Saturday League One Tips: Addicks might struggle against the flying green machine

Argyle can beat the Jackson project

Charlton Athletic v Plymouth Argyle
Saturday 20th November, kick-off 15:00

The litmus test of the new and improved Johnnie Jackson project at Charlton will face its sternest examination of his short tenure as League One leaders Plymouth Argyle arrive in London with the best record in League One. The visitors this Saturday are unbeaten in their last 16 league games (W10 D6). Only twice in their Football League history have they had a longer run without defeat - 22 games between April and December 1929, and 19 between August and December 2001.

To cap it all off, Ryan Lowe's men earned a superb 3-0 FA Cup victory against Sheffield Wednesday on Tuesday. And the Owls were ripped to shreds in that. Although the "Johnnie Jackson Project" could be an excellent name for a band.

Their pace and all-round game was superb, even without star forward Luke Jephcott, who was away on international duty with Wales. Ryan Broom had a terrific game, to add to this excellent performance against Accrington in the league on Saturday. He's always threatened to be a good player and it's easy to see why Peterborough bought him previously. Lowe reacted to the Owls win by saying: "It's not only the performances the results are going great as well so long may that continue. We are on the right track to be a very good team."

The Addicks are up to 17th, which is a lot better than anything under Nigel Adkins. More importantly, they look a team again and are far more organised, indeed he earned the praise of Lowe, who he worked with on a coaching course. He said of his opposite number: "The job certainly has to be his anytime soon. What he has done is he's gone there, given them a new lease of life - sessions a bit shorter and sharper. More detail in terms of what they want and the results have been proven."

The Londoners are four unbeaten in the league under Jackson with only one conceded; and that was in a decent 1-1 with Rotherham. There was £84 to be matched on Friday morning at 3.3512/5 for the 'Yes' in Charlton To Keep A Clean Sheet market, which is big, but understandable as the Greens have scored 16 on the road - just as many as their record at Home Park. The Over 2.5 Goals is favourite at 1.875/6. I've seen them once this season on my scouting trips to south east London, and taking in a couple of Bromley games at Hayes Lane and another one upcoming planned, but I was impressed with their teamwork and work-rate against Rotherham. They looked very disciplined.

With their recent 1-4 at Accrington (a game I tipped the draw with Plymouth), their pace was evident and so was their extreme pressing high up the pitch. Charlton will be missing Akin Famewo, who was booked for timewasting in a bad-tempered game at Burton on Saturday, although the Brewers' boss Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink insisted that the Addicks didn't bother them.

It says a lot of the improved form for the hosts that they are favourites here at 2.68/5, but I cannot help but feel the price on the visitors is too big here at 2.8615/8.

KEY OPTA STAT: Plymouth Argyle have won just three of their previous 26 Football League away games against Charlton Athletic (D5 L18) - their most recent away Football League win against the Addicks coming in October 2007 (2-1).

Pressure to increase on Johnson with Ipswich in town

Sunderland v Ipswich Town
Saturday 20th November, kick-off 15:00

Sunderland's form is in danger of dropping off a cliff. They are now at 5/1 on the Sportsbook to win the title, and I would price that up at double at the moment with the way they are playing. The Sunderland effect will always have them a shorter price - and it's somewhat of a surprise they are favourites, clearly, for Saturday.

On recent form, the Black Cats are a shocker of a price at 2.447/5. Of course they can win, but they've lost their last three in the league on the spin, and are without a victory in all competitions in five. That run comprises of heavy defeats against the two Yorkshire clubs (5-1 Rotherham and 3-0 Sheffield Wednesday), and they are close to losing touch with the pacesetters.

An FA Cup defeat to Mansfield last weekend didn't exactly ease the pressure on Lee Johnson.

Ipswich have suffered just one defeat in their last 11. Many were saying how strong they looked at the start of the season in terms of personnel, but their performances were patchy and mostly poor. But they are playing well, and their two recent biggest wins have both come on the road with a 0-4 at Wycombe and and another four at Portsmouth - thumping the south coast club.

