Bristol Rovers vs. Reading (Saturday, 12.30pm)
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Reading make the trip to Bristol Rovers on Saturday afternoon looking for the win that will keep them in the hunt for the final playoff spot in League One.
At a time when the visitors sit in seventh position in the table, the home side are 21st and in the relegation zone on goal difference.
We say: Bristol Rovers 1-2 Reading
With a surprise draw at Wrexham on their record, Bristol Rovers will have a certain level of confidence heading into this fixture. Nevertheless, we cannot ignore that the stalemate was a rare positive, leading us to back Reading to battle their way to maximum points.
> League One preview: Bristol Rovers vs Reading
Leyton Orient vs. Wycombe (Saturday, 12.30pm)
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Wycombe Wanderers make the trip to Brisbane Road to face Leyton Orient knowing that only a win will do if they want to ensure that the automatic promotion race goes to the final weekend.
At a time when the visitors sit in third position in the League One table, the home side are sixth and in a battle with Reading for the final playoff spot.
We say: Leyton Orient 1-1 Wycombe Wanderers
Having been thrashed by Charlton last time out, this is not the kind of fixture that Wycombe will be relishing. Nevertheless, aware that they must regain their previous high standards, we are backing the Chairboys to earn a share of the spoils.
> League One preview: Leyton Orient vs Wycombe
Barnsley vs. Shrewsbury (Saturday, 3.00pm)
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Already confined to a 24th-placed finish in the League One table, Shrewsbury Town will head to Oakwell to take on Barnsley on Saturday.
The visitors sit bottom of the table on just 30 points with two games remaining, while their hosts have dropped to 12th spot following a poor second half to the season.
We say: Barnsley 2-0 Shrewsbury Town
While Barnsley are wounded and yet to get going under Conor Horihane, they should have the quality to record a confidence-boosting home win over already-relegated Shrewsbury at the weekend.
> League One preview: Barnsley vs Shrewsbury
Burton Albion vs. Cambridge (Saturday, 3.00pm)
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Burton Albion play host to Cambridge United on Saturday afternoon knowing that they will take a giant step towards League One survival with a win.
However, while the Brewers sit in 20th position in the standings, their 23rd-placed opponents can move within two points of them if they prevail at the Pirelli Stadium.
We say: Burton Albion 2-1 Cambridge United
With two away victories on their recent record, Cambridge will back themselves to continue to upset the odds in Staffordshire. However, we feel that Burton will shake off their narrow defeat to Birmingham and post the three points that could prove decisive in the battle to stay up.
> League One preview: Burton Albion vs Cambridge
Crawley vs. Northampton (Saturday, 3.00pm)
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Relegation-threatened Crawley Town welcome Northampton Town to Broadfield Stadium for their penultimate League One fixture of the 2024-25 season on Saturday afternoon.
The Reds are seeking revenge against the Cobblers after they suffered a 3-0 defeat in the reverse fixture at Sixfields Stadium six months ago.
We say: Crawley Town 2-1 Northampton Town
If Crawley can produce another spirited performance as they did against Exeter, then they have every chance of securing maximum points against a Northampton side merely playing for pride. The visitors will still back themselves to claim a positive result this weekend, but we feel that the hosts will get the job done to keep their survival hopes alive for a little while longer.
> League One preview: Crawley vs Northampton
Exeter vs. Huddersfield (Saturday, 3.00pm)
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Both aiming to bounce back from defeats on Monday, Exeter City and Huddersfield Town will do battle at St James Park on Saturday.
With two games of the season remaining, the visitors sit ninth in the League One table following four consecutive defeats, while their hosts dropped to 16th spot over the Easter weekend.
We say: Exeter City 1-2 Huddersfield Town
With both sides seemingly limping towards the end of the 2024-25 season, we anticipate a close encounter on Saturday and give the visitors a slight edge thanks to their superior quality, despite their dismal run in recent months.
> League One preview: Exeter vs Huddersfield
Peterborough vs. Bolton (Saturday, 3.00pm)
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Peterborough United and Bolton Wanderers will clash at the Weston Homes Stadium on Saturday afternoon, both aiming to end disappointing winless runs in League One.
The hosts are 17th in the league table with 50 points from 43 outings, while the visitors are eighth in the standings and trail the playoff spots by six points.
We say: Peterborough United 2-1 Bolton Wanderers
Peterborough may have struggled in this fixture in recent times, but given Bolton's poor run of four consecutive defeats, while the Posh have avoided defeat in their last three, we expect the hosts to win here.
> League One preview: Peterborough vs Bolton
Stockport vs. Lincoln (Saturday, 3.00pm)
![Dave Challinor manager of Stockport County during the Pre-season friendly match Stockport County vs Blackburn Rovers at Edgeley Park Stadium, Stockport, United Kingdom, August 2, 2024 [on August 11, 2024]](https://sm.imgix.net/24/32/dave-challinor.jpg?w=640&h=480&auto=compress,format&fit=clip "Dave Challinor manager of Stockport County during the Pre-season friendly match Stockport County vs Blackburn Rovers at Edgeley Park Stadium, Stockport, United Kingdom, August 2, 2024 [on August 11, 2024]")
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As they prepare for the League One playoffs, in-form Stockport County will welcome a resilient Lincoln City to Edgeley Park on Saturday.
The Hatters will be looking to make it seven wins from eight this weekend, while the Imps will be hoping to extend their unbeaten run to six games.
We say: Stockport County 2-1 Lincoln City
Stockport are in excellent form ahead of this weekend's clash, and as they build momentum prior to the playoffs, they look likely to take another three points.
However, Lincoln's unbeaten run highlights their resilience, so expect them to cause difficulties for their hosts on Saturday.
> League One preview: Stockport vs Lincoln
Wigan vs. Blackpool (Saturday, 3.00pm)
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Aiming to strengthen their position in the top 10 of the League One table with two games remaining, Blackpool will make the short trip to the Brick Community Stadium to take on Wigan Athletic on Saturday.
Two defeats in the last three outings have seen the visitors fall out of the playoff race, while their hosts have climbed up to 15th spot with back-to-back wins.
We say: Wigan Athletic 2-1 Blackpool
Blackpool have certainly enjoyed the stronger season of these two sides, but the hosts are gaining momentum under their new boss while the visitors find their season all but over having missed out on the top six, and we fancy Lowe's men to record a third straight win as a result.
> League One preview: Wigan vs Blackpool
Wrexham vs. Charlton (Saturday, 5.30pm)
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In the penultimate round of fixtures of the season, Charlton Athletic will travel to the Racecourse Ground on Saturday to take on Wrexham in a crucial battle at the top end of the League One table.
With two games remaining, the hosts occupy the second automatic promotion spot in England's third tier and lead third-placed Wycombe Wanderers and their fourth-placed visitors by two and four points respectively.
We say: Wrexham 1-1 Charlton Athletic
Charlton Athletic head to the Racecourse Ground with plenty of momentum on the back of three straight wins, including Monday's thrashing of third-placed Wycombe, and they will look to keep any top-two hopes alive with another win.
We see the hosts doing enough to at least share the points, though, leaving themselves and Wycombe Wanderers competing for second spot on the final day.
