LEAGUE ONE 2018/19 PREVIEW & PREDICTIONS
With the season flying by now the players will have to recover quickly from Saturday’s exertions & go again on Tuesday. Here’s my take on the midweek games.
BLACKPOOL v SCUNTHORPE UNITED
Terry McPhillips will feel confident in his troops to carry on their rich vein of form in this game against inconsistent Scunny who will be licking their wounds after their unlucky defeat at Wycombe with the winning goal coming in the 94th minute. Pool continue to perform admirably despite the clubs off field politics & playing in a 75% empty stadium & I expect another three points to come their way here.
PREDICTION HOME WIN
BRADFORD CITY v COVENTRY CITY
Make no mistake about it the Bantams are a mess right now both on & off the pitch. The fans are desperately unhappy with the clubs owners & have not taken to new manager David Hopkin whose team is continuing to underperform & are now entrenched in the relegation places. Unluckily for Bradford they come up against Mark Robins & his Sky Blues who are bang on form right now following their fine win at Southend at the weekend. Away win in this game.
PREDICTION AWAY WIN
BRISTOL ROVERS v AFC WIMBLEDON
Is there such a thing as a relegation six pointer in October? These two teams are on a rotten run of form & will be desperate for the points to reignite their stuttering season. Difficult one to predict but for me Darrell Clarke has the better squad so a home win here.
PREDICTION HOME WIN
CHARLTON ATHLETIC v OXFORD UNITED
Lee Bowyer’s Addicks will be in a buoyant mood after their fine win over an excellent Barnsley side at the weekend & will be confident going into this clash with out of form Oxford, winless away from home but boosted by a useful point at Bristol Rovers on Saturday. Home win……………..
PREDICTION HOME WIN
DONCASTER ROVERS v SUNDERLAND
Grant McCann’s Donny are a good side but they’ve stuttered badly in their last two home games only gaining a single point in games against Fleetwood & Gillingham. The Mackems will be well supported as always in South Yorkshire & will be confident in gaining their second away win in four days with another victory in their promotion push but I have a feeling that the home side will be sufficiently up for the game to gain a point.
PREDICTION SCORE DRAW
LUTON TOWN v ACCRINGTON STANLEY
Probably the game of the night, the Hatters are starting to look invincible at Kenilworth Road & are routinely putting decent sides such as Walsall at the weekend to the sword. Accy continue to defy the “experts” churning out result after result & coaches Coleman & Bell deserve massive credit for instilling the team spirit into his talented squad. I cannot separate these teams but I think it’ll be a heck of a match.
PREDICTION SCORE DRAW
PETERBOROUGH UNITED v FLEETWOOD TOWN
Posh have one of the strongest squads in the division but are starting to struggle at home strangely. Joey’s Cod Army must be cursing the EFL fixture computer having to visit another promotion chasing team four days after their narrow 1-0 defeat at Fratton Park on Saturday but his team are good enough to pick up a share of the spoils from this game.
PREDICTION SCORE DRAW
PLYMOUTH ARGYLE v GILLINGHAM
Derek Adams has pleaded for the Argyle faithful to be “patient” with his Argyle team as he tries to halt their alarming slide towards L2. Steve Lovell’s Gills won’t be ideal opponents at Home Park for this game as his side have had some eye catching results on the road recently as Pompey & Donny fans will testify & I expect another three points will be travelling to Kent on Tuesday night.
PREDICTION AWAY WIN
PORTSMOUTH v BURTON ALBION
Table topping Pompey managed to address their wobbly home form with a narrow win over Fleetwood at the weekend after a strong second half performance where they could & probably should have scored more than the one goal. Kenny Jackett’s men will need to keep their standards up in this clash with the improving Brewers who will be boosted by their first away league win at Argyle on Saturday but I think Pompey are & will be too strong for them.
PREDICTION HOME WIN
SHREWSBURY TOWN v BARNSLEY
John Askey’s struggling Shrews will not be relishing a visit from another promotion contending team after their defeat by Sunderland on Saturday. Daniel Stendel’s Tykes come into this clash wounded after a disappointing defeat at the Valley curtailed their recent fine form. The Tykes to return to winning ways here.
PREDICTION AWAY WIN
SOUTHEND UNITED v WALSALL
The inconsistent Shrimpers will look to improve their poor home record in this game after suffering their fourth home league defeat to Coventry at the weekend. Walsall won’t be ideal opponents for them however after suffering just once on the road so far, last Saturday’s 2-0 defeat at Luton. Chris Powell will galvanise his side to gain maximum reward in this game.
PREDICTION HOME WIN
WYCOMBE WANDERERS v ROCHDALE
Another game that is very difficult to predict. The Chairboys come into this game fresh from a fantastic victory over a good Scunthorpe side while Keith Hill’s battling Dale team are going into this clash in good nick having gained an eye catching 2-0 victory at Valley Parade. Both teams are battling to get away from the lower reaches of the table & a draw is on the cards here.
PREDICTION SCORE DRAW.
words Ian Bradley, D3D4 Roving Reporter…you can follow Ian @Millmoor1 on twitter