Luton v Doncaster
The first of our March 23 League One betting tips is for Luton v Doncaster. We’re fast-approaching the end of the season and Luton are still in the number one spot with time running out for their rivals to overthrow them. The Hatters are on an unbeaten run and have won two and drawn three of their last five. They enjoy a five-point cushion over Barnsley in second and are seven inside the automatic promotion places. It’s not done yet, but home fans will be planning for life in the Championship and there’s a real excitement about the club as they move towards what would be a stunning title win. Back Luton to land another three points here at 4/5 with Coral. One for your accumulators.
No Consistency
Doncaster are certainly no pushovers at this level of football and have every chance of driving towards an extended finish, but a lack of consistency has their future hanging in the balance and they make this trip having drawn three and lost two of their last five. Another share away to the league leaders would be a decent result but the sharks are circling in behind and they won’t get away with dropping too many more points. Coventry in seventh are just a point behind and have won their last two. The draw is a threat at 5/2 (Bet365), but we don’t fancy the away win, priced 4/1 with Bet365.
Our Tip: Luton to win – 4/5 at Coral
Walsall v Barnsley
There’s not a lot of league action on TV this weekend due to the international break but this match gets the ball rolling with Sky Sports screening the play live from 12.00pm on Saturday afternoon. A great way to open your account, punters are challenged with picking the winner between a side fighting for their life in this division against one pushing for the title. Both teams need the points for very different reasons, but Walsall have been sucked into the relegation zone on the back of two defeats on the bounce. They are staring at relegation to League Two and you’d expect that to inspire a big performance from the home dressing room. Followers can get 19/5 at Coral.
Snapping at the Heels
Barnsley sit second in the table and are waiting to pounce on any mistakes made by Luton. They find themselves in a tough situation, however, weighing up the risks of pushing for the title against the threat of dropping out of the automatic promotion places and being dragged through the uncertainly that comes with a play-off campaign. The visitors board the team bus for this game showing three draws and two wins in five, ending level in each of their last two. They have matched Luton but have also failed to apply pressure in recent weeks. This is a game they should be winning, and we’ll give them the benefit of the doubt at 8/11 (Bet365).
Our Tip: Barnsley to win – 8/11 at Bet365
Shrewsbury v Portsmouth
Shrewsbury won last time out to boost their chances of beating the drop, but they enter this game just one point better than Walsall and the relegation zone and that’s far too close for comfort for followers of a home side who were expected to be fighting away at the opposite end of the charts. There’s just three points between the bottom four and Plymouth in 12th at the time of asking, so it’s anyone’s guess who will go down and there’s real tension in the air. Shrews must act before it gets any tighter, but they look to have a job on their hands here. Traders have the home win written off at 2/1 with Ladbrokes.
Sneaking Up
Portsmouth finally appear to have put a poor run of form behind them and have won each of their last two league matches to push themselves to within four points of automatic relegation. They appear to have thrown away the chance at winning the league but while a top-two finish remains a possibility they have to aim for it, picking up as many points as possible between now and the flag while hoping the teams above continue to stutter. Pompey have won three of their last four and can be backed for the maximum at 11/8 with Bet365. That price is good enough to win our vote and it’ll go in weekend accumulators.
Our Tip: Portsmouth to win – 11/8 at Bet365
Coventry v Oxford
The last of our March 23 League One betting tips is for Coventry vfOxford. The Sky Blues were looking out of it not too long ago, but a late season rally has forced them back into contention for the play-offs and there’s now no reason why they can’t finish the campaign strongly and bid for a place back in the Championship. Would it be a season too early in their progress?
They have certainly blown hot and cold this year but, at this level, Coventry are a match for any side, especially at the Ricoh Arena and they are fancied to boost their points tally by three on Saturday with a vital win. Traders think so too and have the local cheer marked up on the betting board at 13/10 (Coral). That’s better than we expected to see and there’s enough there to back as a super single for a decent sized stake.
A Side with Struggles
Oxford go into game 39 of their season with stats reading 10 wins, 13 draws and 15 defeats and can be found kicking their heels down at the wrong end of the pile with the threat of relegation hanging over them. There’s just a point between themselves and the bottom-four and the fact they’ve won only one of their last three has fans worried. United are performing better than many around them and did win last time out but look to have a real job in repeating the feat here.
The away win is second favourite with all bookmakers, but they aren’t quite as big as we thought they would be, with Bet365’s 11/5 the general idea. There looks to be no value in that and, if taking Coventry on, we’d suggest going with a draw at 12/5 – top price when taking advantage of bet365’s generosity. Not for us, we’re sticking with the home win.