Sky Bet Weekend Preview - 11/09

Accrington Stanley will be looking to build upon their first victory of the new Sky Bet League 2 season when they host AFC Wimbledon. Stanley are 8/5 to make it back-to-back wins, AFC Wimbledon are 13/8 and the draw can be backed at 12/5. Accrington striker James Gray and Dons forward Matt Tubbs both bagged doubles last weekend and you can get 6/1 for both players to net again on Saturday. 

Top tip: James Gray and Matt Tubbs both to score at 6/1

Sky Bet League 2 leaders Burton Albion bid to continue their unbeaten start to the season when York City travel to the Pirelli Stadium on Saturday. Burton are the 6/5 favourites to pick up the three points, York are 23/10 and the draw is available at the same price. York ended a run of five draws in a row to claim their first win of the campaign last weekend – a 3-2 success at Stevenage. They have already been quietly backed for this fixture having been available at 11/4 earlier in the week. Wes Fletcher scored twice in that victory and the former Burnley striker is 14/1 for another double. The Minstermen could provide tough opposition for Burton and a draw at half-time could be of interest at even-money.

Top tip: Draw at half-time at evens

Managerless Carlisle are 21/10 for their first victory of the Sky Bet League 2 season when they host Bury on Saturday. The Shakers are the favourites for the win at 21/10 and the draw can be backed at 23/10. Carlisle drew 4-4 with AFC Wimbledon last Saturday and 250/1 is the massive price on offer for an admittedly-improbable repeat of that scoreline. Bury are sitting in the play-off places in the early reckoning and Danny Rose has so far provided their main attacking threat. The former Barnsley youngster is a worthy favourite at 5/1 in the first goalscorer betting.

Cambridge United are 13/10 for three points at Dagenham and Redbridge on Saturday. The hosts can be backed at 21/10 for the win and the draw is priced up at 23/10. Daggers forward Rhys Murphy is 5/1 to score first, while Cambridge duo Kwesi Appiah and Tom Elliott both follow in the market at 11/2. Dagenham have scored first in four out of six of their matches this season and they are 6/5 to open the scoring in this match.

This is a big match in the early stages of the Sky Bet League 2 season as the bottom club hosts second-bottom. It’s early days of course and there isn’t much between Exeter City and Oxford United in the betting, the visitors having been made the marginal 6/4 favourites. Exeter are priced up at 7/4 and the draw is 23/10. Oxford have drawn their last two games after opening the season with four defeats and Danny Hylton looks to provide their main goal threat. The U’s striker is the 11/2 favourite to open the scoring in Devon. Four of Exeter’s first six matches have seen under 2.5 goals and Oxford have the same record, so another tight encounter could be on the cards.

Top tip: Under 2.5 goals at 4/6.

Hartlepool are 8/5 for victory at home to Tranmere on Saturday, while Rovers can be backed at 13/8 and the draw is 12/5. Abdulai Bell-Baggie scored both of Tranmere’s goals in the 3-2 defeat against Accrington last Saturday and is 14/1 for another brace. Hartlepool striker Charlie Wyke is the 11/2 favourite in the first goalscorer betting and you can get 13/2 for Tranmere forward Cole Stockton to join him in finding the back of the net during the course of the 90 minutes. It’s 7/2 that the match finishes in a draw with both teams having scored.

Top tip: Charlie Wyke and Cole Stockton both to score at 13/2

Luton Town are narrow favourites at 6/4 with the Football League sponsor heading into their Sky Bet League 2 clash with Cheltenham Town (9/5) on Saturday. The Hatters have made a fairly slow start to the 2014/15 campaign, with only one win on the board so far, while Cheltenham sit second in the table and drew 0-0 with Morecambe away from home last weekend. The last time these sides met in the league was back in 2008 when the game ended 1-1 and a repeat scoreline is priced at 5/1. Cheltenham’s Koby Arthur has struck three times in the league and is 13/2 to score the opening goal of the game at Kenilworth Road, with Luton’s Paul Benson 11/2 favourite in that market.

Top tip: Both teams to score in the second half at 11/4.

Morecambe are the 9/5 outsiders to claim another Sky Bet League 2 victory when they host Plymouth (6/4) on Saturday. The draw is priced at 23/10 by the Football League sponsor, with 1-1 the most popular score at 5/1. Morecambe’s Kevin Ellison has started the season brightly with four goals and he is 7/4 to find the net during the 90 minutes, while Plymouth’s Reuben Reid is 6/4 to score any time and 11/2 to open the scoring. Plymouth come into the game on the back of a 1-0 victory at Luton Town and John Sheridan’s men can be backed at 5/2 to win this game 1-0, 2-0 or 2-1.

Top tip: Draw and under 2.5 goals in the match at 5/2.

Newport County are 11/8 favourites as they bid for a second Sky Bet League 2 victory of the season at home to Northampton on Saturday. The away side can be backed at 19/10 as they look to build on their 2-0 away win against Dagenham & Redbridge last weekend, while the draw is 12/5. Northampton’s Marc Richards has four league goals to his name already and is 6/4 to add to his tally here, while County’s Chris Zebroski and Aaron O’Connor are both 6/1 chances to score the first goal of the game.

Top tip: Both teams to score at 5/6.

Southend United are 5/4 favourites with Football League sponsor Sky Bet to claim all three points when they host Portsmouth (21/10) on Saturday. The draw is a 12/5 chance. Southend claimed a 2-1 victory in the corresponding fixture last season and a repeat of that outcome can backed at 8/1. Portsmouth to prevail by exactly one goal is 7/2, while Southend to win and both teams to score is the same price. Lee Barnard and Barry Corr head the betting among the home team to get the first strike of the game.

Top tip: No first-half goals at 7/4.

Shrewsbury are marginal 7/5 favourites ahead of their trip to Stevenage on Saturday. The home win is priced at 15/8, with the draw a 23/10 chance. Stevenage were beaten 3-2 at home by York City last weekend and Shrewsbury can be backed at 11/4 to score in both halves. Borough are 9/4 to win the first half, while the Shrews’ Andrew Mangan is 18/1 to score in the first 10 minutes of the match. Those expecting early action – and both sides know how to find the net - might want to look at the 4/1 about both teams scoring in the first half.

Top tip: Over 1.5 goals in the first half at 2/1.

Wycombe are 11/10 favourites with the Football League sponsor Sky Bet ahead of their League 2 clash with Mansfield Town (12/5) at Adams Park on Saturday. The draw is also a 12/5 chance, with 1-1 the most popular correct score at 5/1. Mansfield claimed a 2-1 away win against Exeter last weekend and are 10/1 to repeat the trick here. Gareth Ainsworth’s Wanderers sit fifth in the league with three victories to their credit this season and are 2/1 to win this one either 1-0, 2-0 or 2-1. Paul Hayes and Matt MacClure are both 11/2 to open the scoring, with Matt Rhead the shortest for the away side in the same market at 13/2.

Top tip: Over 3.5 goals at 11/4.