Unbeaten since the opening day, Plymouth are the side to beat as they dictate the tempo atop the League One standings.
The weekend sees Argyle travel to face a Morecambe side without a win in three, while chasers Sunderland look to avoid any surprises against newly manager-less Charlton.
Plymouth Pile On the Pressure
The Pilgrims were in no mood for mercy in midweek, crashing three unanswered goals past Bolton in miserably wet conditions at Home Park. The victory over Wanderers was, in fact, their second three-goal haul in a matter of days, with Ryan Lowe’s men coming away 1-3 winners at Oxford last weekend.
In short, all signs point to a continuation of their stellar form. That striker Ryan Hardie has ten goals for the season already, but none in four matches, might suggest that Plymouth’s momentum is waning, were it not for the fact that no fewer than eleven Argyle players have found their way onto the scoresheet already this term. An away win is at 21/20.
The Shrimps, however, may have an ace up their sleeve in the form of the league’s most prolific marksman, 12-goal Cole Stockton. Odds of 13/5 say that Morecambe may take a point off the leaders, while a home win to end Plymouth’s dominance is at 12/5.
Take A Chance On Charlton?
Sunderland sit second, a point behind the Pilgrims, though Lee Johnson’s Black Cats do hold two games in hand over the leaders as they endeavour to finally break free of the third tier.
The resounding 4-0 defeat at Portsmouth at the start of this month has since been offset by victories over Gillingham and Crewe, but with Charlton the visitors at the Stadium of Light on Saturday, Sunderland ought to be wary of the dangerous ‘new manager bounce’.
Following this week’s departure of Nigel Adkins following a torrid run of form, Johnnie Jackson takes the helm temporarily with the Addicks third from bottom. A midfielder at the club for close to a decade, Jackson will hope to reinvigorate the ailing side for the trip up north – but at 9/2, the odds are stacked against him.
The draw is at 29/10, while 20/33 says Sunderland continue to breathe down the necks of Plymouth with three points.
Doncaster done for?
With just two wins, one draw and six goals scored from twelve games, mired at the foot of the table, Doncaster’s League One figures make for sorry reading. On Saturday lunchtime, they aim to finally kick into gear against 12th-placed Cheltenham, but will have their work cut out against a Robins outfit who have returned to winning ways after a minor blip.
Young Scottish forward Kyle Joseph netted a brace in a 3-1 victory over Morecambe on Tuesday, which proved the perfect continuation from the narrow 1-0 weekend win over Accrington, ending a run of five defeats.
A third Cheltenham win in succession is at 29/20, with a victory to nil available at 14/5. Doncaster did manage a surprise win against MK Dons back on October 2nd. A repeat performance can be backed at 19/10, while the draw is at 11/5.
*All odds correct at time of writing.