Cod Army travel to Bristol City on Sunday afternoon
Barnsley v Port ValeVictory here could see Port Vale climb into the play-off places, provided that other results also go in their favour. The Valiants are 9/5 with Sky Bet as they travel to hosts Barnsley, who are looking to pull themselves clear of the relegation zone and are narrowly preferred in the betting at 7/5. The draw is available at 12/5. Both teams have an identical record in their last five games, winning two and losing three. However shipping goals has been a problem for both sides, Barnsley having conceded in 8 of their 10 home matches, whilst Port Vale have conceded in all of their away games this season. It could be an interesting encounter, but the expected return of key striker Tom Pope will be a welcome boost for Port Vale boss Rob Page.
Top Tip: Both teams to score at 4/6.
Bradford City v Colchester United
Bradford are odds-on favourites at 17/20 to claim victory at Valley Parade. Colchester are in the relegation zone at present, but could climb out with three points here - they are priced with Sky Bet at 16/5. Colchester haven’t conceded in their last three away games, winning two with the other being a goalless draw. Bradford will clearly still be on a high following last weekend’s stunning FA Cup success at Chelsea but the Bantams have slipped up against sides below them in the league this season with recent draws against Gillingham and Scunthorpe. James Hanson, Bradford’s top scorer in League 1 this season with five, heads the first goalscorer betting at 4/1, with the source of potential Colchester goals less certain – Sanchez Watt, Gavin Massey, Jack Marriott and Chris Porter are all 9/1 in the same market.
Top Tip: The draw at 13/5.
Chesterfield v Doncaster Rovers
An away win here would see Doncaster go level on points with Chesterfield as they both bid to stake a claim to reach the play-offs. Victory for Doncaster is priced at 11/5 with the hosts being the favourites at 6/5; the draw is available at 5/2.The Spireites have won their last three home matches scoring three in each, but it would take something special to do that against a resolute Doncaster defence. Donny haven’t lost now in seven Sky Bet League One away matches, drawing four and winning three. The reverse fixture at the Keepmoat finished 3-2 to Doncaster, a result which broke the trend as the previous seven meetings between the sides only had seen eight goals altogether. Games involving Chesterfield have seen 43 second half goals against only 30 in the first half this season, with a similar trend for the visitors – so that could be an interesting market in which to consider a bet.
Top Tip: Most goals in the second half at evens.
Coventry City v Rochdale
Rochdale will be aiming to consolidate their position in the play-off positions and give Coventry boss Steven Presley something more to think about, who are three points clear of the relegation zone. The hosts are 11/8 to take the three the points, but need to find the goalscoring boots – they have scored only once in their last five home Sky Bet League 1 matches. Rochdale are priced at 19/10, but come here on the back of an FA Cup fight against Stoke on Monday night, which might give the Sky Blues the edge in freshness. The draw is priced at 12/5, but Rochdale are proven goalscorers – they have three times hit four within the last couple of months – and their open and attacking style of play could enable Coventry to improve their own recent record in front of the net. Back both teams to score here.
Top Tip: Both teams to score at 4/6.
Crawley Town v Preston North End
Crawley remain at the foot of the Sky Bet League 1 table following a 3-0 defeat at Chesterfield in midweek. They are 9/2 to beat fourth-placed Preston who are odds-on at 8/13 with the draw at 11/4. A win for Simon Grayson’s side could see them close the gap on the top three. Crawley remain out of form having managed one victory in their last seven matches at home, however they’ve come close to breaking that sequence more than once. Preston have won three of their last seven away League 1 matches, keeping clean sheets in all three. Seven of Crawley’s 13 home matches have seen the sides head in 0-0 at half-time whilst six of Preston’s 13 away matches have also been goalless at the interval, so that could be worth a wager in this encounter.
Top Tip: Half-time score 0-0 at 7/4.
