Cod Army are 6/4 to beat struggling Colchester United
Bradford City v BarnsleyYorkshire pride is all that’s at stake in this clash between two sides now certain to finish solidly in mid-table. Bradford are even-money favourites, but have been more successful away from home this season, while Barnsley are 11/4 for a victory that would lift them above the Bantams. The draw is 12/5. Bradford have lost their last three at home, while Barnsley have three draws and a defeat in their last four games on the road. With these sides locked dead level on 59 points after 44 games, it’s not unreasonable to think there may still be nothing between them come the end of 90 minutes.
Top tip: Draw at 12/5
Chesterfield v Bristol City
It’s job done for Bristol City, who have wrapped up the Sky Bet League 1 title with two games remaining and will be back in the Championship next season. And Chesterfield could yet join them, with a top-six spot increasingly assured – they lead seventh-placed Rochdale by five points with two games to go – and with it a shot at the play-offs. The Spireites are 4/1 for promotion and, having won 12 of their 22 home games this season, 7/5 to collect three more points in this one. The Robins are 19/10 to celebrate their title triumph with another victory, while the draw is 23/10. Both Chesterfield’s last home game and Bristol City’s last away game ended in 6-0 victories, so goals could well be on the cards here with the pressure off to a large extent for both sides.
Top tip: Over 4.5 goals at 11/2.
Coventry City v Crewe Alexandra
A run of four wins and three draws in seven games has lifted Coventry clear of any relegation troubles, while Crewe will be safe with a win in this one if other results go their way. The hosts are warm favourites at 3/4, with Crewe 18/5 and the draw 13/5. A striking stat is the lack of goals in recent games for both these sides. Coventry’s last six games have all featured under 2.5 goals, as have Crewe’s last five. That may be a trend worth following here.
Top tip: Under 2.5 goals at 4/5.
Fleetwood Town v Colchester United
A spot in the play-offs could be beyond Fleetwood now, but the visitors still have plenty to play for. Colchester currently sit four points adrift of safety but have three games left to save themselves. A home win is 6/4, with the visitors 9/5 and the draw 9/4 in a game that looks tough to call given the varying importance of the fixture for each side. Both sides are without a win in their last three games – Fleetwood having failed to score in all three, and Colchester in two. Unders looks a good shout on the goals, but it could well pay to go further and back no goals at all in this one.
Top tip: No Goalscorer at 9/1.
Leyton Orient v Sheffield United
Sheffield United look set for a spot in the Sky Bet League 1 play-offs, leading seventh-placed Rochdale by six points with two games to play, while at the other end of the table things are far more uncertain for Leyton Orient. They are two points adrift of safety and could be relegated this weekend if results go against them. Orient’s primary focus must be three points in this one, and they’re 13/8 with Sky Bet to get them. The Blades are the same price with the draw 23/10. Orient’s last home game ended in a 1-0 defeat to a South Yorkshire side – Doncaster – and a repeat of that outcome here is a 7/1 chance. Both teams have two score draws on their April record, and another would not surprise here.
Top tip: 1-1, 2-2 or 3-3 draw in the ‘correct score group betting’ at 100/30.
Notts County v Doncaster Rovers
Notts County are in desperate need of what would be just a fifth home league win of the season as they bid to avoid relegation to Sky Bet League 2. They currently sit 22nd in the table, two places and three points adrift of the safety line. They’re 6/4 to get that win against mid-table Doncaster, who are 9/5 shots, with the draw 23/10. The Magpies have no win in their last 11 – although they have drawn six of those – while Doncaster have won one of their last six.
Top tip: The draw at 23/10.
Peterborough United v Crawley Town
A six-game winless run has firmly put paid to Peterborough’s play-off hopes, but they are 8/11 favourites to get back to winning ways at home to Crawley (7/2). The visitors are not yet safe but a point could be enough, depending upon other results. That’s 5/2. Crawley have won five of their last nine to boost their survival hopes, with their last two wins both 2-0 successes. Another win by that scoreline is offered at a meaty 22/1 here. You have to go back 11 games to a 2-1 victory at Sheffield United on March 3 for the last Peterborough game to feature over 2.5 goals.
Top tip: Under 2.5 goals at 4/5.
Preston North End v Swindon Town
Preston are vying with MK Dons for the second automatic promotion spot in Sky Bet League 1, and haven’t lost a league game since January. There have been a few too many draws recently, though – five in the last eight – to leave things firmly in the balance. Preston currently have a one-point advantage over the Dons, so victory this weekend would seal second spot should MK lose at Rochdale. Preston are 7/10 to hold up their end of the bargain, with Swindon 15/4 and the draw 11/4. Two of Swindon’s last three games have featured six goals; Preston’s last three have all featured four.
Top tip: Over 3.5 goals at 2/1.
Rochdale v MK Dons
Rochdale retain slender hopes of squeezing into the play-offs, but to do so they need to win both of their remaining games and hope that either Sheffield United lose both of theirs or that Chesterfield collect no more than a point. And their task is made tougher still by the fact they face the MK Dons – still scrapping for automatic promotion here. Rochdale are 3/1 to get the win that may keep their season alive into the final weekend, while the Dons are a shade of odds-on at 17/20 to boost their promotion bid with another three points. The draw is 13/5. The Dons have won their last three games, scoring 12 goals in the process. More goals might well be on the cards here.
Top tip: Over 3.5 goals at 2/1.
Scunthorpe United v Gillingham Town
There’s little riding on this one with Scunthorpe clear of trouble in 16th and Gillingham nine points adrift of the play-off spots going into the penultimate round of fixtures. Scunthorpe are lukewarm 13/10 favourites, with Gillingham 2/1 and the draw 12/5. Scunthorpe’s last three games have ended in score draws, while Gillingham have 3-3 and 2-2 draws in their last two away games, so it could pay to take a chance on a similarly freescoring game if both sides are up for giving their supporters some end-of-season action.
Top tip: A 2-2 draw at 12/1.
Walsall v Oldham Athletic
A mid-table clash – the teams are level on 56 points in 14th and 15th - with Walsall even-money and Oldham 11/4 to take the three points and the draw 23/10. Walsall are unbeaten in their last five at home and haven’t conceded in their last three at the Bescot. Oldham have drawn four of their last five and an end-of-season stalemate would not be a shock here.
Top tip: A 1-1 draw at 5/1.
Yeovil Town v Port Vale
Already-relegated Yeovil could keep Port Vale in the picture with victory on Saturday. They’re 7/4 to get it, while a victory for Vale at 6/4 would rubberstamp their Sky Bet League 1 status for next season regardless of other results. The draw is 23/10. The bad news for Port Vale is that the Glovers’ form has lifted since their relegation was confirmed; they’ve taken seven points from their last three games, including 1-0 wins over Swindon and Sheffield United. Another win by the only goal is a 15/2 chance, while under 1.5 goals is 9/4.
Top tip: Under 1.5 goals at 9/4.