LEAGUE ONE PREVIEW & PREDICTIONS

A full Saturday League One programme to mull over……here goes!!!

DONCASTER ROVERS v SCUNTHORPE UNITED

Saturday’s early kick-off sees a big derby game at the Keepmoat as in form Donny look to gain their third home league win on the bounce against Stuart McCall’s struggling Iron team. The omens don’t look good for the Lincolnshire side as they have failed to register a win against their neighbours in the last four attempts including a 2-1 Carabao Cup defeat earlier this season. Rovers will be looking to cement their newly acquired top-six place with victory over their out of form relegation-threatened neighbours.
PREDICTION HOME WIN

BARNSLEY v PORTSMOUTH

League leaders Pompey will try to put their surprise midweek home defeat by Charlton out of their system as they make the long trip north to face promotion rivals Barnsley at their Oakwell home. The Tykes suffered a damaging defeat of their own at resurgent Wycombe last weekend but will provide Pompey with the sternest of tests as they aim to preserve their unbeaten home record & have only lost one of their last thirteen games with them at Oakwell. A potential classic in store here as both teams play a pleasing brand of attacking football & an entertaining draw could be on the cards.
PREDICTION SCORE DRAW

BRADFORD CITY v WALSALL

At long last, the Bantams are starting to show some fight as they endure their toughest season for years with some encouraging performances & one or two decent results. Their opponents the Saddlers may well be on the road to recovery after their recent slump with an incredible week which saw them beat Coventry with two added-time goals last Saturday & then dumping high flying Sunderland out of the Cup in their own backyard. Bradford are unbeaten in their last five games against the West Midlands side but I fear that run could come to an end on Saturday teatime although it will be a close game.
PREDICTION AWAY WIN

CHARLTON ATHLETIC v AFC WIMBLEDON

Lee Bowyer’s Addicks are flying in the league at the moment & Tuesday’s eye-catching victory at Fratton Park is just the latest in a string of fine results that has propelled them into the play-off places. New Dons boss Wally Downes has a monumental task on his hands to try & keep his struggling side in contention for a new year push away from the League One trapdoor place they currently find themselves. Charlton have only played the Dons six times in their history losing only one & I can’t see the Dons making it two at the Valley this weekend.
PREDICTION HOME WIN

COVENTRY CITY v LUTON TOWN

Mark Robins Sky Blues are in the middle of an alarming slump in form that has sent his side back towards mid-table so a visit from a goal-laden Hatters side who are in tremendous recent form wouldn’t be on his wish list. Coventry are winless in their last five games losing three but have an incredible home record against the Bedfordshire side losing only once in an incredible TWENTY-EIGHT games but in my view, these records are made to be broken & Luton should take this one.
PREDICTION AWAY WIN

FLEETWOOD TOWN v BURTON ALBION

An archetypal mid-table clash at Highbury sees thirteenth place Fleetwood take on fourteenth place Burton. Mid-table also could describe both teams recent form as both Messrs Barton & Clough look to gain a degree of consistency into their sides. The Cod Army have the edge in the seven meetings between the two clubs with four victories to Burton’s three with no draws so draw number one coming up this weekend.
PREDICTION NO SCORE DRAW

GILLINGHAM v WYCOMBE WANDERERS

Steve Lovell’s battling Gills side look to continue their recent improvement and improve their poor home record with this interesting Priestfield clash with the in-form Chairboys. Gareth Ainsworth is rightly getting plenty of credit for guiding his promoted side into the top half of L1 after a shaky start. If the Wycombe side can keep Tom Eaves relatively quiet they can win this one.
PREDICTION AWAY WIN

OXFORD UNITED v BLACKPOOL

Terry McPhillips takes his play-off chasing Pool side to the Kassam to face Karl Robinson’s rapidly improving Oxford who have won four of the last five against the Lancastrians & are going for their fourth straight home win. Pool are not as strong on the road as they are at Bloomfield Road & the men in yellow will provide a stern test of their play-off credentials, where’s that fence?
PREDICTION SCORE DRAW

ROCHDALE v PLYMOUTH ARGYLE

A battle of the strugglers at Spotland. Dale are unbeaten in their last three at home & will be confident of extending that run against an Argyle side who are bottom of the latest League One away record over the last nine games. Dale have only lost one of their last eight home games with Argyle & they have enough to extend that run to nine.
PREDICTION HOME WIN

SHREWSBURY TOWN v PETERBOROUGH UNITED

The Shrews have been particularly impressive at home in their good recent run but Sam Ricketts & his team will have to bring their A game if they are to gain any reward from this clash with away specialists Posh who have gained a phenomenal TWENTY THREE points from their ten away games so far. Posh came out on top in last season’s corresponding game for their first win in Shrewsbury in ten attempts & despite having to endure extra time in their midweek Cup replay should narrowly take this.
PREDICTION AWAY WIN

SOUTHEND UNITED v ACCRINGTON STANLEY

League One’s two most out of form teams meet at Roots Hall. Both find themselves in mid-table which must be particularly disappointing for Stanley as they occupied a play-off place a few short weeks ago. John Coleman’s men will be keen to avoid a fourth straight league defeat & should be strong enough to nick a point at the inconsistent Shrimpers.
PREDICTION SCORE DRAW

SUNDERLAND v BRISTOL ROVERS

Bristol Rovers made the shock decision to sack Darrell Clarke and things won’t get easy for the beleaguered Gas. Hammered 4-0 by Donny in the last home game and who do they face next? Oh Sunderland away!!!! The Gas have lost five of their last six in League One & their fans don’t know where their next point is coming from let alone a win. Their recent meetings with Walsall culminating in their midweek replay defeat should have taught the high flying Black Cats that regaining their Championship place will not be quite as easy as most Mackems fans believe but this clash is manna from heaven & should provide a morale raising, thumping home win.
PREDICTION HOME WIN

words Ian Bradley, D3D4 roving reporter and predictions guru. You can follow Ian on twitter @Millmoor1