From promotion favourites to playoff chasers to the dreaded relegation dogfight. With about 16 matches to play in this season’s very competitive Sky Bet League One, pretty much every team has something to play for, making it a very exciting or nervy few months for supporters up and down the country.
In this piece, we will pick out five games that we believe you should be looking out for in League One this weekend.
1. Nathan Jones Dugout Debut
Saturday’s trip to Reading will be the first game in charge for new Charlton Athletic manager Nathan Jones, who will be looking to come away from Berkshire with a positive result in this relegation six-pointer. The Addicks are the worst team based on current form in League One, and sit just one point above the relegation zone, the same as their opponents.
Reading will not make it easy for the former Southampton boss, however, as they have been on a good run of late, remaining unbeaten in four and fresh off the back of an impressive away victory at Stevenage in midweek.
2. Bloomfield Road Spectacle
Saturday’s clash between Blackpool and Oxford United could be a significant one come the end of the season, with both sides still in pursuit of the playoffs. But with the visitors’ position in the league being five points healthier, Neil Critchley’s Tangerines will be hoping to close the gap on the teams above them, including their next opponent, and build on their impressive home form which is the best in the division.
Meanwhile, the visitors may just be happy to take a draw to avoid promotion rivals gaining three points over them, after failing to win any of their last four league matches.
3. Fleetwood Fightback
A few weeks ago, Fleetwood Town looked destined for League Two after defeat upon defeat, both home and away. However, after somewhat surprisingly picking up seven points from their last available nine, the Cod Army are right back in the mix for survival, just six points off safety now.
They will be looking to extend their impressive run when they head to Lincoln City on Saturday, a side winless on their own patch since October. With a huge six-pointer against Reading to come in midweek, three points here would be priceless for both sides.
4. Wellens’ Winning Machine
Perhaps one of the biggest turnarounds in the EFL this season has been Richie Wellens’ Leyton Orient going from potential relegation battlers to late playoff dark horses. Unbeaten in 2024 and with six wins in their last eight including victories over high-flying Portsmouth and Bolton Wanderers, the O’s will travel to Barnsley knowing Oakwell is no easy place to go but will have bags of confidence.
Barnsley suffered a shock defeat in their last home game against Exeter City, so Orient will be hoping they can repeat the trick to move within touching distance of the playoffs.
5. Top vs Bottom
A very tough game awaits League One’s bottom side Carlisle United on the weekend, with John Mousinho’s table-topping Portsmouth making the long journey to Cumbria and in fine form as well, having picked up three wins in their last four games following that home defeat to Leyton Orient.
Carlisle are currently ten points adrift of safety and must start picking up points from somewhere if they are going to avoid an instant relegation back to the fourth tier. Paul Simpson’s side will be hoping to end their unwanted record of five defeats on the bounce.
On the other hand, Pompey will be looking to secure three more points that would take them even closer to their long-awaited promotion back to the Championship.
So there you go, those are our five games to look out for in League One this weekend. Let us know where you are off to this weekend and how you reckon your team will do in the comments.
