League One Betting Tips: Posh and Ipswich to cement their title credentials

Tractor Boys can cover the handicap against the Tykes

Ipswich Town v Barnsley
Saturday 27th August, kick-off 3pm

Ipswich have enjoyed an excellent August and have rocketed up to the summit of the League One table with 13 point from their opening five games - with the only points dropped so far coming in the opening 1-1 draw with Bolton. They also have the joint-best goal difference in the division alongside the "goal kings" Peterborough on +8.

Kieran McKenna's pressing style and passing/possession game has really developed this term in his favoured 3-4-2-1, and most telling is the stat that Town have had most build-up attacks with 10 or more passes. They brushed aside Shrewsbury last weekend easily 3-0, although McKenna said they didn't play well.

Tyreece John-Jules, Conor Chaplin and Kayden Jackson all netted and showed the benefit of resting five players following a bruising 1-0 win against Burton. McKenna made five changes last weekend to keep the freshness.

Michael Duff's Barnsley have already lost three this term although their inconsistencies were spread over a week with a 3-0 win to Bristol Rovers followed by a 3-0 loss against Wycombe.

According to Opta, the hosts have enjoyed real dominance in recent times against the Tykes and are unbeaten in their last 11 league meetings with Barnsley (W5 D6) since a 1-3 defeat in November 2010. Barnsley have only won one of their last 11 league visits to Ipswich (D3 L7), losing both of their last two, most recently in the 2017-18 Championship season.

It means the hosts are very short this Saturday at 1.654/6, but I like the -1 bet for this weekend, and we can get 2.789/5 for that.

That bet looks more appealing than the Clean Sheet price of 2.0811/10.

With the number of goals created by Town alongside the stats that they have conceded fewest shots in League One (21), nine better than the second-best team Oxford (30), they should cover the handicap and with three successive clean sheets, the Win To Nil bet also makes the list.

KEY OPTA STAT: Ipswich have won each of their previous four league games, not since October 2003 as a second-tier side have the Tractor Boys won five league games on the bounce.

Posh can land a result in battle of the big two

Derby County v Peterborough United
Saturday 27th August, kick-off 3pm

There's no doubt regarding the big ticket in town, as eighth plays second, although the market is very much with Derby as the 2.01/1 favourites.

Posh are nearly 4.03/1, which is a massive price for the team that has started so well, but their perfect three out of three at home with F9 A0 could be slightly underplaying their away chances here.

Derby also have a 100% home record this term - with 1-0 and 2-1 wins against Oxford and Barnsley. Their latest two games both finished 0-0, and the defence will need to be razor sharp as they face the best strike partnership in the division in Jonson Clarke-Harris and Jack Marriott. The duo have yielded eight goals between them in five games, and JCH takes penalties.

His price to Score Anytime on the Sportsbook at 5/2 is a lot bigger than David McGoldrick's 6/4 - especially as McGoldrick has not scored so far.

Posh's only blip so far was on the road at Plymouth - a dreadful performance, but I can't help but feel this is a big price. We can play the Draw No Bet, Double Chance or lay of Liam Rosenior's Derby - who have drawn each of their last two league games 0-0, in their Football League history only once have they previously recorded three successive goalless draws, between September and October 1908.

Playing Clarke-Harris to Score Anytime and Peterborough to win in a Sportsbook Betbuilder pays out a massive 14.78689/50. Joe Ward has been excellent for the Blues this term as the 27-year-old is leading the league in assists with four. He had 13 in their promotion season from League One in 2021.

Goalkeeper and Chelsea loanee Lucas Bergstrom is expected to return for Posh although Joel Randall's injury in training will rule him out. Derby gained a big 1-0 EFL Cup win against West Brom in midweek, but I am happy to oppose them for Saturday as the price is too short.

KEY OPTA STAT: Peterborough's Jonson Clarke-Harris already has five league goals this season, including three in his last two games; he hasn't done so in three successive league fixtures since February 2021 (run of six).

Greens' home record won't be beaten by Wanderers

Plymouth Argyle v Bolton Wanderers
Saturday 27th August, kick-off 3pm

It was a toss-up for the final bet of the weekend as Accrington back at home always presents the chance to back goals, but Plymouth at Home Park is just as appealing against Bolton.

It's a 100% record so far in two games for Plymouth - with successive clean sheets in 1-0 (Barnsley) and 2-0 (Peterborough) wins. Their home record was impressive last term and nearly gave them a shot at the play-offs, with only 19 goals conceded. They have started in a similar fashion under Stephen Schumacher defensively.

Finn Azaz, Matt Butcher, Panutche Camara, Jordan Houghton, Danny Mayor are all good midfield options and the on-loan Villa man Azaz has created a big impression so far and the 21-year-old grabbed his third League One goal of the season in just five starts recently in the 0-3 success at Forest Green.

Azaz to Score Anytime and Plymouth to win on the Sportsbook Betbuilder pays 5.48112/25.

Another loan player Nigel Lonwijk, greatly impressed last Saturday in his first start, and the 19-year-old in a back three with Dan Scarr and Brendan Galloway could be left alone by Schumacher, even if James Wilson is back available following a one-match suspension.

Only Sheffield United (12) and Bristol Rovers (11) have kept more home clean sheets in the Football League in 2022 than Plymouth (10), who have done so in both their home league games this season, winning 1-0 and 2-0 respectively, so that certainly brings into play the Win To Nil bet at 'Yes'.

KEY OPTA STAT: Bolton have lost each of their last five league visits to Plymouth. Their last away league win there was in October 1975 (3-2).

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