Sky Bet - Midweek preview 20/10
AFC Wimbledon v Plymouth Argyle
Mid-table Wimbledon are 6/5 with Football League sponsors Sky Bet for Tuesday night’s clash with Plymouth. The Pilgrims are currently sitting in the play-off places and are 21/10 shots for a third away win of the campaign. Plymouth are yet to draw away this season, while Wimbledon have played out only one stalemate at home. It’s 23/10 for this one to end all square. The Dons have won their last three home games. Plymouth are on a four-match winning streak in all competitions, but three of those four games were at home. All seven of their League 2 wins this season have been to nil.
Top Tip: One or both teams not to score at even-money.
Accrington Stanley v Hartlepool United
Accrington have suffered successive 2-1 defeats after a run of three straight victories, and are 6/5 to get back to winning ways against 21/10 chances Hartlepool. The draw is 9/4. Accrington’s five wins this season have been a curious mix, with three 1-0 successes sitting alongside a 3-2 win over Tranmere and 5-4 triumph at Northampton. Hartlepool’s last four games in all competitions have featured exactly three goals.
Top Tip: Over 2.5 goals at even-money.
Cambridge United v Cheltenham Town
Cambridge have made a solid start on their return to the Football League this season, sitting comfortably mid-table in Sky Bet League 2 and are 6/5 with the sponsors to add another three points against Cheltenham this week. The Robins, a place and a point ahead of the U’s, are 21/10 with the draw priced at 11/5. Cambridge fired home eight goals in their back-to-back wins over Burton and Oxford, but were held to a goalless draw at Mansfield last time out. Cheltenham’s last three games have all featured four or more goals.
Top Tip: Over 3.5 goals at 11/4.
Carlisle United v Burton Albion
After nine games without a win at the start of the League 2 campaign, Carlisle have won three of their last four league games. Those results have lifted the Cumbrians out of the bottom two, and they’ll be looking to continue their decent run with victory over Burton on Tuesday night. They’re 2/1 shots, with Burton – whose form has gone the other way after a stunning start to the season – 13/10 chances. The draw is 11/5. The visitors’ Lucas Akins heads the betting in the first goalscorer market at 5/1.
Top Tip: The draw at 11/5.
Exeter City v Wycombe Wanderers
Table-toppers Wycombe travel to face an Exeter side whose best results this season have generally come on the road. The Chairboys are 5/4 to take the points here, with Exeter 21/10 and the draw an 11/5 shot. Wycombe picked up victories at Exeter in both the league and JP Trophy last season. Both of these sides have four draws on their records this season, and a further stalemate looks a possible outcome in this one. You can take 100/30 that the game finishes either 1-1, 2-2 or 3-3, or if you fancy goals it’s a tasty 20/1 that both teams score in both halves.
Top Tip: A 1-1, 2-2 or 3-3 draw at 100/30.
Luton Town v Dagenham and Redbridge
Luton are the division’s form side, with five straight League 2 victories lifting the Hatters to fourth place in the table and earning them the only odds-on quote on Tuesday evening’s coupon at 7/10. Dagenham’s recent form is patchier, with two wins, three defeats and a draw in their last six, and they’re 15/4 to spring a surprise at Kenilworth Road ahead of another tricky trip at the weekend when they face Wycombe. These sides have only five draws between them this season; another here is 5/2. Luton’s recent success has been built on solid defensive foundations; there have been under 2.5 goals in seven of their last nine league games.
Top Tip: Under 2.5 goals at 8/11.
Morecambe v York City
Morecambe climbed up to sixth spot in Sky Bet League 2 with a 2-0 victory over high-flying Burton at the weekend and now they look for another three points when they host struggling York. There’s no surprise that the in-form Shrimps are 11/8 favourites, while the second-from-bottom Minstermen are 19/10 with the draw available at 9/4. Newly-appointed York boss Russ Wilcox tasted defeat at home to Shrewsbury in his first game in charge at the weekend and will quickly want to get off the mark. The hosts have scored 16 goals so far in 13 games and York 11 so an entertaining encounter could be on the cards.
Top tip: Over 2.5 goals at even-money.
Newport County v Southend United
Eighth takes on ninth when Southend travel to the side just one place below them, Newport County. The Shrimpers were held 1-1 at home by Exeter on Saturday, while the Welsh side needed a late goal from Chris Zebroski to secure a 1-0 victory at Dagenham. The hosts are quoted at 13/10, with Southend 15/8 and the draw 23/10. Newport have drawn three games this season and Southend four and you would not be surprised if there was another stalemate here between two fairly closely-matched sides. Zebroksi is again considered the most likely to open the scoring for the home side, being quoted at 5/1 to be first goalscorer, the same price as the visitors’ Myles Weston.
Top tip: The draw at 23/10
Northampton Town v Oxford United
Northampton will be looking to bounce back from Saturday’s 3-2 reverse at Cheltenham when they host Oxford United at Sixfields. The Us moved out of the bottom two with a welcome 2-0 home win over Tranmere – only their third victory of the season. The home side are 5/4 to win the game, with Oxford 23/10 and the draw rated as an 11/5 chance. The Cobblers are the second-top scorers in League Tw,o with 22 from 13 matches, and Oxford have conceded 18 so there could be plenty of action. It’s 6/1 that Northampton score twice in the first half and 9/1 that Oxford manage the same.
Top tip: Over 3.5 goals at 11/4
Portsmouth v Stevenage
Portsmouth’s early-season promise has stalled and Saturday’s 3-0 defeat at Bury means it is now no wins in six for the south coast club. Stevenage are comfortably mid-table after a 2-1 home win over Accrington and just four points off the play-offs. Pompey go into the game as 23/20 favourites, with Stevenage 23/10 and the draw 11/5. Only Hartlepool have scored less goals than Portsmouth (11) this season and Stevenage have managed just 16 from their 13 games so the stats point to a tight encounter here.
Top tip: Under 1.5 goals at 2/1
Shrewsbury Town v Bury
Seventh-placed Shrewsbury host second-placed Bury with both sides buoyed by victories at the weekend. The Shrews needed a late goal from striker James Collins to earn them a 1-0 win at 10-man York City – their first league victory on the road for 15 matches. Bury were impressive 3-0 winners at home to Portsmouth, producing what manager Dave Flitcroft described as their best performance of the season. The hosts are 5/4 to win the game with Bury 2/1 and the draw 23/10. James Collins is considered the man most likely to open the scoring at 9/2, while it is Danny Rose who heads the betting in the same market for the visitors at 5/1.
Top tip: The draw at 23/10
Tranmere Rovers v Mansfield Town
Tranmere dropped to the bottom of Sky Bet League Two as they lost 2-0 at Oxford on Saturday, while injury-ravaged Mansfield were held 0-0 at home by Cambridge United despite having nine first-team players on the sidelines and skipper Adam Murray serving a three-game ban. The hosts are 13/10 to claim only their third victory of the season, with Mansfield 2/1 and the draw 11/5. Tranmere have netted just 11 goals this season and Mansfield only 12 so a tight encounter looks on the cards here. It’s 10/11 that at least one of these sides fails to score and that could tempt a few.
Top tip: Under 1.5 goals at 2/1.
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