Expert EFL predictions and free football tips from Dan Childs: Impressive Imps can keep on improving
All matches kick off from 12.30pm Saturday
Dan Childs’ best bets for Saturday
Lincoln 3pm
3pts 4-6 Coral, Hills, Ladbrokes
Preston draw no bet 3pm
1pt 4-5 bet365
Cambridge 3pm
2pts 4-5 Coral, Ladbrokes
Gillingham or draw double chance 12.30pm
1pt 5-6 Hills
Dan Childs’ EFL acca
Lincoln 4-6
Plymouth 13-8
Bromley 19-20
Cambridge 4-5
£1 acca returns £15.36 with Coral
First goalscorer selection
Lorent Tolaj in Plymouth v Wigan
at 6-1 bet365, Coral, Ladbrokes
Tolaj has excelled for resurgent Plymouth, scoring five goals in eight appearances, and he can make the difference against Wigan.
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Lincoln v Exeter predictions
Lincoln are establishing themselves as a serious contender in the League One promotion race and maintain their strong start by defeating Exeter at Sincil Bank.
Anyone who watched Lincoln’s 2-1 loss at home to Chelsea in the EFL Cup third round would not be surprised at their lofty league position.
The Imps went toe-to-toe with the Club World Cup winners and could count themselves unlucky after winning the shot count 16-14.
However, Michael Skubala’s side took valuable lessons from the game and responded in superb fashion last Saturday, with a 3-0 victory away to Peterborough.
Skubala is keen to keep a lid on expectations, but his team have taken 21 points from ten games and they seem to be improving with every passing week.
Lincoln are one of five League One clubs with an unbeaten home record and are unlikely to see that status threatened by 18th-placed Exeter, who are on a five-game losing sequence.
Grecians’ manager Gary Caldwell is keeping calm but his team are often found wanting in the physical exchanges and they could suffer against one of the most powerful teams in the division.
Preston v Charlton predictions
Preston had a frustrating Tuesday night – squandering a two-goal lead in a 2-2 draw away to Hull – but they sit seventh in the Championship and can collect maximum points against Charlton this weekend.
Paul Heckingbottom’s side have taken eight points from four home games, which is a superb return given the quality of opponents they have faced.
The Lancashire side have registered victories over recently relegated Leicester (2-1) and Ipswich (1-0) and drawn against Middlesbrough (2-2) and Bristol City (0-0), who are first and fifth in the table.
They are laying solid foundations and will target maximum points against ninth-placed Charlton, who are arguably weaker than the fourth previous visitors to Deepdale.
Championship consolidation is well underway for the Addicks, who have lost just two of eight league games.
However, Nathan Jones’s side were outshot 18-11 in Tuesday’s 1-1 draw at Derby and their fortune may be about to run out.
Cambridge v Crawley predictions
Cambridge are off to an unspectacular start to life in League Two, with 15 points taken from ten games, but there are solid reasons for backing them to defeat struggling Crawley at the Abbey Stadium.
Promotion is the clear ambition for Cambridge, who were ambitious with their transfer dealings.
Neil Harris’ side signed several players from the division above, including former Northampton striker Louis Appere, who made a flying start by scoring in three of his first four appearances.
Appere has been absent through injury in recent weeks but his loss has been countered by the return to fitness of Northern Ireland striker Shayne Lavery, who came off the bench to score the winning goal in the 2-1 triumph at home to Fleetwood.
Lavery has featured as a substitute in the last two league matches and his improving fitness could be bad news for Crawley, who have been struggling defensively.
Scott Lindsey’s lowly side have lost their last two games – conceding six goals in the process – and their struggles are set to continue.
MK Dons v Gillingham predictions
Gillingham were unbeaten in 21 League Two games before last Saturday’s 1-0 loss at home to Harrogate but they can get back on the horse by taking at least a point at MK Dons.
The Kent club haven’t lost on their travels since March and they can offer plenty of resistance to injury-hit Dons, who are unattractive favourites having lost four home games on the trot.
Read more top football tips from the Racing Post:
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The Early Bird: Weekend football predictions & free betting accumulator tips from James Milton
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