League Two Betting Preview: Bantams continue quiet progress

English Football League / Ian Lamont / 17 September 2009 / Leave a Comment

Recommended bets:
Lay Barnet at [2.3]
Value bet: Accrington to win at Hereford at [3.15] and under 2.5 goals
Port Vale to beat Bury at [2.3]
Burton v Dagenham, over 2.5 goals at [1.9]

Two young strikers have hit the goal trail at Valley Parade and, on the road this weekend, Bradford will be hoping to continue their climb up the table. Don't start talking about promotion but do take note, says Ian Lamont.

You can never tell what people can achieve until you give them the chance. Often, the real nuggets are born of necessity. So it seems with Gareth Evans and James Hanson at Bradford, two strikers who are proving a huge handful, but neither of whom started the season's first game, that 5-0 hammering at Notts County.

Since then, there seems to have been a conscious effort to play down expectations at Bradford, particularly after last season's disappointment at not reaching the play-offs. This time last year they made loud noises of wanting back-to-back promotions to the Championship, so they are a year behind.

Few can have failed to notice a 5-4 win at Cheltenham, but ambitious shouting does not seem as prevalent at Valley Parade this season. After a point from the opening three games, that victory in Gloucestershire could well be the catalyst. As they head to Barnet on Saturday, their last away win came at Shrewsbury, which is no mean feat.

Striker Peter Thorne is still out and Evans, 21, in particular, has taken his chance in a Bantams side that is younger and less reliant on loans than last term. The summer import from Macclesfield has notched three goals in the last four games, while 6ft 3in Hanson, also 21, has scored twice. He wins virtually everything in the air and this slick, young duo have probably prompted Stuart McCall to compare his side this week to the one that won Division Three (as was) in 1985. The flame-haired one, then 20, was in that side.

It is in the "quiet" moments that punters should take most note. It can take a little time for teams to gel and the beauty of League Two - as opposed to the Premier League - is that you get a little time to do it during the season.

I fancy the high-flying Bees of Barnet to be pulled down a peg or two at Underhill on Saturday. Even if I have been guilty of underestimating Barnet already this season, Ismail Yakubu and Daniel Leach at the back will have their work cut out containing Bradford's potent pair. Barnet have their own attacking strengths, of course, in Albert Adomah and John O'Flynn, but with Luke O'Brien in strong form this could just be Bradford's moment to land the odds of [3.2]. Certainly a point is not beyond the visitors and the hosts should be laid at [2.3].

Accrington are also over-priced at Hereford. Nineteen-year-old midfielder Robert Grant seems to have slotted right in alongside experienced hand Andy Proctor, even scoring twice at Bury a couple of weeks ago. So much for the loss of wantaway striker Paul Mullin to Morecambe. The maxim of only wanting people at a club who want to be there has been applied and it shows with two wins on the bounce.

Hereford boss John Trewick, meanwhile, has stated his desperation to sign new faces. A 1-0 defeat to Grimsby should tell you all you need to know about the state of affairs at the relegated Bulls. Three of their last four goals have been penalties, so let's face it, the way to stop them is do what all managers tell their players - don't foul in your own third of the field. The [3.15] is too good to resist as the value bet of the week. A side dish of under 2.5 goals at [1.85] should also be on your menu.

Goals, meanwhile, might well flow at the Pirelli. Both sides like to play attractive, open football, which should make for a cracking game betwix Burton and Dagenham.
I have a sneaking suspicion Dagenham's more consistent start should earn all the spoils, but there are no guarantees, with their avalanche of goals, as last season, coming at home rather than on their travels. Paul Peschisolido's demands for more passing, in his half-time talk in Burton's 1-1 draw at Bradford last weekend, will surely play into the visitors' hands, making [1.9] on over 2.5 goals bet irresistible.

Torquay, at home to Grimsby, and Port Vale, who host Bury, were both in the cauldron of consideration for my final bet.

I shall stick with the Valiants, who seem to have found a little form, against the Skakers who are sadly still out of it - take the [2.3] on joy at Vale Park.