Before the Round – Trends on England League One (16/04)

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Three matchdays remain in League One and the race for automatic promotion is red-hot.

Portsmouth lead the league with 91 points but Derby County are on their tail. Meanwhile, Bolton Wanderers are just four points behind County with a game in hand.

Bolton Wanderers - Shrewsbury Town

Bolton Wanderers could pull within a point of Derby with a win over Shrewsbury Town. Wanderers claimed a 2-0 win away from home against Shrewsbury in their previous meeting. Bolton kept clean sheets in their last two matches against Town.

Shrewsbury are 19th in the standings and six points above the relegation zone. Town are on a two-match losing streak ahead of the trip to Bolton. They scored just one goal across their last two matches.

Bolton are unbeaten in their last four matches. They took eight points from the last 12 on offer. Wanderers drew at home, 1-1, with Portsmouth in a top-three clash at the weekend.

• Bolton Wanderers haven't lost any of their last 10 home matches in League One.
• In their 30 most recent away matches of League One, Shrewsbury have achieved just 5 wins.
• In their 24 most recent matches of League One, Bolton Wanderers have been undefeated 20 times.
• Shrewsbury have been conceding 1.67 goals on average in their away games (all competitions).
• Prediction: Bolton Wanderers

Peterborough - Fleetwood Town

The last four matches between Peterborough and Fleetwood Town all ended in identical 1-0 scorelines. Will the trend continue on Tuesday at London Road?

The Posh went to Fleetwood and won 1-0 earlier this season. Peterborough are battling for a promotion playoff place. They are currently seven points clear of seventh-place Blackpool.

Fleetwood are stuck in the relegation zone. They are 23rd and set for relegation unless something happens quickly. Fleetwood are exactly six points off safety. A win could help them greatly in the battle against the drop. Town defeated Northampton 2-0 over the weekend.

• Peterborough have seen under 2.5 goals scored in their last 4 meetings with Fleetwood Town in League One.
• No goals have been scored in the last 3 away League One matches of Fleetwood Town.
• Peterborough have lost just 2 of their last 6 home games in all competitions.
• Fleetwood Town's performance has been disappointing of late, as they have won just 4 of their 29 most recent all competitions clashes.
• Prediction: Peterborough

Port Vale - Wycombe Wanderers

Port Vale and Wycombe Wanderers drew four of their last six matches in all competitions, including their encounter earlier this campaign. Wycombe went unbeaten in those six matches, with two wins and four draws.

Wanderers took five points from the last nine on offer. Wycombe did not concede a goal in any of their last three matches.

Port Vale are 21st and in the relegation zone. Three points separate Port Vale from safety. Vale lost their last two matches in League One. They conceded seven goals across the two games.

• Port Vale have won only 2 of their last 20 League One matches.
• Wycombe haven't been beaten in their last 9 straight clashes with Port Vale in League One.
• On average, Port Vale have been scoring 0.95 goals in their most recent matches in all competitions.
• Wycombe haven't lost to Port Vale in 15 of their 17 most recent games in all competitions.
• Prediction: Draw

Portsmouth - Barnsley

League leaders Portsmouth could seal promotion with a win over Barnsley. Pompey are unbeaten in six straight games ahead of the midweek fixture. Portsmouth posted a 3-2 win in the reverse fixture. They went unbeaten in five of their last six matches versus Barnsley.

Fourteen points were taken by Portsmouth in the last six matches. They outscored their last six opponents 12-6.

Barnsley picked up just five points from the last 18 on offer. They were outscored 9-7. Barnsley’s hopes of making the promotion playoffs are dwindling.

Although they are fifth, Barnsley are just five points ahead of seventh place and on a bad run of form. The Tykes failed to win any of their last three League One games.

• Portsmouth have not been beaten in their last 16 straight clashes in League One.
• Barnsley's last 8 away games (all competitions) have seen both teams score.
• Portsmouth haven't lost in 55 of their last 61 games in all competitions.
• Barnsley haven't lost a match in 22 of their last 25 away matches in League One.
• Prediction: Over 2.5 goals