League One
Fixture: Southend 0-1 Yeovil
Venue: Roots Hall (Southend home)
Kick-off: 3pm GMT
Verdict: Southend, perhaps, shouldn't be drifting in midtable like they happen to be. They had a good start to the season, flirted with the play-offs but have since dropped off with some poor form in November and December (seven game run without a win). But they are battling back since then and perhaps a last gasp draw at managerless Leyton last week could be a turning point.
Previous to that there were signs as they were unlucky to lose by two at MK Dons and were forced to play with ten men in the second half away at Stockport, which is tough. For Yeovil things seem to go from bad to worse. They are flirting with the relegation zone, they're racked with suspensions and now must do without midfielder Gary Roberts who suffered a broken leg in a rearguard defeat to leaders Leicester at the weekend. I feel that the stuffing has been truly knocked out of them.
Betting Advice: 5pts Southend to win at 11/10 (2.1 at Ladbrokes)
Fixture: Tranmere 4-1 Carlisle
Venue: Prenton Park (Tranmere home)
Kick-off: 3pm GMT
Verdict: Don't discount Tranmere from a successful push for the play-offs. Unlike recent seasons they have their act together coming into the crucial second half of the season and are beginning to shape up as a form team. Last week they may have lost to second placed Millwall, but they ran the Lions ragged at The Den and should have won by a hatful.
That was the latest in a long list of impressive performances that has seen wins against Walsall, Brighton, Scunthorpe and Leeds. Carlisle are another form team: they beat Leeds and MK Dons in the last few weeks, but there is a question mark over their away form, which has seen them win only twice on the road this season.
Betting Advice: 2pts Tranmere to win at 11/10 (2.1 at Betfred)
League Two
Fixture: Grimsby 3-0 Rotherham
Venue: Blundell Park (Grimsby home)
Kick-off: 3pm GMT
Verdict: I find it hard to believe that Rotherham are such a wayward price to beat Grimsby at Ladbrokes – I think their lower league oddschecker is on drugs. Rotherham should be seen as a play-off team because of their 17pt deduction and are an excellent outfit both home and away.
Grimsby are having a shocker this season but pulled off an incredible result last week with a 1-0 win at leaders Wycombe. We can probably chalk that down to a bit of a fluke and the fillip a few new loan signings might have on a team. Plus, by all accounts, Wycombe were appalling. Rotherham are a settled side this season and should remain unchanged, which should be another to see them wipe the smile off Grimsby's faces.
Betting Advice: 3pts Rotherham to win at 8/5 (2.6 at Ladbrokes)
Fixture: Bournemouth 3-1 Wycombe
Venue: The Fitness First Stadium (Bournemouth home)
Kick-off: 3pm GMT
Verdict: Wycombe had their blip last week, and they should be back to winning ways against a hit and miss Bournemouth side. Well, more miss actually, with four losses out of four recently.
Betting Advice: 5pts Wycombe win at 5/4 (2.25 at Bet365)
