4th August: Saturdays Football Accumulator – 12/1

With just one week until the Premier League gets back underway, after putting their sides through their paces this summer, managers across the Football League will be looking to get off to a solid start. On that note, we have found a handful of betting tips that can help boost your Saturdays acca.

Saturday 4th August

15:00 Bristol City vs Nottingham Forest 

Starting with Nottingham Forest, after an incredibly busy summer, former Middlesbrough boss Aitor Karanka has undergone an overhaul in his squad at The City Ground. Forest have invested £25million this summer as they look to return to the Premier League for the first time since 1999 after making 10 signings. Selling out their away allocation for the first game of the new Championship campaign, there is an air of excitement around their camp and Karanka’s new squad have set a fairly high bar after an eye-catching run of form in their pre-season tour. Coming off the back of a 2-0 win over Premier League side Bournemouth, Forest are unbeaten in their final four friendly outings. Winning three of those appearances, along with bringing in the likes of Micheal Dawson, Jack Colback and Joao Carvalho, Forest fans will be most excited by the signing of Lewis Grabban. After a stellar run of form in Villa’s route to the play-off final last season, the £6million man was the second top scorer in the division last year. While Forest have added to their squad, The Robbins have struggled to keep some of their biggest stars and with the likes of Bobby Reid and Aidan Flint heading out of Ashton Gate, many expect it to be a difficult year for Bristol. City also failed to win any of their final four pre-season outings.

Tip: Away win @ 9/5

15:00 Sheffield United vs Swansea

For Chris Wilder’s Sheffield United side, although few expected The Blades to make much of a statement last year, the hosts on Saturday secured a mid-table finish and have invested well for the year ahead. While talented David Brooks headed down the South Coast, United have brought in highly touted Ben Woodburn on-loan from Liverpool and former Ipswich man David McGoldrick has hit the ground running, now scoring two in his first two, including the opener in an historic 1-1 draw with Serie A powerhouses Inter Millan. Unbeaten in all six of their pre-season outings, there is an optimism around Bramall Lane and The Blades will fancy their chances of an early morale boost against a struggling Swans side. As for the former Premier League side, although they have turned to form Ostersunds boss Graham Potter earlier in the summer, The Whites have been drastically short of poor after an abysmal pre-season. Losing the likes of Alfie Mawson and Andre Ayew, Swansea are coming off the back of a 3-0 loss to Bundesliga side Freiburg and they also lost all of their pre-season friendlies.

Tip: Home win @ 5/4

15:00 Shrewsbury vs Bradford

Although The Shrews may have replaced Paul Hurst with John Askey earlier in the summer, many believe that the hosts could be in for another impressive year. Looking to put the heartache of losing the playoff final at Wembley behind them, although they were a touching distance from a spot in the Championship, they are coming off the back of a 4-2 win over Port Vale last week and the atmosphere around Montgomery Waters Meadow is on a high. As for Bradford, although they started last year brightly, The Bantams have endured a horrific last 12 months that isn’t showing any signs of getting better. After freefalling down the League One table at the back end of last season, Bradford are now coming off the back of a 1-0 loss to League Two side Carlisle last week and Michael Collins’ men lost five of their six pre-season outings. After slumping to defeats to non-league sides such as York City and Guiseley, they were also thumped 7-2 by Harrogate Town. Given the difference in pre-season form between the two sides, we’re backing a Shrewsbury win on Saturday.

Tip: Home win @ 6/5

Our Saturday MLS accumulator

Bristol City vs Nottingham Forest – Away win @ 9/5

Sheffield United vs Swansea – Home win @ 5/4

Shrewsbury vs Bradford – Home win @ 6/5

Place a £10 bet on our accumulator and pocket £138.60 if all predictions are correct.

You can also visit our betting promotions section for the latest enhanced odds promos, accumulator bonuses and more.