Birmingham vs. Reading (Saturday, 5.30pm)
© Imago
Back in the third tier of English football for the first time in 30 years, Birmingham City will commence their League One campaign as Reading visit St Andrew's @ Knighthead Park on Saturday evening.
Blues are red-hot favourites to secure an immediate return to the Championship, whilst the Royals continue to fight fires off the field as the new season approaches.
We say: Birmingham City 2-1 Reading
In front of a sold-out crowd at St Andrew's, Birmingham will be overwhelming favourites against cash-strapped Reading, however it is unlikely to be a simple task for the hosts on the opening weekend.
The Royals have a close-knit group who will fight for an upset in the Second City, but we feel that Blues' quality will come up trumps in the end.
> Click here to read our full preview for this match
Bristol Rovers vs. Northampton (Saturday, 5.30pm)
© Reuters
Bristol Rovers and Northampton will begin their latest League One campaigns on Saturday, when they do battle at the Memorial Stadium.
The two sides finished 15th and 14th respectively last term with the visitors three points better off than their hosts.
We say: Bristol Rovers 2-1 Northampton Town
Both heading into the new season with fresh squads aiming to build on last season's mid-table finishes, we expect a hard-fought encounter at the Memorial Stadium on Saturday.
Bristol Rovers are arguably in a better position to launch a top-half bid this season under Taylor and should have enough to get over the line with home advantage on their side on the opening day.
> Click here to read our full preview for this match
Burton Albion vs. Lincoln (Saturday, 5.30pm)
© Imago
Burton Albion will get the 2024-25 League One campaign underway with a home clash against Lincoln City on Saturday.
The Brewers are competing in the third tier for a seventh consecutive season, while the Imps are appearing in the third tier for a sixth successive campaign.
We say: Burton Albion 1-1 Lincoln City
Lincoln avoided defeat in their final nine away games of the 2023-24 campaign, and we think they will extend that unbeaten streak by taking a point from their opening match of the new season.
> Click here to read our full preview for this match
Crawley vs. Blackpool (Saturday, 5.30pm)
![Neil Critchley manager of Blackpool applauds the travelling fans after the Pre-season friendly match Crewe Alexandra vs Blackpool at Alexandra Stadium, Crewe, United Kingdom, on August, 3 2024 [on August 8, 2024]](https://sm.imgix.net/24/32/neil-critchley.jpg?w=640&h=480&auto=compress,format&fit=clip "Neil Critchley manager of Blackpool applauds the travelling fans after the Pre-season friendly match Crewe Alexandra vs Blackpool at Alexandra Stadium, Crewe, United Kingdom, on August, 3 2024 [on August 8, 2024]")
© Imago
Recently-promoted Crawley Town's 2024-25 League One season is set to begin on Saturday, when they face Blackpool at Broadfield Stadium.
The home side finished seventh in League Two with 70 points from 46 games last term, but won the division's promotion playoffs, while the visitors finished eighth in League One with 73 points from 46 matches.
We say: Crawley Town 1-2 Blackpool
Although Crawley were capable of playing exciting football last season, their home record was not particularly strong in the second half of the 2023-24 campaign.
Blackpool will feel they can take advantage of this on Saturday, and if they can use their higher-level experience on the day, they could achieve victory.
> Click here to read our full preview for this match
Exeter vs. Rotherham (Saturday, 5.30pm)
© Reuters
Following their relegation from the Championship last term, Rotherham United will kick off life back in League One with a trip to Exeter City in their curtain-raiser on Saturday.
Steve Evans will aim to guide the Millers straight back up to England's second tier this term, while their hosts will aim to build on last season's 13th-placed finish.
We say: Exeter City 0-2 Rotherham United
While they face a tricky test on the road to start the season, Rotherham United head into the League One campaign with a squad packed with quality and experience at this level, and refreshed under the management of Steve Evans, we back them to kick off with three points on Saturday.
