League Two Betting: Plymouth can continue good form

6Apr 2013

Betfair

John Sheridan has already made the Pilgrims tick and looks like he could turn them into a force next season - if he can keep them up, says Ian Lamont. Punters should also profit from Bristol Rovers and Bradford on Saturday...

Plymouth 2.88 v Cheltenham 2.66; The Draw 3.3

I am firmly of the belief that John Sheridan, who took Chesterfield up from this division, has the calibre to invoke a similar promotion drive for Plymouth - if they stay up.

Looking at the Pilgrims' record, particularly at home, since he took charge on January 6, against Cheltenham's away one over the same period, they have a strong chance of a low-scoring victory over their high-flying visitors.

Only twice in Sheridan's 14 games have they conceded more than once and they have registered five clean sheets, letting in just 11. At home, they have scored seven goals and conceded four. Three victories before Monday's defeat at York show an upward trajectory. Sheridan sees all games as "must win" and Jason Banton, with six goals on loan from Crystal Palace, is in great form to continue that.

The Robins, meanwhile, also have a mean defensive record, registering four clean sheets in six games. Strangely, they have conceded three goals twice in their most recent three away trips.

While Plymouth seem unlikely to score that many, what adds to the sense that they can win is Mark Yates' men scoring eight and conceding 12 in their nine away games of 2013, winning just once and drawing and losing four each.

Opta report that Cheltenham have dropped 15 points from winning positions away from home, a league high shared with Dagenham. That must only heighten Plymouth's expectations and chances.

Recommended Bet

Back Plymouth @ 2.88

Barnet 2.82 v Chesterfield 2.76; The Draw 3.4

Edgar Davids seems to have inspired a resilience in Barnet of which many of his predecessors would surely be jealous, especially at Underhill. At home, they have seven clean sheets from their last eight games in which they are unbeaten. In fact, one defeat at home in 15 indicates his influence.

Keeper Graham Stack made a terrific save to help them beat AFC Wimbledon to keep the Bees buzzing and unbeaten in four, with two wins and two 0-0 draws - and, as Opta emphasise, four clean sheets in a row.

Keanu Marsh-Brown seems to have made an immediate impact and relishes the opportunity. He certainly has the element of surprise on opponents and could be very useful now the goals seem to have dried up for Jake Hyde and with Dani Lopez returning to parent club Stevenage.

Barnet's recent matches have not reaped many goals. One of their last six matches has finished with more than 2.5 goals. Add in that Chesterfield have had eight away games in 2013, six finishing under 2.5 goals and in fact five 1-0 to one of the sides, and a bet on a low scoring game can be added to the tightest of home wins.

Recommended Bets

Back Under 2.5 goals @ 1.64

Back Barnet @ 2.84

Bristol Rovers 2.2 v AFC Wimbledon 3.5; The Draw 3.55

Neil Ardley will no doubt be heartened that second bottom club York held Rovers to a 0-0 draw last weekend. But then the Minstermen have earned a League Two high nine goalless draws this season and the Dons are the division's only team not to register one.

Combine that with the Pirates being the form team of 2013 with 36 points from 18 games (having lifted themselves from bottom on Boxing Day to the comfort of 13th place), plus conceding just one goal in five matches at the Memorial Ground and the visitors' task to win seems huge.

The Dons are by no means safe, but John Ward is confidently eyeing a top half finish. At least he is not having to fend off questions about reaching the play-offs (an eight-point gap), unlike Wycombe a couple of months ago.

The York game was the first time Rovers had failed to score in eight at home. The Dons have kept two clean sheets in five games, but even so Ward's men, who have won 11 of his 19 games and lost just four, should have enough for victory.

Recommended Bet

Back Bristol Rovers @2.2

Bradford City 2.1 v Northampton Town 4.1; The Draw 3.6

Those fans who nurtured hope of Bradford reaching the play-offs after their League Cup final appearance have been rewarded with a run of one defeat from nine games since.

Promotion would give them a better chance of keeping boss Phil Parkinson, whose reputation was significantly enhanced by their cup run.

Five of those nine have been draws, but the last three results, two wins and a draw, have propelled the Bantams to five points off seventh place with a game in hand on most in the play-ff picture.

The upward curve might well give them enough momentum to defeat Northampton whose relatively poor away form, compared to triumphant home form, continued with a predicted narrow defeat at Cheltenham. A home win is marginally favoured over the draw.

Recommended Bet

Back Bradford @ 2.1