Latest League One Odds: Going Under the Radar

All season, things have been close in League One, but now it seems that a gap could be created at one end of the table. At the other end, things are maybe the tightest that they have ever been, a truly mad year again!

Four in the Race?

After this weekend’s game, Cardiff City have confirmed that they will be spending Christmas at the top of the league. However, it was not an easy feat. The Bluebirds were taken to the wire by Doncaster, and it was thanks to a 99th-minute winner that the Welsh side got three points. 

A lot can be taken from this game, but the fact that they scored four goals and didn’t drop a result despite it seeming like they would is telling for them this season. At the price of 7/5 for the title, it would certainly tempt me. 

Bradford also followed up their recent fine form, winning a third successive game in a row, this time against Reading, and they certainly did not face the same struggles as the Bluebirds. It was quite a simple 2-0 home win for the Bantams and they’ll have no complaints. 

They have recovered well from their little blip from the last few weeks, and they are now powering through. If they can add more strength to the squad in January, they will be in a fine place, indeed. How far they can go is a question in itself. 

There is a bit of a gap between the top two and the others, which makes it a bit difficult to decide where to put the next two teams. However, it may be best to put them in this section for now. 

So, we head to Bolton, who have been backed for promotion heavily in recent weeks, and it is understandable why. They are on a nice unbeaten run in the league, and this weekend they added to it, with three points against Exeter. However, it was not as straightforward as one would ask for. 

Then, Stevenage also deserve a mention. Boro have been quite hit and miss of late, and they have certainly dropped a little in some people’s estimations. A nice win against Stockport this weekend, though, may have given some a little food for thought. They have two games in hand, so they may not be out of the equation just yet.

Most well-known football bookmakers have them priced around 7/2 for promotion, so it could be worth looking at…

Pushing Quietly

Lincoln, perhaps, are a bit unlucky not to be considered in the title section. However, this is where I think they are best suited; had they won this weekend, maybe the conversation would be slightly different.

Nevertheless, they sit six points off top, with a game over Cardiff, so that could stretch to nine points. To add to this, several around them have games in hand. 

So, I think they are, potentially, one of the weaker teams in the promotion area right now. They are not done, far from it. Though they are certainly not as strong as others around them may be. 

Stockport also leave this weekend a bit bruised and maybe even battered, after their loss to Stevenage. Dave Challinor’s side have lost three of their last five League One games, and whilst they are not sliding just yet, they may be slipping. 

They do have a game in hand, so they could catch Lincoln with a win there. However, they are not as strong as they may have been a month or so ago…

Luton’s recent form makes their chances of a play-off spot look quite difficult, three draws and a defeat in their last five - and the fact they have no games in hand - means they have a three-point gap to make up, without even considering others gaining an advantage. 

The same can be said for Huddersfield Town, who are winless in six League One games now. Questions are being asked of the manager, and with an ever-growing gap to the play-offs, they may be answered soon. 

Neither are done completely. However, they are quite far away from where they would want to be this season. There is time, but a substantial effort must now be made.

A team of real interest for me after this weekend’s games is Barnsley as well. The Tykes sit on 28 points and have three wins in their last five games. However, they have three games in hand, so they could certainly forge a path into the playoffs. 

The price of 15/8 at SpreadEx for a top six place is certainly an interesting one.

Five Goals to the Good

Finally, the bottom of League One is as busy as we’ve ever seen it. Seven points split seventh and 21st, which is frankly barmy. So, there could be some teams looking above that actually should be looking below them…

Port Vale have no other option but to look up as it stands, with them rooted to the foot of the division. They are five points adrift, and it seems that they will need a bit of a miracle to avoid relegation at this point. 

Then, we enter the cluster of relegation-threatened teams. 

Blackpool sit on 20 points in 23rd, and they are in real danger of the drop - imagine having them as a play-off contender before the start of the season (...). A draw with Lincoln this weekend is not a bad result. However, they need to start winning games if they are to get safe. 

Exeter also had a decent result this weekend, as they only lost by a goal against Bolton. It feels strange saying a loss is decent, but the Wanderers have been excellent, and if they can contest games against lesser teams moving forward they’ll have a shot at safety. 

Plymouth then round off the bottom four in League One, and they are really challenging to escape right now. A 1-0 win against Rotherham this weekend has put them in the safety conversation when they looked damned previously.

Moving on to teams outside the bottom four, Doncaster, despite a strong start, look in real danger of the drop now. With three losses in their last five, they do not have a buffer anymore. Then, Mansfield and Rotherham both look to be in a state of peril.

Neither have won a game in their last five, and they are only a few points away from the bottom four. I have more faith in others to pick up the odd points here and there; I cannot say the same for them…