The dreaded international break is amongst us, but fear not – Matthew O’Regan is here with his picks for this weekend’s League One and League Two action.
He’s dived into the best of the limited fixtures on offer and has found five value goalscorer picks, so let’s get right into it.
EFL Saturday Betting Tips
12:30 – Chesterfield v Notts County – Alassana Jatta anytime goalscorer
15:00 – Peterborough v Rotherham – Kwame Poku anytime goalscorer
15:00 – Tranmere v Bradford – Andy Cook anytime goalscorer
15:00 – Doncaster v Crewe – Billy Sharp anytime goalscorer
15:00 – MK Dons v Port Vale – Lorent Tolaj anytime goalscorer
Chesterfield v Notts County – Alassana Jatta anytime goalscorer
League Two match at the SMH Group Stadium
TV: Sky Sports Football, 12:30
Saturday’s early kick-off comes from the SMH Group Stadium, where familiar foes in Chesterfield and Notts County are reacquainted. After storming to the National League title last year, Chesterfield was billed as the pre-season bookies’ favourite for the title and currently sit mid-table on 14 points.
The visitors, Notts County, are currently fifth in the league, but just one point off table-toppers Walsall.
The departure of prolific forward Macaulay Langstaff after 71 goals in two seasons stifled pre-season optimism for the Magpies fans. But in Alassana Jatta, County have a ready-made replacement.
Signed in January from Danish club Viborg, Jatta scored five goals in six starts, averaging 0.88 goals per 90 minutes. This season, as the main man for Stuart Maynard’s side, Jatta has scored four goals in five starts, scoring 0.81 goals per 90.
The Gambian’s poacher instincts are clear, with 22 of his 23 shots coming inside the area, accumulating an average of 1.10 xG per game. The 25-year-old is very appealing odds to continue his fine run of goalscoring form.
Peterborough v Rotherham – Kwame Poku anytime goalscorer
League One match at the Weston Homes Stadium, Peterborough
15:00
Due to the international break, only two League One games will take place, with promotion hopefuls Peterborough and Rotherham facing off in the stand-out tie.
Peterborough suffered playoff semi-final heartbreak, losing to the eventual promoted Oxford United. Darren Ferguson’s young side have started the season in typical, inexperienced fashion. Posh, on their day, can beat most teams in the league but perhaps lack the know-how to see out games. As a result, they have scored 16 goals and conceded 18.
Rotherham were seen as Birmingham’s main challenger. With the shock return of controversial manager Steve Evans, a healthy budget, and a sizable rebuild, the Millers looked in good shape for an instant return to the Championship.
However, Rotherham have failed to get going and currently sit 17th in the league.
Of Peterborough’s 16 league goals, six have been scored by Kwame Poku – the top scorer in the league. The 23-year-old has worked his way through the ranks, impressing in the Isthmian League as a teenager for Worthing before signing for Colchester, where he impressed the keen eye of Posh.
Last season, the Ghanian scored 11 goals and is already over halfway to that total as he chases a golden boot.
Tranmere v Bradford – Andy Cook anytime goalscorer
League Two match at Prenton Park, Birkenhead
15:00
Three things are certain in life. Death, taxes, and Andy Cook scoring goals. The 33-year-old returns to Prenton Park on Saturday after 50 goals across two seasons for the Superwhites.
Cook has scored four goals in his last four starts against Tranmere and currently has five goals this campaign after scoring the opener in the 3-1 win over Newport County midweek.
Bradford’s talisman is averaging 0.52 goals per 90 from 3.31 shots and 1.45 shots on target per 90. Of his 32 shots, 30 have been inside the area, with the Bantams looking to deliver the ball to Cook in advantageous areas.
Against a Tranmere side with just one clean sheet in their last eight games, Cook will fancy his chances of scoring against his former employers once more.
Doncaster v Crewe – Billy Sharp anytime goalscorer
League Two match at the Eco-Power Stadium, Doncaster
15:00
At the age of 38, one of the EFL’s greatest-ever goalscorers, Billy Sharp, returned to Doncaster – a club for which he scored 41 goals in 82 Championship appearances.
Now in League Two, Rovers are looking to return to League One after narrowly missing out last campaign. It is believed that Sharp’s experience, guile, and goals were the missing pieces in the jigsaw. Doncaster are currently joint top of the league and know a win will apply pressure to the trio of teams above them on goal difference.
Sharp marked his return with a goal off the bench in the thumping 4-1 win over Accrington on the opening day before scoring the opener in the 2-0 cup win at Salford. The veteran is having his minutes managed but has still managed 0.56 goals per 90, scoring the only goal in a win over Gillingham a week after scoring in the 2-3 win at Port Vale.
Since Rovers did not play a midweek game, he should start again and will be keen for another goal in what looks to be his swansong season.
MK Dons v Port Vale – Lorent Tolaj anytime goalscorer
League Two match at Stadium MK, Milton Keynes
15:00
Bar Chesterfield v Notts County, MK Dons v Port Vale looks to be the tie of the weekend, with two teams bursting with talent facing off.
After losing in the playoff semi-finals to Crawley, MK headed into this campaign as one of the favourites. A shoddy start to the season saw Mike Williamson relieved of his duties, with Crawley manager Scott Lindsey making the drop-down to manage at Stadium MK.
Lindsey has become renowned for his exciting, attacking brand of football that has become synonymous with the Dons over the years, so he seems a perfect fit.
First, the 52-year-old must address his side’s defensive fragility. They have kept just two clean sheets all season.
After relegation from League One, the Port Vale hierarchy kept faith in Darren Moore, giving him a sizeable budget and backing to build a team capable of challenging at the top of the league. The signing of George Byers from Sheffield Wednesday was the obvious standout. The midfield conductor is far too good for League Two.
However, they also spent a significant sum of money bringing Lorent Tolaj to the club from Aldershot after he scored 25 goals in his debut season for the Shots. Used as part of a dynamic front three featuring Ronan Curtis and Ruari Paton, the Swiss has shown his physical prowess and spectacular link-up play, laying on four assists in seven starts.
In the 0-1 win at Notts County, Tolaj notched his second goal of the season, with Curtis laying the ball on a plate for the 22-year-old. Tolaj is finally starting to adapt to League Two football, so the goals should start flowing sooner rather than later.
EFL Football Tips
Early kickoff
12:30 – Chesterfield v Notts County – Alassana Jatta anytime goalscorer
3pm kickoffs
Peterborough v Rotherham – Kwame Poku anytime goalscorer
Tranmere v Bradford – Andy Cook anytime goalscorer
Doncaster v Crewe – Billy Sharp anytime goalscorer
MK Dons v Port Vale – Lorent Tolaj anytime goalscorer
- If you fancy putting these four 3pm kickoffs into an acca, it pays out at a whopping 103/1 with Paddy Power. CLICK HERE TO ADD IT TO YOUR BETSLIP.
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
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