Cod Army take on Sheffield United at Highbury
Bristol City v CrawleySky Bet League 1 leaders Bristol City are odds-on (4/9) for a seventh home win in 10 as they welcome lowly Crawley (13/2) to Ashton Gate. Steve Cotterill’s men are 6/4 favourites to win the division, while Saturday’s opponents are 4/1 just to finish in the top half. A draw would be a good result for the visitors, and that’s 100/30, although they do average less than a goal per game away from home, so a 0-0 draw might be their best chance of a result. A goalless stalemate is available to back at 11/1, while the visitors are even-money not to score.
Top tip: Under 2.5 goals at 10/11.
Chesterfield v Bradford City
Chesterfield are favourites to register a win which would see them leapfrog Saturday’s opponents Bradford in the Sky Bet League 1 table. The Spireites are 21/20 for three points, with the Bantams given a decent chance of a fifth away league win of the season at 5/2. A draw would suit the visitors well enough though, and there’s reason to back that result at 12/5 as Chesterfield have settled for a point in three of their last four games. Indeed, five of their last 20 games have been level at both half-time and full-time, and that’s 4/1 in the half-time/full-time market.
Top tip: A 1-1, 2-2 or 3-3 draw at 100/30.
Colchester United v Rochdale
Colchester can give themselves a chance of getting out of the Sky Bet League 1 relegation zone with a home win over Rochdale, although the visitors may well fancy their chances of grabbing three points. Rochdale are 13/8 to collect a sixth win from their tenth away game in the league this season, but home advantage ensures the U’s are 6/4 favourites, with a draw priced up at 12/5. Considering Colchester have lost five and won just two of their nine league games at home, they look quite a risky bet at 6/4 to take all three points.
Top tip: Both teams to score at 8/13.
Doncaster Rovers v Gillingham
Doncaster are odds-on for a home win over Gillingham on Saturday, but it’s difficult to make a clear case for either side to win. Rovers are 7/10 to claim only a second home win of the season, but Gillingham are yet to win on the road this term, losing six of their nine trips. They’re 15/4 to put that statistic to bed, but with neither side having yet developed a winning habit this season, the draw is perhaps the best bet in the outright market at 11/4. In fact, Donny are averaging 0.6 goals per home game this term, while, Gillingham’s average on the road is just 0.7. As such, a 0-0 draw seems a logical bet here at 10/1 with Sky Bet.
Top tip: A 0-0 draw at 10/1.
Fleetwood Town v Sheffield United
Sheffield United are Football League sponsor Sky Bet’s 7/5 favourites for Saturday’s trip to Fleetwood (19/10) as both sides look to bounce back from defeats. The Blades arrive on the back of a three-match winless run, which has seen them drift out to 9/4 for promotion, while their hosts are now 16/1 to go up after back-to-back losses. A goalfest hardly seems likely with two or less goals scored in the Blades’ last eight matches, while 1-0 has been the scoreline in the Cod Army’s last four matches. The hosts are 15/2 to win 1-0 and 13/2 to lose 1-0 by the same margin, while under 2.5 goals is odds-on at 8/11. Chris O’Grady heads the first goalscorer market at 5/1, while Jamie Proctor and Tom Hitchcock are considered Fleetwood’s main goal threats at 6/1 apiece.
Top Tip: One or both teams not to score at 10/11.
Leyton Orient v Peterborough United
Football League sponsor Sky Bet almost find it too tough to pick a favourite for this Saturday’s clash, with Leyton Orient marginal favourites at 6/4. Peterborough are 13/8 with the draw priced at 5/2 as both sides look to bounce back from respective defeats. The Posh head into the fixture looking to end a six-match winless streak in the league, a run which has seen their promotion odds drift to 7/1. Their hosts will be keen to impress new manager Fabio Liverani, who is 6/4 to lead the O’s to a top-half finish, 11/1 to see them make the play-offs and 20/1 to secure promotion. The first goalscorer market is wide open with David Mooney, Gianvito Plasmati, Kyle Vassell and Craig Mackhail-Smith all tied as 11/2 joint favourites.
Top Tip: One or both teams not score at 6/5.
