Cambridge United v Northampton Town
Cambridge will be hoping to follow up their FA Cup victory over Fleetwood with three points in Friday night’s Sky Bet League 2 clash with Northampton and they are 11/10 favourites to do so. Their last league outing ended in a 2-0 defeat at Bury while Northampton, who are 12/5 to win, followed their 2-0 triumph over AFC Wimbledon with a cup draw against Rochdale on Saturday before losing to Leyton Orient in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy in midweek. With both sides level on 21 points, the draw may tempt several punters at 12/5. Cambridge duo Kwesi Appiah and Tom Elliott are 5/1 to net the first goal and 11/8 to score anytime while Marc Richards of Northampton are available at the same prices.
Top tip: Draw and under 2.5 goals in the match at 3/1
Plymouth Argyle v Portsmouth
High-flying Plymouth are favourites at 21/20 to get the better of Portsmouth on Saturday but the visitors will arrive with confidence of victory at 5/2. The Pilgrims lie sixth in Sky Bet League 2 thanks largely to their superb home form of six wins and one draw from their eight games while Pompey are just three places and four points further back. The draw is 12/5. Reuben Reid, who struck from the penalty spot in the 1-1 draw away at Burton in their previous league game, is 4/1 favourite to net the first goal and evens to score anytime while Portsmouth’s Craig Westcarr is regarded as his side’s best hope at 13/2 and 2/1 respectively.
Top tip: Reuben Reid to score a brace at 5/1
Morecambe v Bury
Bury are 21/20 to maintain their promotion push with an away victory at Morecambe this Saturday while the hosts are 5/2 to take all three points. The Shakers, who sit fourth in the table, survived an FA Cup scare last weekend by scraping past Hemel Hempstead 3-1 thanks to two late goals but then lost their JPT clash with Tranmere in midweek. Despite being just two points outside the play-off spots, Morecambe have only won three home games so a draw at 12/5 wouldn’t be regarded a bad result. Bury’s Danny Rose is 4/1 favourite to score first and evens to net anytime while Morecambe duo Kevin Ellison and Paul Mullin are both available at 13/2 and 2/1 in the respective markets.
Top Tip: Danny Rose to score first at 4/1
AFC Wimbledon v Dagenham and Redbridge
AFC Wimbledon are 10/11 favourites to give their season a shot in the arm with victory over struggling Dagenham and Redbridge on Saturday. Despite being in the bottom half of the table, the hosts are only five points adrift of the play-offs but their opponents, who are 3/1 to pick up all three points, are languishing just three points above the drop zone. The visitors might therefore be happy with a draw at 5/2. It’s 10/11 that over 2.5 goals are scored (under is 4/5) while both teams to score is available at 4/5 (10/11 they don’t). AFC Wimbledon’s Matt Tubbs is 7/2 favourite to score first and 10/11 to net anytime while Dagenham’s best bet for goals is Rhys Murphy at 13/2 and 2/1 respectively.
Top Tip: Draw and over 2.5 goals in the match at 12/1
Carlisle United v Accrington Stanley
Struggling Carlisle are favourites at 21/20 to get the win they desperately need to pull away from the relegation zone but Accrington will surely attract attention at 5/2 to continue their revival with all three points. A draw is 12/5. The hosts are third-bottom in the standings while Stanley make the trip to Brunton Park having won three and drawn one in their last six games to climb up to 12th. The favourite to open the scoring is Carlisle’s Derek Asamoah at 9/2 while he’s 5/4 to net anytime. Sean Maguire of Accrington is the shortest priced Accrington player at 13/2 and 2/1 respectively.
Top Tip: Both teams not to score at evens
Luton Town v Tranmere Rovers
Fresh from FA Cup victories, both these sides will be seeking an important three points in the league for completely different reasons. Second-placed Luton, who are gunning for promotion, are 10/11 for victory while struggling Tranmere are 3/1 outsiders – although they will have several backers considering their recent run of form under Micky Adams. Sure, Rovers haven’t won any of the last six league games but their FA Cup win over Bristol Rovers and the JPT success at Bury in midweek shows positive signs. A draw would also be a welcome result at 5/2. Luton have won five of their eight home league games conceding just four goals so a victory to nil is priced at 9/4. Hatters forward Mark Cullen is 4/1 favourite to score first and evens to net anytime while Tranmere’s Armand Gnanduillet is 7/1 and 12/5 in the respective markets.
