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Tipping columns

Expert EFL predictions and free football tips from Dan Childs

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

When to bet

Kick-offs from 12.30pm

Best bets

Leyton Orient or draw double chance
3pts 7-5 Betfair, Paddy Power

Luton
2pts 10-11 Coral, Hills, Ladbrokes

Charlton
2pts 11-8 general

Port Vale
2pts 11-10 Betfair, Hills, Paddy Power

Dan Childs's EFL predictions

Stockport v Leyton Orient

League One strugglers Leyton Orient have been slow out of the blocks for a second successive season but they won 1-0 at Reading last Saturday and can take at least a point at fifth-placed Stockport.

Stockport are 11-4 to win back-to-back promotions while Orient are no bigger than 9-2 to be relegated, but five-match form can be pretty unreliable. At the end of August last year,  Portsmouth and Derby were beneath the playoff spots but finished first and second, while Port Vale, a point above them in sixth place, ended up relegated.

Stockport and Orient will be more aware than most clubs about the potential of recovering from a slow start.

The Hatters piled up 92 points on their way to winning last season's League Two title but only five of those points came in the opening six games.

Orient lost their opening three League One matches last term before recovering strongly and getting themselves into the race for playoff places.

The Londoners are off to another slow start but three of their four defeats have been single-goal losses to Bolton, Birmingham and Charlton, who were among the pre-season promotion favourites.

They were worthy winners at Reading last weekend and head to Stockport with confidence restored.

Stockport went into the season on the crest of a wave and made the most of a kind early-season schedule by taking 11 points.

However, they drew 1-1 away to unfancied Crawley last Saturday and look short odds for a return to winning ways.

Luton v Sheffield Wednesday

Another club recovering from a slow start are Championship side Luton, who look a solid wager to defeat fellow strugglers Sheffield Wednesday at Kenilworth Road.

Luton grew accustomed to losing during last season's relegation from the Premier League and have taken longer than they would like to readjust to life in the Championship.

However, they stopped the rot in difficult circumstances last weekend when winning 1-0 away to Millwall.

Rob Edwards' side did plenty of defending against Millwall, who are a tough proposition on home soil.

They will look to get on to the front foot against Wednesday and shouldn't take too long to expose the Owls' shaky defence.

Wednesday started the season with a 4-0 win at home to Plymouth but they have taken just one point from their last four matches, scoring one goal and conceding ten.

Danny Rohl's side were beaten 3-0 at Millwall on their last road trip and they might not fare much better this time.

Charlton v Blackpool

Veteran manager Steve Bruce got off a strong start in the Blackpool dugout, steering them to a 2-1 win at home to Exeter, but the size of his task could become apparent when the Tangerines take on highflying Charlton at the Valley.

Blackpool have taken just one point on their League One travels and could be swept aside by the Addicks, who sit third with 13 points from six matches.

Accrington v Port Vale

Port Vale have moved on from their slow start to the League Two season and can register a third straight win when taking on second-bottom Accrington at the Wham Stadium.

Darren Moore's Vale have ambitions to push for automatic promotion and they should have too much for winless Stanley, who look strong relegation candidates.

Accumulator

Luton 10-11, Sheffield United 6-10, Charlton 11-8, Barrow 1-2
£1 acca returns £10.91 with Hills

First goalscorer

Hakeeb Adelakun Salford v Walsall
at 16-1 Coral, Ladbrokes

Adelakun should be elevated to the Salford starting line-up after his two goals last weekend and he looks a likely first scorer against Walsall at the Peninsula Stadium.


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