League One tips: Morias to sink Sheffield United?

Will Morias be celebrating again on Saturday? – Peterboroughtoday.co.uk

Here are The Football Lab’s tips for the weekend’s League One action.

For the acca

The reality of working with one of your division’s lowest budgets and smallest squads is that you tend to miss key players. Matty Lund and Joe Bunney were central to Rochdale’s voyage into League One’s top six, so it is of little surprise that their absence has coincided with a dip in form.

Fleetwood Town, well backed by chairman Andy Pilley, are unbeaten in 13 games. Despite a poor start to their game at Charlton last time out, they grabbed an injury-time leveller from impressive wing-back Amari’I Bell and had enough chances to win. January’s 2-0 victory at Sheffield United provided an insight into what this Cod Army team is capable of. Fleetwood to win at 7/5

Outside chance

After a sticky first half of the season, Walsall have started 2017 in fine form.
Eoghan O’Connell has been a useful addition to the defence, Jason McCarthy and Joe Edwards have boundless energy at full-back while Erhun Oztumer returns to form.

Strong performances from the aforementioned players mean Walsall have picked up 11 points from their last five games. In the first halves of those matches, they have conceded three and scored one, yet the second halves see an aggregate scoreline of 11-2. Interestingly, opponents Bolton have led in their last three games yet picked up a total of just one point, losing with a man advantage against Charlton.

The defence that looked one of the division’s best for so long is now showing signs of weakness, Zach Clough’s exit for Nottingham Forest not helping attacking efforts. Walsall to win at 4/1 – or to win from behind at 20/1 for the more adventurous punter.

Goalscorer tip

Junior Morias came off the bench at Port Vale last week to net a 13-minute brace for Peterborough United. The man he replaced, Craig Mackail-Smith, had also had a similar career prior to his first stint at London Road, hitting good form in the lower leagues. Morias has pace, power and balance, just like Britt Assombalonga and other young strikers Posh have kick-started the career of. He faces a Sheffield United defence that has shipped 10 goals in its last five games, despite sitting top of the league. Those first two goals could give Morias the confidence to become the clinical goalscorer Peterborough have always had historically, but lacked this term. Morias to be last goalscorer at 15/2.