Skybet League Two – Saturday 2nd January Betting Preview

Weather permitting there is a full round of League 2 fixtures to be played on Saturday, the opening set of games of the New Year and among them are some good games but more importantly some good betting opportunities for us to get stuck into.

Saturday’s fixtures are as follows:

Bristol Rovers v Luton

Cambridge v Wimbledon

Carlisle v Plymouth

Exeter v Dag & Red

Mansfield v Accrington

Newport P-P Hartlepool

Northampton v Barnet

Notts County v Oxford Utd

Portsmouth v Crawley

Stevenage v Leyton Orient

Wycombe v Morecambe

Yeovil v York

In amongst that lot there are some nasty journeys to be endured with the likes of Hartlepool heading to Newport, Plymouth up to Carlisle and York down to Yeovil and at this time of year I’ll leave those matches alone. In fairness they all look pretty close anyway so we’re not missing out on much there.

I saw Portsmouth with my own eyes on Monday and I have to say I wasn’t that impressed with them but Crawley are no great shakes so I can’t take them on again. Oxford lost some appeal when Notts County sacked their manager while Stevenage have stumbled over Christmas which is annoying as Orient are always worth taking on.

I thought long and hard about taking Dagenham & Redbridge at Exeter. John Still is back at the helm for the Daggers and they won at Stevenage on Monday but I’m not sure they are totally trustworthy. Exeter’s eyes will be on their big game on Friday night so that has to be a negative but there isn’t quite enough in Dagenham’s price to lure me in.

In the end I’m going with two bets in this set of fixtures, both on home sides and both what I consider to be very good prices.

The first of those is Cambridge to beat AFC Wimbledon. Cambridge did me a turn on Monday when they saw off Barnet here and I’ve no idea how they are so big here. That win extended their form to five wins from their last six matches and the U’s are going along nicely under Shaun Derry.

AFC Wimbledon won on Monday but that was their first win in eight matches and came against an Exeter side who are going through a bit of a rough trot so I’m not even sure there was a whole lot in that win. The Dons are no more than a mid-table side at the end of the day.

I like Cambridge with the form they are in here. Before the season began their signings were of a strength that should have them in or around the playoffs this season and they are finally living up to that billing. They can continue that here.

The other bet sees Northampton taking on Barnet at Sixfields. Northampton lost to Portsmouth in their last but one match here but Barnet are no Portsmouth on the road and I’m expecting the Cobblers to get the job done here.

Barnet picked up a few wins around Christmas but were beaten at Cambridge last week and it takes more than a win over Crawley and Newport to convince me they are worth avoiding. Northampton are a good side at this level and odds against on them at home can’t be ignored.

Back Cambridge (0AH) to beat AFC Wimbledon for a 4/10 stake at 1.94 with Unibet

Back Northampton to beat Barnet for a 4/10 stake at 2.05 with Betfred