A full Tuesday night programme under the floodlights ensures drama aplenty with results affecting the promotion & relegation hopes & fears of many of the night’s competing clubs.
AFC WIMBLEDON v PETERBOROUGH UNITED
oEach of the two meetings between AFC Wimbledon and Peterborough at Kingsmeadow have ended level – drawing 2-2 last season.
o Peterborough are unbeaten in their last four games against Wimbledon (W1 D3) since a 1-0 loss at home in October 2016.
o AFC Wimbledon boss Wally Downes has never beaten Peterborough as a manager, losing three and drawing two of five meetings in charge of Brentford in all competitions between September 2002 and January 2004.
o Under Darren Ferguson, Peterborough have lost eight of their last nine matches played on a Tuesday in all competitions, drawing the other 2-2 with Bristol Rovers in January.
o Peterborough’s Marcus Maddison has been directly involved in four goals in his last three league appearances against AFC Wimbledon, scoring three and assisting one.
Our view
You have to take your hat off to Wally Downes & his battling Dons side. Still bottom of the table & seven points from safety but Saturday’s fine 2-0 win over playoff-chasing Donny was their third win in five in the league & if their forward momentum continues in this clash with Rovers play-off rivals, it gives them a squeak of a survival chance.
Seventh-placed Posh suffered a surprising defeat at relegation-haunted Bradford at the weekend but due to the Dons victory over Donny it was a missed opportunity rather than a damaging defeat. Darren Ferguson’s side’s inconsistent results are hampering their bid to extend their season & Kingsmeadow on a Tuesday night against a battling side won’t be easy.
The Dons to take this game & improve their chances of survival.
PREDICTION HOME WIN
BARNSLEY v SUNDERLAND
o Barnsley and Sunderland have not played out a draw in a league meeting since November 1985, with the Tykes winning 10 and losing 14 of the last 24 meetings.
o Sunderland are looking to complete the league double over Barnsley for the first time since the 2006-07 Championship campaign.
o Barnsley are unbeaten in their last 16 league games (W11 D5), last going longer without a loss in January 1981 (20 matches).
o Sunderland have won 10 of their last 12 Tuesday fixtures in all competitions (D1 L1).
o Sunderland’s Will Grigg has scored in three of his four league appearances against Barnsley (three goals), only failing with Wigan at Oakwell in December 2015.
Our view
Potentially one of League One’s games of the season. Second v third, the Tykes unbeaten at fortress Oakwell, the Black Cats beaten only twice in the league all season & both teams on long unbeaten runs.
Barnsley comfortably brushed aside Accrington at the weekend while the Mackems could only manage yet another draw at Wycombe, results that extended the South Yorkshire team’s lead over the Wearsiders to four points, though Sunderland still have a game in hand.
This will be a close game in front of a full house at Oakwell & I believe that the home side will send Jack Ross & his side back North pointless for only the third time this season.
PREDICTION HOME WIN
BLACKPOOL v DONCASTER ROVERS
o Doncaster have won each of their last two league games against Blackpool, as many as they had won in their previous 18.
o After remaining unbeaten in their first 14 home league games against Doncaster (W11 D3), Blackpool have lost three of their last seven (W3 D1).
o Blackpool have lost just one of their last five home league matches on a Tuesday (W4 D1), a 0-1 defeat to Sunderland on New Year’s Day.
o Doncaster boss Grant McCann has only lost once in four League One games against Blackpool as a manager (W2 D1), drawing his only such match at Bloomfield Road 1-1 in February 2018 with Peterborough.
o Doncaster’s Tommy Rowe has netted three goals in his two league games at Bloomfield Road for Donny against Blackpool.
Our view
Another massive game at Bloomfield Road awaits as eighth-placed Pool aim for a victory over sixth-placed Donny which would put them level on points with Grant McCann’s side with nine games to go in the playoff race.
“Homecoming Day” looked to be ending on a sour note for the Tangerines before a last gasp OG rescued a vital point v Southend at a packed house at the weekend while Rovers not only lost disappointingly at Wimbledon but had star striker John Marquis sent off so he’s suspended for this one. A single point from Donny’s last three League games constitutes a major loss of form & it couldn’t have come at a worse time of the season.
