Expert EFL & FA Cup predictions and free football tips from Dan Childs

Free football tips, best bets and expert accumulator advice for the weekend's Championship and FA Cup first-round matches.

When to bet

Kick offs from 1pm Saturday

Best bets

Birmingham
2pts 10-11BoyleSports

Sheffield United
2pts 6-4 Hills

Swindon draw no bet
2pts 5-4 Betfred, Hills

Gillingham
2pts 6-4Betfair

Birmingham v Reading

Six points separate fifth from 19th in a congested Championship table but one of the few teams finding some consistency are 13th-placed Birmingham, who look solid favourites to defeat struggling Reading.

Lee Bowyer's side are on a three-game winning streak and were convincing 3-0 victors at home to Bristol City on Tuesday despite having to make do without injured trio Maxime Colin, Kristian Pedersen and Tahith Chong.

Right wing-back Jordan Graham was forced off against City and has joined the injured list but Birmingham should have the tools to see off the threadbare Royals, who are on a four-game losing run.

Reading were missing 12 of their first-team squad for Tuesday's 1-0 loss at Millwall when they failed to register a shot on target.

Manager Veljko Paunovic has suggested midfielders Danny Drinkwater and Alan Halilovic may return to contention, but his team are nowhere near full strength and there could be further opportunities teenagers for Tyrell Ashcroft, Jahmari Clarke and Mamadi Camara, who were handed game time at the Den.

Reading hope to be stronger after the international break but, for now, they are a team worth opposing.

Blackburn v Sheffield United

Sheffield United cannot be happy to be languishing in 16th place with more than a third of the season gone but they are a side with scope to improve and can take a step forward with a win at Ewood Park.

The Blades are only six points outside the top six and have taken four points from their last two road trips, winning 3-2 at Barnsley and drawing 1-1 at Nottingham Forest.

United manager Slavisa Jokanovic is probably still working out his best team but Tuesday's performance at Forest featured plenty of positives including another livewire performance from Wolves loanee Morgan Gibbs-White, who netted his fourth goal of the season.

While the Blades appear to be slowly improving, Blackburn have massive questions to answer after losing 7-0 at home to Fulham on Wednesday.

Tony Mowbray's side were not helped in midweek by the 30th-minute dismissal of defender Jan Paul van Hecke, but they have had little time to get the performance out of their system and may suffer a second loss in four days.

Crewe v Swindon

League Two highflyers Swindon have progressed on and off the pitch since last season's relegation from the third tier and can demonstrate their capability to play at a higher level by winning at League One basement boys Crewe.

A change of ownership seems to be doing the trick for Swindon, who have recruited impressively and are fifth in League Two – just one point outside the top three.

Ben Garner's side have taken 20 of their 26 points on the road and can claim another away victory against the Railwaymen, who seem to be heading for relegation.

Crewe manager David Artell went through a difficult summer with several key players leaving the club and it seems that the replacements are not up to scratch.

A lack of confidence was evident when Artell's side laboured to a 1-1 draw at home to second-bottom Doncaster on Tuesday and it would not be a major surprise if their FA Cup journey was to end at the first hurdle.

Gillingham v Cheltenham

Cheltenham were victorious away to League One rivals Gillingham in the second round of the EFL Cup – drawing 1-1 and winning 5-4 on penalties – but the tables could be turned in their FA Cup first-round tie at the Priestfield Stadium.

Gills manager Steve Evans will be keen to exact revenge and his team approach the game in good heart after taking five points from their last three league fixtures.

Gillingham prefer to impose a direct style of play and use the strengths of their powerful front two, John Akinde and Vadaine Oliver.

The duo can be a handful if given the right type of service and they could be key figures against injury-hit Cheltenham, who are expected to be without injured central defenders Mattie Pollock, Charlie Raglan and Will Boyle.

Accumulator

Nottingham Forest 5-4, MK Dons 4-9, Wycombe 20-23, Rotherham 4-11
£1 acca returns £8.24 with BoyleSports

First scorer

Dom Telford Morecambe v Newport
at 13-2 bet365

The Newport striker has bagged seven goals in his last three appearances and can strike the first blow for the Welsh club in their FA Cup first round tie at Morecambe.

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