Top tip: Draw and under 2.5 goals in the match at 7/2
Shrewsbury Town v Mansfield Town
Shrewsbury hope that victory at home to Mansfield on Saturday afternoon will see them move top of Sky Bet League 2. Leaders Wycombe don’t play until Monday night so victory for the third-placed Shrews combined with Luton failing to beat Tranmere will see Micky Mellon’s men move to the summit. Shrewsbury can be backed at 8/13 for the win, Mansfield are 9/2 and the draw is available at 14/5. The home side have won five league games in a row so the visiting Stags will be up against it as they arrive on the back of a seven-match run without a win. There have been over 2.5 goals in all Shrewsbury’s last five games so it looks worth backing over that mark again.
Top tip: Over 2.5 goals at 5/6
Southend United v Hartlepool United
Southend are the 8/13 favourites to bounce back from last weekend’s disappointing FA Cup defeat at home to non-league Chester with victory over Hartlepool on Saturday. The visiting Pools can be backed at 9/2 and the draw is available at 11/4. There has only been one win for the Shrimpers in their last seven games but they remain in the Sky Bet League 2 play-offs. Hartlepool defeated East Thurrock in the FA Cup last time out but Paul Murray’s men are without a victory in their previous four league contests. Both teams have scored in all three of Southend’s last three home games and all three of Hartlepool’s three previous away matches. You can 10/11 for both teams to score this weekend.
Top tip: Both teams to score at 10/11
Stevenage v Cheltenham Town
There is only one point between Stevenage and Cheltenham in the Sky Bet League 2 table ahead of Saturday’s clash between the teams. Cheltenham travel to the Lamex Stadium this weekend and the Robins are the 12/5 outsiders for victory despite sitting one point higher in the standings. Hosts Stevenage are the 23/20 favourites and the draw can be backed at 23/10. Stevenage are strong on their own turf with four wins from their last five home matches in the league but Cheltenham enter this contest on a real high after beating League 1 Swindon 5-0 in the FA Cup. Both teams have scored in the first half in two of Stevenage’s previous three home games and you can get 4/1 for that to happen again on Saturday.
Top tip: Both teams to score in the first half at 4/1
York City v Oxford United
York are the 5/4 favourites to build on victory at Cheltenham in their last Sky Bet League 2 game with success against Oxford on Saturday. The visiting U’s are the outsiders at 21/10 to pick up the three points and the draw is a 23/10 shot. York are draw specialists with nine of their 16 league matches so far this season finishing level, that’s three more than Newport who have acquired the second-most draws. The Minstermen’s FA Cup clash with AFC Wimbledon also finished in a draw last weekend so expect Russ Wilcox’s side to prove hard to beat once again. Oxford are inconsistent with four wins and four defeats from their previous eight matches so expect an interesting contest.
Top tip: The draw at 23/10
Newport County v Exeter City
Newport’s clash with Exeter provides Sunday’s only action in Sky Bet League 2. Hosts Newport are the 21/20 favourites to claim victory, Exeter can be supported at 13/5 and the draw is a 12/5 option. Both these two sides sit on the fringes of the play-off places and it was double disappointment last weekend as the two sides crashed out of the FA Cup. Newport are without a win in their last three games and Exeter are also looking to bounce back following a couple of winless outings. County’s previous two matches have resulted in plenty of goals – a 4-2 defeat and 2-2 draw – so over 3.5 goals looks an interesting option at 9/4.
Top tip: Over 3.5 goals at 9/4
Wycombe Wanderers v Burton Albion
The latest round of Sky Bet League 2 fixtures ends on Monday night in front of the Sky Sports cameras with leaders Wycombe hosting Burton. The Chairboys are the 23/20 favourites to pick up the win, the Brewers are on offer at 12/5 and the draw is a 23/10 chance. Wycombe have only lost one of their last 12 outings and spirits will be very high after a couple of wins on the spin. Burton are without a victory in three contests and suffered a big loss last weekend as they were beaten 5-0 by Barnsley in the FA Cup. Wycombe’s previous three home matches have contained exactly two goals and you can get 9/4 for that exact mark again at Adams Park.
Top tip: Exactly two goals to be scored at 9/4
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