EFL WEEKEND: There is no Championship this week due to the international break, but it’s full steam ahead in League One and Two with some big matchups to look forward to.
We preview two games from each division below, alongside some of our recommended BETDAQ bets.
LEAGUE ONE
Charlton vs Wycombe – Saturday 15:00
Charlton picked up successive away wins for the first time this season – following up their 4-1 thrashing of Morecambe with a 2-1 win at Cambridge last Saturday to climb to 11th in the League One standings. Those two results ended their five-game winless run in the league, but there remains much to be desired about their recent home form which has seen them win none of their last four fixtures at the Valley.
Wycombe slipped to a 1-0 defeat at home to high-flying Barnsley last weekend to leave them on the periphery of the play-off places, still four points behind Bolton and Derby County. Having composed a brilliant five-game winning streak between January and February, which included four clean sheets, the Chairboys have lost three of their last six league fixtures, slightly sobering their push for a Championship return at the second time of asking.
The key for a good Wycombe result here is whether Charlton find the net or not – all of Matt Bloomfield’s side’s last four away wins since the start of the year have come when the home side have failed to score. With Charlton not in the best nick at home, we reckon the away side could get a result here. Backing Wycombe at 2.88 is the play.
Peterborough vs Derby County – Saturday 15:00
Peterborough continued their free-scoring form with an impressive 3-0 victory at Lincoln Town last weekend to accompany a 5-2 romp of Burton Albion a few days earlier. The Posh are now the fourth highest scorers in the division and will want to use their attacking prowess to sneak into the play-off places as the end of the season approaches. The Cambridgeshire side currently lie four points behind Bolton in sixth, having played a game less.
Derby have faltered in recent weeks. Having composed a brilliant 15-game unbeaten run either side of the World Cup break, which included six wins on the bounce between January and February. The Rams are slowly being dragged into a scrap for the final two play-off places, with last week’s 2-0 defeat at home to Fleetwood meaning they have won just two and lost three of their last six league fixtures.
The retrospective home and away records for each side could be key here. Derby have lost three of their last four games on the road, failing to keep a clean sheet in any of those, whilst Peterborough have beaten the likes of Sheffield Wednesday and Plymouth Argyle at London Road this season. We’re backing Peterborough at 2.62 to upset the Derby apple cart even further.
Peterborough vs Derby County markets
LEAGUE TWO
Barrow vs AFC Wimbledon – Saturday 15:00
Barrow recorded their first defeat in six games with a 1-0 loss at struggling Harrogate Town last Saturday, leaving the Bluebirds seven points adrift of the play-off places with nine games to play. The defeat emphasised how damaging Barrow’s recent lack of attacking output has been since the turn of the year – failing to score more than a singular goal in each of their last 10 games since the end of January. Ultimately, it could cost them a reasonable shot at securing a coveted play-off spot.
AFC Wimbledon continued their miserable domestic form with a 1-0 loss at home to relegation-threatened Crawley Town last weekend, extending the Dons’ winless run to 10 games in the league. Whist relegation shouldn’t be a serious concern for Johnnie Jackson’s side, the south-west Londoners will have expected a much better season after being relegated from League One last year, with the club on course for its lowest finish across the football leagues since the 2014/15 season.
It’s difficult to look past Barrow for this one. The Bluebirds haven’t been in the sharpest of form recently but will take confidence from their 1-0 victory over Saturday’s opposition earlier in the season, who themselves seem unable to buy a win at the moment. Backing Barrow at 2.14 is the selection for this one.
Barrow vs AFC Wimbledon markets
Crawley Town vs Rochdale – Saturday 15:00
This is a huge game at the bottom of the League Two table. Crawley find themselves two points ahead of Hartlepool in 23rd, with Rochdale in deep trouble in 24th – still seven points clear of safety with nine games to play.
Crawley have commendably picked up seven points from their last nine available – their longest unbeaten run since November – with last weekend’s 1-1 draw with Doncaster following successive victories against Harrogate Town and AFC Wimbledon. It’s just the second time the Red Devil’s have won two on the bounce all season, and manager Scott Lindsey will hope their recent upturn in form will be enough to secure a ninth successive season in League Two.
Rochdale experienced a rollercoaster of a game against Swindon last time out, leading 3-2 after being 2-0 down, then having to snatch a 94th minute equaliser after going 4-3 down late on. The Dale have still only won one of their last 12 league games but should try to take confidence in the fact they’ve only lost one of their previous four in the league, including a stunning 2-0 win against promotion-chasing Stevenage three weeks ago.
This game should be tight on paper with two places separating the two clubs, but Crawley look good value here. Rochdale have lost four of their last five away games and have only kept two clean sheets since the turn of the year, so we’re backing Crawley at 2.14 to ease their relegation fears.
Crawley Town vs Rochdale markets
