EFL WEEKEND: There’s no Championship action this week due to the International break and only a handful of League One and Two games, so we bring you one preview from each of England’s third and fourth divisions below, alongside some of our recommended BETDAQ bets.
LEAGUE ONE
Stevenage v Lincoln City – Saturday 15:00
In one of just two matches being played this weekend in League One, Stevenage will be aiming to make it four straight wins in all competitions when they welcome Lincoln City to Broadhall Way on Saturday afternoon. The home side are currently fifth in the table, boasting 29 points from their opening 17 matches of the campaign, with a two point cushion between them and Barnsley outside the playoff places. After a difficult early autumn period of just one win in six League One fixtures, the Boro certainly look to be back on track, and can lift themselves up to fourth with Peterborough not playing this weekend.
Lincoln managed to snatch a late equaliser at home to Port Vale last week, but it extended their winless run to three games – their joint longest of the season. Despite flirting with a playoff position, currently residing four points behind Derby in sixth, the Imps’ lack of goals is certainly cause for concern for Mark Kennedy’s men; just two goals in their last three games means they’ve netted 20 in 16 games this season – the lowest out of any side in the top 12.
It’s difficult to look past Stevenage here. While Lincoln may be unbeaten in their last four against Saturday’s opposition – winning three in the process – just two wins on the road this season means they’re unlikely to come away from Hertfordshire with a positive result. Backing Stevenage at 1.87 is the play.
Stevenage v Lincoln City markets
LEAGUE TWO
Notts County v Bradford – Saturday 15:00
Notts County slipped to a cruel 98th minute defeat against Crewe Alexandra last week, making it three losses in five games for the Magpies in League Two. Having been the leading goalscorers in the division for so long, Luke Williams’ men have now failed to find the net for two consecutive games – the first time that has occurred all season. What is encouraging for the hosts is that they’ve won all their home games this season against teams below them in the table – their only two defeats in front of their own fans coming against Wrexham and Mansfield.
Bradford have endured a tricky period since mid-October and now sit 16th after three consecutive defeats in the league, which has seen them ship eight goals in the process. Whilst not to the same extent as Notts County, scoring goals has likewise been a problem for the Bantams, with only two teams managing less than their 18 from 17 games so far this season. Their away record isn’t the worst in the division, but just two victories from nine on the road suggests it could be backs against the wall this weekend against a side chasing promotion.
Bradford will take encouragement from the fact they’ve only lost one out of their last six against Saturday’s hosts, but repeating such a feat looks a tall order here. Notts County have a good home record against teams lower than them in the division, so backing them at 1.87 seems reasonable value.
Notts County v Bradford markets
