Expert EFL predictions and free football tips from Dan Childs

When to bet

Kick-offs from 12.30pm

Best bets

Burnley
2pts 21-20 Coral, Hills

Gillingham
2pts 8-5 Hills, Power

Colchester or draw double chance
3pts Evs BoyleSports

Huddersfield
2pts 11-8 Coral, Hills, Ladbrokes

Dan Childs's EFL predictions

Oxford vs Burnley

Burnley have made a strong start in their pursuit of an immediate return to the Premier League, taking 13 points from their first six matches under new manager Scott Parker.

Relegation created a lot of uncertainty for the Clarets, who knew they might struggle to retain some of their best players.

There were several departures, including Wilson Odobert, Charlie Taylor, Sander Berge, Arijanet Muric and Dara O'Shea, who all secured moves back to the Premier League, and it meant Burnley needed to be smart with their recruitment drive.

So it's to the Clarets' credit that they sealed some eyecatching additions and emerged from the window with a squad still capable of challenging for promotion back to the top flight.

It may take a little longer before we see the best of Parker's side, but there have already been some positive signs.

The Clarets returned from the international break with a superb 1-0 victory at Leeds and they followed that statement success with a 2-1 home win over Portsmouth last weekend.

Burnley needed a 94th-minute winner from Josh Brownhill to defeat Pompey but three points was nothing less than their performance deserved.

Whereas Burnley are getting used to a drop in class, Oxford have been adjusting to a higher grade after promotion via the League One playoffs.

United are ninth with a 100 per cent home record but they have yet to take on a side of Burnley's calibre and it could be a sobering experience for Des Buckingham's men.

Oxford beat Stoke 1-0 in their last home outing but it came at a cost as key midfielder Cameron Brannagan suffered a knee injury which will leave him sidelined for at least another month.

Brannagan was absent for last Saturday's 2-1 loss at Bristol City and he could again be sorely missed against Burnley, who are worthy favourites for victory at the Kassam Stadium.

Reading vs Huddersfield

League One heavyweights Huddersfield need a response after back-to-back defeats and they can take home maximum points from their trip to Reading.

The Terriers were well below par in Tuesday's 2-0 loss at home to Blackpool, but they won 4-0 at Bolton in their last away game and should prove too strong for the Royals, who continue to be held back by off-field issues and have lost three of their last four.

Gillingham vs Barrow

League Two promotion hopefuls Gillingham have raised their game against some of the fourth tier's best sides this season and the Gills can again showcase their big-match mentality with a home win over leaders Barrow.

Gillingham have won their first three home league games of the season by an aggregate 8-1 scoreline and can count a Chesterfield side who were ante-post title favourites among their Priestfield victims.

The Gills defeated another League Two big-hitter in Notts County last weekend, when Elliott Nevitt's goal clinched a deserved 1-0 success at Meadow Lane.

Gillingham climbed to second with their win in the East Midlands and they will have their sights trained on top spot this weekend.

Barrow reached the fourth-tier summit with a 2-0 home win over injury-hit Newport a week ago, but they have won only two away matches in 2024 and may fall short on their long trip to Kent.

Walsall v Colchester

Walsall bowed out of the EFL Cup on penalties against Premier League Leicester on Tuesday and their midweek exertions may count against them when they entertain Colchester.

The Saddlers have recorded three single-goal league successes at the Bescot Stadium this season but any drop in standards following their cup exit could be seized upon by improving an Colchester side who are unbeaten in five.

Accumulator

Burnley 21-20, Middlesbrough 4-6, Birmingham 11-20, Gillingham 8-5
£1 acca returns £13.80 with Hills

First goalscorer

Ronan Coughlan Cheltenham v Fleetwood
at 13-2 BoyleSports

The Fleetwood striker has bagged four goals in seven appearances this season and can strike the first blow in the Cod Army's clash at Cheltenham.

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