Saturday League One and League Two Tips: Manning to make a difference in 15/2 acca | OneFootball

EFL League One & League Two

Alan's preview includes two trebles in League One and League Two

Saturday's action in the EFL is previewed by Alan Dudman with his latest tipsheet and he is keen on Huddersfield now that Lee Grant has gone...

League One

Huddersfield v Bradford: Back Huddersfield to win @ 21/20

Kick off: Saturday 28th January, 12:30

Just three wins from 12 games and a recent 3-1 defeat to Burton was enough for the Huddersfield board, who sacked Lee Grant this week, meaning the seventh managerial scalp in League One adds to the topsy turvy season in search of the Championship riches.

The Terriers have a powerful squad, but as soon as Grant mentioned a lack of bravery, it was curtains.

In comes Lima Manning who has previously reached the League One play-offs when in charge of MK Dons in 2022, while he guided Oxford into the automatic promotion places in the third tier during the 2023-24 season.

They have too strong a squad to ignore and while Bradford are worthy opponents, they tend to be better at home and have won only four on the road all season.

Blackpool v Northampton Town: Back Blackpool to win @ 5/6

Kick off: Saturday 24th January, 15:00

Blackpool flickered under Ian Evatt with a 4-0 win against Rotherham at the end of December, but since then a spin of four straight defeats has put paid to any grandiose dimensions.

Admittedly one of those losses came in the FA Cup against a flying Ipswich but no one can explain the 5-1 drubbing at the hands of Port Vale.

The Tangerines have won five of their last eight league games against Northampton (D1 L2), though, keeping a clean sheet in each of those victories and the Cobblers are without a win since the 3-1 Wimbledon victory on the 19th December.

Evatt at least has been active in the window and the signing of striker Michael Obafemi arriving on loan from Burnley can be seen as a huge positive to boost the attacking options, along with Kamarl Grant signed from Millwall last week, and Joel Randall comes from Evatt's old stamping ground Bolton Wanderers.

Wycombe Wanderers v Peterborough United: Back Wycombe to win @ 11/10

Kick off: Saturday 24th January 15:00

I'm still struggling to get to grips with Peterborough. I recognise Luke Williams as a positive impact and he's a coach I like, but they remain inconsistent.

Away from home the Posh conceded five at Lincoln recently and couldn't handle the high intensity game of Lincoln and their physical attributes despite having the majority of the ball, and one feels this could be a similar sort of game.

Wycombe have won each of their last two league games and will be looking to record three in succession for the first time during the 2025-26 season. Overall, the Chairboys have won seven of their last 10 on home soil (D2 L1) and played well in terms of defending against a top side against Cardiff (drew 1-1) and Cardiff threw plenty at them.

They look a fair bet to achieve the victory at odds of 11/10.

Listen to the Football...Only Bettor Saturday preview

League Two

Barnet v Oldham Athletic: Back Barnet to win @ 5/6

Kick off: Saturday 24th January, 12:30

It appears Barnet won't be moving back to Underhill pastures for now, which is a shame as the old ground and proposed new one would have been at the top of my road, but for now, it's the Hive and a couple of recent signings from Orient in Phillip Chinedu and midfielder Diallang Jaiyesimi can be seen as positves.

In there somewhere for Dean Brennan is a good team - and they are certainly better than their league position, but consistency, like most at this level has been their downfall.

Joe Kizzi's red card against Grimsby early in Saturday's game gives a misleading 0-1 loss, but Barnet played well and defended bravely. Common sense has also prevailed as the Kizzi card has been overturned. He was the man that scored both goals on New Year's Day against Crawley in a 2-1 win - a performance described by Brennan as their best of the season.

They hit a 3.12 xG that day, and the Bees are top of the xG table too at 1.71 with a massive 1.92 at home.

Salford City v Bristol Rovers: Back Salford to win @ 5/6

Kick off: Saturday 24th January, 15:00

Salford are motoring. Their style is fairly gung-ho and all out attack under the acme of lower league passing teams Karl Robinson, and it's finally clicking.

They are scoring a ton of goals too. A recent 3-2 win in the FA Cup against Swindon in midweek was hot on the heels of a 3-2 win at Swindon in the league just three days prior, plus two at Barrow.

The Reds are unbeaten across their last eight League Two games (W6 D2), scoring 2.3 goals per game on average during that span and Bristol Rovers have lost 13 of their last 15 games in League Two (W1 D1), winning their most recent game on the road, however (3-0 at Shrewsbury Town).

Cambridge United v Tranmere Rovers: Back Cambridge to win @ 3/4

Kick off: Saturday 24th January, 15:00

I cannot remember the last time I tipped Cambridge. Probably when John Beck was in charge ad his long, doughty, direct rhetoric.

The U's have a supreme home defence - that cannot be argued with. They have conceded just seven at home all season and haven't lost a League Two match since October. It beggars the question why I haven't previewed them much. They have conceded just 20 goals across their 25 league games this season, the joint-fewest of any side (also 20 for Oldham Athletic). Moreover, The U's have allowed the fewest shots (215) and fewest expected goals against (24.5) in League Two this season.

Ben Knight's double against loftily-placed Walsall at the Abbey on New Year's Day was a big win, with Neil Harris praising his composure to finish. Walsall played well in that but Cambridge got blocks in and tackles in at key moments, which is why their defensive record is so impressive and that stat so appealing earlier.

Xg and xA figures of 1.51 and 1.01 should not be opposed here despite Tranmere's recent away form, and I quite like backing the win and Under 2.5 Goals, but as the other treble bets are pretty short, I like to keep things a touch more simple this weekend.

Now read more from Jack Critchley and his latest Championship preview!

Recommended bets