Saturday League One & League Two Tips: Two Sky Sports games feature in 5/1 acca

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Paul Warne's Derby are looking for their fifth win on the spin this weekend

Mansfield continue their title push on Sky this weekend and Derby look one of the best bets for the weekend in Alan's latest EFL column...


League One

Leg 1: Burton Albion v Port Vale: Saturday 15:00: Back Under 2.5 Goals

Burton Albion have failed to win any of their last six league games (D1 L5), failing to score in four of those matches, and with the lack of goals, that's a good starting point to go for a low-scorer here.

They've only scored 17 all season at the Pirelli and have scored just twice in their last seven.

Port Vale have failed to win any of their last 14 league games (D4 L10), conceding 2+ goals in eight of their last nine matches. This current winless run in the Valiants' longest since they also went 14 without a win between January and March 2018, so neither are screaming to backed.

KEY OPTA STAT: Port Vale have won just one of their six away Football League games against Burton Albion (D3 L2), though that victory did come during their last visit to the Pirelli Stadium in August 2022 (2-0).

Back Under 2.5 Goals @ 4/61.67

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Leg 2: Carlisle v Stevenage, Saturday 15:00: Back Stevenage

Stevenage are still hanging tough in terms of their chance for a play-off spot and facing Carlisle this weekend, they really ought to add to their excellent return of nine away wins.

Carlisle are rock-bottom with just three home wins and have lost 12 of their last 13 league games (W1), conceding exactly three goals in three of their last four matches. This season in League One, no side has won fewer home matches (3) or taken fewer points on home soil (14) than the Cumbrians.

They are readily opposable here and The Boro in the match odds market at 8/111.73 looks one of the best bets of the weekend.

KEY OPTA STAT: Despite failing to win any of their last four away league games (D2 L2), Stevenage have already taken 30 points on the road in League One this campaign. That's just two points shy of their total on their travels all last season when they were promoted from League Two (32).

Back Stevenage @ 8/111.73

Bet here

Leg 3: Northampton v Derby County, Saturday 15:00: Back Derby

Derby are flying with four victories on the trot and edged a 1-0 win over promotion rivals Bolton last weekend thanks to Kane Wilson's late goal, a game that didn't produce too many chances.

The Rams are unbeaten across their three previous away league games against Northampton Town (W2 D1), with both of those victories coming alongside a clean sheet.

The visitors to win both halves is just 6/42.50 so there's less risk in going for the outright win at 8/131.61 and they readily accounted for the Cobblers earlier in the season with a 4-0 win at Pride Park.

KEY OPTA STAT: Derby County have lost just two of their last 11 league games (W8 D1), whilst their last two victories away from home have both come via a 3-0 scoreline.

Back Derby @ 8/131.61

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Back the League One treble @ 9/25.50

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League Two

Leg 1:Mansfield v Colchester, Saturday 12:30 Live on Sky Sports: Back Mansfield HT/FT

The surge of Mansfield shows no stopping and the Stags are four points clear at the top of League Two and they are a very short price to extend their lead this weekend at 2/51.40.

Mansfield Town have won four of their last five home league games (L1), scoring 19 goals across that time but also conceding 2+ goals in three of those matches and have bagged two recent 5-1 wins.

Indeed, looking at the early goal, they have scored in the first-half in their last four and have such a fine home record with just 15 goals conceded all season.

KEY OPTA STAT: Colchester United have won just one of their last 13 league games (D7 L5), though four of their last five matches have now finished 1-1.

Back Mansfield HT/FT @ 11/102.11

Bet here

Leg 2: Stockport County v MK Dons, Saturday 17:15 Live on Sky Sports: Back Under 2.5 Goals

Stockport are in danger of ruining all of their early season form, and they cannot afford to lose pace with Mansfield - who play earlier in the day.

The Hatters have drawn four of their last five and their scoring touch has deserted them - indeed they've collected two 0-0s in that run, and that's the angle to explore here, as the Under 2.5 Goals can be backed at Evens.

The Dons are doing well under Mike Williamson and stand only a point behind Stockport, which tells you about the improvement since he took over the job.

MK Dons have lost four of their last six away league games (W2), failing to score a single goal in each of those defeats on the road, and they'll take a low-scoring point here.

KEY OPTA STAT: Stockport County have won just one of their last four home league games (D2 L1) after winning nine of their prior 11 matches on home soil (D1 L1).

Back Under 2.5 Goals @ Evens

Bet here

Leg 3: Notts County v Salford City, Saturday 15:00: Back BTTS

It was somewhat galling having put up Macaulay Langstaff to score last week (drew a blank) to see him come out and net a double in midweek in a 0-3 victory at Bradford.

The three points there might go a long way to keep them clear of the relegation spots, and that was their first success since mid-February, and that puts me off backing them in the outright due to their lack of consistency.

Salford's Karl Robinson lost his first managerial league meeting with Notts County in December 201. However, he is unbeaten in nine meetings with the Magpies since (W7 D2), winning each of the last five, and considering they've conceded 35 on the road, I would be surprised if this was a 0-0.

The BTTS is very short at 2/51.40, so it's more of an acca booster.

KEY OPTA STAT: Salford City have lost all three of their league games against sides from Nottinghamshire this season, conceding nine goals in the process.

Back BTTS @ 2/51.40

Bet here

Back the League Two treble @ 5/16.00

Bet here

Now Read: Paul Higham's preview of England v Brazil on Saturday


Recommended bets

You can back Alan's League One treble @ 9/25.50 0.5pt

You can back Alan's League Two treble @ 5/16.00 0.5pt

Alan Dudman

Alan is a long term member of the Betting.Betfair team and has been a broadcaster and writer for over 20 years.

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