They are a massive price this weekend at 3.259/4, and while they have to overcome the Opta stats, as they have just one win in their last 12 away games against Sunderland in the Football League (D1 L10) with that victory coming under Mick McCarthy in February 2018 (2-0), I think they can do it.

Backers of the draw might be interested in the fact that Sunderland are enjoying their longest unbeaten run against Ipswich Town in the Football League, winning three of their last four games against the Tractor Boys (D1). But historically against present is a problem. Cook has played down talk of this being a huge game in front of 30,000 at the Stadium Of Light by saying: "We hope we'll cause Sunderland a lot of problems similar to the problems they'll cause us. There'll be two teams on the pitch trying to win the game tomorrow, that's for sure."

With Town's ability to score on the road (4,1,4,2) from their last four, the Over 2.5 Goals looks overpriced. Macauley Bonne seems to be flying too with a healthy 11 goals in 18 this term - including braces against Doncaster and MK Dons. He also netted at Wycombe and backing the forward to score at anytime and Ipswich to win on the Sportsbook Betbuilder pays nearly 4/1.

KEY OPTA STAT: Sunderland are enjoying their longest unbeaten run against Ipswich Town in the Football League, winning three of their last four games against the Tractor Boys (D1).

Warne-ing fired to Cambridge after Bromley stroll

Rotherham United v Cambridge United
Saturday 20th November, kick-off 15:00

With Wycombe losing their form completely at the moment, they've dropped from being up there for the title to fourth - only five points off the leaders and they should be avoided for betting purposes now. However, they have a trio of teams napping at their heels behind on 28 points and the heat is certainly increasing. And also pleasing, as the MK Dons are one of my ante-post picks and they are in touch too.

Now that Wycombe are off the list, we can rely on the trusted Rotherham, who haven't been beaten in League One since early September.

They have kept five clean sheets since the start of the month mentioned previously, and they haven't conceded more than one goal. I tipped them to cover the handicap in last week's FA Cup 3-0 success against a good Bromley side, and the Rotherham -1 at 2.285/4 is a fairly decent option for the New York game.

Cambridge head coach Mark Bonner was full of praise for his opposite number Paul Warne, with parallels between the pair in terms of the club connection. He said: "I love the way he comes across, and think he has got a really good character about him.

"You can tell there is a connection between him and the club, which I think is important. Actually, I think, when you look across quite a few clubs at the moment you're seeing a little bit more of that."

Cambridge suffered a 4-1 defeat to MK Dons last time out, last losing back-to-back league games back in April in League Two, losing to Stevenage and Harrogate and the Millers have lost just one of their 12 home Football League games against Cambridge United (W8 D3) with the most recent meeting of this kind coming back in February 2001. Their aggressive, direct style can be far too much for some to handle, so we shouldn't be surprised at a 1.4740/85 home win again. Cambridge are a massive 8.615/2.

Chiedozie Ogbene scored again for Ireland against Luxemburg recently, earning the praise of Warne who seemed genuinely delighted for him and his family. The winger is a vital part of the team with the width and pace, and in forward Michael Smith they have a player who has nine goals in his last seven league appearances at the AESSEAL New York Stadium for Rotherham - he is Rotherham's leading league scorer at the stadium since it opened in 2012 with 29 goals. Unfortunately he is suspended following his fifth yellow against Bromley

I like the Rotherham to Win To Nil here @ 2.285/4, but it's the same price as the -1, so we can negate the possibility of the goal conceded with the same bet and we should be able to get a few goals too with the Over 2.5 Goals as Cambridge don't keep too many clean sheets.

KEY OPTA STAT: Seven of Cambridge United's eight Football League wins over Rotherham United have come at home, with their only away Football League win against the Millers coming in May 1985 (1-0).