Expert EFL Predictions and football betting tips from Dan Childs

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

When to bet

Kick-offs from 1pm Saturday

Best bets

Plymouth
3pts 5-4 Betfair, Betfred, Hills

Mansfield draw no bet
2pts Evsgeneral

Tranmere
2pts 17-10 Hills, Power

Walsall draw no bet
2pts 5-6bet365, BoyleSports

Accrington v Plymouth

Second-placed Plymouth are the only one of League One's top three in action this weekend and they can climb to the top of the table with victory at Accrington.

Argyle are the surprise package in the third-tier promotion race but there has been nothing fortunate about their progress.

Last season they had the worst defensive record in the division with 80 goals shipped in 46 games, but three months into the 2021-22 campaign they boast the third-meanest rearguard with just 14 goals conceded in 16 matches.

Ryan Lowe focused on bolstering his backline in the summer and new signings Dan Scarr, James Wilson, Brendan Galloway and Macauley Gillesphey have made a huge difference.

Galloway is on international duty with Zimbabwe this weekend but Gillesphey is a like-for-like replacement on the left of the back three, so there should be no cracks in Argyle's rock-solid structure.

Accrington could have a tough time finding a way through and their attack is substantially weaker without centre-forward Colby Bishop, who starts a three-game ban following his dismissal in a 5-1 loss at Port Vale in the FA Cup last weekend.

Stanley are also without key midfielders Joe Pritchard and Matt Butcher and confidence may have been dented after their collapse at Vale Park.

John Coleman's men are usually fired up in home games but they lack the quality to match the opposition and may struggle to avoid a seventh league defeat of the season.

Stevenage v Mansfield

Mansfield manager Nigel Clough believes the remainder of November could define the Stags' season and his team can begin in the right manner by defeating fellow League Two strugglers Stevenage.

Confidence is growing in the Mansfield camp after three successive wins, including last Saturday's impressive 1-0 victory at Sunderland in the FA Cup first round.

But there is much work to be done with Mansfield in 20th place – only two points clear of the drop zone and nine adrift of the playoffs.

Clough wants his team to be looking up the table sooner rather than later and there has been a noticeable improvement since key midfielder Stephen Quinn returned from a six-game ban.

Mansfield have looked a different side with Quinn at the heart of operations and should be the likelier winners against Boro, who seem to have regressed since last season's 14th-placed finish.

Stevenage's winless league run extended to five game with a 5-0 loss at Newport a fortnight ago and their difficult season could continue this weekend.

Tranmere v Sutton Utd

Promotion-chasing Tranmere have not been consistent enough for their manager Micky Mellon's liking, but they can build on a pair of cup victories by defeating Sutton United at Prenton Park.

Sutton arrive in Birkenhead a point above their hosts in League Two but three defeats in their last four league fixtures have taken some of the gloss off their bright start to the season.

Matt Grey's side were 1-0 winners at Hayes & Yeading in the FA Cup first round last weekend but the trip to Tranmere is a far tougher assignment and they may fall short.

Walsall v Harrogate

Walsall have been quietly moving up the League Two table and can break into the top half with a home win over Harrogate.

The Saddlers are unbeaten in their last six league fixtures and are aiming to maintain their record of scoring in each of their seven home league games.

Their recent improvement contrasts with a dip in fortunes for early-season pacesetters Harrogate, who have slipped from first to seventh after winning just two of their least ten league matches.

Harrogate threw away a two-goal lead on their last League Two road trip – losing 3-2 at Hartlepool – and their difficult spell may continue in the Midlands.

Accumulator

Sheffield Wednesday 8-13, MK Dons 8-13, Wycombe 21-20, Salford Evs
£1 acca returns £10.70 with Hills

Click here to add Dan Childs's acca to your William Hill betslip

First scorer

Jayden Stockley Burton v Charlton
6-1 bet365

Charlton striker Conor Washington is on international duty with Northern Ireland so the onus will be on his regular strike-partner Jayden Stockley to do the damage against Burton.

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