League One top goalscorer contenders for this season
As we approach the ten game landmark in League One, here are our contenders to be top goalscorer. Will Alex Jones be in the running?
Many League One fans already know is that the league is thrilling to bet on, whether it’s who will win the league outright or on which undiscovered talent or footballing journeyman will win that season’s scoring title. Here are some of League One top goalscoring contenders for this season:
Ian Henderson – Rochdale
Two seasons ago, Rochdale’s Ian Henderson netted 22 goals, good enough for second place in all of League One. Last season, his strike rate dropped off slightly but he still scored 13 times despite missing a number of games.
The 31-year old is getting into the twilight of his career, but already in 2016/17 he has made it clear his form isn’t going anywhere, scoring four times in ten matches across all competitions. And for what it’s worth, Henderson loves playing for The Dale – last Autumn he signed a two-year extension with the club and stated he wants to finish his career there and eventually retire in the area.
Ian Henderson image: Joe Vitale Wikipedia, reproduced under Creative Commons License
David Ball – Fleetwood Town
Fleetwood Town’s David Ball has already matched his scoring form from last season, scoring four times in seven games. A Man City youth product, Ball made global headlines in 2015 for his goal against Preston North End that earned him a FIFA Puskas Award nomination.
One caveat with Ball is that Fleetwood likes to spread their scoring around. However if that were going to change this season, then it would most likely be Ball carrying the scoring load.
Steve Morison – Millwall
Millwall’s Steve Morison scored 16 goals last season and picked up right where he left off this campaign. His four goals in seven games so far give him 16/1 odds of being the scoring leader at the end of the year. Just to mention these odds can change and different online gambling sports books have various odds so do look out for which UK sites can give you the best odds for sports betting.
The former Wales international’s side lost in the play-off final to Barnsley last season, but that squad remains mostly intact and should score something near the 73 goals (third best in the league) they did that campaign, with Morison leading the way.
Steve Morison image: joshjdss Flickr, reproduced under Creative Commons License
Alex Jones – Port Vale
On loan from Birmingham, Alex Jones’ spell at Port Vale has gotten off to a rousing start. Already he’s scored five goals in eight matches, including two braces and a late winner that preserved The Valiants perfect home record in the young season.
Jones was so under the radar Jones that Sky still doesn’t list betting odds for him to be the top scorer. Vale was pegged by most pundits to be relegation candidates at the start of the season, but as they continue to fight and remain in contention for the top six, expect Jones’ name to become a household one in Stoke-on-Trent and perhaps bey.
Billy Sharp – Sheffield United
At 6/1, Billy Sharp was Sky’s odds-on-favorite to be League One’s top scorer at the beginning of 2015/16. Last season’s fourth-leading scorer with 21 goals, Sharp looks like he will continue to be the man at Sheffield, having scored four times in his first eight appearances.
It was thought that the addition of Leon Clarke may dilute Sharp’s goal-scoring opportunities, but Clarke has been battling injury. With Sharp continuing to establish himself as a scoring machine with or without Clarke, and with Sheffield having a respectable enough start (13 points from the first eight matches), manager Chris Wilder could be hesitant to mix things up.
Josh Morris – Scunthorpe United
Your scoring leader through the first 17% or so of the season is Scunthorpe’s Josh Morris. The Preston-native already has accumulated seven goals and plays for the side currently atop the table in goals, points, and goal difference.
The former Premier League player (who made six appearances with Blackburn) is still at 16/1 odds with Sky, a value that will only decrease as Josh Morris increases his own transfer value.
