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League One Betting: Doncaster to edge out Coventry

Doncaster manager Dean Saunders has guided the Yorkshire club to the automatic promotion places, and Saturday's test with Coventry should present several In-Play opportunities before half-time. Elsewhere, Alan Dudman is hoping Leyton Orient can continue their recent unbeaten record - thanks to in-form striking duo David Mooney and Kevin Lisbie.

Doncaster Rovers 2.42 v Coventry City 3.20, the draw 3.50

 

Two in-form sides meet at the Keepmoat Stadium this weekend, and Doncaster have a chance to move to the head of League One. It's been an impressive season for Rovers, and their manager Dean Saunders has quietly fashioned a side that could be capable of a tilt at promotion - if their thin squad can last.

 

Saunders has them very organised, and the basis of the team is the sound defence. With only 10 goals conceded on home soil in the same amount of games, those facts would back the statement. On Saturday, Donny held Swindon 1-1 at the County Ground, a real dogged display considering their opponents completely dominated the match.

 

Two weeks ago the Yorkshire outfit hammered Scunthorpe 4-0 - which in truth could have been double figures. A key figure from that game was David Cotterill, the former 'wonder boy' who has rediscovered his touch and craft, with the player now delivering an end product.

 

On nine occasions this term, Doncaster have taken the lead and gone on to win the game. Whilst Saunders has openly spoke about his side setting up and nullifying teams in the opening 15 minutes to build a platform.

 

Coventry will be a good test, as they have won four of their last six in the league, and are greatly improved under Mark Robins. The former Manchester United striker enjoyed his biggest success in the role last weekend, with a 5-1 victory over Walsall. Once again, striker David McGoldrick hit a brace to take his tally to 15 for the season.

 

The Sky Blues have been dangerous on the road, with big wins in November at Hartlepool and Colchester. However, this ought to be tighter, which should present a chance in the opening 20 minutes to lock in a profit In-Play.

 

Recommended bets:

Back Doncaster to win @ 2.42

Back under 2.5 goals @ 1.90

Back 0-0 up to half-time

 

Leyton Orient 2.16 v Scunthorpe United 3.75, the draw 3.50

 

There are some very short prices this weekend with Bournemouth and MK Dons at home, so the chance to back

a team that have won their last eight matches at 2.16 is a godsend. The club in question are Leyton Orient, and included in that fabulous run has been five straight league victories.

 

Saturday's 2-0 victory at Bury was a top display considering the Shakers are tough to beat under their new boss Kevin Blackwell. And in truth, the Os were rarely troubled throughout the game. Once again Kevin Lisbie took his goals well to cap a really professional display.

 

Lisbie is really finding his form, and in tandem with his strike partner David Mooney, have hit 14 goals between them in their last eight games. In League One, so many teams lack a cutting edge, so Orient's in-form deadly duo are giving them a big advantage in matches.

 

Defensively the Londoners are sound too, having conceded just nine goals at Brisbane Road this term.

 

Scunthorpe are 23rd in the table and have lost their last three. However, Saturday's 2-1 home defeat to Bournemouth was a much improved effort considering their opponents stunning form. Manager Brian Laws has spoken of their mentality and fragile nature, and you fear for this team if they concede a goal.

 

The Iron will badly miss Leon Clarke, whose loan spell has recently ended. His tally of 11 goals in 15 appearances will be nearly impossible to replace, and hopes rest on veteran striker Nathan Ellington being fit for Saturday. Some of the Iron's players have recently been hiding in games, which is not the sort of frame of mind to tackle one of the form teams.

 

Recommended bets:

Back Leyton Orient @ 2.16

 

Oldham Athletic 3.50 v Swindon Town 2.32, the draw 3.40

 

I mentioned Doncaster's 1-1 draw at Swindon above, and it's a game where Paolo Di Canio's men really deserved the points. They fairly battered Rovers throughout the match and yet gained only a draw. Opposite boss Dean Saunders felt afterwards that Swindon should be one of the favourites for promotion.

 

In short, Town are one of the more talented sides in League One and have spells of dominating games for long periods. Winger Raffa De Vita is highly influential, with his darting moves and creativity down the left flank. I expect them to get lots of balls into Oldham's box this Saturday, as they produced wave after wave of attacks last weekend.

 

Oldham have enjoyed an upturn in their form recently, and have won four of their last five games. Saturday's 2-0 triumph at Colchester was somewhat surprising. However, they were very good at the back and highly productive in their attacking play (which again was quite surprising).

 

On-loan striker Matt Derbyshire has been influential for the Latics, with six goals and his all-round professionalism improving Paul Dickov's side. The 26-year-old's loan is due to expire after this weekend, and his goals and work-rate will be greatly missed. However, it is hard to oppose Swindon this weekend, whom I expect to dominate possession.

 

Recommended bets:

Back Swindon to win @ 2.32

 

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