Crewe Alexandra v Portsmouth

Portsmouth will have been delighted with their 4-0 win over Accrington Stanley at the weekend in League One, particularly after Marcus Harness was sent off in the 21st minute. Harness has been one of Pompey’s best players this season, however the blow of his suspension is softened by the fact that Ronan Curtis will return from a two game ban for an accumulation of yellow cards.

We successfully opposed Crewe in their 3-1 defeat at home to Wycombe Wanderers at the weekend, this is a case of rinse and repeat. The Railwaymen have lost eight of their last nine and appear to be in free-fall under David Artell. Crewe are rock bottom, eight points from safety, rank bottom for season-long expected goals (xG) against and third bottom for xGF. 

George Hirst should be full of confidence after his brace against Stanley, with Tyler Walker, Aiden O’Brien and Curtis around him, Pompey certainly have the quality to get over the line at Gresty Road. Pompey sit fifth for season-long xGA and will be hoping to reduce the seven point gap between themselves and the play-offs.

There is momentum slowly brewing on the South Coast and I am looking to take advantage of that in midweek.

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Sunderland v Fleetwood Town

The midweek action has presented an opportunity to get favourites onside in opposing three of the division’s poorest sides, and that is also the case at the Stadium of Light. The Black Cats arrested their slide with a surprise 3-0 win at Wigan Athletic before being comfortably the better side in a goalless draw at Charlton Athletic last time out.

Alex Neil’s ideas are starting to get across and they welcome a Fleetwood Town side who have not won in nine League One outings. We successfully opposed the Cod Army at the weekend, as Ipswich Town earned a 2-0 win at Highbury Stadium, and their trip to the North East will not be any easier.

Fleetwood rank second bottom for season-long xGF, only scoring in one of their last four, and could be dragged into the relegation zone if Gillingham and Doncaster Rovers can continue to improve. Sunderland created 1.59 xGF in their 0-0 stalemate with Charlton, but it was a performance that will give Neil confidence that in a fierce play-off chasing pack, they can put their best foot forward. 

Fleetwood will sit back and look to earn a foothold in the game, but the Sunderland home faithful under the lights will play a key role in roaring Neil’s men towards the play-off places. It is a big ask for the visitors to avoid defeat.

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Bolton Wanderers v Morecambe

Bolton Wanderers look to be a classic home win banker in midweek when they welcome Morecambe to The UniBol. The Trotters have won six on the bounce on their home patch and created chances equating to 3.69 xGF in their 3-0 victory at Gillingham at the weekend.

Ian Evatt’s men are prepared for the quick turnaround with a depth of quality in their squad and they take on a lacklustre Morecambe side who have not picked up under Derek Adams. The Shrimps have accumulated just 17 points from their last 25 league outings, ranking bottom in that time, and will sit in a low block against free-flowing Bolton.

Bolton have goal threats from all over the pitch, Declan John and Marlon Fossey make up arguably the best pair of wing backs in the division and with Dion Charles, Dapo Afolayan or Amadou Bakayoko through the centre, they will be very tough to handle.

If it was not for a steep drop-off in the final months of 2021, Bolton would be firmly in the mix for promotion and have not yet given up hope of a late dash for the play-offs.

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