Latest League One Odds: Changes at the Bottom

Another weekend of League One action has passed, and there have been some big results across the table. Let’s recap the action and see how the odds have been affected at the top and bottom of the English Third Tier.

Let's take a look!

Between Two

We start at the top, where Cardiff City bolstered their title hopes with a dominant performance against Rotherham away from home. The Millers’ recent form has been pretty dire, so it is not really a shock that they have been well beaten by the runaway leaders.

Nevertheless, to put three goals past the hosts, after receiving a red card, says a lot about the quality of both teams. It is not really a surprise that the Bluebirds are so heavily favoured to win the League One title this season. 

However, they are not being given much breathing room, thanks to Lincoln City’s fantastic run in second. A fourth straight win this weekend has continued a truly magnificent run, and had they been doing this in any other season, they probably would be title favourites.

The Imps are unstoppable currently, as Plymouth learned at the weekend, with Michael Skubala’s side scoring four goals away from home. A dominant performance and one that is fitting of promotion, and maybe even the title.

They are only two points away from Cardiff at the top, so they cannot be written off. At 9/4, with the best football bookmakers, though, the opportunity for a bet may have gone, unfortunately.

Tight Together

Moving into the general promotion/play-off picture, Bolton sit in third and it seemed that they were also going to have a relatively stress-free weekend, as they went three goals up inside 32 minutes. However, it did not last for the full 90.

In the second half, Barnsley came out with a bit of fight, scoring two goals inside the opening 15 minutes. But, they could not find a third, meaning the Whites held on for another big result in the play-off battle. Six points adrift from second, they will probably struggle to catch up.

It certainly was a bit of a difficult weekend for Stockport, though, as the Hatters were held to a 0-0 draw against Leyton Orient at home. In a back-and-forth game, neither team could find an advantage. However, after a late red, Dave Challinor will likely be glad to have kept a point. 

His side are quite safe in the play-offs, and the 1/6 price, offered by 888Sport, for them to stay in the top six until the end of the season is expected. 

Sitting in fifth is Liam Manning’s Huddersfield Town, and it is fair to say that the Terriers were almost left in a difficult position. Facing a struggling Blackpool side, the West Yorkshire outfit went two goals down inside the first half. 

However, goals in the last 15 mean that they remain unbeaten under their new head coach, and the bookmakers are getting more confident of a play-off spot. At present, they are 7/10 for a spot in the top six.

Finally, we move to Bradford City, who had the worst performance of the week in the top six. In a must-win game against Luton, the Bantams were beaten narrowly away from home. Whilst they still have a four-point gap to seventh place with two games in hand, they need to turn a corner quickly. 

Sitting in that aforementioned spot is Luton, so that was a big win for them, but they need to close the gap. William Hill are offering 8/5 for them to do so, if you believe they can.

Difficult to Call

Moving to the relegation spots, it was another tough week at the bottom. 

At the foot of the table is Port Vale still, and they faced Burton, who are also facing the threat of relegation. So, it was a big six-pointer for the two sides. However, the points were shared, which neither team will feel too happy about. 

The Valiants are already down effectively, with an 11-point gap to overturn before the end of the season, which feels almost impossible at this moment. 

For the Brewers, a draw does not help them at all, especially considering three points would’ve had them in 17th…

Rotherham’s battering at the hands of Cardiff has certainly not helped them either. After seven points from nine in their last three games, that momentum could have been killed, and they will have to find it again quickly. 

Saying that, though, they are now closer to the pack, which is only a good thing…

After their fourth loss in their last five games, Wigan take the spot third from bottom, and they are sitting there rightfully. A 6-1 defeat against Peterborough is ridiculous for the Latics, and whilst they are only in the bottom four by two points, it was enough for Ryan Lowe to be sacked. 

Doncaster sit outside the relegation spots by a point currently, but another defeat at the weekend has kept them in the firing line, especially with them conceding four goals…

The biggest winners from the weekend, at least at this side of the division, were Northampton, who grabbed a 3-1 win against Stevenage. A massive performance and an even bigger three points, which have taken them outside the bottom four for the first time this year.

They are still in danger, though, given they are only ‘safe’ by a point, and the same can be said for Blackpool and Leyton Orient, who both drew against play-off candidates.

For what it is worth, the odds are currently rather intriguing. Wigan are 11/4 with most to be relegated from League One, whilst Doncaster are 3/1, which looks a little generous. Elsewhere, Burton are as high as Evens to go down, which could look like value.