Sky Bet weekend preview - 5th February
AFC Wimbledon v Newport County
AFC Wimbledon are the 7/5 favourites for victory at home to Newport on Saturday. The Dons have only won one of their last five matches but it did come in their previous outing at Kingsmeadow as they defeated Accrington 2-1. Play-off dwellers Newport have lost three games on the spin and are the outsiders for victory at 7/4. The draw can be backed at 11/5. Seven of Newport’s last eight away matches have contained over 2.5 goals with five of those contests making it over the 3.5 mark. You can get evens for over 2.5 goals this weekend and 5/2 for over 3.5.
Top tip: Over 3.5 goals at 5/2.
Bury v Exeter City
Bury are the odds-on favourites at 17/20 for victory over Exeter as they look to keep their grip on the final Sky Bet League 2 play-off place. The seventh-placed Shakers are three points ahead of Exeter, who sit two spots back in ninth, and know victory will give their promotion hopes a big boost in this JD Stadium contest. Exeter can be supported at 14/5 for the win and the draw is a 12/5 option. The visiting Grecians have only won one of their last six games but Bury’s recent record of four victories in 15 games isn’t too great either. Three of Bury’s last five matches have contained only one goal and 7/2 is the price for just one goal on Saturday.
Top tip: Exactly one goal to be scored at 7/2.
Cambridge United v Wycombe Wanderers
Cambridge’s first match after falling to Manchester United in the FA Cup is a clash at home to Sky Bet League 2 promotion hopefuls Wycombe. The visiting Chairboys are the 7/5 favourites for the victory, Cambridge can be backed at 19/10 and the draw is a 23/10 shot. Wycombe are unbeaten in nine matches but six of those contests have finished as draws, including their last three outings. Cambridge have drawn their previous two home games so you won’t be surprised to find that the top tip is for this match to finish all-square.
Top tip: The draw at 23/10.
Cheltenham Town v Burton Albion
Burton will move to the top of the Sky Bet League 2 table if they beat Cheltenham and current leaders Shrewsbury fail to defeat Southend. The Brewers are the 13/10 favourites to do their bit with hosts Cheltenham the outsiders for the three points at 21/10. The draw is on offer at 9/4. Burton are on an unbeaten run of nine matches and won 1-0 at home to Bury last time out. Cheltenham were defeated 3-1 at Dagenham in their previous contest to follow from two 1-1 draws in a row at home. Burton’s previous two away games have finished 1-1 so it could be a hat-trick for both sides?
Top tip: A 1-1 draw at 9/2.
Mansfield Town v Stevenage
Mansfield hope that victory at home to Stevenage on Saturday will be enough to see them climb out of the Sky Bet League 2 relegation places. The Stags lost 2-1 at Carlisle last weekend to fall into the bottom two but are the 8/5 favourites for victory in their latest outing. Stevenage are on offer for the win at 17/10 and the draw can be found at 9/4. Mansfield have only claimed one victory in their previous 11 matches and their last home success came at the end of November. Stevenage have lost their last couple of games after the end of a six-match unbeaten run and now sit three points and one place outside the play-offs. Graham Westley’s side have scored exactly two goals in three of their previous four away games and they are 3/1 for exactly that total on Saturday.
Top tip: Stevenage to score exactly two goals at 3/1.
Northampton Town v Morecambe
Northampton are the odds-on favourites at 17/20 to make it five wins in a row with victory at home to Morecambe on Saturday. The visiting Shrimps are the 100/30 outsiders for the three points and the draw is on offer at 12/5. Northampton won 5-1 at Accrington last time out with Marc Richards and Lawson D’Ath both grabbing doubles. Richards is the 7/2 favourites to score first this weekend but D’Ath is out at 7/1 despite four goals in his previous five appearances. Kevin Ellison is Morecambe’s top first goalscorer contender at 15/2 as his side look for a win to end a run of five draws in a row.
