Enda McElhinney's tips for Saturday's EFL action contain games from League One and League Two.
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Blackpool to beat Stevenage @ 11/8
Carlisle to beat Leyton Orient @ 7/5
Crewe to beat Tranmere @ 19/20
Colchester to beat Forest Green @ 17/10
Swindon to beat Newport @ 8/11
Blackpool v Stevenage (15:00)
Blackpool have lost some ground in the League One promotion race after taking just one point from the last two games but they can make some headway by defeating fourth-placed Stevenage at Bloomfield Road.
The Tangerines have been strong on home soil, taking 11 points from six games, and they approach the weekend with confidence restored thanks to a 5-2 success at home to Liverpool Under-21s in the EFL Trophy.
Neil Critchley’s side have netted ten goals in their last three home fixtures and their attacking flair could be key to overcoming a stubborn Stevenage, who have lost just three of 12 third tier fixtures.
Carlisle v Leyton Orient (15:00)
Carlisle are showing signs of settling down to League One life and they can win a battle between newly-promoted teams when taking on Leyton Orient at Brunton Park.
Paul Simpson’s Cumbrians have taken four points from their last two fixtures, including last Saturday’s 3-1 success at Bolton which will have given them a massive confidence boost.
The next challenge for Carlisle is to register back-to-back league wins and they have every chance of overcoming mid-table Orient, who have generally struggled on their travels.
Richie Wellens’s side have taken just five points from six road trips and their long trip to Cumbria could be a fruitless one.
Crewe v Tranmere (15:00)
Crewe’s League Two promotion prospects were dented by a 4-2 loss at Salford last Saturday, but the Railwaymen can get back on track with a home victory over Tranmere.
The early part of the season has been a largely positive experience for Crewe, who have lost just two of 12 league matches.
Lee Bell’s side remain unbeaten at the Mornflake Stadium, with 14 points accrued from six games, and they are scoring plenty of goals.
The Alex have are the division’s top scorers with 28 goals and their offensive quality should help them get the better of third-bottom Tranmere.
There has been an uptick in Tranmere’s performances since Nigel Adkins took over head coach duties, but the Birkenhead outfit remain pointless on their travels and could taste defeat this weekend.
Forest Green v Colchester (15:00)
League Two basement boys Forest Green are the only EFL club awaiting their first home points of the season and they could experience a familiar sinking feeling when taking on fellow strugglers Colchester at the Bolt New Lawn.
Rovers have lost six home league games and their problems will encourage Colchester, who head to Gloucestershire with the aim of snapping a two-match losing sequence.
Colchester showed ability at the end of September with a 5-4 victory at home to leaders Notts County and they can return to winning ways.
Swindon v Newport (15:00)
Swindon have dropped out of the League Two playoffs after successive defeats but they can respond by defeating injury-hit Newport at the County Ground.
The Robins lacked a cutting edge when losing 1-0 at Bradford last Saturday but that was understandable because their nine-goal top scorer Jake Young – a Bantams’ loanee – was ineligible to play.
Young should return to the side this weekend and his finishing qualities could hurt Newport, who have been defeated on four of their five League Two road trips.
