5 League One Tips For This Weekend’s Action – 9/5/21

On Sunday, Danny Cowley’s Portsmouth take on Accrington Stanley at Fratton Park, knowing that anything but a win could see Pompey surrender the final playoff place on the final day of the season.

Portsmouth come into this match having picked up seven points from their last three matches, whilst Accrington have drawn their last three matches, including a 3-3 draw with Portsmouth, where a John Marquis brace had put Pompey 3-2 up, before the striker scored a 95th-minute own goal.

Marquis is the player to focus on in this game, as the former Millwall man is having a strong season, scoring 17 goals in 45 appearances this campaign.

Fourth-placed Sunderland host already-relegated Northampton Town at the Stadium of Light on Sunday, as the Black Cats are looking to finish in third place and go into the playoffs with some momentum.

Former Bradford City striker Charlie Wyke has been in impressive form this campaign for Lee Johnson’s side, having found the back of the net 25 times in 42 league matches, which has resulted in the 28-year-old being the second top scorer in League One.

Wyke has been involved in 42% of Sunderland’s league goals and is coming up against a Northampton defence that has conceded 66 goals in 45 matches.

Already promoted Peterborough travel to the Keepmoat where they will face Doncaster Rovers on the final day of the season. Darren Ferguson’s side have had an outstanding season, which sees them hold a seven-point gap over third-placed Blackpool.

Doncaster come into this match in a wretched run of form, that has seen them win just two of their last 15 matches. Meanwhile, Posh have won two out of their last five matches against Charlton Athletic and Northampton Town.

The last time these two sides met was on 27th April, where Doncaster comeback from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 thanks to goals by Fejiri Okenabirhie and Taylor Richards despite being largely outplayed.

Peterborough will be determined to sign off the season on a good note and are the second top scorers in the league, bagging 79 goals in 45 matches, just one shy of league champions Hull. Posh striker Jonson Clarke-Harris also has 31 goals in 45 appearances this season. Whereas Doncaster have scored 62 and conceded 63 in 45 league games this campaign.

20th placed Wigan take on 23rd in the league Swindon Town at the DW, with both clubs’ statuses already confirmed.

Wigan come into this match having won four out of their last six matches in League One, whilst Swindon have won just one of their last eight in the league.

John Sheridan’s side have scored in five of their last eight matches, so they’ll be looking to cause Wigan some problems, however, the Latics have found the back of the net 12 times in their last six matches.

Neither team comes into this match with a good defensive record this season, as Wigan have conceded 73, whilst Swindon have the worst record in the division, leaking 86 in 45 matches.

The final match on this list of tips sees Oxford United face Burton Albion at the Kassam Stadium, where the hosts will more than likely have to win if they are to stand any chance of pipping Portsmouth to the final playoff place.

Pompey are currently one point ahead of Karl Robinson’s side with a worse goal difference, but, Charlton Athletic are level on points with Oxford, but the Addicks’ have scored four fewer goals and conceded the same amount as United.

The last time these two sides met, Oxford thumped Burton 5-1 in January, where Matt Taylor, Olamide Shodipo (2) and Josh Ruffels (2) all got on the scoresheet.

Since their last meeting, Burton have drastically improved under the stewardship of Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, as following that heavy defeat, the Brewers were 24th in League Two, eight points adrift of 20th placed Wimbledon, having played two games more than the Dons. Since then, Burton have managed an impressive points haul, as they currently sit in 16th place on 57 points, meaning that they have picked up 44 in their last 23 outings.

Burton have won just one of their last five matches, whilst Oxford have won five of their last six in League One, hence why they are tipped to be narrow winners against a much improved Burton side, who will come into this match with a point to prove following their last meeting with Robinson’s side.