Pool to win this & pull level on points with Rovers.
PREDICTION HOME WIN
BRADFORD CITY v LUTON TOWN
o Bradford are winless in their last seven league encounters with Luton (D3 L4), last winning against the Hatters in April 1968.
o Luton have scored in each of their last eight league games against Bradford City, keeping clean sheets in half of those contests (4).
o Bradford City have won six of their last nine home league matches (D1 L2), this after having only won one of their previous 11 beforehand (D2 L8).
o Luton are unbeaten in 11 away league matches on a Tuesday (W5 D6) since a 0-1 loss at Newport in League Two in March 2015.
o New Bradford manager Gary Bowyer only won one of his four league matches (including play-offs) against Luton whilst in charge of Blackpool (D1 L2), although this was a 3-2 win in the 2016-17 League Two play-off semi-final.
Our view
Gary Bowyer’s Valley Parade tenure couldn’t have got off to a better start at the weekend with his Bantams side overcoming Posh but the visit of Mick Harford’s Champions elect will be a different game altogether. City’s first win in six has improved their prospects slightly but they’re still next to bottom of the League & four points from safety with a vastly inferior goal difference to their rivals.
I know I’m blowing my own trumpet here but I correctly predicted that Luton’s three-game winning run would end at Home Park on Saturday & it did in a 0-0 draw but they will be promoted as worthy Champions in my opinion & will dispose of the challenge of the Bantams comfortably here.
PREDICTION AWAY WIN
CHARLTON ATHLETIC v BURTON ALBION
This will be just the second ever league meeting between Charlton and Burton, with the Addicks running out 2-1 winners at the Pirelli Stadium back in November.
o Burton have visited the Valley once before, losing 0-7 to Charlton in an FA Cup third round encounter back in January 1956.
o Charlton are unbeaten in 12 home league matches (W8 D4), their best such streak since February 2012 (18 games).
o Burton have only managed one victory in their last 23 league matches played on a Tuesday (D9 L13), beating Barnsley 2-1 in February 2018.
o Burton Albion boss Nigel Clough’s only managerial defeat to Charlton was in the reverse meeting between these two sides in November 2018 (P5 W3 D1 L1).
Our view
Lee Bowyer’s Addicks further cemented their fifth place with a fine victory over playoff rivals Pompey on Saturday evening so they’ll be aiming to extend their eight-point gap over seventh with victory over the Brewers here.
Nigel Clough’s mid-table side are in good form themselves with Friday night’s victory over Coventry at the Ricoh extending their unbeaten League run to an impressive seven games. The eleventh placed Brewers aren’t completely out of the play-off picture but they would have to claw back at least an eight point deficit to gain an unlikely top six place.
PREDICTION NO SCORE DRAW
COVENTRY CITY v FLEETWOOD TOWN
o Coventry have lost each of their last four league games against Fleetwood Town, failing to score in the last three meetings.
o Fleetwood remain unbeaten in their three previous league visits to Coventry, drawing one whilst winning on each of their last two trips.
o Coventry haven’t lost back-to-back home league games since they lost three in a row between February-March 2017.
o Fleetwood Town’s 0-2 defeat at Walsall ended a run of five unbeaten away league games (W3 D2) and three consecutive such wins in League One.
o Fleetwood’s Wes Burns has scored more league goals against Coventry (three) than any other opponent in the Football League.
Our view
Ninth v Tenth at the Ricoh in a clash between two clubs whose weekend defeats have severely damaged their already unlikely playoff bids. Both teams are very good on their day but both are blighted with an inconsistency that will cost them at the end of the season.
Fans of both clubs should be quite happy as Cov have had a reasonably good first season back in League One following promotion & it looks like Joey Barton is building a good competitive Cod Army side that should make a better challenge for honours next season.
