Saturday League 1 & League 2 Tips: Back three outsiders in 50/1 treble | OneFootball

EFL League One & League Two

It's Saturday tipsheet time for the EFL

Alan Dudman brings you his latest EFL tipsheet for this weekend's games plus a bonus selection for Monday night on Sky...

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League One

Rotherham United v Lincoln City, Saturday 15:00: Back Rotherham to win @ 5/2

This century, Rotherham United have won 12 of their 14 league games against Lincoln City (D1 L1), scoring 1.93 goals on average per fixture during that time and yet are 5/2 big outsiders in the face of history.

The home form of the Millers is just enough to keep them onside, against a good team in Lincoln, but Rotherham have lost just once this term and conceded eight in seven matches, so it might not be a 90 minutes on Saturday made for blissful viewing.

Lincoln have failed to score in each of their last two away league games and will be looking to avoid going goalless in three in succession for the first time since December 2022, which again backs up the idea this could be a low-scorer.

Northampton Town v Mansfield Town, Saturday 15:00: Back Northampton to win @ 12/5

Mansfield are one of those teams, when at a short price, I tend to get wrong, so the thinking is altered for this weekend's trip to Northampton, who have a good record against the Stags and have won two of their last three league games against Mansfield Town, just one fewer than their prior 14 EFL meetings with the Stags combined beforehand (W3 D6 L5).

Kevin Nolan's team have scored just four goals from open play in League One so far this season; the fewest of any side, and 14 fewer than Leyton Orient who have struck the most in the competition (18), but at home they have shipped just four. The Under 2.5 Goals therefore at 6/10 is not a shock.

The gut feeling here is that the visitors are just too short at 6/5 for essentially a mid-table team.

Wycombe Wanderers v Leyton Orient, Saturday 15:00: Back Leyton Orient @ 11/4

Orient are still living off a bit of nostalgia from last season's heroics, and in fifteenth spot currently in League One, at times they have looked a far better team than their position suggests.

Wycombe's new boss Michael Duff remarked after the Blackpool game that his team couldn't pass it five yards, but they have gained a big win since that 1-1 draw at the Tangerines with a 3-0 home win against Huddersfield - a game they completely dominated in terms of possession and shots on goal.

But Orient have a goal in them, and that makes them a potent opponent. Aaron Connolly has recorded three goal contributions across his last four league starts away from home for the O's (two goals, one assist), as many as across his prior 18 league starts on the road combined across spells with Orient, Millwall, Sunderland, Hull and Middlesbrough (three goals). He's hit the woodwork enough times too.

League Two

Harrogate Town v Oldham Athletic, Saturday 15:00: Back Harrogate to win @ 12/5

Harrogate Town have won three of their four Football League games against Oldham athletic (L1), scoring 2+ goals in each of those victories and backing the hosts at the bigger price makes a lot more sense here.

Oldham have conceded fewer goals than any other side in League Two so far this season (12), though only Cheltenham Town (10) have scored fewer than the Latics (12), and if Harrogate can hang onto a lead, which they have struggled to this term.

In three of Harrogate's last four matches they have led early - including against better and dangerous teams than Oldham (Crewe and Fleetwood) and a fast start is a must here.

Barrow v Grimsby Town, Saturday 15:00: Back Barrow Draw No Bet @ 8/11

Having lost six of their first eight league games this season (W2), Barrow are now unbeaten in their last six (W3 D3) and a good test against the stylish Grimsby awaits.

David Artell's side can blow teams away, but their form on the road is not as strong as their Blundell Park form and they are proving to be a little inconsistent - as witnessed by conceding three at out-of-form Crewe.

Grimsby have only won three of their 17 away Football League games against Barrow (D4 L10), losing on each of their last three visits to Holker Street by a combined 7-1 aggregate scoreline and we can play the two here with the DNB.

Since Steve Cotterill has been back at Cheltenham the place has been given a lift. Good memories for me too when interviewing Cotterill by phone for Cheltenham in their Conference days - although as a rookie reporter, Cotterill was never the easiest back then.

The hosts gained a massive league win recently with a last minute winner against table toppers Walsall, but this is a game of defence against attack.

Only Grimsby and MK Dons (both 27) have scored more League Two goals than Notts County this season (25), with no side netting more from open play than the Magpies (21) and it's where I want to focus.

Alassana Jatta has been a winner for the column this term and I like his chances again, as he's on a roll. An FA Cup goal against Brackley last weekend was hot on the heels from a double against Cambridge, and his tally now stands at six in 11. There is a lot to like about his game and not just the goals, with the way he presses, but also how light on his feet he can be for someone at 6"4.

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