The Sportsman's 2018/19 League One Predictions

Check out our Championship predictions here and our League Two predictions here.

Champions

Simon Lillicrap: Luton Town

Nathan Jones and his merry men were incredible in League Two last season and League One will suit their playing style more. The signing of Jorge Grant is huge and with the stability and team spirit they showed last season, I fully expect them to challenge for the title.

Steve Chambers: Portsmouth

Kenny Jackett's Portsmouth failed to make the play-offs last season, but they have recruited well and with Sunderland dominating the betting then there's some eye-catching value about 14/1 shots Pompey winning the title.

Russell Palmer: Burton Albion

Burton look a big price at 28/1 given they finished above Sunderland season and the positive trend on relegated teams to bounce straight back the following year.

Jack Porter: Charlton Athletic

Charlton Athletic to win it in style under Lee Bowyer in probably the best battle for a league title in the entire Football League. Though their hands have been tied by the club hierarchy in not being allowed as much expenditure, the favoured starting XI boosts the confidence of most Addicks fans when they read the team-sheet. Getting striker Lyle Taylor in from AFC Wimbledon is a very smart move and it wouldn’t be surprising to see him up and around contention for the Golden Boot come the end of the season.

Sean Raymond: Charlton Athletic

The Addicks enjoyed a good season last term, and look ready to kick on in the hunt for automatic promotion under Lee Bowyer, who has impressed so far at the Valley.

Chris Knight: Barnsley

Sunderland are far too short as 3/1 favourites and I prefer to take a chance on Barnsley, who have perhaps sneaked under the radar. The Tykes have a young side that will play an attacking brand of football under German manager Daniel Stendel.

Promoted

Simon: Barnsley & Charlton

Barnsley have amassed a talented squad and their relegation from the Championship has not rocked the boat too much. Kieffer Moore should score a truckload at this level.

Karl Robinson should be able to organise his Charlton outfit into a difficult side to play against and having lost in the play-offs last season, they should have learnt from their mistakes and can seal promotion.

Steve: Sunderland & Charlton

It's been a tough time for the Black Cats' fans, but they may finally have something to shout about this campaign, and they can chase Pompey all the way for League One glory under the stewardship of Jack Ross.

A mid-season blip hindered Charlton's chances of gaining automatic promotion last campaign, but they can shine once again in the third tier, and this time around they can make the Championship through the play-offs.

Russell: Sunderland & Luton

Sunderland are a really short price (3/1) to bounce straight back up and although they have new owners and a cleared doubt I'm happy to look elsewhere for some value when looking for a League One champion.

Luton meanwhile should also go well. Promoted teams have a great time of it in League One and Portsmouth and Plymouth narrowly missed out on a play-off spot last year. Four teams have secured back to back promotions in recent years and Luton are best set up to follow suit this year and at 16/1 look another solid each-way play.

JP: Sunderland & Luton

The bookies favourite to win the division outright, Sunderland will go up under 17/18 Scottish Manager of the Year Jack Ross but- shock call- without the title. Luton Town are also spoken about as being in the mix, and Nathan Jones getting Jorge Grant on loan from Forest is a shrewd acquisition. Luton play Portsmouth on the opening weekend, and though it will be far too early to declare anything outright, the winner of the tie should look to capitalise on this initial advantage over a likely play-off rival.

Sean: Portsmouth & Scunthorpe

Pompey have settled the ship in recent times having slumped into League To at the height of their troubles and this could be a big year for them. Kenny Jackett is an experienced Manager at this level and will be planning an assault on automatic promotion.

Scunny missed out on promotion via the play-offs last season and they will be eager to put that right at the first time of asking. Nick Daws is in the hot seat on a permanent basis now and he will be eyeing up a place in the Championship with his talented squad of players.

Chris: Charlton & Peterborough

I really enjoyed watching Charlton play last year and they came on nicely under Lee Bowyer before falling short in the play-off semi-finals. Should go close again.

