Weekend football Preview LEAGUE 1

League One Weekend Football Preview, 12-14 January

Wigan Athletic will look to extend their lead at the top of League One, whilst the sides in second and third face each other this weekend.

Wigan Athletic v Peterborough United

Wigan are looking for an instant return to the Championship and enter their home fixture with Peterborough having lost just once in their last sixteen games. Visiting Peterborough sit just outside the play-offs, but have suffered one defeat in five games, so arrive in form too. Both sides like to attack, but Wigan’s defence is the meanest in the league and that can be the platform for another win.

Shrewsbury Town v Blackburn Rovers

Shrewsbury in second, travel to Blackburn in third, in League One’s game of the day. The Shrews have built a successful season by keeping clean sheets, which was emphasised when they held West Ham to a 0-0 draw in the FA Cup last weekend. Blackburn are the second highest scorers in the division and enter the game off the back of a fourteen-game unbeaten league run. It could be a tough afternoon for the visitors to keep Rovers out, and a tight home win seems likely.

Portsmouth v Scunthorpe United

wo sides occupying play-off places meet at Fratton Park, as fourth-placed Scunthorpe travel to sixth-placed Portsmouth. Scunthorpe are still in contention for an automatic promotion spot after just one defeat in thirteen games, whilst Pompey have moved themselves into the top six thanks to five wins from their last seven games. A fascinating game, but Portsmouth are strong at home and can land a crucial win.

Elsewhere…

Fifth-placed Bradford will look to maintain their play-off spot when they host relegation threatened Northampton, whilst Rotherham, who sit just outside the top-six travel to Oldham who are one-place above the drop zone.

Charlton in eighth travel to bottom side Bury, who have now lost their last six games without scoring, and Oxford go to a Walsall side slipping closer to the relegation zone.

Other games see Doncaster host Plymouth, Fleetwood at Southend, Blackpool welcome Bristol Rovers, and Gillingham host second-bottom Rochdale.

There is also a huge game at stadium MK, as the MK Dons face AFC Wimbledon, in a fixture surrounded by history, controversy and this year, a relegation battle.

Relevant news