England. League One — Tips and bets

Peterborough have so much firepower and that is why they find themselves top of the table heading into the weekend. In Ivan Toney, Mo Eisa and Marcus Maddison they possess an incredible front three at League One level.

Coventry got back to winning ways against Fleetwood on Wednesday night and hauled themselves back into the play-off places, but this is a far bigger obstacle. Home win for me.

Prutton predicts: 3-1

Source: SkySports

Portsmouth offer plenty going forward at home, Sunderland haven’t exactly spent 2019 battering teams on their travels. Since the turn of the year, Jack Ross’ men have certainly been tough to beat on the road, while their individual quality has carried them over the line at times, but they’ve been halted by some fairly average teams and have often posted some rather displeasing figures.

The Black Cats average just 1.25 goals for away from home in 2019, while they also average a rather measly 1.17 expected goals for. Add in the fact that they ended the regular campaign by losing away against both Fleetwood and Southend, both of whom scored twice, and it’s easy to fear for the visitors ahead of Thursday’s second leg.

Given both the numbers produced by Portsmouth at home and the numbers produced by Sunderland on the road, ‘Portsmouth to Score Over 1.5 Goals’ stands out as a viable option with the betting the way that it is currently. Pompey have little choice but to adopt an attacking approach, while their previous efforts at this venue suggest that the chance of such an approach yielding a couple of goals is slightly greater than the current prices suggest.

Sunderland hold a slim 1-0 advantage heading into a tough second leg tie away at Portsmouth.

Chris Maguire's thunderous effort was enough to give the Black Cats victory in a tight contest that could well have ended level.

It puts Pompey in the difficult position of having to secure a win against a team who haven't lost many games this season. While it is a challenge, Kenny Jackett's men are capable of passing it.

Their home form, on the whole, has been good. While they had to settle for dropped points in their final two games of the regular season in front of their own supporters, the results gained at Fratton Park against top-half sides can give them hope.

While draws dominated February, including games against Barnsley and Doncaster, they beat Sunderland just before Christmas and they will need to draw upon that if they are to turn this contest around.

That last point is a good one, the first goal in this game is key and we've already seen in this play-offs how the home side have been able to score first in second leg contests.

Forest Green, West Brom and Leeds all managed to net first and while they didn't quite get the outcome they wanted, the various reasons as to why don't particularly concern Portsmouth.

Fratton Park will be loud and if they can grab the first goal then they have a fantastic chance to go on and win the game.

Since the start of last season, Charlton have only lost once in six clashes with Doncaster in all competitions, winning three and drawing two, including a 2-1 victory in the first leg at the Keepmoat.

Chris Maguire has found the net in his last two League One games; including play-off matches, Maguire hasn’t scored in three consecutive Football League games since January 2014 for Sheffield Wednesday.

Familiar rivals do battle for a place in the League One play-off final – and Chris Maguire’s goal in the first leg may prove decisive in sending Sunderland to Wembley.

Maguire had only been on the Stadium of Light pitch as a substitute for four minutes when he broke the deadlock and even though Sunderland had Alim Ozturk sent off soon afterwards, they held out to earn themselves a 1-0 advantage to take to Fratton Park.

This will be the fifth meeting this season between two clubs who were in the Premier League when they had last faced each other nine years ago, both having fallen on hard times since then but trying to work their way back up to the elite level.

Oxford are on a decent run of form at the minute. They have recovered from a really poor start to the season and are unbeaten in their last five games, scoring 14 goals in that time as well.

Darren Moore has had a solid start to life at Doncaster. They may be lacking a few goals up front this season but they are 10th in the table and have played fewer games than all the sides above them. I fancy an entertaining draw here.

Prutton predicts: 2-2

Peterborough have a remarkable amount of attacking talent at their disposal. They have scored at least five more goals than any other side in League One and should really be contenders for automatic promotion this season.

Lincoln got a massive win last weekend, beating Sunderland to get off and running under Michael Appleton and end a really poor run of form. This may come as a bit of a surprise but I have a feeling they could keep the Posh at bay.

Prutton predicts: 0-2

Not only do the hosts boast an impressive record at The Valley, but Doncaster have generally struggled to be at their best on the road this season. Grant McCann’s men finished the regular campaign with only the 12th best away record in the division. The fact that they lost three more games than they won away from home is displeasing. As is the fact that they conceded an average of 1.61 goals and 1.65 expected goals. Moreover, when they visited this venue earlier in the campaign, Donny lost by two goals to nil.

From a betting point of view, it’s very difficult to oppose the hosts. The best option appears to be ‘Charlton to Win & Over 1.5 Goals’. The Addicks, who proved that they can both create chances and score goals against Donny’s back-line on Sunday, average 1.78 goals for at home, while Friday’s visitors have conceded an average of 1.61 on the road.

Ultimately, when we consider that Charlton have offered more (in all areas) at home than Doncaster have on the road, it’s not overly difficult to conclude that there’s a slightly greater chance of the hosts scoring twice on route to victory than the current prices suggest.

Portsmouth have never won a play-off match in five attempts (W0 D2 L3), with both of their home games ending 2-2 – against Leicester in 1992-93 and Plymouth Argyle in 2015-16.

I believe they will advance

Portsmouth have never won a play-off match in five attempts (W0 D2 L3), with both of their home games ending 2-2 – against Leicester in 1992-93 and Plymouth Argyle in 2015-16.

I saw Blackpool's trip to Bolton on Monday night and, while it wasn't the prettiest game, it was another point for Simon Grayson's side as they continue to climb back up the League One table.

Rotherham haven't quite got their consistency back yet since their relegation, although they did get a big win over Coventry last weekend. Home win here for me.

Prutton predicts: 2-0

Coventry were unbeaten until they went to Rotherham last week, but that thumping brought them back down to earth a little. They still have a 100 per cent record at home, though.

Tranmere look in a little bit of trouble. They have just two wins all season and one of those came against a very weak Bolton. Home win for me here.

Prutton predicts: 2-1

Exeter looked at one point like the team that could run away with this division, but just one win in five has seen them lose top spot to Forest Green.

Rovers have snuck their way to the summit, finding their goalscoring touch in recent games as well. They have netted as many in their last two as they did in the previous 10! I can't split these two.

Prutton predicts: 2-2

Fleetwood will acore 2-3 goals. but my prediction is Fleetwood Win . Swindon in last position

Cause some times I feel them but when I place here I dnt place nowhere I guess am poor inside

Peterborogh will win they can up for championship 1-2 or 1-3