It might be FA Cup weekend again but League 2 stops for nothing these days and as such there are more matches in the basement division on Saturday. With the likes of Wycombe, Blackpool and Accrington in the cup it is a truncated fixture list for us to tackle this weekend.
Saturday’s matches are as follows:
Carlisle United v Barnet
Crewe Alexandra v Cheltenham Town
Luton Town v Cambridge United
Mansfield Town v Leyton Orient
Newport County v Hartlepool United
Notts County v Crawley Town
Portsmouth v Exeter City
Stevenage v Grimsby Town
Yeovil Town v Doncaster Rovers
Big Matches
The leaders Doncaster Rovers are in action on Saturday. They head to Huish Park to take on a Yeovil side who are dropping like a stone. Third placed Carlisle are another side who have dipped in form. They host Barnet in arguably the match of the day. Portsmouth welcome Exeter to Fratton Park in the other big match.
Best of the Rest
Away from the automatic promotion battle two sides with their eyes on the playoffs meet as Luton host Cambridge Utd at Kenilworth Road. The bottom two are also playing on Saturday. Newport host Hartlepool while Crawley at the visitors to Notts County.
Betting
There are two bets I like on Saturday and they are both away sides. Stevenage ended a run of eight home matches without a win when they won their last match at the Lamex but I’m not convinced beating Newport is much of a form guide so I can’t take them as turning the corner on that.
Grimsby are a good side on the road. They have already beaten Luton, Plymouth and Carlisle away from home this season and Stevenage are nowhere near as strong as those teams. Omar Bogle is still around which is very much a positive and he can lead the Mariners to another road success.
Exeter have been the best side in the division away from home this season and they head to a Portsmouth side who have flattered to deceive at home all campaign. Portsmouth have only won one of their last seven home matches by more than one goal and when I saw them at Fratton Park earlier in the month there was a certain nervousness about them which Exeter are perfect to explore.
Exeter play with a refreshing freedom and have now gone nine matches without defeat in the league. In that run they have four wins and a draw away from home where they seem to express themselves much more. They won at Fratton Park last season and I think they can come away with a result here too.
Tips
Back Grimsby (+0.25AH) to beat Stevenage for a 5/10 stake at 1.82 with BetVictor
WON – Back Exeter (+0.75AH) to beat Portsmouth for a 4/10 stake at 1.84 with BetVictor
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