League Two Betting Preview: Steady Eddie's great escape

English Football League / Ian Lamont / 12 February 2009 / Leave a Comment

In the face of adversity, Eddie Howe has worked wonders at Bouremouth and is a candidate for manager of the year. Can he keep up the good work? Ian Lamont previews this weekend's League Two action. Best Bet: Back Bournemouth to beat Accrington @ [1.85].

You can bring in whichever players you like but it doesn't guarantee success. Just ask Roman Abramovich.

It is trickier, probably more rewarding and certainly far more noteworthy to build a team with practically no money, as Eddie Howe has at Bournemouth.

For those who don't know, he was thrown in at the deep end for his first management job: the third manager of the campaign at the Football League's second bottom club; a long way from safety after a 17-point deduction; a club whose very existence hangs by a thread as consortiums discuss deals and pull out with sickening regularity.

So what does Steady Eddie do? He pulls in the passionate battlers - for next to nothing - those of captain material. Weymouth skipper Anthony Robinson to be precise - along with the experienced Laim Feeney from Salisbury, to add to Rhoys Wiggins, a youngster who continues to impress (how Crystal Palace must miss him) and the returning Cherries legend, the aging Steve Fletcher, up front.

Never mind Fergie or Benitez, if Howe keeps them up, he deserves manager of the year - and the freedom of Bournemouth.

Is the great escape possible? Several factors say yes. Firstly, you know your luck is in when you score the only goal of a game against promotion hopefuls - Shrewsbury - direct from a corner and by all accounts you won without playing well.

Secondly, they have an ideal chance to graft another victory at home to Accrington (two points from seven away games) on Saturday at a generous [1.85], albeit in another tight-scoring game where under 2.5 goals should be backed at [1.9].

Thirdly, and most poignantly, the answer to "can the teams above be caught?" is a resounding "yes" - certainly where free-falling Chester and Barnet are concerned. Grimsby are not safe either.

Despite Chester's penchant for imploding, I'll be backing Barnet at [3.2] to be the fall guys. I think Paul Fairclough knew the game was up when he handed over the first team reigns at the turn of the year. The squad is not strong enough. Ian Hendon bemoans poor defending every week and their goals conceded per game record is worse than even Chester's, especially after the 3-3 draw with Grimsby midweek.

Notts County, Barnet's hosts on Saturday, have enough about them to justify the [1.8].

As for Chester, things really are at a sorry pass when a self-combusting club has its manager's style roundly slated by a rival boss. Andy Scott watched Brentford thrash the Cheshire side last weekend - and seemingly could not wait to lash out at Mark Wright's management style - or apparent lack of it - when Scott was one of his charges at Oxford United.

You've reached rock bottom when opposing managers kick you when you're down. Even those fans who believe in Wright's ability to find decent players must be taking a deep breath when considering if points can be gained at Morecambe on Saturday.

And even with Sammy McIllroy worrying about Morecambe's injury list, Chester's inability to score in the past four games does not suggest they have much of a chance against a team with one defeat in eight. Take Morecambe for all three points at [1.8] or above.

Brentford drew at another North West side this week, but have more than enough to take all three points at home to Port Vale, despite the visitors' additions of Dave Brammer and Lee Collins.

Charlie MacDonald and strike partner Alex Rhodes have too much quality to be distracted. Brentford should be backed at [1.6], even if Scott's assessment that they can win the title is premature.

With seven teams odds-on to win at home there is the danger again of falling into the layers' trap.

So the last recommendation is Darlington to plough on up the table by winning at Lincoln, who have - admittedly - enjoyed an undefeated renaissance of late, mainly with draws.

However, in the context of four wins from five, Dave Penney's well-organised Quakers are overpriced at [2.8]. Even if you prefer to lay Lincoln at [2.5], just don't back the Imps to win.