Top tip: Lawson D’Ath to score first at 7/1.
Oxford United v Luton Town
and can be backed at 19/10 for a home win. The draw is on offer at 9/4. Luton’s record of one win in their last eight away games will give Oxford hope as the U’s bid for just a second victory in nine home matches. Oxford have scored two goals in three matches on the spin and 100/30 is the price for Michael Appleton’s men to hit exactly that total this weekend.thLuton are the 7/5 favourites to claim victory when they travel to Oxford on Saturday. The Hatters sit fourth in Sky Bet League 2 and hope for three points to put the pressure on the sides above them in the automatic promotion places. Oxford sit in 15
Top tip: Oxford to score exactly two goals at 100/30.
Plymouth Argyle v Accrington Stanley
Plymouth are the odds-on favourites at 5/6 to end a seven-match unbeaten run with victory home to Accrington on Saturday. Stanley, who are on a losing run of four games, can be backed at 7/2 for the win and the draw is priced up at 12/5. The first goalscorer betting is led by Plymouth striker Reuben Reid at 7/2 and Terry Gornell is Accrington’s top contender at 8/1 after returning to the club on Deadline Day. There is pressure on both sides to snap their poor run so the draw might be the way to go.
Top tip: The draw at 12/5.
Portsmouth v Hartlepool United
Bottom-of-the-table Hartlepool are hoping for a first away win in Sky Bet League 2 since the middle of October when they make the long trip south to Portsmouth on Saturday. Pools are the outsiders at 7/2 to claim the victory, Pompey have been made odds-on favourites at 4/5 and the draw is on offer at 5/2. Hartlepool have shown signs of improvement recently with just one defeat suffered in four games and that is a better record than Portsmouth, who are on a nine-match winless run. Marvin Morgan is set to make his Hartlepool debut and the striker is 8/1 to net first. Portsmouth forward Matt Tubbs heads the first goalscorer odds at 4/1.
Top tip: Marvin Morgan to score first at 8/1.
Shrewsbury Town v Southend United
Shrewsbury are the even-money favourites to keep their place at the top of the Sky Bet League 2 table with victory at home to Southend. The Shrews have a phenomenal record of 12 wins and two draws from 14 league games at Greenhous Meadow so Southend know a tough task is ahead. The Shrimpers can be supported at 14/5 for the victory and the draw is an option at 23/10. Southend are on a strong run with no defeat suffered in eight matches, including three away victories on the spin. This should be a cracking contest and backing both teams to score will provide an interest at evens.
Top tip: Both teams to score at even-money.
Tranmere Rovers v Carlisle United
. Hosts Tranmere are the 21/20 favourites for victory on Saturday, Carlisle can be supported at 5/2 and the draw is available at 12/5. Rovers have enjoyed an upturn in fortunes under Micky Adams and haven’t lost in four outings. Carlisle beat Mansfield 2-1 last time out so both sides will be in decent spirits. Eight of Tranmere’s previous nine home games have seen both teams score and its 8/11 for both teams to net this weekend.rd and 23thThis is a big game at the bottom of Sky Bet League 2 in the congested battle to stay out of the relegation zone. Tranmere and Carlisle are both on 30 points for the season and sit with seven clubs separated by just two points between 17
Top tip: Both teams to score at 8/11.
York City v Dagenham & Redbridge
places in the Sky Bet League 2 table. The Minstermen are outside of the relegation zone only on goal difference but are the odds-on favourites at 5/6 for victory on Saturday. Dagenham sit two points better off in the standings and can be backed at 7/2 for the victory. The draw is available at 12/5. York haven’t won in five matches but Dagenham are in better spirits after a 3-1 victory over Cheltenham last time out. All of York’s previous five contests have contained under 2.5 goals and you can get 8/13 for under that mark again in this clash.rd and 23thYork and Dagenham are two of the seven clubs separated by just two points in the congested area between 17
Top tip: Under 2.5 goals at 8/13.
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