Championship
Fixture: Sheffield United 2-0 Plymouth
Venue: Bramall Lane (Sheff Utd home)
Kick-off: 3pm GMT
Verdict: Plymouth were a tough fixture home and away last season but they have lost some of their more flair players and a lot of their shine. Now they win some, they lose some. More importantly though, Sheffield United have lost just once in their last six (the Sheffield derby) and look to be putting together the kind of run that will cement a play-off place. They certainly have the squad to compete at the top, the league knowhow and now the form. Home banker.
Betting Advice: 3pts Sheff Utd to win at 5/6 (1.83 at Coral)
Fixture: Derby 1-1 Nottingham Forest (on Sunday)
Venue: Pride Park (Derby home)
Kick-off: 1.15pm GMT
Verdict: Get on Derby whenever possible. Forget about their early season form that was a hangover from their appalling season in the Premiership. Finishing with so few points last season was bound to leave some scars, it always does. The one concern is that this is a local derby and they can throw up some funny results. But Derby are hungry, Nottingham Forest are poor, and the home side should have this one sewn up by half-time.
Betting Advice: 3pts Derby to win at 4/5 (1.8 at Boyleports, Skybet, Coral and William Hill)
League One
Fixture: Cheltenham 0-1 Leeds
Venue: Whaddon Road (Cheltenham home)
Kick-off: 3pm GMT
Verdict: Leeds lost again in midweek, just as they were getting up a head of steam after their defeat at Millwall. However, Cheltenham should provide a tonic for a team that are head and shoulders above most teams in this division. Cheltenham have lost their last three on a run that has pushed them into the bottom four where they are likely to stay. For the time being at least.
Betting Advice: 5pts Leeds to win at 10/11 (1.91 Boylesports and Coral)
Fixture: Peterborough 2-0 Hereford
Venue: London Road (Peterborough home)
Kick-off: 3pm GMT
Verdict: Peterborough are returning to form and are threatening to bang in the goals again nothing, of course, to do with the fact that Aaron Mclean is back in the side after dislocating his elbow. Hereford are the league's whipping boys. Their only hope of points this season is based on last-gasp defence and the occasional breakaway goal. Teams with good strikers tend to whup them (Bristol Rovers and Darryl Duffy L1-6; Oldham and Lee Hughes L0-4). This is a "buy money" situation.
Betting Advice: 6pts Peterborough to win at 8/15 (1.533 at totesport)
League Two
Fixture: Grimsby 1-2 Darlington
Venue: Blundell Park (Grimsby home)
Kick-off: 3pm GMT
Verdict: Grimsby have been quite simply appalling this season and, are thus advised to lose at home to highflying Darlington at a very decent price. Things are going from bad to worse for the Mariners whose manager Mike Newell said that his players should be embarrassed after losing 4-0 and 3-1 in the space of a week. Third-placed in-form Darlington only have this one to lose.
Betting Advice: 2pts Darlington to win at 5/4 (2.25 at Betfred)
