SCUNTHORPE UNITED v ROTHERHAM UNITED
Saturday 12th May 2018 – Kickoff: 1230hrs
Football – England – League One Betting Tips
The second of the first leg play-off semi-finals will kick-off at Saturday lunchtime with hosts, Scunthorpe United taking on Rotherham United at Glanford Park with the hosts no doubt looking to extend their unbeaten run of form to nine matches here.
Scunthorpe United held firm and grabbed a deserved place in the play-offs with this impressive sequence of results, but this was in stark contrast to a lean period from mid-January until early April which saw The Iron pick up just one league win from 15 matches overall, which was a 3-2 win away at Fleetwood Town.
However, that dismal run of results was ended in emphatic fashion as Scunthorpe then collected four wins on the trot with victories over Charlton Athletic, Walsall, MK Dons and Plymouth Argyle, and they’re unbeaten in their last four on home turf amidst an overall record of 9-8-6 28/23.
That said, the hosts have picked up just two wins from their last ten at home, while 13 of their 23 home matches have seen both teams score. Midfielder Morris (11 goals) and the forward trio of Toney (8 goals), Hopper (7 goals) and Novak (6 goals) represent the main goal threats for the hosts.
Rotherham United produced an impressive spurt of form from mid-December until late February which spanned a 15-match period without defeat as The Millers picked up 11 wins during that sequence which really nailed down their play-off place.
Admittedly, it’s really been their form at home which have helped them across the line and a final finish of fourth place in League One with a record of 15-3-5 45/23, and although they picked up wins here and there on the road, a 2-1 win away at Scunthorpe United in mid-February will give them confidence of getting a result here in this first leg.
Other recent away wins include victories at Shrewsbury Town, Northampton Town and Gillingham, while 12 of their 23 away matches within an overall record of 9-4-10 28/30 saw both teams hit the back of the net.
I can’t see a clear winner in this first leg so I’ll back both teams to score.
Pick: Both teams to score @ 1.90 bet365 (odds taken at 11:10 GMT 10 May 2018)
