The crazy schedule to start the Skybet League 2 season means that there is another round of fixtures on Tuesday night. All 24 sides are in action and looking to get three vital points. I’ve mentioned in all my previews how wide open I believe this division will be this season. That is evidenced in the fact that just two games in nobody has a 100% record anymore.
Tuesday’s fixtures are as follows: (7.45pm kick off unless stated)
Carlisle v Cheltenham
Colchester v Grimsby
Crewe v Hartlepool
Doncaster v Cambridge
Exeter v Crawley
Leyton Orient v Stevenage
Luton v Newport
Mansfield v Yeovil
Morecambe v Portsmouth
Notts County v Plymouth
Wycombe v Accrington
Barnet v Blackpool 20:00
Given that this is the fourth match of the season in just 10 days for these sides squad depth is going to come into play here so this isn’t the card to go mad on.
Big Matches
There are nine sides on four points after their two matches and two of the games in this fixture list pitches a couple of those teams together. Mansfield and Yeovil both have a win and a draw to their names as do Crewe and Hartlepool and the winners of those matches will push themselves right towards the top.
Best of the Rest
Having seen off Blackpool at the weekend Morecambe will hope to touch off a second former Premier League side in the space of four days when they play Portsmouth. Doncaster and Cambridge were expected to go well at the beginning of the season and they meet at the Keepmoat while leaders Luton will be looking for a first home win when they host Newport. Notts County vs Plymouth is already an interesting match even this early in the campaign.
Betting
We’re gradually getting towards having seen these sides enough to get stronger feels about them but I’m still treading kind of carefully but there are still three bets I like. I’ll start by taking the team that served me well on Saturday which is Carlisle.
They play host to Cheltenham on Tuesday night and the first thing to mention is Cheltenham’s long journey which is never ideal in midweek but their squad isn’t going to be the strongest in depth coming up from the Conference so they might be at their limit heading into this one.
One of the reasons why I backed Carlisle to win the league was the strength of their squad and I’m not surprised they are one of the plethora of sides on four points already. The additions that Keith Curle made in pre-season ensures they have enough bodies to rest whoever needs resting and keep everyone fresh and that can lead to a win.
Anyone who followed me in this division last season will know I never once rated Leyton Orient and guess what? I still don’t and I’m happy to take them on in their home match against Stevenage. Stevenage held Notts County on Saturday but listening to their manager on the radio on my way home from the Luton game he was miffed that they only took a point.
Leyton Orient changed manager in the close season and had a few high profile players leave, one of them being Jobi McAnuff who went to Stevenage so the visitors will have a spy in the camp, and Orient haven’t really shown much yet this season so I can’t be having them at odds on. I fancied Stevenage to improve this season and they can show that here.
Exeter vs Crawley isn’t the sort of match that would normally interest me at this stage of the season but with Exeter’s injury crisis it has to now. Crawley are among the sides on four points so they have started the season well and will be confident heading down to Devon.
Exeter are missing seven first team players and in the middle of a brutal run of matches like they are on that isn’t good. That means they could well tire as this match goes on, if they are not tired to begin with, and that plays into Crawley’s hands. I’ll take them on a handicap with a small punt on them to win too.
Tips
Back Carlisle to beat Cheltenham for a 4/10 stake at 2.10 with William Hill
Back them here:
Back Stevenage (+0.75AH) to beat Leyton Orient for a 4/10 stake at 1.82 with 188bet
WON – Back Crawley (+0.5AH) to beat Exeter for a 4/10 stake at 2.05 with 188bet
Back them here:
WON – Back Crawley to beat Exeter for a 1/10 stake at 4.50 with Betfred
Back them here:
Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2016