PREDICTION AWAY WIN
GILLINGHAM v BRISTOL ROVERS
o Gillingham have only lost one of their last 10 league matches with Bristol Rovers (W7 D2), and have scored 24 goals in those meetings.
o Bristol Rovers have lost each of their last six away games against Gillingham; only against Wrexham (nine) are the Pirates on a longer ongoing losing run away from home in the Football League.
o Gillingham haven’t won a home league game on a Tuesday since November 2015 against Rochdale (P13 W0 D9 L4 since).
o Bristol Rovers are unbeaten in six away league outings (W4 D2), last going longer without a Football League defeat on the road in October 2007 (10 games).
o Bristol Rovers’ Alex Rodman has scored three goals in his five Football League games at Priestfield Stadium against Gillingham, including two in his last two.
Our view
A vital clash near the bottom of the division between two struggling sides that recorded valuable & vital weekend victories.
The Gills narrow Priestfield victory over fellow strugglers Oxford rocketed the Kent outfit up to a lofty thirteenth place but still only four points clear of the bottom four as the division tightens up near the bottom.
If the season had started on the day Graham Coughlin took over the reins at the Gas, his team would be occupying a play-off place such has been the likeable Irishman’s impact at the club. Saturday’s important win over faltering Scunthorpe at Glanford Park extended their unbeaten run to six games gaining a very impressive fourteen points from them. Deadline day signing Jonson Clarke-Harris has been an integral part of their recent success, scoring five times in as many games since arriving at the Mem. Having said all this Rovers remain precariously placed in nineteenth place only a single point above the dropzone but I think the Gas will improve their position with victory here.
PREDICTION AWAY WIN
PLYMOUTH ARGYLE v SHREWSBURY TOWN
o Plymouth have only lost one of their last seven league meetings with Shrewsbury (W4 D2) though it was the reverse fixture earlier this season at Montgomery Waters Meadow stadium (0-2).
o Shrewsbury’s only league victory at Home Park in their last 16 meetings came in August 2001, with the Shrews drawing seven and losing eight of the other 15 such games.
o Plymouth have won five of their last six home midweek league matches (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday), this after having lost six in a row beforehand.
o Shrewsbury have only managed two wins in their last 22 away league contests (D9 L11), beating AFC Wimbledon in November 2018 and Peterborough in February.
o Tyrese Campbell has scored three of Shrewsbury’s last six league goals – the first league goals of his professional career.
Our view
Despite Derek Adams Argyle’s amazing form since the turn of the year & holding leaders Luton to a very creditable draw at the weekend fifteenth placed Argyle are only three points clear of the bottom four & they can’t afford any slip ups against fellow strugglers Shrews in this vital Home Park encounter.
Sam Ricketts sides recent improvement in form shuddered to a halt with a damaging defeat at managerless, fellow strugglers, Rochdale at the weekend leaving them in twentieth place, one place & one point above the dreaded bottom four.
I can’t see Argyle failing to win this one.
PREDICTION HOME WIN
ROCHDALE v OXFORD UNITED
o Rochdale have not won against Oxford in any of their last five league meetings (D1 L4), failing to find the net in three of those games.
o There has been nine goals in the last four league games between the sides at Spotland, with Rochdale failing to score in two and Oxford three of those matches.
o Rochdale are winless in their last nine league games played on a Tuesday (D3 L6) since a 2-0 win at Bury in April 2018.
o Ian Henderson has been directly involved in 15 goals in his last 21 home league starts on a Tuesday for Rochdale, scoring 12 and assisting three.
o Oxford United boss Karl Robinson has never lost in League One to Rochdale as a manager in 11 previous meetings (W8 D3).
Our view
You have got to love the EFL’s fixture computer sending the struggling U’s on the long trip north to face managerless Dale on a cold Tuesday night in Lancashire in a make or break fixture for both teams in their fight to remain in the division.
Twenty-first placed Oxford remain in the bottom four after a narrow but damaging defeat at Gillingham ending their two game winning run. One place & two points behind the U’s Dale ended a four-game losing run with a valuable three points against Shrewsbury slightly improving their own hopes of avoiding the drop.
A dour battling draw here that will please neither club.