Steve Evans has been busy in the transfer market this summer and Posh will provide plenty of entertainment. This could be their year.

Four Relegated Teams

Simon: Walsall, Blackpool, Gillingham & Shrewsbury

This is incredibly difficult with four teams to go down. Walsall are nailed on with a poor squad they seem to get weaker every season. Blackpool with all their issues and loan signings should join them along with Gillingham under Steve Lovell, who are just behind the mid-table pack in my opinion

The final team to go down for me is Shrewsbury. This may seem a surprise pick given their third-place finish last season but there has been utter turmoil at the club with a whole host of departures including manager Paul Hurst. Although I rate new gaffer John Askey, this could be a stretch for him and the Shrews could be in for a tough one.

Steve: Walsall, Wimbledon, Rochdale & Wycombe

Two points away from the drop last year, Walsall can struggle again in the 2018-19 campaign, and they are destined to end the season on the foot of the table. Another side that had plenty more lows than highs last season, and Wimbledon can suffer relegation from League One, as they will find themselves off the pace from the start.

A fine end to last season helped Rochdale maintain their status in the third tier, but they may find it tough to build on last season's 20th place finish. Promoted from League Two last season, Wycombe Wanderers will hope to kick on in League One, but Gareth Ainsworth's side may just come up short when trying to maintain their third-tier status.

Russell: Walsall, Gillingham, Rochdale & Shrewsbury

Accrington and Wycombe head the market to go down but no promoted team has made an immediate return to League Two over the last six seasons which means there's value to be found elsewhere.

In a competitive market, I expect some massive regression for Shrewsbury who played such a blinder last year despite being favourites for the drop. The Shrews have lost their manager and a host of key players and at 7/1 they could really struggle this year. Joining them are perennial strugglers Gillingham who have sailed close to the wind in the two seasons since their promotion from League Two. Walsall look like a solid play at 2/1 and have been on a slow decline since Dean Smith's departure a couple of seasons ago, surviving the drop by just two points last season.

The fourth selection is a bigger price at 9/2 in Rochdale, who scraped home by one point last season and although Keith Hill has a way of getting things done it could be another rough ride for their supporters.

JP: Rochdale, Accrington, Wycombe & Coventry

Rochdale have got to go down this year haven’t they? Also, because I don’t reckon Bury’s chances to come straight back up, I want another chance to go to the derby next year.

Marc McNulty’s complete rejection of Coventry City to go to Reading will leave the Midlands club in a bit of a pickle. It’s quite likely to see the Sky Blues sinking back into the sewage despite the positivity of their highest league position in half a century achieved last year as the bubble prepares to burst.

Accrington Stanley don’t have the squad to cope with a more difficult league. And chuck Wycombe Wanderers in there too.

Sean: Walsall, Gillingham, Wimbledon & Accrington

Walsall just survived last season and not too much optimism at the Bescott Stadium heading into the new campaign. Could be time for them to head into League Two. It was an amazing achievement for Accrington to get into League One for the first time in their history but they could be outclassed at this level.

AFC Wimbledon had a near miss with the drop zone last term lead to wholesale changes for the dons over the summer and the feeling is that they will once again struggle to compete. Another team who flirted with relegation last season, The Gills now look ready to take that flirtation to the next level thanks to a wafer-thin looking squad. Bye bye Gillingham.

Chris: Walsall, Wimbledon, Accrington & Shrewsbury

Walsall would be my 'banker' for the division unfortunately. Difficult to see how they will cope following the departure of playmaker Erhun Oztumer to Bolton and I fear they are on a slippery slope towards League Two.

Shrewsbury will struggle to repeat their heroics of last season now that Paul Hurst has departed for Ipswich. Overachieved last term and could struggle this time around. AFC Wimbledon only finished six points clear of relegation in May and must cope with the loss of last season's top scorer, Lyle Taylor, who has joined Charlton. An epic struggle awaits.

