Tom McGarry provides his best bets for Saturday’s EFL action, including wins for Blackpool and Reading.

Saturday’s focus in the EFL is on a pair of matches in League One that may have ramifications at both ends of the table, as well as a battle between two play-off contenders in League Two.

Best bets

Blackpool to beat Barnsley

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Reading to beat Burton Albion

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Doncaster to beat Barrow

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Acca pays 8/1

Blackpool v Barnsley (15:00)

Blackpool sit two places and three points off the play-off positions in League One but they could be timing their top-six challenge perfectly following a run of three successive wins, all by a 1-0 scoreline.

The Seasiders have been particularly strong on home soil, as they are unbeaten in their last 11 league matches at Bloomfield Road and they haven’t even conceded a goal on their own patch since February.

By contrast, fifth-placed Barnsley’s position in the top six now looks vulnerable following a dip in form that has seen them take just one point from the last 12 available, while their only victories across their last 10 games have come against rock-bottom Carlisle and another struggling side in Burton Albion.

Blackpool have already beaten the Tykes twice this season, once in the league and once in the EFL Trophy, and they look well placed to add another success on Saturday, which would take the League One play-off battle down to the final day.

Burton Albion v Reading (15:00)

Burton head into the weekend sitting just one place above the relegation zone and these are worrying times for the Brewers, who are bottom of the League One form guide after winning just one and losing nine of their last 12 matches.

The most recent of those defeats was a damaging home loss to relegation rivals Cheltenham during the week and Burton have now lost a staggering eight league games on the spin at the Pirelli Stadium.

Reading were embroiled in the relegation battle alongside Burton for much of the season, but a run of one loss in six has helped them secure survival with time to spare.

A much improved away record has been key to their push up the table – Ruben Selles has seen his side lose just four of their last 14 road fixtures in the league – and the Royals have also won on both of their previous visits to Burton, a perfect record they should extend this weekend.

Doncaster v Barrow (15:00)

Doncaster and Barrow are both battling for a play-off place in League Two, with Rovers currently sitting just outside the top seven and Barrow just inside it, although all the momentum appears to be with Donny ahead of their clash at the Eco-Power Stadium.

Grant McCann’s side are League Two’s form team, winning eight matches on the spin and losing just once in 15 league fixtures in a run that has sensationally transformed them from relegation strugglers into play-off contenders.

Barrow’s season has been a lot more steady, with the Bluebirds spending the majority of the campaign in the top seven, but after picking up just one point from their last four games, they may be faltering at exactly the wrong time.

Just four points and three places separate these two sides in the standings, but ninth-placed Doncaster are unbeaten at home since January and can close the gap further with a victory on Saturday.

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