Friday 5 February 2010

League One Weekend Preview, Game 30

Confidence amongst the Addickted of getting something from Saturday's encounter at Swindon is as low as it's been for any match this season. Our inability to turn drawn matches into wins has become our Achilles Heel. With a four point gap above us and only two below us, attention turns almost inevitably to the chasing pack as we steel ourselves for the scramble to extend our season and fight for the chance of a Wembley consolation prize. 


Swindon are on a Norwich-style run at the moment and have danger aplenty upfront in Austin and Paynter. However, the fightback at the Valley against Swindon a mere seven games ago with only nine men was our last memorable performance and I think we are capable of getting a result there tomorrow, even if that might be another damning draw. This is how I see the rest of the weekend games panning out...


Brentford v Gillingham
The Bees sit eight points outside the play-off places and know that they need a home win here if they are to maintain their fading hopes of keeping their season alive. The Gills have mustered only two goals in their last four games and this might be another struggle although they have a tendency to do well against London sides. Brentford should have enough here to claim the points.
Prediction; 2-1


Exeter City v Southampton
Southampton were held at Griffin Park in the week and remain 13 points adrift of sixth-placed Millwall. A mountain to climb in spite of their good form following their ten point deduction and dodgy start. They might find this as hard as Leeds did a few weeks ago. The Grecians will certainly fancy it.
Prediction; 2-1


Hartlepool United v Leeds United
Leeds fans might be privately relieved to be out of the F A Cup although they still have the JPT to deal with although Carlisle away may look less daunting than before and a Wembley appearance before the end of the season might give them a buzz on the run-in. As it is, our own slip-up will have taken the pressure off the Whites. They should be confident enough of winning here.
Prediction; 0-2


Huddersfield Town v Carlisle United
Looks like another routine home win for Huddersfield Town although Carlisle have been feisty on the road this season having lost only five of fourteen. I'll take Town to edge it.
Prediction; 2-1


Leyton Orient v Brighton & Hove Albion
After their impressive 5-0 demolition of Bristol Rovers in the week, this game can't come soon enough for the O's. Amazingly, Orient find themselves on level-pegging with Brentford and might just fancy a surge towards the play-offs. This won't be easy against a Brighton side who have hauled themselves out of the bottom four in recent weeks but they have all to play for.
Prediction; 2-1


Millwall v Norwich City
My match-of-the-day in League One. Hard to see Norwich being beaten but they are not as invincible as their long run of results suggests and they have ridden their luck at times. Millwall aren't conceding at the moment and in Morison they have a striker on form. There should be a good atmosphere at the New Den and I will stick my neck out and see Norwich being beaten here.
Prediction; 1-0


Stockport County v MK Dons
MK Dons are struggling to get back into a play-off position and were held at home by Exeter last time out. They are in desperate need of a win and opportunities away from home don't come much better than this. Stockport look dead and buried, although there is always the danger that they will start playing with care-free abandon once there is complete acceptance of their predicament. Not this week though.
Prediction; 1-3


Swindon Town v Charlton Athletic
I won't be making the trip down the M4 this weekend. Partially because I am a bit disenchanted at the moment but more accurately because I am going up to Edinburgh on Sunday for Scotland's 6 Nations opener and disappearing for the whole weekend would be pushing my luck. I think we might go close to winning this but might have the ongoing frustration of yet another draw.
Prediction;  2-2


Tranmere Rovers v Oldham Athletic
Rovers could leapfrog Oldham at the bottom if they win here. They have long been amongst my favourites for the drop although home-form was always likely to be their saviour if they could find any. Oldham will come with a point in mind and that might be their undoing.
Prediction; 2-1


Walsall v Bristol Rovers
Walsall weren't as impressive as some of their home results have indicated when we came close to beating them in the week. They will want to put on a better performance here against a side hammered 5-0 by the O's on Tuesday. Troy Deeney will miss the opportunity to add to his burgeoning scoring reputation following his dismissal against us.
Prediction; 1-0


Wycombe Wanderers v Yeovil Town
The Chairboys are running out of games in which to make up the gap to safety. they are five points behind Brighton now and face a Yeovil side who look safe in mid-table and who have managed only one win away from Somerset all season. This could be a precious fourth home win of the season.
Prediction; 2-1


Colchester United v Southend United
Thames Estuary derby here, live on Sky on Monday night. Colchester have been dropping points of late but edged past Carlisle at home on Tuesday. We could do with the Shrimpers getting something from this one but I can't see it.
Prediction; 3-0



 

No comments:

Post a Comment

Go on, you know you want to....