Latest League One Odds: Pressure Building at Both Ends

The latest round of League One fixtures delivered the odd shock, and the pressure is rising for some teams to get results shortly.

Right Tight

At the top of the league, things have been restored to normal, perhaps, with Cardiff City returning to first place after this weekend’s narrow win against Reading. It is not a win that can be really shouted about, but it is solid enough, indeed.

Back-to-back wins have helped massively, and the fact that the Bluebirds came from behind to win against Reading - even if they are struggling - is a nice result, especially with one of the favourites to be the league’s top scorers, Yousef Salech, scoring again. 

Their lead at the top is only slender, though, and it could quickly change even if they have a game in hand on others.

Sitting behind them is the shock party of the season, Stevenage, who are the first team to be on 25 points, with two games in hand, including one on the leaders, making them an even more interesting team to watch. 

At the weekend, they actually lost their top spot, thanks to a 1-0 loss against Lincoln, who are in scintillating form at the moment. So, we cannot really be too critical here, especially with it only being their ninth goal conceded of the season.

Following them is Bradford City, and it would be unfair to say they have slowed, but equally, it is somewhat understandable. In their past two games, they have failed to pick up three points, and whilst a 2-2 draw with Barnsley is respectable, they will have hoped for more in a Yorkshire derby at Valley Parade.

Then, we have the two teams that have played 13 games so far, so, at a slight disadvantage, perhaps. Those are, of course, Wimbledon and Stockport County. At the weekend, they won against Plymouth away from home, whilst the Hatters grabbed a nice 1-0 win at home to Exeter. 

Their records are identical in the past five, winning four times, and they look extremely solid for a place in the play-offs so far, at the very least. 

It feels strange talking about six teams in the league title picture, but considering the closeness of certain teams, we have to. So, we move to Lincoln, who snatched that aforementioned one-goal win at home against Stevenage. 

For the top six to be split by two points and have a gap of four points to the teams below is ridiculous. So, it means we have to compile them together, rather than splitting them.

Chasing Shadows?

Just because the top is so close doesn’t mean we won’t look at any possible play-off contenders, though. 

Bolton are currently the best poised to enter the top six, and their win against Huddersfield Town was massive for several reasons. 

A late comeback, scoring two goals in as many minutes, is already solid enough and proves the mentality of Steven Schumacher’s squad. Their first away win of the season, especially in those conditions, can act as a kickstart back towards the top six. 

For Huddersfield, though, it is another loss, their third in their last five league games, and questions have to be asked. In many ways, it is similar to last season, where they started well and trailed off around this time, too. 

Changes are needed, and pressure is quickly mounting on head coach Lee Grant. They sit five points away from the top six, and whilst they have a game in hand, they must go to Luton in midweek for it. Confidence, understandably, is not too high. 

Elsewhere, there are not really any teams that look likely to pose a challenge to the current top six. Especially with a six-point gap already in place to 6th from 9th. If we had to pick one team, though, Barnsley could rise quickly if they get two wins from their games in hand.

Just as Tight

At the bottom, the pressure is also growing, with results not ideal. From 19th to 24th, there was only one win and one draw. So, things need to change quickly for several teams, or they could start facing a big gap. 

Now at the bottom is Blackpool, whose draw against Wycombe Wanderers is a big hit for both teams, considering where the Chairboys also sit. It also hurts more because the visitors scored a 102nd-minute goal to level the score. A massive chance wasted.

Peterborough, then, have risen from the depths, with a third win in five games at the weekend, as they grabbed a huge 1-0 win away at Burton on Saturday. They have looked relatively doomed recently, but they now only sit three points away from safety. Maybe they are not as done as first feared.

Burton’s loss keeps them in the danger zone, more so with it coming against Posh, but they also have a bit of a gap, so they do not have to be too worried, yet. However, time is moving fast, and points are not being acquired.

Finally, who would have thought that Plymouth Argyle would be in the relegation zone at this point? The Pilgrims lost their seventh game of the season at the weekend, and whilst it was against a strong Wimbledon team, most would have expected the roles to be reversed before the season began.

There is no reason to be massively worried, though, with 15th-placed Leyton Orient sitting five points away from the bottom. In other words, it is massively tight, and no one is too safe right now.