PREDICTION NO SCORE DRAW
SCUNTHORPE UNITED v SOUTHEND UNITED
o Scunthorpe have lost their last two matches against Southend in League One, as many defeats as they suffered in the seven league meetings beforehand.
o Southend United are looking to complete the league double over Scunthorpe for the first time since 1977-78, when in the fourth tier.
o Scunthorpe manager Stuart McCall has only won one of his four League One games against Southend as a manager (D1 L2), a 2-1 win with Bradford City in December 2017.
o Southend boss Chris Powell has never lost a league match against Scunthorpe as a manager in five previous such games (W3 D2).
o Scunthorpe striker Kevin van Veen has scored in all three of his league starts versus Southend (three goals), scoring more league goals against them than any other side in his EFL career.
Our view
The post-Christmas winning run that catapulted the Iron into mid-table has been forgotten after three defeats from their last four games has seen Stuart McCall’s men plummet back down to eighteenth place, only two points clear of the bottom four.
Chris Powell’s shrimpers are on a similar decline lying only one point & four places above Scunny & are on a worrying eight-game winless run.
A war of attrition in North Lincolnshire awaits as both teams aim to halt their respective slides down the league but I’m tipping a narrow but vital victory for the hosts.
PREDICTION HOME WIN
WALSALL v PORTSMOUTH
o Walsall are looking to avoid falling to three straight league defeats against Portsmouth for the first time since a run of three between March 1982 and May 1983.
o Portsmouth, who won on their last visit to Walsall last season, have never won back-to-back away league games against the Saddlers.
o Walsall have lost each of their last seven midweek league fixtures (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) since a goalless draw at home to Shrewsbury in October 2018.
o Portsmouth manager Kenny Jackett has only ever lost once as a manager away at Walsall in the Football League (P7 W4 D2 L1), a 0-3 defeat as Millwall boss in December 2007.
o Portsmouth’s Brett Pitman has scored three goals in his last four league appearances against Walsall, including two in three away from home.
Our view
The Saddlers second straight home win on Saturday gave Dean Keates & his men a three-point buffer over the bottom four in the club’s efforts to avoid League Two.
Playoff-bound Pompey’s mini-revival was halted with a narrow & unfortunate defeat at the Valley. I’m sure manager Kenny Jackett hasn’t given up hope of gaining automatic promotion but I fear the form of the current top three will mean the South Coast side will have to take their chances in the playoffs.
Walsall’s home improvement to continue with a point here.
PREDICTION SCORE DRAW
WYCOMBE WANDERERS v ACCRINGTON STANLEY
o Wycombe’s victory against Accrington back in November was their first win against Stanley in 12 meetings, having drawn seven and lost four of the 11 previous clashes.
o Accrington Stanley have only ever suffered one defeat at Adams Park in the Football League, and are unbeaten in their last seven such visits (W4 D3).
o Wycombe have only lost one of their last seven league games played on a Tuesday (W2 D4), a 2-0 defeat at home to Coventry on New Year’s Day.
o Accrington manager John Coleman has only lost once away at Wycombe as a manager in the Football League (P9 W5 D3 L1), a 1-2 defeat in January 2009 during his first spell in charge of Stanley.
o Wycombe striker Adebayo Akinfenwa has been directly involved in 12 goals in his 13 Football League starts versus Accrington (nine goals, three assists).
Our view
The computer at the EFL really has excelled itself in this round of games. Not satisfied with sending Oxford to Rochdale & Southend to Scunny they attempt to redress the North/South balance by sending Accy south to Wycombe.
You would think twelfth place Wycombe would be safe in mid-table but they are only five points clear of the bottom four relegation places & are on a worrying seven-game winless run. Saturday’s point against high flying Sunderland in a game they were unlucky not to win will have encouraged boss Gareth Ainsworth but he’ll have to do without vital players Marcus Bean & Nathan Tyson who are suspended for this game having been dismissed in the Black Cats game.
Following a fine first half of the season that saw John Coleman’s men in a playoff place Accy have capitulated somewhat since the new year & their latest three-game run of losses leaves Accy only two points away from the trap door & in real danger of losing the League 1 place they worked so hard for in winning the L2 Championship last season.
The Chairboys to ease their late-season worries with victory here.
PREDICTION HOME WIN
words Ian Bradley, D3D4 roving reporter and predictions maestro