> Click here to read our full preview for this match
Leyton Orient vs. Bolton (Saturday, 5.30pm)
© Reuters
Leyton Orient and Bolton Wanderers return to competitive action with their opening fixture in League One on Saturday afternoon.
While the home side will be hoping to mount a playoff push, the visitors will be looking to bounce back from the disappointment of missing out on promotion in 2023-24.
We say: Leyton Orient 1-2 Bolton Wanderers
There is a cloud of uncertainty over how Bolton will perform this season given how close they came to a return to the second tier. Nevertheless, we must respect the quality that remains in the squad, leading us to predict a hard-fought victory.
> Click here to read our full preview for this match
Peterborough vs. Huddersfield (Saturday, 5.30pm)
© Reuters
Peterborough United and Huddersfield Town will both kick off their League One promotion bids on Saturday, when they square off at the Weston Homes Stadium in their third-tier curtain-raiser.
The hosts fell short in the playoffs for the second consecutive season last time around, while their visitors will fight to bounce straight back up to the Championship after suffering relegation last campaign.
We say: Peterborough United 1-1 Huddersfield Town
With two promotion-hopefuls kicking off their campaigns in a tough test, we anticipate a hard-fought encounter on Saturday and see a share of the spoils as the most likely outcome at the Weston Homes Stadium.
> Click here to read our full preview for this match
Stevenage vs. Shrewsbury (Saturday, 5.30pm)
© Reuters
In the opening matchday of the 2024-25 League One season, Stevenage will play host to Shrewsbury Town at The Lamex Stadium on Saturday with both aiming to get off to a winning start.
The hosts finished ninth last campaign, just five points outside of the playoff spots, while the visitors narrowly survived in the division with a four-point lead over the relegation zone.
We say: Stevenage 2-1 Shrewsbury Town
Shrewsbury may have made a number of signings to strengthen their side in an attempt to avoid a relegation battle, but the hosts have had a much better pre-season and should be aiming for a playoff spot this season, leading us to believe Stevenage will win this one.
> Click here to read our full preview for this match
Stockport vs. Cambridge (Saturday, 5.30pm)
© Reuters
Back in the third tier for the first time in over a decade, Stockport County will be hoping to commence their 2024-25 League One schedule with a win against Cambridge United at Edgeley Park on Saturday evening.
The Hatters were the standout performers in League Two last term and will be looking to continue that positive momentum, whilst the U's are back at this level for a fourth straight season and striving to produce their best performances and results.
We say: Stockport County 2-0 Cambridge United
In front of a buoyant home crowd on the opening weekend of the season, Stockport should be confident of earning maximum points against a side who are in transition under the leadership of Monk.
A possession-based style of play is set to have its teething issues for Cambridge, so we cannot envisage the visitors collecting a positive result on Saturday evening.
> Click here to read our full preview for this match
Wigan vs. Charlton (Saturday, 5.30pm)
© Reuters
In the opening round of fixtures in the 2024-25 League One campaign, Charlton Athletic will travel north to take on Wigan Athletic at the Brick Community Stadium on Saturday.
The teams were separated by nine points in the final table last term, with the hosts defying a points deduction to finish 12th while their visitors only steered clear of relegation in the final months of the campaign.
We say: Wigan Athletic 1-1 Charlton Athletic
Saturday's meeting promises to be an intriguing one between two ambitious sides keen to kick off their campaigns with a victory, and we cannot quite pick a winner, instead seeing a share of the spoils as the most likely outcome at the DW Stadium.
> Click here to read our full preview for this match
Wrexham vs. Wycombe (Saturday, 5.30pm)
© Imago
Newly promoted Wrexham will get their League One campaign underway when they welcome Wycombe Wanderers to Racecourse Ground on Saturday.
Wrexham are competing in the third tier for the first time since 2004-05, while the visitors are featuring in their fourth consecutive League One season.
We say: Wrexham 2-2 Wycombe Wanderers
Wrexham will be keen to kick off their long-awaited League One return with a win, but we think they will have to settle for a draw when they face a Wycombe side that are well established at this level of the English football pyramid.