Crewe Alexandra v MK Dons
Crewe are on something of a a revival after winning four of their last six league matches after a sticky start to the campaign. Considering that solid form, the Railwaymen look a big 4/1 for the points here but a win for visitors MK Dons, priced at 4/6, could see them go to the top of the League 1 standings. A share of the spoils at Gresty Road is priced up at 14/5. MK Dons outclassed Crewe 6-1 in the reverse fixture, but Crewe simply seem a better side now. Crewe have drawn four of their last six matches at home, with MK Dons drawing five of the last seven away. A point wouldn’t be a bad outcome for either side here, and we’ll have a stab on 1-1 given that both sides seem to be involved in plenty of games which end that way.
Top Tip: A 1-1 draw at 6/1.
Leyton Orient v Scunthorpe United
Both of these sides are looking to escape from the relegation zone and only four points separate them in the Sky Bet League 1 standings, although Scunthorpe have two games in hand. Leyton Orient are 10/11favourites for this with the League sponsor, Scunthorpe being 14/5 and the draw offered at 5/2. Scunthorpe are unbeaten in their last seven League matches on their travels, winning four. The O’s put four past Crawley and followed that up with a 3-0 win at Yeovil at the end of last month, but things haven’t gone quite so well since. Chris Dagnall, Orient’s top scorer in the League this season with seven, heads the first goalscorer betting at 5/1, with the evergreen Darius Henderson 6/1. The visitors’ Paddy Madden is the same price.
Top Tip: Scunthorpe to lead 1-0 at half-time at 9/2.
Oldham Athletic v Notts County
Only one point separates these two sides coming into this interesting clash at Boundary Park. Oldham are the market favourites at 4/5 with visitors Notts County, fighting to find form, at 100/30. A share of the points is 13/5. Oldham had been unbeaten in eight Sky Bet League 1 games before losing back-to-back matches in December to two struggling sides, results which derailed their campaign, however it was a similar story for the Magpies away who were unbeaten in 11 earlier in the campaign but have struggled for form in recent months. This has all the makings of a close contest and the reverse fixture was a goalless draw at Meadow Lane. The goal time market could be a way to look for value - games involving Oldham have seen 11 goals between the 31st and 45th minute and it’s the same with Notts County, whose games have seen 12 goals in that same timeframe. You can take 13/2 that the first goal of the match comes between the 31st and 40th minute.
Top Tip: A 1-1 draw at 5/1.
Peterborough United v Yeovil Town
Peterborough are even-money favourites for this tie at London Road, but have only won one point out of their last available 18 at home and need to turn that run of form around now. Yeovil are 13/5 and a win would see them close the gap on getting out of the relegation zone and they have won two of their last five away matches. The draw is priced at 12/5. Games involving Yeovil see a high proportion of second half goals and for most goals to be scored in the second half with Sky Bet is even-money. However the last two meetings between these two sides at London Road has seen four goals scored in both games, with a 2-2 draw and a 3-1 Peterborough win, so coincidence backers will fancy exactly four goals to be scored again at 9/2. With five goals in nine League 1 starts, the home side’s Kyle Vassell heads the first goalscorer betting at 5/1.
Top Tip: Kyle Vassell to score during the match at 11/8.
Sheffield United vs Swindon Town
Sheffield United go into this on a high after giving Tottenham a real fright in the Capital One Cup Semi-Final second leg on Wednesday. They are 6/4 to defeat the high-flying Robins, who themselves will be looking to go top if they can win this and are 9/5 chances. The draw at Bramall Lane is priced at 9/4 with League 1 sponsors Sky Bet. The Blades defence will need to keep a close eye upon Swindon top goalscorer Andy Williams, who has scored 18 times this season, or else he could cut through the home defence to inflict just a fourth home defeat in the League this season on United and keep the Robins’ promotion dream alive. A popular scoreline at Bramall Lane this season has been 1-1, which has occurred three times in the last five matches – that’s the favourite in the correct score market at 9/2.
Top Tip: Andy Williams to be first goalscorer at 5/1.