Here’s our weekly dose of Football League news, tips and stats to keep up to date with the Football League with a minimum of effort.
THE NEWS BRIEFS
For all the Football League teams in the FA Cup round 4 very few of them caused upsets, and very few against the EPL sides. None in fact, although Peterborough did get a draw at West Brom so have a replay to progress and fly the flag for the third division. Talking of third division, Shrewsbury Town caused an upset of sorts by knocking out in form Championship side Sheffield Wednesday. There are 4 definite Football League teams remaining and their 5th round opponents are in brackets – FA Cup finalists from two seasons ago Hull City (Arsenal A), last year’s semi finalists Reading (WBA or Peterboro H), and previous winners Leeds United (Watford A) and Blackburn Rovers (West Ham or Liverpool H).
Talking of Cups – the Football League Trophy (open for only Leagues One and Two) have their finalists decided after Oxford United got past Millwall over two legs (Oxford won 2-0 away, Millwall won 1-0 away) and Barnsley pipped Fleetwood Town on penalties after a pair of 1-1 draws. It gives a rare day at Wembley for both Barnsley and Oxford.
As an Ipswich fan there’s usually very little that is spectacularly outstanding to crow about, they are usually quite good and at times mediocre, but a stat highlighted during the week is truly outstanding. Their midweek win at home to Reading on Tuesday night was their 16th consecutive home win when played on a Tuesday night. That’s pure betting gold and more of that sneaking onto a Saturday will see them break out of the Championship in their 14th season since their last relegation from the EPL.
MANAGER CHANGES
After last week where there were no casualties, the thought was maybe the corner has been turned. Unfortunately not for Teddy Sherringham at Stevenage who departed this week with no win in 8 games and eight points above the relegation zone in 19th.
That makes 30 for the season thus far, just 6 off making it 50% of the Football League teams.
TRANSFER MARKET
Middlesbrough got the best buy of the Transfer Window with proven goal scorer Jordan Rhodes joining from Blackburn for plenty. Hull also did some smart business with some Man Utd loanees.
CHAMPIONSHIP BITS
Just like last season Middlesbrough and Derby County looked the stand out choice for promotion at Christmas, and once again both have dropped off. Sure both are in the top 6, Derby have taken 3 points in their last 6 and Middlesbrough have lost two in a row and the lead.
Highlight game at the top of the table is third placed Burnley v new leaders Hull. Unsurprisingly both are top of the last 6 form table. At the bottom it’s relegation six pointers ahoy as the bottom four all play each other. Games that could decide futures and manager tenures.
LEAGUE ONE BITES
Barnsley are a team of interest in League 1 after recording a sixth straight win to equal the division’s longest winning streak. It’s been a streaky season as they also held the longest losing streak with eight until Colchester beat that recently.
Highlight game features Colchester in an Essex derby with Southend United.
LEAGUE TWO BOBS
Hartlepool are a team to note foe the wrong reason for their fans. They celebrated a very unlikely survival last season by starting 2015-16 with three consecutive wins. A steady decline since now sees them 22nd and just four points from relegation. Yeovil are the opposite after breaking a league season high of 16 games without win, they are now up to 21st with three wins in four the highlight.
THE GURGLER SELECTS
Now onto the favourite part of our weekly blab, the various multis where we try and prove how great we are, followed by a 3am realisation that we aren’t that great. But they win occasionally and this weekend may just be that occasion.
CHAMPIONSHIP MULTI
$1 for $96
CARDIFF to beat Milton Keynes
FULHAM to beat Derby
IPSWICH to beat QPR
MIDDLESBROUGH to beat Blackburn
DRAW – Leeds v Nottingham Forest
LEAGUE ONE MULTI
$1 for $8
SOUTHEND to beat Colchester
GILLINGHAM to beat Swindon
BARNSLEY to beat Bury
LEAGUE TWO MULTI
$1 for $35
NORTHAMPTON to beat York
CARLISLE to beat Accrington
PLYMOUTH to beat Yeovil
WYCOMBE to beat Luton
OXFORD to beat Exeter