Accumulator

Inverness should maintain their place at the top of Scottish League One by overcoming Cove Rangers on Saturday afternoon.

Scott Kellacher’s side returned to the summit after claiming a 1-0 win over Montrose last weekend. The result means the Caley Jags have won each of their last two league matches, having also claimed a 2-1 win away at Peterhead a fortnight ago. Therefore, a home game with what is a struggling Cove Rangers side represents an excellent opportunity for Inverness to record a third straight victory.

The visitors are having a nightmare season, propping up the third tier table having lost 9 of their opening 12 games of the campaign. 6 of those 9 losses have arrived across Cove’s last seven league games, which doesn’t augur well ahead of this weekend’s clash with the current league leaders.

What’s more, Cove came away empty-handed from this season’s reverse fixture, and I’m expecting Paul Hartley’s side to suffer the same fate in the Highlands on Saturday. 

The Spireites currently occupy 7th position in League Two, but are just three points off top spot due to the bunched nature of the league this season.

At home, they are particularly strong, one of only two sides who are unbeaten on home turf, having picked up the third highest points tally through seven home games, with four wins and three draws. Paul Cook’s side are unbeaten in their last five games in all competitions, the latest of which was a morale boosting victory over League One high-flyers Stevenage in the First Round of the FA Cup.

They host an Accrington side who have lost five of their seven away league games, scoring just four goals in the process. They’re just one point above the League Two trapdoor in 21st place, and just one place higher than that in the form table over the last five games. 

I think Accrington might improve a little over the course of the season, but I see Chesterfield having too much for them at home.

Goals should be on the agenda when East Kilbride and Stirling Albion square off in Scottish League Two on Saturday afternoon. Mick Kennedy’s hosts have been the SPFL’s great entertainers this season, with 9 of their opening 11 league games of the campaign producing over 2.5 goals. 

Moreover, each of the hosts’ last four league games have featured a minimum of 3 match strikes, not to mention this selection would have been a winning one in four of EK’s five league outings in front of their own supporters this season. 

As for Stirling, they have also played their part in a  number of high-scoring contests this term, with over 2.5 goals banking in 7 of the Binos’ opening 11 league games of the season, including four of their five fixtures away from their Forthbank base. 

The reverse fixture in August saw East Kilbride claim a thrilling 3-2 victory, and all the signs point towards another goal-heavy game at K-Park on Saturday afternoon.

Looking at recent form, despite Middlesbrough retaining a high standing in the league, there is an opportunity to get on board with Birmingham here.

The Blues' recent performances have been the best in the league. Going back over the last 10 matches, Birmingham have the best xG ratio, which is expected goals for, pitted against expected goals against, in the league, and it isn’t really that close.

Middlesbrough are without a win in three league matches and Birmingham will likely travel to the Riverside with a spring in their step following their recent run of positive results.