The Panel's Football League Tips: Tom Lee's Double For Saturday

Tom Lee's Panel Tips For Saturday, December 14:

• Tom Lee's Panel Tip 1: Walsall To Beat Barrow - 17/20 With William Hill
• Tom Lee's Panel Tip 2: Blackburn Rovers To Beat Luton Town - 6/5 With Ladbrokes

Walsall Vs Barrow, Saturday 3pm

Storm Darragh put the boot into last Saturday's opportunity to oppose goal-shy Barrow, but there'll be no such excuses for the misfiring Cumbrians to hide behind this weekend, as a 166-mile road trip to League Two leaders Walsall looms.

The Bescot Stadium has been good for the home side, with the Saddlers moving into top spot after home victories against Bradford, Carlisle, Colchester and Notts County. 

Mat Sadler's side have also been good away from home, returning with maximum points from seemingly tough visits to the likes of Salford, Grimsby, Wimbledon and the then leaders Port Vale.

Put that all together and you've got a side playing with confidence, enjoying life and scoring plenty of goals.

In particular, those goals coming from on-loan Stoke man Nathan Lowe, as well as the highly-experienced Jamille Matt, the latter getting the vital winner at Vale Park only seven days ago. 

Unsurprisingly their goals for tally of 34 is the best in the fourth tier at present. There have been blips along the way, such as the 6-2 defeat to Fleetwood at the start of October.

Since then, however, they've well and truly got their act together, taking 18 points from an available 24 since October 19. Are three more in the offing in their last home game before Christmas?

It certainly looks an attractive proposition with confidence surging and the West Midlands men top the table and armed with a game in hand over chasers Vale and Doncaster.

As detailed in this space a week ago, since my visit to Barrow in early October, the Holker Street outfit have been in freefall, and now languish in 13th place. 

In comparison, having mentioned Walsall's points tally since mid-October, in the identical period, Barrow have strung together a miserable run, taking just four points from their last seven games, scoring just five times. 

Away from home they've found it particularly tough as the days have become shorter, managing just two points from their last six away games. 

Boss Stephen Clemence would surely love one more, but I doubt he'll get it. 

Walsall are a standout 17/20 on football betting sites to continue their excellent recent work and secure victory at home to Barrow.

Tom Lee's Panel Tip 1: Walsall To Beat Barrow - 17/20 With William Hill

Blackburn Rovers Vs Luton Town, Saturday 3pm

Looking north for the second leg of this EFL double, it would be an understatement to suggest lots has happened at Ewood Park since Blackburn Rovers won the Premier League in 1995. 

The sight of Alan Shearer hoisting the Premier League trophy into the Lancashire sky may be fading, but fast forward to now and their current crop aren't making a bad fist of things in the Championship.

They have to be serious contenders for a return to the top flight. John Eustace's side haven't conceded a goal in their last four matches, thanks to the strong central defensive pairing of Dominic Hyam and the vastly-experienced Danny Batth. 

Those clean sheets are part of a five-game winning sequence which has seen Rovers defeat both Leeds and Middlesbrough to nil, propelling themselves up to fifth in the table. 

At home, they've been solid, taking 19 points from a possible 27. They have overcome an early November blip, which saw back-to-back home losses to Sheffield United and Stoke City.

Those defeats aside, there is a lot to like about this Blackburn unit, unlike their visitors this Saturday afternoon, the stuttering and stumbling Luton Town.

The Hatters' relegation hangover shows no sign of abating and a goal difference of -12 is symptomatic of their current league position of 15th, just five points above the drop zone. 

This time 12 months ago, Luton were beating the mighty Newcastle United. Now they must seriously be considering if they'll be playing the likes of Bristol Rovers, Crawley and Stevenage in League One next season.

That's not to say it's been all doom and gloom at Kenilworth Road. Tuesday night's last gasp win at home to Stoke provided some early Christmas cheer. 

Talisman Elijah Adebayo popped up with a 90th-minute winner to ease at least some anxieties. They may return quite quicky though, given how bad Luton's away form is.

In six games since the end of September, Rob Edwards' side conceded 20 goals away from home, notably caving in 5-1 at Middlesbrough and 4-2 at Norwich. 

Four points from a possible 27 on their travels isn't a great launchpad for trying to contain a buoyant Blackburn side.

Back Rovers at 6/5 on betting apps for the home win.

Tom Lee's Panel Tip 2: Blackburn Rovers To Beat Luton Town - 6/5 With Ladbrokes

Tom's double on Walsall and Blackburn to win pays out at just over 3/1 with William Hill