English Football League / Ian Lamont / 22 October 2009 / Leave a comment

Almost a third of the way through the season and Paul Peschisolido appears to be risiing to the challenge at Burton Albion. Ian Lamont looks at Peschisolido's reign so far and casts an eye forward to this weeks fixtures.

Paul Peschisolido has not only brought stability to the Brewers but now, after three straight wins, there was talk last weekend among some pundits of a sustained play-off push.

There is a non-league club not far from my front door in its second season in the division after promotion to its highest ever level.
In the summer, the manager left after nine years and nobody really expected much from the unheard of, inexperienced replacement. Last weekend they sat top of the league.
Reflecting on that success made me think of the decent parallel with Burton Albion, in that the untried manager is doing pretty well, albeit having been brought in to a side that wobbled badly before stumbling over the line to reach League Two for the first time.
Paul Peschisolido has not only brought stability to the Brewers but now, after three straight wins, there was talk last weekend among some pundits of a sustained play-off push.
That judgement would seem premature, given that it was a first victory in six attempts.
But there could be something in the fact that they have conceded just eight goals in 10 games to suggest a decent defensive rigidity.
While Chesterfield are one of the teams whose price has shortened this week, their visitors on Saturday make a good case for taking that [2.0] price on. Artur Krysiak's loan move from Birmingham is clearly working, as has centre-back Guy Branston's arrival in the summer from Kettering.
A clean slate has clearly been put in place by the Canadian. He is neither afraid to keep established Burton performers waiting for a game - although much of the team is the same as last year - nor afraid to call time on a player when things are not working out.
He also knows when players are not working, packing Robin Shroot off back to Birmingham just three months into a season-long loan after he made his annoyance plain at being substituted against Bournemouth. Evolution not revolution is his style.
Chesterfield might just have had their confidence dented after losing a tight game against Hereford and are worth the lay.
It is no surprise, given Martin Allen's "gardening leave" at Cheltenham, that Port Vale's price is dipping towards odds-on at home to the Robbins.
Boss Micky Adams reacted a little spikily to Andy Townsend's appointment as an "adviser", publicly making what seemed a pointed remark along the lines that as long as he did not interfere with team selection everything would be fine. Well, after watching Townsend on ITV 1, suspect he would be kept well away from the dressing room - we don't want the players falling asleep now, do we?
Adams' side are on a role of four and should add to that at Vale Park. I shall be looking for [2.05].
Dagenham's away record of the past two seasons has been a puzzle. Like Aldershot, they seem to fire in the goals at home but don't seem to be able to get going so easily on their travels, far or near. Thus it makes the [2.25] on them to beat Macclesfield at Moss Lane somewhat short. The Silkmen are finding life a little more enjoyable than I thought they would this season and I feel John Rooney and co can frustrate John Still's men.
Morecambe, I feel, are likely to continue their penchant for draws at home to an equally befuddled Northampton.
Injury-hit striker Adebayo Akinfenwa believes new boss Ian Sampson has good attacking options, with five strikers, including young Courtney Herbert and more experienced Steve Guinan among them.
The Shrimpers also have plenty of scorers, Paul Mullin netting three in six games and Phil Jevons also vying for chances. The value bet, therefore, is the draw at [3.5].
Of the plethora of odds-on teams, I most fancy Rochdale to win at [1.6]. Having won every other game in the past six, visitors Accrington Stanley will test Keith Hill's side. But if the Dale wants to convince the majority of pundits they are promotion contenders, they must see off the bogey side of many.

This week's bets:

Value bet back Morecambe to draw with Northampton at [3.5]
Back Rochdale to beat Accrington Stanley at [1.6]
Best bet Port Vale to beat Cheltenham at [2.05]
Lay Dagenham away at Macclesfield at [2.25]

Tags: Accrington Stanley, Andy Townsend., Burton Albion, Cheltenham, Dagenham, League Two, Macclesfield, Micky Adams, Morecambe, Northampton, Paul Peschisolido, Port Vale, Rochdale