Dan Childs: free football tips for Saturday's EFL matches

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

When to bet

Kick-offs 3pm Saturday

Best bets

QPR
3pts 4-6 Betfred
Back this tip with CoralBirmingham +0.5 on Asian handicap
2pts 19-20 bet365Back this tip with bet365
Peterborough
2pts 7-5 bet365
Back this tip with bet365
Fleetwood draw no bet
1pt 6-4 bet365
Back this tip with bet365

Betting previews

QPR v Charlton

Memories of Charlton's impressive start to the Sky Bet Championship season are fading fast and the injury-hit Addicks could slip closer to the bottom three with a defeat to QPR at Loftus Road.

Charlton's long-term future has looked more secure since East Street Investments agreed to purchase the club from Roland Duchatelet.

The deal, which remains subject to EFL approval, should mean manager Lee Bowyer is given funds to strengthen the squad in January.

And an upgrade of the squad is desperately needed because Bowyer's side are heading for a relegation battle.

After 12 matches Charlton were seventh and outside the playoffs only on goal difference, but they have taken just three points from their last ten games, leaving them six points above the drop zone.

Bowyer's team selections have been massively hampered by injuries although he has had some positive news this month with top scorer Lyle Taylor (knee) making three substitute appearances.

Taylor could be primed to make his first start since August but Bowyer remains without several key players including midfielders Jonny Williams (hamstring) and Sam Field (knee), who suffered setbacks this week.

An understrength Charlton side may be no match for QPR, who have the potential to push for the playoffs.

QPR manager Mark Warburton must address the poor defending on show during last Saturday's 5-3 loss at Barnsley.

But his attack, featuring nine-goal attacking midfielder Ebere Eze and strikers Nahki Wells and Jordan Hugill (eight goals each) looks as potent as anything outside the top two.

QPR may yet have a say in the promotion race and look solid odds-on favourites this weekend.

Hull v Birmingham

Birmingham's season is hanging in the balance but they have scope to push higher up the table and look overpriced to avoid defeat at Hull.

The majority of second-tier teams are still dreaming of promotion, including 14th-placed Hull and 15th-placed Birmingham, who are just five and seven points outside the top six.

Pep Clotet's Birmingham have been on a poor run, winning one of eight games, but there were positives to take from last Saturday's 3-2 loss at home to title-chasing West Brom.

The Blues deservedly led the game 2-1 with less than 20 minutes remaining but they were undone by two superb goals from WBA substitute Charlie Austin.

Losing a derby game was a bitter disappointment but, playing at that standard, Birmingham are sure to win more often than they lose.

Hull drew 2-2 at Charlton last week but their performance was poor. The Tigers struggled to create chances against injury-ravaged opponents and need to be much better of they are to justify warm favouritism against Birmingham.

Bristol Rovers v Peterborough

Bristol Rovers showed there is life after departed manager Graham Coughlan by winning 1-0 away to Plymouth in an FA Cup second round replay on Tuesday, but their Sky Bet League One promotion push could be dented by a loss to Peterborough at the Memorial Stadium.

Coughlan has moved on to Mansfield, citing his desire to move closer to his family, and is set to take Joe Dunne, his former assistant, with him to Field Mill.

It leaves Rovers coach Kevin Maher to take the team this week and he is hoping for good news on the injury front with star striker Jonson Clarke-Harris pushing to return from a two-game absence.

Clarke-Harris may be needed because Rovers are up against one of the strongest attacks in the third tier.

Peterborough have scored 43 goals in 20 league games and should be able to revert to their first-choice attack with Marcus Maddison fully recovered from illness.

The Posh are on an eight-match unbeaten run and their star-studded attack, featuring strikers Mohamed Eisa (13 league goals) and Ivan Toney (14) may just give them the advantage.

Rotherham v Fleetwood

Poor away results are holding Fleetwood back but Joey Barton's side can send out a statement to the rest of League One by defeating Rotherham at the New York Stadium.

The Cod Army are ninth, just one point behind sixth-placed Rotherham who have played two games more.

They have won five of their last seven matches, including two away wins in the FA Cup and one in the EFL Trophy.

Fleetwood seem to be getting the hang of playing on the road and that may be bad news for the Millers, who are winless in three league games after a 2-2 draw at Southend last weekend.

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