LEAGUE ONE PREVIEW & PREDICTONS
After the FA Cup restricted League One to just three fixtures last weekend we’re back to a full programme this coming Saturday with all 24 clubs resuming their league campaign…. here goes!!!
ACCRINGTON STANLEY v BRISTOL ROVERS
John Coleman and his Accy side boosted by their FA Cup victory over Championship Ipswich, aim to get back on track in the league as the mid-table side take on Graham Coughlin’s ever-improving Gas at the Wham Stadium. The hosts need to improve on their worrying recent form that has seen them with only two wins & eight points in their last ten games. Rovers have appointed Coughlin as permanent manager after three wins and a draw in a four-match caretaker spell following a disastrous five-game losing streak. Accrington away is a tough ask for the division’s better teams but the Gas are on a roll and are my tip to triumph here.
PREDICTION AWAY WIN
BARNSLEY v BRADFORD CITY
An interesting Yorkshire derby awaits at Oakwell as these two in-form rivals meet. The Tykes have been in the promotion mix all season and have gained a reputation under Daniel Stendell of playing open attacking football plus have an enviable unbeaten home record. It has taken time for Bantams boss David Hopkin to get his ideas across but the West Yorkshire side are finally getting their act together. They have begun to pull away from the relegation places – currently enjoying a run of only one defeat in six, that being an unlucky reverse at Sunderland. Despite Bradford’s improved form, I can’t see anything other than a Barnsley win here.
PREDICTION HOME WIN
BURTON ALBION v GILLINGHAM
Carabao Cup semi-finalists Burton will be looking to extend their recent four-game unbeaten league run when Steve Lovell takes his FA Cup giant-killers to the Pirelli Stadium. The Brewers enjoyed an impressive away 4-0 victory over Rochdale at the weekend and should be confident coming into this game. Despite their magnificent Cup win over EPL Cardiff the Gills are too near the drop zone for comfort and have been defeated in six of their last ten league games gaining only nine points. Albion are strong at home and should bank the points in this one.
PREDICTION HOME WIN
COVENTRY CITY v AFC WIMBLEDON
Mark Robins and his Sky Blues had their three-match winning run ended by improving Scunthorpe last weekend as the mid-table side welcome Wally Downes Dons at the Ricoh Arena. The Londoners are still heavily embroiled in the relegation fight but recent results in league and cup give cause for encouragement. A three-match unbeaten League run was ended by an unlucky 2-1 defeat at promotion contenders Pompey in their last league game before bouncing back with a fine 3-2 win at Fleetwood in the Cup where they were handsomely rewarded with a 4th round visit from EPL West Ham. Coventry are annoyingly inconsistent so I think the battling Dons could well come away from the Midlands with the points.
PREDICTION AWAY WIN
FLEETWOOD TOWN v OXFORD UNITED
Speaking of inconsistency Fleetwood Town ladies and gentlemen. Which of the two teams will Joey Barton field against the U’s? The one that convincingly beat promotion contenders Donny 3-0 or the one that lost to both Bristol Rovers and Plymouth recently? Karl Robinson’s side are in no sort of form, recently losing their last three and seemingly hurtling towards the League One drop zone, plus they hate going to Fleetwood, so I’m going for a welcome win for Joey’s boys here.
PREDICTION HOME WIN
PETERBOROUGH UNITED v ROCHDALE
A run of only one victory in their last six in the league and convincingly dumped out of the Cup at Middlesbrough have dented the New Year optimism at London Road. Steve Evans will more than likely use his tried and trusted scattergun transfer policy in the window to try and resurrect his side’s flagging play-off push. Keith Hill’s Dale have to put a stop to a worrying recent run of three straight thrashings, scoring none and conceding an alarming THIRTEEN goals so some defenders will be on his shopping list. Given Dale’s recent woes I can’t see Posh failing here.
