League One RABs & Specials Ahead of the 2023/24 Season

Here we take a look at some of Sky Bet's RequestABets and Specials ahead of the upcoming 2023/24 League One season.

Blackpool will be keen to show what they can do in League One following their relegation from the Championship last season. The Tangerines have re-appointed Neil Critchley who managed to earn them promotion from this division in the 2020/21 season via the play-offs as they finished in third place with 80 points.

Wycombe will be starting their first full season without Gareth Ainsworth in charge since the 2011/12 campaign. The Chairboys managed to finish 9th in League One last season with 69 points and will be looking to follow their progression plan through ex-player Matt Bloomfield.

Last season, Bolton Wanderers were beaten play-off semi-finalists having finished 5th on 81 points, a decent improvement from the 73 they managed in 2021/22. Ian Evatt will be keen to see his side earn promotion having managed to achieve promotion with the Trotters in 2020/21, as well as in 2019/20 with Barrow AFC.

Derby County will be expected to have a good season, especially with a lot more stability on the pitch heading into the new campaign. The Rams finished 7th last season, missing out on the play-off places by just one point.

Port Vale ended up finishing in 18th last season, however, they have invested in some decent players coming into the new season to push themselves further up the table, with the likes of Tom Sang, Conor Ripley, Jason Lowe, Alex Iacovitti and Conor Grant all joining the Valiants so far.

As previously mentioned, Blackpool will be one of the favourites for promotion, having managed this as recently as the 2020/21 season under Critchley.

Meanwhile, Barnsley were beaten play-off finalists last season following Josh Windass’ late header in extra time. The Tykes have managed to keep together the majority of their squad apart from Mads Andersen who has departed to go to Luton Town, meaning that there is a good chance that they will push for promotion once again having earned 86 points last campaign.

Charlton finished in 10th place last season and showed some good improvement under the management of Dean Holden. So far, the Addicks have recruited well, acquiring the likes of Harry Isted, Lloyd Jones and Alfie May, with more additions expected to arrive at The Valley.

Derby County will be expected to compete for promotion, especially with Paul Warne being able to have more of a say on the shape of his squad, having only arrived in late September 2022. The 50-year-old will be looking to earn his third promotion from League One during his managerial career and will also be hoping that his side can add to the 67 league goals they bagged last campaign.

Bolton managed to score 62 goals during 2022/23, a tally that Evatt will be aiming to improve on. The Trotters have added two new strikers to their ranks in the likes of Dan N’Lundulu from Southampton and Ben Andreucci of Leeds United.

Portsmouth will be expected to challenge for the play-off places this season having shown big improvements under John Mousinho. The Fratton Park club finished on 70 points last season and managed to find the back of the net 61 times, however, Pompey has added more firepower to their squad with the additions of Anthony Scully, Kusini Yengi, Christian Saydee and Gavin Whyte all joining this summer.

Last season, Derby finished on 76 league points in what was a tricky season for the Rams. In Paul Warne, they have a managed that knows how to earn promotion from League One, having managed this three times with Rotherham United. They have made some impressive additions to their squad, having signed the likes of Sonny Bradley, Conor Washington, Callum Elder and more.

Last season, Barnsley finished on 86 points, while Oxford United will be keen to improve on the 47 they accumulated last campaign, having earned 76 in 2021/22. Oxford have signed the likes of Ruben Rodrigues, Mark Harris, Jordan Thorniley and Josh McEachran in an attempt to rectify their woes from the 202/23 season.

Bristol Rovers finished on 53 points in 2022/23, a tally that Joey Barton will want to see his side improve on. The Pirates have made some interesting signings so far this summer, with the likes of George Friend, Jevani Brown, James Wilson and Luke Thomas all arriving at the Memorial Stadium.

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