Notts County v Swindon Town
Notts County find themselves on the brink of the play-off places but that is largely down to their incredible unbeaten away form. At home they haven’t so far managed the same level of success and are 23/10 underdogs to add to their three home wins this season against a Swindon side that have won over half their away games this campaign and are favourites here at 23/20, whilst the draw is priced at 12/5. The away side have won five of their last six games, keeping four clean sheets in the process and are 15/8 to secure another shut-out on Saturday. Michael Smith and Andy Williams have nine goals each so far this season and it’s 5/1 that both players manage to add to their tallies this weekend.
Top tip: Michael Smith and Andy Williams both to score at 5/1.
Oldham Athletic v Yeovil Town
Two teams in very different runs of form meet at Boundary Park with Oldham rated odds-on favourites with the league sponsors. The hosts have lost just once in 15 games and are the odds-on favourites to defeat a Yeovil side that have picked up just five points from their last 10 games and are seemingly unfancied by Sky Bet at 7/2, with the draw at 13/5.
Despite Yeovil failing to find the net in seven of their last 10, they may fancy their chances of a goal against an Oldham defence that have only kept one clean sheet during the same time period. Both teams to score is priced at 5/6.
Top tip: Over 2.5 goals at 10/11.
Port Vale v Coventry City
Port Vale are 13/10 favourites as they host struggling Coventry who are in need of a change of fortune, especially away from home where they have picked up just one win all season. Vale have lost just one of their last six in the league and Sky Bet offer 5/2 that they triumph by 1-0, 2-0 or 2-1. Ben Williamson is favourite to grad the opening goal for Vale at 5/1 and it’s 9/4 that he scores in a home win. The Sky Blues are a 2/1 shot for victory and the draw is on offer at 12/5. Steve Pressley’s men will want to build on their single away success at Colchester last month and it is 4/1 for them to win and both teams to score during the 90 minutes.
Top Tip: Over 2.5 goals at 5/6.
Preston North End v MK Dons
The match of the day in Sky Bet League One sees fourth-placed Preston 7/5 favourites to defeat third-placed Mk Dons. North End suffered their first defeat at Deepdale last time out against Bradford and their form has been patchy recently with three wins and three defeats. They will look for a boost from recent loan recruit Jason Beckford on his home league debut and he is 5/1 to open his account for the club with the first goal and 9/4 to score in a home win. MK Dons arrive on a good run of form having won four and drawn two of their last six league games. They are 9/5 to record their fifth league win on the road here. Benik Afobe and Dele Alli are locked on nine league goals apiece and Sky Bet offer 11/2 that they both find the net during the match. Afobe is 5/1 favourite in the Dons ranks to score the opening goal and Alli is an 11/2 shot.
Top Tip: Both teams to score at 8/13.
Scunthorpe United v Crewe Alexandra
Scunthorpe are odds-on shots to extend their unbeaten record in Sky Bet League 1 to four matches with victory over bottom club Crewe. The Iron have turned the corner since Mark Robins took over losing only once in their last nine in all competitions. Their form at Glanford Park hasn't been the greatest however, with only two wins in eight giving the Railwaymen (100/30) hope of a much-needed win. Crewe's form on the road has been poor, having scored only six in nine games and they are looking for a first win since October. The in-form Paddy Madden is 4/1 to net the opener and 6/4 to net in a home win, while Uche Ikpeazu, who scored in Crewe's recent 1-1 draw with Doncaster, is 7/1 to net first and 12/5 to score in 90 minutes.
Top Tip: Scunthorpe to win and both teams to score at 5/2.
Walsall v Barnsley
Mid-table rivals Walsall, the even-money favourites here, and Barnsley (11/4) go head-to-head with both sides keen to return to winning ways after recent lean spells in Sky Bet League 1. The Saddlers have won only one in their last six in all competitions, while Barnsley have not won in four. It’s the first meeting between the sides since 2006 and on that occasion the Tykes won 2-1 - a 11/1 shot this time around. Walsall have struggled to find the net at home with only nine in as many games at the Banks’s Stadium but have only conceded five, while Barnsley have scored three in their last four so don't expect a goal feast in this one.
Top Tip: Draw and both teams to score at 100/30.