PREDICTION HOME WIN
PORTSMOUTH v BLACKPOOL
The Tangerines must be used to actually playing in front of a crowd & an atmosphere again with recent visits from Sunderland and Arsenal boosting the attendance (and unfortunately Oyston’s coffers) at Bloomfield Road. This experience will stand their side in good stead as they face another bumper crowd when they face Kenny Jackett’s all-conquering Pompey side at Fratton Park. The league leaders put the disappointment of their recent defeat by Gillingham behind them with morale-boosting wins over Fleetwood, Wimbledon & Championship promotion contenders Norwich at Carrow Road in the Cup. Mid-table Pool are on a miserable League run at the moment losing five of their last seven & I can’t see them derailing the Pompey promotion express.
PREDICTION HOME WIN
SHREWSBURY TOWN v CHARLTON ATHLETIC
New(ish) Shrews boss Sam Ricketts has managed to mould his team into a side that is hard to beat & their performance in holding a Stoke team packed with internationals in the FA Cup was particularly impressive. Lee Bowyer’s play-off chasing Addicks were perhaps a little unlucky not to beat rivals Sunderland in their last game & approach this visit to the New Meadow in decent if not spectacular form. The Shrews will make a right royal battle of it and take a point in an entertaining encounter.
PREDICTION SCORE DRAW
SOUTHEND UNITED v PLYMOUTH ARGYLE
Argyle were boosted by a welcome 3-0 win over a poor Oxford side last time out but are plagued with inconsistency and make no mistake about it are still well and truly in the relegation mire. They face a Shrimpers side who seem to be meandering along in mid-table with no real danger of troubling either the top or bottom of the table. The Argyle board are to be congratulated in their support of boss Derek Adams when a lot of League One clubs would have shown him the door by now. Personally, I believe the Green Army can get out of trouble with a Roots Hall victory to start of the revival.
PREDICTION AWAY WIN
SUNDERLAND v LUTON TOWN
League One’s game of the day & potentially one of the games of the season as these two promotion contenders lock horns at the SOL. Both teams recent form is exemplary with only Sunderland’s defeat at Pompey the only loss in BOTH team’s last ten games. Add to the fact that Nathan Jones left the Hatters to join Stoke City and you have a very intriguing match on your hands. Both sides, regardless of Luton’s manager situation, play attractive attacking football and I really can’t separate these two so it’s on the fence with me.
PREDICTION SCORE DRAW
WALSALL v SCUNTHORPE UNITED
Dean Keates and his Saddlers side are struggling right now, bottom of the League One form table having taken just seven points from their last ten league games and dumped out of the Cup with a 5-2 drubbing at Championship strugglers Bolton it’s safe to say the Walsall fans aren’t best pleased with life at the moment. The same could be said for life at Glanford Park a fortnight ago with Steve McCalls misfiring Iron on a run of six straight defeats seeing the Lincolnshire outfit hurtling towards League Two at a rate of knots. Fast forward two weeks and three straight wins and now out of the bottom four, life for Scunny is getting sweeter by the minute, five players already signed in the window including the return of fans favourite Van Veen. I think their upward curve can continue with a victory here too.
PREDICTION AWAY WIN
WYCOMBE WANDERERS v DONCASTER ROVERS
Gareth Ainsworth’s mid-table Chairboys will need to be at their best if they are to avoid a worrying FIFTH straight league defeat as Grant McCann takes his in-form promotion contenders to Adams Park. Donny arrive in Buckinghamshire in fine form with only one defeat in nine in the league and an impressive 3-1 victory over Championship PNE at Deepdale seeing them in the FA Cup 4th Round. Wycombe are formidable at home and have beaten Donny’s promotion rivals and South Yorkshire neighbours Barnsley at Adams Park this season but that was when they were in better form & IMO Donny will run out comfortable winners.
PREDICTION AWAY WIN
words Ian Bradley, D3D4 roving reporter and predictions guru. You can follow Ian on twitter @Millmoor1