Sky Bet Weekend preview - 12th March
Newport County v Cheltenham Town
Newport are the 10/11 favourites to beat Cheltenham in Sky Bet League 2’s only match on Friday night. County have dropped out of the play-off places after two defeats in a row but they will still be in better spirits than the relegation-threatened Robins. Russell Milton’s Cheltenham are the outsiders at 11/4 for the victory and the draw can be found at 5/2. The Robins have only won one of their last 11 matches and sit outside of the relegation zone with a one-point advantage over Tranmere. Four of Cheltenham’s previous six games have contained exactly two goals and you can get 21/10 for that tally in this clash.
Top tip: Exactly two goals to be scored at 21/10
Burton Albion v Accrington Stanley
Sky Bet League 2 leaders Burton are the 8/13 favourites to beat Accrington on Saturday afternoon. The Brewers returned to the summit with last weekend’s 1-0 win at bottom-of-the-table Hartlepool and are eight points clear in the automatic promotion places. Accrington can be backed at 4/1 for a surprise success and the draw is on offer at 14/5. Stanley are on a three-match winless run but did beat Burton 1-0 at the Store First Stadium last month. All of Burton’s last three games have contained just one goal and you can get 3/1 for one goal again this weekend.
Top tip: Exactly one goal to be scored at 3/1
Cambridge United v Stevenage
Stevenage sit outside the Sky Bet League 2 promotion places only on goal difference ahead of Saturday’s trip to Cambridge. Graham Westley’s visitors have been made the outsiders for victory at 13/8, Cambridge are 6/4 favourites and the draw is priced up at 23/10. Stevenage are unbeaten in five matches with four victories claimed during that run. Cambridge are not on such a strong run with one win in 12 games, although last time out they claimed a creditable 1-1 draw at promotion contenders Shrewsbury. Both teams have scored in four of Stevenage’s previous five outings and you can get 4/5 for that record to extend to five out of six contests.
Top tip: Both teams to score at 4/5
Dagenham and Redbridge v Southend United
Southend have been made the 5/4 favourites to cut the gap to the Sky Bet League 2 automatic promotion places with victory at Dagenham on Saturday. The fourth-placed Shrimpers sit five points behind Wycombe in third with 11 games of the season remaining. Dagenham have pulled away from the relegation zone in recent weeks and can be supported at 2/1 for a win this weekend. The draw is on offer at 23/10. The Daggers have won two matches on the bounce and its two draws in a row for Southend. The Shrimpers have scored two goals in four of their last six outings and 11/4 is the price for the away side to net twice in this clash.
Top tip: Southend to score exactly two goals at 11/4
Exeter City v AFC Wimbledon
Exeter are the 5/4 favourites to claim three points at home to AFC Wimbledon on Saturday. The visiting Dons can be backed at 2/1 and the draw is a 23/10 chance. Exeter won 3-1 at struggling Carlisle last weekend to snap a seven-match losing run but you have to go all the way back to Boxing Day for their last home win. AFC Wimbledon were also winners last time out as they defeated York 2-1 at the Cherry Red Records Stadium. The Dons, however, are also looking back at Boxing Day as that was the last time they won on the road. Only two points separates these sides in mid-table so expect a close contest
Top tip: The draw at 23/10
Mansfield Town v Bury
Bury have been priced up as Sky Bet’s 5/4 favourites for victory on the road at Mansfield on Saturday. The Stags are 2/1 to pick up three points at home and the draw is on offer at 23/10. A four-match winning run for the Shakers was ended by a 1-0 defeat at home to Oxford last weekend but they remain lodged in the play-offs. Mansfield have won three of their previous five games to give their survival hopes a massive boost and they scored the final goal in four of those contests. You can back the hosts at 6/5 to complete the scoring at the One Call Stadium.
Top tip: Mansfield to score last at 6/5
Morecambe v Hartlepool United
with a seven-point gap to the play-offs maintaining their promotion dream. The Shrimps are even-money favourites for a home win on Saturday and the draw can be found at 23/10. Morecambe have though lost their last couple of games at the Globe Arena so that will give Hartlepool hope. There have been under 2.5 goals in six of the previous seven matches involving Pools and you can get 4/7 for below that tally this weekend.thBottom-of-the-table Hartlepool are the 13/5 outsiders for three points on the road at Morecambe. Pools sit eight points adrift in the Sky Bet League 2 relegation zone and time is running out to climb to safety with just 11 games of the season remaining. Morecambe sit in 12
Top tip: Under 2.5 goals at 4/7
Northampton Town v Tranmere Rovers
Northampton are the odds-on favourites at 5/6 for victory over Tranmere on Saturday. The Cobblers have home advantage at Sixfields as they bid to close the five-point gap to the play-offs. Tranmere are the 3/1 outsiders for the win and the draw is a 12/5 shot. Rovers need the victory as they currently sit in the relegation zone. Cheltenham are just one point away though so all is far from lost for Micky Adams’ men. Northampton lost 2-0 at Plymouth last time out but it was three wins on the spin before that. There have been exactly three goals in three of the Cobblers’ previous four home games and you can get 3/1 for that tally this weekend.
Top tip: Exactly three goals to be scored at 3/1
Oxford United v Plymouth Argyle
Plymouth are the 9/5 outsiders to keep their place in the final Sky Bet League 2 play-off spot by beating Oxford on Saturday. The U’s have home advantage at the Kassam Stadium and the Football League sponsors make them 11/8 favourites for the win. The draw is on offer at 23/10. Oxford are on a four-match unbeaten run and seven of their previous eight games have contained under 2.5 goals. Plymouth beat Northampton 2-0 last time out and that made it six out of their previous seven matches coming in below the 2.5 goals mark. Go low on goals.
Top tip: Under 2.5 goals at 8/15
Portsmouth v Luton Town
Luton are hoping to get their bid for automatic promotion from Sky Bet League 2 back on track with victory at Portsmouth on Saturday. The Hatters have lost four of their last five outings and have been made the 11/5 outsiders to win at Fratton Park. Pompey are the 23/20 favourites for the three points and the draw can be found at 23/10. The hosts have only lost one of their previous 10 games but a win has evaded them in their last three matches. Portsmouth drew 0-0 with Oxford in their last home contest and a repeat of that scoreline can be backed at 13/2.
Top tip: A 0-0 draw at 13/2
Wycombe Wanderers v Shrewsbury Town
This is definitely the match of the day in Sky Bet League 2 as third hosts second when Wycombe clash with Shrewsbury. Wanderers have been priced up as the 7/5 favourites for the win, Shrewsbury can be supported at 7/4 and the draw is an option at 23/10. Wycombe drew 2-2 at Southend last time out and that made it an unbeaten run of four matches. Shrewsbury drew 1-1 at home to Cambridge last weekend and won 2-1 at Accrington in their previous away game. There has been over 3.5 goals in three of Wycombe’s last four contests and over that mark on Saturday can be backed at 7/2.
Top tip: Over 3.5 goals at 7/2
York City v Carlisle United
This is a really big game at the bottom of the Sky Bet League 2 standings as York host Carlisle with both sides sitting above the relegation zone by just two points. York are the odds-on favourites for the win at 4/5, Carlisle can be supported at 16/5 and the draw is a 5/2 chance. The Minstermen lost 2-1 at AFC Wimbledon last weekend and their home record is the worst in the division with just two wins all season. Carlisle aren’t in much better spirits with just one victory from their previous six outings so expect plenty of nerves at Bootham Crescent. A second 0-0 draw in a row at the ground is priced up at 17/2.
Top tip: A 0-0 draw at 17/2
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