Finally, Accrington Stanley made an impressive effort to gain promotion but a limited squad will do well to survive. They are favourites for the drop with bookmakers for a reason.

Golden Boot winner

Simon: Brett Pitman

A collection of excellent strikers fill this league but how can you back against someone who scored 22 league goals last season. Pitman will be Pompey's main man and although he will be challenged by Kieffer Moore and Luton’s Danny Hylton, he should win this.

Steve: Brett Pitman

With 22 goals last season seeing him finish in second place behind Jack Marriott of Peterborough in the race for top scorer, Brett Pitman can go one better this season and win the League One golden boot, and he is a deserved favourite.

Russell: Ched Evans

Brett Pitman is fav in this market, I saw a lot of him at Bournemouth where he was really good at this level. He's not blessed pace and a few years older, at single-figure prices I'll look to Ched Evans instead at Fleetwood. 28/1, Evans has a point to prove and in his pomp was too good for this level.

JP: John Marquis

John Marquis from Doncaster Rovers to regain his scoring boots. The joint-top scorer in League Two two years ago, a more modest return was on the cards in Donny’s arrival back in the higher division. Still, 40 league goals in two years is astonishing for the 26-year-old, who’s still to hit his peak.

Sean: Brett Pitman

A top class and experienced striker at this level who will once again be in the goals for Pompey. Scored 22 last term and with Portsmouth in good shape for the season, he could go past that tally this term.

Chris: Jason Cummings

Peterborough will hope that Cummings can fill the void that has been left by Jack Marriott's move to Derby and the 22-year-old should thrive in an attack-minded Posh team.

Surprise Package

Simon: Coventry City

Right. I’m not being biased here but the Sky Blues are set to have a decent season. Having lost Marc McNulty they need to find another goalscorer before the transfer window shuts but the rest of the team looks seriously promising. They could push for a play-off place.

Steve: Luton Town

Second to Accrington Stanley in League Two last season, Luton Town are set to improve again and with such firepower at their disposal they can push towards a play-off spot, and may even have an outside chance of finishing in the top-four.

Russell: Burton Albion

At 28/1 Burton would be a surprise, so I'll stick with them.

JP: Bradford City

Eyebrows were raised when the Bantams appointed the 32 year-old Michael Collins. This is a mahusive throw of the dice and picking them as a surprise package could swing drastically in either direction. Tyrell Robinson should follow up on his fantastic first year at the club and nephew of Clarence, Sherwin Seedorf has arrived on loan from Wolves.

Sean: Coventry City

Coventry are riding the crest of a wave following their promotion from League Two and a place in the top half of the table is not out of the question for the Sky Blues. Mark Robins has worked wonders at the Ricoh and they look a settled squad heading back into the third tier of English football.

Chris: Southend United

Narrowly missed out on the play-offs last term and I'm desperate for Chris Powell to be successful. They collected 32 points after Powell was appointed in January and they can continue on an upward curve with a full pre-season under their belts. Should be play-off contenders.

Manager of the year

Simon: Nathan Jones

Pretty simple for me this one. Jones should be leading a promotion charge and should receive plaudits for doing so with a newly-promoted side.

Steve: Kenny Jackett

I am certainly putting all my eggs in one Portsmouth-shaped basket, so why not continue on the Pompey bandwagon, and go with Kenny Jackett to be named League One Manager of the Year.

Russell: Nigel Clough

Obviously!

JP: Jack Ross

Bringing some Light back to the Stadium. Rejected Ipswich to stop the rot at Sunderland and the 12th manager in 10 years could provide some much-needed stability on Tyneside.

Sean: Kenny Jackett

Kenny Jackett has just about seen it all when it comes to the lower leagues and his Portsmouth side are ready to challenge for promotion. Jackett is the cool hand Pompey need on the tiller as they get ready for a massive season.

Chris: Chris Powell

Got Southend playing well when he took over earlier this year and a top-six finish would be a huge success in what is a ridiculously competitive division.