League One Tips: Plymouth and MK Dons to throw up some festive goals

Pompey can get a result in top two clash on Friday

Hull City v Portsmouth
Friday 18th December, kick-off 17:30
Live on Sky Sports Football

Hull City are the best team currently in League One according to the points tally and table with just five defeats - yet I have managed to tip up every single one of the those losses.

I was with them in midweek, so of course they lost to Blackpool in a performance that saw them forget how to defend. Even at my lowly level playing, I was taught to never leave a runner. Yet Hull managed to lack that basic principle in a panicky defensive display.

Having vowed to go nowhere near them ever again, here we are presented with Friday's live Sky game. So I can run, but I cannot hide.

Quite rightly this game is scheduled for the cameras, as it's top versus second, and Pompey will fancy their chances here with a chance to climb to the summit.

Kenny Jackett's side are on a decent run, but they struggled to find a way past a resolute Fleetwood on Tuesday as they lacked their usual free-scoring game. Their plan to get the balls out wide failed too, as Ronan Curtis on the wing is their most influential player.

Hull are beginning to show too many inconsistencies to trust them as favourites for this. On Tuesday they were poor at the back, whilst Saturday's 0-1 loss to Shrewsbury was a shocker in the sense they failed to muster any worthwhile attempt on goal. The caveat is of course I am hopeless with Hull and have a complete blind spot, but I think we can back Pompey here on the Draw No Bet, as we don't have a big enough price to play on the Double Chance.

KEY OPTA STAT: Portsmouth have only lost one of their eight league games away this term - netting on average two goals per game.

Brewers look overpriced following recent improvements

Burton Albion v Doncaster Rovers
Saturday 19th December, kick-off 15:00

Burton have come up trumps recently as they tend to go off at a big price considering they are bottom of the table, but they've improved of late and are collecting a few results. It's why the 3.711/4 on them this weekend is interesting.

League One has been a funny season, as sides with possession can be a bit overrated in terms of results, where as the teams that are playing on the counter-attack are (and have been ) enjoying plenty of success. Lincoln are a prime example.

The Brewers had a lightbulb moment according to manager Jake Buxton following the Northampton defeat, and since then they have lost just once in five games with a defeat against Ipswich on Tuesday night. And it took a late goal too.

I anticipate more of the same from Buxton's men, so the onus is on Doncaster to push for a result. Whilst they have been a touch on the inconsistent side, Darren Moore's men have rattled off three wins on the spin, but of course the market hasn't missed them at 2.26/5.

The hosts have conceded far too many goals this term at home (16), but if they can stay sound defensively, they are worth playing on the Double Chance market.

KEY OPTA STAT: Four of the last five matches between Burton and Doncaster have ended in a draw.

Out of sorts Plymouth and Dons to provide some entertainment

Plymouth Argyle v MK Dons
Saturday 19th December, kick-off 15:00

Plymouth are experiencing their first sticky patch of the season, although less sticky more catastrophic with six straight losses racked up heading into Saturday's game against the MK Dons.

Greens boss Ryan Lowe admitted his team are like a "wounded animal" at the moment, and if six losses turns into nine, Lowe might find himself under serious pressure. Which is a shame, as he's done a grand job there with the way they play football.

Lowe's positivity might be tested too, as the MK Dons like to get the ball down and pass. They are the kings of the possession stats, but also the kings of conceding goals inside the first 10 minutes - which always seems to put them on the back foot.

The Dons have hit a pair of 1-1s in their last two results, and with Plymouth going five from their last six on the BTTS bet, that's the angle I am happiest with for the game. MK Dons are interesting at 2.427/5, but they have drawn seven this term and aren't big enough for a Draw No Bet selection.

KEY OPTA STAT: MK Dons have lost 16 of their last 27 away league games.