There are a couple of matches in League 2 on Tuesday night with the four sides in action all playing important and potentially significant games in hand.
The matches come from Brisbane Road and the Globe Arena as Leyton Orient host Newport and Morecambe welcome Mansfield.
Leyton Orient got Kevin Nolan’s reign off to a fast start on Saturday when they went to Wycombe and turned them over in fine style and it will be interesting to see if that was a flash in the pan or the start of something positive for the O’s.
They will need to be smart in this game because Newport have started life under Warren Feeney with a couple of good results. On paper a 2-2 draw with Dagenham on Saturday doesn’t look fantastic but from 2-0 down early on they will have taken it.
Orient are still a little short for me. I’ve thought all season they’ve been overrated. I might change my view if Nolan gets another win or two but I need to see that happen first. I was going to take the overs in this match but I noted that Nolan said he wanted to be tighter at the back and while there might still be goals in this given the league positions of both sides I am put off by that statement.
The other match looks an interesting one. Morecambe had a good unbeaten run ended on Saturday when they lost at the leaders Northampton while Mansfield’s mini wobble continued when Luton turned up to Field Mill and turned them over so both will be looking to get back on track here.
I don’t think losing to Northampton is a shameful result. They look a side in a good groove right now and have taken better sides than Morecambe to the cleaners but the fact Morecambe scored last in that game when the match was long gone shows they have a good spirit and no lack of confidence.
Mansfield manager Adam Murray was quite scathing about his players after the defeat against Luton. I saw that game and it looked a flat performance from them but Luton were well organised and shut down any space and looked threatening on the counter attack.
In fairness Mansfield’s defence didn’t look great and Luton could easily have had a couple more goals but for a couple of fine saves so that will give Morecambe encouragement but I don’t think Morecambe have the ability to be as organised as Luton were against Mansfield so I see goals in this match.
Four of Morecambe’s last six have had over 2.5 goals with the other two having two exactly while prior to Saturday Mansfield’s last three all sailed over. Between them these two have kept one clean sheet in their last 12 matches so the likelihood of goals is high here. They’ve met six times in the past with four of them having more than 2.5 goals so I like the overs here.
Back Morecambe vs Mansfield – Over 2.5 goals for a 4/10 stake at 1.95 with Bet365
Spot on !