Birmingham vs Leicester

Leg 1: Birmingham Win

Best odds of 7/10 at BetMGM UK while publishing.

Birmingham come into this fixture with renewed confidence, having won two of their last three matches and feeling unfortunate not to have beaten Stoke in a game they largely dominated. The January transfer window has clearly reinvigorated the squad, with the arrivals of Kai Wagner, Jhon Solis, Ibrahim Osman, Carlos Vicente and August Priske giving the club a much-needed lift both in quality and belief. That momentum has been backed up by their strong home form; Birmingham have lost just once on their own patch all season and currently sit comfortably inside the top six for home performances.

Leicester, by contrast, appear to be heading in the opposite direction. A six-point deduction has dealt a significant blow to morale, leaving them outside the relegation zone only on goal difference. They are without a win in four matches, a run that includes damaging home defeats to Oxford and Charlton, and the recent sacking of Martí Cifuentes has added further instability, with the club still yet to appoint a permanent manager. All factors considered, Birmingham will view this as a very winnable fixture as they look to kick-start a late push for the play-offs.

Bolton vs Barnsley

Leg 2: Bolton Win

Best odds of 8/11 at 10bet while publishing.

Bolton arrive in strong form, having taken 13 points from their last five matches, and with the automatic promotion places now just six points away, the need to build a sustained run is clear. Their home form has been formidable, collecting 34 points from 15 games and suffering just a single defeat. Although the injury to Amario Cozier-Duberry is a setback, the January additions of Rob Apter and Corey Blackett-Taylor have injected fresh attacking impetus and helped maintain their forward threat.

Barnsley, meanwhile, are beginning to look vulnerable. While relegation is still only an outside possibility, the sale of leading scorer Davis Keillor-Dunn - who had already netted 13 league goals -without an adequate replacement has left them short at the top end of the pitch. Defensive frailties have compounded those issues, with just two clean sheets kept all season, and there is a palpable sense of discontent around the club. Much of the frustration has been directed towards the owner, amid growing resentment over a perceived lack of funding, creating an unsettled backdrop heading into this contest.

Huddersfield vs Blackpool

Leg 3: Huddersfield Win

Best odds of 8/11 at 10bet while publishing.

The signing of Ryan Hardie underlines Huddersfield’s renewed ambition. The Scotland international arrives with a proven Championship pedigree, having scored 22 goals across the last two seasons for a struggling Plymouth side, including an impressive 16 at this level last time out. His arrival has coincided with a dramatic upturn in fortunes following the appointment of Liam Manning, a move widely regarded as a real coup. Manning has reinvigorated The Terriers almost instantly, winning all three matches under his stewardship. Those victories have not come easily either - Huddersfield were reduced to ten men in two of them and still found a way to prevail, as well as scoring a dramatic last-minute winner against Peterborough, highlighting a renewed togetherness and willingness to fight for their new manager.

Blackpool, by contrast, arrive in disarray. They have lost seven of their last eight matches, with their sole win coming at home against a struggling Northampton side. Their problems are particularly acute on the road, where they possess the second-worst away record in the league, losing 10 of 14 matches. With confidence drained and results continuing to slide, this looks a daunting assignment against a Huddersfield side brimming with belief.

Stockport vs Leyton Orient

Leg 4: Stockport To Win

Best odds of 4/6 at BetMGM UK while publishing.

Stockport have rediscovered their best form following the return of Oli Norwood, and the results speak for themselves. They have won five of their last six matches, with the only blemish a credible 1-1 draw away at league leaders Cardiff, a side who have won 12 of their 15 home games. Further strengthening their already formidable attacking options is the return of fan favourite Isaac Olaofe to Edgeley Park, adding to what is becoming an embarrassment of riches in the final third.

Leyton Orient travel north carrying the unenviable tag of the league’s worst away side. They have lost 11 of 14 away league matches, alongside defeats in their last three in the league. That run includes a damaging 3–0 loss at struggling Doncaster and a 1-0 home defeat to bottom-placed Port Vale. Defensive issues have plagued the O’s all season, and while they have often been bailed out by goals from Aaron Connolly and Dom Ballard, that safety net is fraying. Connolly is now injured, Ballard has failed to score in his last three, and Orient’s inability to generate more than 1.0 xG at home against a woeful Port Vale side -despite trailing from the 11th minute -is a damning indictment of their current struggles.

 

Colchester vs Shrewsbury

Leg 5: Colchester Win

Best odds of 13/20 at Ladbrokes while publishing.

Colchester still harbour faint hopes of forcing their way into the play-off picture. Sitting seven points adrift with a game in hand, and with Walsall showing signs of a familiar late-season wobble, the U’s have an outside chance of mounting a late surge. While their home form has been inconsistent, they have still managed to win six of their 14 matches at the JobServe Community Stadium, enough to suggest a solid platform to build from. Confidence has also been boosted by the continued presence of loan star Michael Mbick and the electric Kyreece Lisbie, despite persistent rumours linking both with moves away. Their availability gives Colchester continuity and belief at a crucial stage of the campaign.

For Shrewsbury, the outlook is far bleaker. Their 22-year stay in the Football League is in serious jeopardy, with results offering little encouragement. Salop have won just three of their last 19 matches in normal time, with victories coming against Newport and Harrogate - the league’s bottom two - and non-league South Shields of the National League North. Even those wins were far from convincing: the 1-0 home victory over Harrogate required a red card for the visitors, while Newport were unfortunate not to take a point from their narrow defeat at the New Meadow. Matters are compounded by their dreadful away form; Shrewsbury are the league’s worst travellers, collecting just six points from 14 away matches and losing 10 of them, leaving them facing an uphill battle once again.

 

Notts County vs Barrow

Leg 6: Notts County Win

Best odds of 3/5 at Coral while publishing.

With five wins from five, Notts County are proving a tough nut to track. In Alassana Jatta and Matthew Dennis, The Magpies boast a strike force with 24 goals between them, while the signing of local boy and County fan James Belshaw has sured them up between the sticks. At home, Martin Paterson’s side have the third best record, picking up 30 points from a possible 45.

They host a Barrow side who have been dragged into a relegation dog fight. The Bluebirds have lost four in a row and have just one win in their last 14 – a run stretching back to the start of November. While Barrow have proven something of a bogey side for County, losing just one of the last seven meetings, the hosts should have too much for Paul Gallagher’s side.

The best odds for the above  ACCA is 20/1 at Coral.