place.

However, they have taken just a point from four home games against top eight teams and are unlikely to rattle Rotherham.

Carlisle v Rochdale

Rochdale's season has been a slow-burner but there is enough time for them to join the race for League Two playoff places and they can edge closer by beating Carlisle at Brunton Park.

Mid-table Dale have not been higher than 12th since the end of September but they looked far from ordinary when winning 3-0 at home to promotion-chasing Newport last Saturday.

Their performance against Newport was among their best of the season and it may be the start of a surge for Robbie Stockdale's side, who have enough quality to push higher up the table.

While Rochdale have their eye on reaching the top seven, Carlisle would probably settle for finishing above the bottom two.

The struggling Cumbrians are the division's lowest scorers with 15 goals in 21 games and sit just three points above the drop zone.

They have registered just two home league wins all season and are unlikely to increase the tally on Boxing Day.

Cheltenham v Plymouth

There are some big hitters in the League One promotion race but Plymouth are hoping there is room for a surprise package and they can cement their top-six position with a victory over Cheltenham at the Jonny-Rocks Stadium.

Argyle struggled between mid-November and mid-December – taking one point from five games – but they returned to winning ways with a well-deserved 1-0 success at home to Charlton last weekend.

They are only five points outside the automatic promotion spots and should fancy their chances against 14th-placed Cheltenham, who have conceded 40 goals, the worst defensive record among the top 17.

Cheltenham have done well since winning promotion from League Two but they have gone five games without a win and could be there for the taking.

Tranmere v Barrow

League Two strugglers Barrow are having a difficult season but they have had a positive start to December and can extend their unbeaten sequence to four games by taking at least a point against promotion-chasing Tranmere at Prenton Park.

The Bluebirds have had a lot of injury problems which contributed to a winless sequence of nine league games between early October and the end of November.

However, they have looked a lot stronger in recent weeks and were impressive 2-0 winners at home to highflying Swindon in their last league encounter.

Mark Cooper's side followed that up with a 2-0 victory at home to Ipswich in an FA Cup second-round replay and they are playing well enough to give fifth-placed Tranmere a serious run for their money.

Tranmere climbed into the playoffs with a 1-0 triumph at home to a depleted Leyton Orient last Saturday, but they are the lowest scorers among the top 19 teams and their lack of firepower could cost them against improving Barrow, who have kept three successive clean sheets.

Accumulator

Middlesbrough 23-20, Huddersfield 6-5, MK Dons 7-5, Oldham 23-20. £1 acca returns £24.41 with Coral

First scorer

Davis Keillor-Dunne Oldham v Scunthorpe
at 6-1 bet365

Davis Keillor-Dunne has been a bright spark in a poor season for Oldham, scoring six league goals, and he could be the man to break the deadlock at home to Scunthorpe.

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