League Two Betting Preview: By any means necessary - Dale's promotion quest

English Football League / Ian Lamont / 28 January 2010 / Leave a Comment

Can Keith Hill mastermind Rochdale's promotion?

"If Hill's loan-signings policy scratches the club's 35-season itch for promotion, who are we mere observers to argue?"

Never mind the future, Rochdale want promotion now. Meanwhile - say it quietly - down the road in Lancashire, could Stanley sneak into play-off contention? Ian Lamont selects the weekend's best League Two bets.

What difference does the loss of one player make? Cristiano Ronaldo's departure might seem to have left a big hole in Manchester United's team. It is said that Liverpool are little without Torres and Gerrard.

Well, I guess we are about to find out how much difference Will Buckley's departure from Rochdale to Watford will make to their title campaign. His trickery will be missed, for sure, but Dale had already lost Adam Le Fondre pre-season to Rotherham, then his mate Adam Rundle for a month to the same opponents, yet they have surged to the top of League Two.

In their place, Chris Dagnall and striker partner Chris O'Grady, on loan from Oldham, have been making names for themselves. Now Andrew Howard has been brought into the midfield on loan from Blackburn. Relying on loan players - including keeper Tom Heaton from Manchester United - was how Hereford went up two seasons ago.

That ended in immediate relegation, because the very ethos lacked long-term planning. It seems to be working for Keith Hill's men. If it scratches the club's 35-season itch for promotion, who are we mere observers to argue?

Their record in big games this season makes them backable at [2.6] for Monday's game at Bury, despite the home side's resurgent form and urgency for points after a poor start to the season. With both sides bound to attack, a bet of over 2.5 goals at about [1.85] should be sought.

Lincoln can continue their significant improvement under Chris Sutton by landing a nice price gamble at [2.92] at home to Dagenham. The Imps have had their success without Michael Gordon even on the bench - and the was brought in last November to liven up their attacking options. Nimble, he might prove a little slight for the division, while out-of-favour Janos Novak has had his contract terminated so he can join Luton Town, where he scored on his debut on Wednesday. So Sutton must feel he has enough to give the division a go.
Dagenham don't have the best record on the road and laying them is an option, but I think the Imps can find enough to win.

In life, as in sport, I don't much care for soap operas. So I have given Notts County a wide berth this season - apart from to say they wouldn't win the league. This weekend, however, it is hard to see anything other than a victory for the Magpies at [1.51]. They host free-falling Barnet.

Lee Sawyer's strike looked like it had given the Bees a well overdue victory on Tuesday - they are winless in 13 games - but Paul Furlong's own goal cost them. They have forgotten how to win and won't get much change out of a cash-strapped County, whose alleged riches have fallen through to the extent the Inland Revenue have tried to wind them up.

I am also hoping that Accrington's recent good form has not been intrinsically entirely linked to their FA Cup run, ended by Fulham last weekend.

They seem a good value bet for a [4.0] away win at Shrewsbury. League games for them have been few and far between recently, but they got back into the flow with a 2-1 home win over Aldershot on Tuesday night.

They have conceded nearly as many goals as they have scored on the road, but they have beaten some good teams along the way. In addition, there is little pressure on John Coleman's side. Nobody expects them to do well and they are nowhere near the relegation places - just the sort of recipe you need to beat the Shrews, who need to show their promotion form is serious in front of their own fans.

There is an outside chance, of course, that Accrington could sneak into the play-off picture themselves, but keep those thoughts inside Lancashire will you? Stanley wouldn't want the message to get out.

Lamo's Selected Bets:

Value bet: Accrington to win at Shrewsbury at [4.0]
Rochdale to beat Bury at [2.6] and over 2.5 goals at [1.85]
Lincoln to beat Dagenham at [2.92]
Best bet: Notts County to beat Barnet at [1.51]