Saturday's League One predictions including Derby County vs. Bolton Wanderers

Barnsley vs. Cheltenham (Saturday, 3.00pm)

Barnsley will welcome Cheltenham Town to Oakwell on Saturday for a game of major importance at both ends of the League One table.

Following an important midweek win, the hosts trail the automatic promotion spots by five points, while their visitors sit 21st, five points adrift of safety, with both having games in hand of teams above them.

We say: Barnsley 3-1 Cheltenham Town

Cheltenham Town have been resilient under Darrell Clarke in their bid to defy the odds and escape the bottom four, but the Robins' momentum has slowed somewhat.

Coming up against a free-scoring Barnsley side at Oakwell, we can only envisage the visitors being overpowered on Saturday and back the Reds to strengthen their top-two hopes with a win.

Derby vs. Bolton (Saturday, 3.00pm)

On Saturday, Derby County will play host to Bolton Wanderers in a crucial clash in the race to win promotion to the Championship.

The Rams are sitting in second place in the League One table, while the Trotters are just one point adrift in third position.

We say: Derby County 1-1 Bolton Wanderers

The two teams will want to claim maximum points to boost their promotion hopes, but with Derby and Bolton both desperate to avoid defeat, we think a close-fought contest could finish all square.

Exeter vs. Burton Albion (Saturday, 3.00pm)

With five crucial points separating them in the bottom half of the League One table, Exeter City and Burton Albion will square off at St James Park on Saturday.

In the midst of a tough run of form, the visitors sit 19th with a five-point lead over the relegation zone, while their hosts all but confirmed their safety with a midweek away win.

We say: Exeter City 2-1 Burton Albion

Boosted by their midweek win and meeting a Brewers side who are lacking any momentum, we back Exeter City to triumph on home turf on Saturday.

Fleetwood vs. Charlton (Saturday, 3.00pm)

Both sides will be looking to extend their significant unbeaten runs when Fleetwood Town host Charlton Athletic in League One on Saturday.

Fleetwood drew for the fourth time in their last five games against Bristol Rovers in midweek, while Charlton secured successive victories against Carlisle United last weekend.

We say: Fleetwood Town 1-1 Charlton Athletic

Both teams have proven very difficult to beat under their new managers in recent weeks, but Charlton have crucially managed to rack up some wins to move away from the danger zone.

Fleetwood, on the other hand, need wins sooner rather than later if they are to preserve their status in League One, but we can envisage them being held to another draw on Saturday by Jones' increasingly confident outfit.

Lincoln vs. Bristol Rovers (Saturday, 3.00pm)

High-flying Lincoln City will be hoping to continue their surge towards League One's playoff positions when they host Bristol Rovers on Saturday.

The visitors have failed to score in their last two matches, and have little chance of catching the top six teams in the table.

We say: Lincoln City 3-1 Bristol Rovers

Lincoln are flying at the moment, and it may take a superior side to Bristol Rovers to stop Skubala's side. The former Leeds United caretaker boss has let the shackles off in recent weeks, with the Imps posting an unbeaten record of 12 matches.

The visitors, on the other hand, have little to play for and have failed to score in their last two games. We can see that changing on Saturday, but it may not be enough to prevent them from falling to defeat.

Peterborough vs. Portsmouth (Saturday, 3.00pm)

Portsmouth will attempt to extend their unbeaten run to 12 matches when they travel to the Weston Homes Stadium for Saturday's clash with Peterborough United.

Pompey are currently sitting top of the League One table, while Peterborough head into the weekend in fourth position.

We say: Peterborough United 2-2 Portsmouth

Although Portsmouth are sitting top of the table, they have seen three of their last four away games finish all square, and we think they may have to settle for a point in Saturday's tricky clash with an in-form Peterborough side.

Port Vale vs. Oxford Utd (Saturday, 3.00pm)

Port Vale will attempt to end their long wait for their first win of 2024 when they welcome Oxford United to Vale Park for Saturday's League One contest.

The relegation-threatened hosts are languishing in 23rd place, while playoff-chasing Oxford are sitting in eighth position.

We say: Port Vale 1-1 Oxford United

Although Oxford may be favourites due to their current league position, they have struggled to enjoy success in their recent away matches, and with that in mind, we think the U's will be held to a point in Saturday's clash at Vale Park.

Reading vs. Cambridge (Saturday, 3.00pm)

Both sides will be hoping to bounce back from defeat when Reading host Cambridge United in League One on Saturday.

Reading were narrowly beaten by Derby County in midweek, while Cambridge were thrashed by Lincoln City.

We say: Reading 2-1 Cambridge United

This should be a fiercely-contested affair given that both sides are level on points just above the relegation zone, but Reading boast slightly better form than their opponents.

Cambridge will almost certainly perform much better than when they were beaten by six goals against in-form Lincoln in midweek, but we are backing the hosts to gain a crucial victory by a narrow margin.

Shrewsbury vs. Carlisle (Saturday, 3.00pm)

Aiming to extend their lead over the bottom four in the League One table and all but guarantee their safety, Shrewsbury Town will welcome Carlisle United to New Meadow on Saturday.

The hosts currently sit seven points clear of the drop zone in England's third tier, while their visitors are rooted to the foot of the division following three straight defeats.

We say: Shrewsbury Town 1-0 Carlisle United

Shrewsbury will certainly be wounded by their heavy midweek defeat, but with home advantage back on their side against a Carlisle team in the midst of a rut, we fancy them to bounce back on Saturday and come out on top.

Stevenage vs. Leyton Orient (Saturday, 3.00pm)

Looking to maintain their spot in the top six of the league standings, Stevenage will welcome an out-of-form Leyton Orient side to the Lamex Stadium on Saturday afternoon in League One.

The Boro suffered a 3-1 defeat at promotion rivals Peterborough United in the week, whilst the O's were forced to share the spoils with Port Vale last time out.

We say: Stevenage 2-0 Leyton Orient

Apart from during the trip to Peterborough, Stevenage have been flawless defensively in recent weeks and should be confident of another clean sheet on Saturday.

Leyton Orient's top-six charge is beginning to lose momentum, and we reckon that the O's playoffs hopes will all but end at the Lamex Stadium on the weekend.

Wigan vs. Blackpool (Saturday, 3.00pm)

Wigan Athletic will be looking to bounce back from defeat in their last game as they host playoff hopefuls Blackpool this Saturday at the DW Stadium.

The hosts come into the game with little to play for as they sit mid-table in League One, while the visitors are just a point behind sixth-placed Stevenage as they hunt for a spot in this season's playoff positions.

We say: Wigan Athletic 1-2 Blackpool

This fixture has gone in Blackpool's favour more often than not in recent meetings between these two sides, with the Tangerines claiming four victories in the last five games.

While Wigan will still be looking to climb as high up the table as possible, this game will mean much more to a playoff-hunting Blackpool and we expect them to win this one.

Wycombe vs. Northampton (Saturday, 3.00pm)

Two League One mid-table sides come together on Saturday when Northampton Town travel to Adams Park to face Wycombe Wanderers.

The hosts sit 14th in the table heading into this game, while the visitors are three points better off and reside in 12th spot.

We say: Wycombe Wanderers 1-1 Northampton Town

Wycombe enter into this game in the superior form of the two sides, while they have also taken victory in all of the last five meetings.

However, Northampton have shown throughout the course of this season that they are not an easy team to face and we believe this one will end as a stalemate.