After minimal League One action last Saturday due to the FA Cup fixtures, it’s back to a full schedule in the third tier this weekend. Let’s hope for goals, goals, goals, not least in our three selected fixtures.
Results are unimportant. As long as our six selected teams all find the net at some stage we’ll be celebrating a weekend winner. Here are our selections.
Charlton Athletic v Portsmouth
In a week where Charlton celebrated the 25th anniversary since returning to the Valley, the Addicks will be desperate to give their promotion bid another boost with three points on Saturday. However, with Portsmouth as the visitors, Karl Robinson’s men won’t expect to have things all their own way.
The hosts have notched 16 goals en route to six wins and three draws from their 10 games on home soil thus far, which should inspire confidence against an away side that’s leaked 18 on its travels. Ricky Holmes and co. are more than capable of getting on the scoresheet here.
Pompey are in good form, though, winning five of their last six in all competitions, a run which started with a 1-0 win here in the EFT. While both teams will be heavily changed from that encounter, Kenny Jackett’s men will fancy their chances of scoring once more.
A score draw could well be on the cards.
Oxford United v Doncaster Rovers
Goals have been a regular feature at the Kassam all season with 10 games producing a total of 35 strikes in League One. Despite the fact that Doncaster’s away games have been far less exciting on this front, we’re backing a BTTS winner here.
The U’s have registered 20 home goals already and will be fully expected to increase that tally against an away side that has shipped 12 on its travels. Despite struggling for form at home recently, a couple of away wins has restored some confidence. Wesley Thomas and co. should get Josep Clotet Ruiz’s men on the scoreboard.
Darren Ferguson’s men have scored just eight times on the road but will be buoyed by the fact Oxford have conceded two or more in seven of their last nine competitive home games. In spite of their own poor scoring form, they certainly have the quality to cause problems. Given that this will be down as a game where a positive result is possible, we think they will step up to the challenge.
Each of the last five competitive games at the Kassam have been BTTS winners. Back the run to be extended.
Peterborough United v Blackburn Rovers
Both Peterborough and Blackburn will be hopeful of promotion this term, and Saturday’s meeting at London Road offers a fantastic opportunity for either side to underline its intentions once more. While it might not be the day’s highest scoring fixture, there should be chances at both ends.
Posh have been a firm favourite on this coupon for a long time and a return of 14 goals scored and 14 goals against after 10 matches shows why. Jack Marriott, Marcus Maddison, and Junior Morais all know where the net is. Even against a strong opponent, the hosts should score.
They might need more than one to win this game, though. Rovers boast 18 goals and six wins on the road after just 10 matches. After scoring 11 in their last three alone, Tony Mowbray’s men are likely to punish Peterborough’s poor defence.
Both teams had score draws in the FA Cup last weekend while their most recent respective league games were BTTS winners too. Even at 4/6, this selection is well worth its inclusion.
