There is another full set of League 2 fixtures on Saturday as this intriguing division has another chapter written on its season and issues at the top, the playoffs and the bottom might become a little clearer throughout the course of the day.
Saturday’s fixtures are as follows:
Accrington v Plymouth
Bristol Rovers v Mansfield
Exeter v Carlisle
Hartlepool v Dag & Red
Luton v Crawley
Morecambe v Wimbledon
Northampton v Cambridge
Oxford Utd v Leyton Orient
Portsmouth v Newport
Wycombe v Stevenage
Yeovil v Notts County
York v Barnet
At the bottom it is a huge day for the basement three as bottom placed Dagenham & Redbridge go to Hartlepool, the side just above the relegation zone and who John Still’s men are trying to chase down while York host Barnet. There is a case to be made for backing both away sides in those matches but they’re down there for a reason ie they’re not very good so I’ll tentatively leave them alone.
I’m tempted to back Luton for the second home game in a row but they just give too much heartache to justify a solid punt at odds on even though I think they will win. The fact they’ve not scored a first half goal at home in 2016 eliminates any value there could have been on them really.
Looking more at the top of the table and two out of form sides meet at the Wham Stadium as Accrington host Plymouth. It looks like the Accrington slide I was predicting six weeks or so ago has finally arrived and I would fancy Plymouth there but they’ve lost their consistency.
If I was judging the Oxford vs Leyton Orient game on what I saw from the O’s last week I’d be all over Oxford but I’ve mentioned before how they don’t go as well at home so that is another game easily left alone while Portsmouth are too short even against Newport. Each time you think they’ve cracked it this season they’ve found a way to go back into their shell.
Exeter look to be building a late charge for the playoffs and they face another playoff contender in Carlisle. But for the ridiculous journey for Carlisle that looks an even game. I guess with that journey you’d have to fancy Exeter but not strongly enough for a punt while Wimbledon should beat Morecambe but they go there with no form whatsoever.
There are three bets I like in this set of matches and the first comes on the one side in the playoffs who look to be putting a run together to make sure they’ll be at the end of season jamboree in Bristol Rovers. They host a Mansfield side who look to have found the going a little too good for them this season.
Rovers had a very good win over Wimbledon in midweek and are in excellent form at home at the present time. They’ve won four and drawn the other in their last five games at the Memorial and look to be a side finishing the season well.
Mansfield are just rocking a touch now and won’t be helped by the five game ban given to Adi Yussuf for urinating in public at Plymouth. The Stags are now without a win in three on the road and all things being equal I think they are set for a fourth straight road trip without a win.
I’ve kept my powder dry on the leaders Northampton for a week or two but I’m back on that particular train this weekend as they host a Cambridge side who I was surprised to hear have a manager under pressure in Shaun Derry.
When things seemed to be content under the lunatic that is Richard Money it is strange that Derry is getting stick but that is modern football and Northampton can take full advantage of that.
The Cobblers had a couple of draws recently which by their form in this division since the turn of the year was amazing in its own right but they got back on the horse in style last week and I’ll back them to maintain that good form.
Cambridge are lacking a bit of consistency and seem to struggle against the better sides in the division at the minute. They’ve lost three of their last five away from home and the way Northampton have dominated the division it would be a big surprise if that doesn’t become four defeats in six.
Lastly I don’t really get how Yeovil are such a price in their match at home to Notts County. It took Yeovil a while to get going this season but with three wins in a row and just one defeat in their last nine they are up to full speed and finishing the season with a flourish.
Notts County have never got going this season and they’ve even stopped stuttering now. They look in absolute freefall having lost four of their last five with the only respite a goalless draw with Dagenham which isn’t saying a lot. They also lost at York just prior to that run too.
Things are as bad off the field as they are on it for County. They’ve been put up for sale and you just sense they’re a club in an overall slump. I expect Yeovil to take full advantage of that here.
WON – Back Bristol Rovers to beat Mansfield for a 4/10 stake at 1.95 with William Hill
Back them here:
Back Northampton to beat Cambridge for a 4/10 stake at 1.95 with Bet365
Back them here:
WON – Back Yeovil (-0.25AH) to beat Notts County for a 5/10 stake at 2.13 with Pinnacle Sports
Back them here:
