Can the Hatters triumph at home again?
Luton Town v Mansfield Town
Luton are 19/20 favourites for victory with the Football League sponsors ahead of Saturday’s Sky Bet League 2 clash against Mansfield. The away side are available at 18/5 to claim all three points at Kenilworth Road, while the draw is priced at 5/2. Luton suffered their fourth league defeat of the season when beaten 1-0 at Burton last weekend and Mansfield are 10/1 to inflict the same loss on John Still’s side, while 1-0 to Luton and the 1-1 draw are joint-favourite correct scores at 5/1. Mark Cullen has claimed eight league goals already this term and the Luton forward is 7/2 favourite to open the scoring, with Mansfield’s Matt Rhead 15/2 in the same market.
Top Tip: Luton to win ‘to nil’ (eg 1-0, 2-0, 3-0 etc) 9/4
Accrington Stanley v Exeter City
Accrington host Exeter in Friday’s night only match in Sky Bet League 2. Stanley are the 7/5 favourites to claim victory, visitors Exeter can be backed at 19/10 and the draw is priced up at 23/10. Accrington have won their previous four home matches on the spin but will have to be wary of an Exeter side that beat promotion contenders Shrewsbury 3-2 in their last outing. Tom Nichols has scored three goals in the Grecians’ previous two games and the forward jointly sits at the top of the first goalscorer market at 11/2. Accrington duo Kai Naismith and James Gray are also available to back at 11/2.
Top tip: Tom Nichols to score first at 11/2
AFC Wimbledon v Cambridge United
AFC Wimbledon and Cambridge both have 24 points from 18 Sky Bet League 2 games so far this season so it could be close when the teams meet on Saturday. Hosts AFC Wimbledon are Sky Bet’s 7/5 favourites for the win, Cambridge can be supported at 19/10 and the draw is a 23/10 shot. The Dons are unbeaten in their last eight home games with Matt Tubbs netting a double in the 3-1 success against York last time out at Kingsmeadow. Tubbs is the favourite alongside his strike partner Adebayo Akinfenwa at 9/2 to net first this weekend. Kwesi Appiah is the top Cambridge contender at 5/1.
Top tip: Matt Tubbs and Kwesi Appiah both to score at 5/1
Bury v Dagenham and Redbridge
Bury are the 4/7 favourites to beat Dagenham despite seeing their seven-match winning run at the JD Stadium in Sky Bet League 2 ended by defeat to Newport last weekend. Dagenham are the outsiders at 9/2 for the three points but spirits have been raised by last Saturday’s 4-2 victory over Carlisle. That result ended a seven-game winless run for the Daggers. Ashley Chambers scored twice in the win against the Cumbrians and he’s a tempting 25/1 to net another double. Bury striker Ryan Lowe is the 7/2 favourite in the first goalscorer betting with veteran striker Jamie Cureton acting as Dagenham’s top contender at 7/1.
Top tip: Ashley Chambers to score twice at 25/1
Carlisle United v Newport County
There’s nothing to split Carlisle and Newport with Sky Bet ahead of Saturday’s League 2 clash. Both sides are priced up at 13/8 for the win with the draw available as a 23/10 option. Carlisle lost 4-2 at Dagenham last time out but are in better form at home with four victories from their last five matches at Brunton Park. Newport claimed an impressive 3-1 win at Bury in their previous outing but it was four games without a victory prior to that success at the JD Stadium. Both teams have scored in Newport’s last five matches and you can back that sequence to extend to six contests at 8/11.
Top tip: Both teams to score at 8/11
Cheltenham Town v Oxford United
New Cheltenham manager Paul Buckle starts his time in charge of the Robins with a clash against Oxford at the Abbey Business Stadium. Sky Bet can’t split the two sides with both Cheltenham and Oxford available to back at 13/8 for the win. The draw is a 9/4 shot. Buckle takes control of the Robins after two heavy defeats in a row – 4-1 at home to Wycombe and 5-1 away at Stevenage. Oxford are in better form with boss Michael Appleton hoping the U’s can build on a three-match unbeaten run. Danny Hylton of Oxford is Sky Bet League 2’s top goalscorer so it’s no surprise to see the forward as the 9/2 favourite in the first goalscorer betting. Terry Gornell and Byron Harrison can’t be split as the top two Cheltenham contenders at 11/2.
Top tip: Byron Harrison and Danny Hylton both to score at 11/2
Hartlepool United v Wycombe Wanderers
Sky Bet League 2 leaders Wycombe are the 6/5 favourites to return with three points from their long trip to bottom-of-the-table Hartlepool on Saturday. Struggling Pools can be backed at 23/10 for the victory and the draw is available at the same price. Wycombe have won their previous three away games in a row, including the impressive 4-1 win at Cheltenham last time out. Things don’t look as good for Hartlepool with no three-point haul in their last six League 2 matches. Wycombe striker Paul Hayes heads the first goalscorer betting at 4/1. The top two Hartlepool players in the market are Jonathan Franks and Marlon Harewood at 7/1.
Top tip: Jonathan Franks and Paul Hayes both to score at 13/2
Plymouth Argyle v York City
Plymouth head into Saturday’s game with York as 6/5 favourites to pick up all three points. The Minstermen are 23/10 for the win, with the draw offered at 9/4 by Football League sponsors Sky Bet. Argyle’s last six home league matches have ended in victories to nil and John Sheridan’s side, who currently sit sixth, are 5/2 to win without reply. York’s early-season struggles see them down in 20th coming into this weekend but they have won two of their last three away games under Russ Wilcox and are 3/1 to win 1-0, 2-0 or 2-1. City won last season’s corresponding fixture 4-0 in February and that outcome is a massive 100/1 chance. Plymouth will be hoping leading scorer Reuben Reid can inspire a home success and he’s 4/1 to open the scoring and evens to find the net any time during the match.
Top Tip: Plymouth to score the last goal of the match at 5/6
Shrewsbury Town v Burton Albion
Shrewsbury are odds-on favourites at 17/20 to pick up all three points when they play host to Burton in Sky Bet League 2 on Saturday. The Shrews, who currently sit fourth in the table, are 15/8 to be leading at half-time and full-time, while they are 5/2 to win by two clear goals. High-flying Burton are second in the table heading into the weekend’s action and can be backed at 100/30 to add to their season’s haul, with the draw priced at 12/5. Shrewsbury claimed a 1-0 victory the last time the teams met in March 2012 and that is one of the 5/1 joint-favourites in the correct score market, along with 1-1. Phil Edwards has hit the target in Burton’s last two games, opening the scoring on both occasions, and he’s 33/1 to break the deadlock here. That market is topped by Shrewsbury’s James Collins, who has eight league goals to his name already this term.
Top Tip: Both teams to score at 10/11
Southend United v Northampton Town
Southend are odds-on favourites at 17/20 as they look to bolster their play-off credentials at home to Northampton this weekend. The away side are 100/30 to upset the odds and pick up all three points, while the draw is priced at 12/5. The most popular correct scores are 1-1 and Southend to win 1-0 – both at 5/1 – while Town claimed a 2-1 victory last time these two sides met in February and that outcome is 12/1 to be repeated. Southend’s Barry Corr is the 9/2 market leader to open the scoring and 5/4 to score any time, while Marc Richards is 7/4 to add to his impressive tally of nine league goals.
Top Tip: Marc Richards to score at 7/4
Stevenage v Morecambe
Stevenage are even-money favourites when they play host to Morecambe in Sky Bet League 2 on Saturday. The Shrimps are 13/5 to pick up all three points and the draw can be backed at 5/2. A 1-1 draw is the most popular correct score at 5/1, while Stevenage claimed a 2-0 victory the last time these two sides met in January 2011 and Sky Bet offer 8/1 for a repeat of that outcome. Stevenage suffered a 1-0 defeat at Northampton last weekend but had gone unbeaten in their previous four home games and are 21/10 to be ahead at half-time and full-time. The home side’s Lee Barnard and Darius Charles are both 5/1 to open the scoring, while Paul Mullin is considered Morecambe’s most likely to break the deadlock at 6/1.
Top Tip: Under 2.5 goals at 4/5
Tranmere Rovers v Portsmouth
Tranmere are 7/5 for victory with Football League sponsors Sky Bet ahead of their League 2 clash with Portsmouth (19/10) on Saturday. The draw can be backed at 23/10, with 1-1 the most popular correct score – priced at 5/1. The last time these two sides met at Prenton Park the game ended in a 2-2 draw in December 2012 and a repeat of that outcome is 12/1. Tranmere are without a league victory since the end of August and Andy Awford’s Portsmouth are 7/2 to prevail by exactly one goal, while the home side are 9/4 to win by 1-0, 2-0 or 2-1. Rovers’ Cole Stockton is the 5/1 favourite to open the scoring and 11/8 to find the net any time, while Pompey trio Patrick Agyemang, Craig Westcarr and Ryan Taylor are all priced at 7/4 to get on the scoresheet.
Top Tip: Tranmere to win be winning at half-time at 2/1
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