English Football League / Ian Lamont / 09 March 2012 /

Swindon should win yet again after another three points in midweek but perhaps the even safer bet is Torquay to beat Bristol Rovers. Ian Lamont talks us through these and other good betting opportunities in League Two this weekend.

Torquay [2.08] Bristol Rovers [4.1] Draw [3.5]

Though I admire the job Mark McGhee is doing at Rovers - and believe firmly that the Pirates are punching below their weight in the division - they might find Torquay too dominant. Torquay should win, but it might be by a slim margin, despite the match's "derby" nature, because that appears to be Torquay's pattern. In beating in-form Aldershot on Tuesday, they continued their trend of winning 1-0, which they have done nine times in 15 games. The other two wins in that run came via the equally slim margin of 2-1. Rene Howe added to the weight of different scorers on Tuesday. Bristol might be more stubborn than under Paul Buckle, who switched from Plainmoor to Rovers in the summer, but being safe from the drop might not have their tails up in the same way as the Gulls.

Back Torquay at [1.89]

Swindon [1.83] Cheltenham [5.0] Draw [3.6]

Can Swindon be considered short priced in this top two clash? Not when you consider they won 10 in a row before defeat at Oxford, then beat Dagenham 4-0 in the week to bounce back. They have won all but three home games, conceding just eight goals. In that context, [1.83] seems positively generous on Paolo Di Canio's men. Billy Bodin continues the fine scoring form he found at Torquay on loan but Paul Benson has been the fulcrum, giving the Robins' attack another dimension. Eight goals since signing on January 1 - phenomenal. But the tinker man in charge likes to keep the players on their toes. Jonathan Tehoue has been recruited from Leyton Orient on loan. Cheltenham's away record might be the second best in the division to Southend's, but that statistic masks recent results on their travels - two wins and one draw, against the division's poorer sides, in the last five. Two wins in eight make the County Ground the last place they want to visit.

Back Swindon at [1.83]

Northampton [2.8] Aldershot Town [2.66] Draw [3.4]

Ade Akinfenwa seems in fine form for Northampton, scoring five in four games and six in seven. The Cobblers really need the points but teams in their position never feel confident even after a few wins (three in five games). Aidy Bothroyd's men are really making a go of the battle and have beaten Bristol Rovers, Macclesfield and AFC Wimbledon at home, losing only to Port Vale in the last four there. Is that enough to see off an Aldershot side whose six-win run was ended at Torquay in midweek? The visitors do have something to play for, even if reaching the play-offs remains a long-shot. I fancy the draw, with both teams fighting for different causes.

Back the draw at [3.4]

Rotherham [1.84] Plymouth [4.5] Draw [3.65]

The Pilgrims will fancy their chances of a positive result here, despite the swirling, windy, open and uninviting nature of the Don Valley. Carl Fletcher's men are on the upward curve I believe and are showing their battling qualities to stay up. It is as tight as I can remember in recent years at the bottom and only four defeats in 17 games makes Plymouth a solid candidate to maintain progress away from the bottom. The statistic more than hints at the consistency needed to pull off the escape, even if only five of those 17 have been wins. That means eight draws, which indicates a "keep it tight" policy. A midweek win at Wimbledon keeps their heads above drop zone water for now. Another point here looks distinctly possible as the Millers have drawn four of their last five game, with no more than two goals in total in any of their last seven games. With Plymouth conceding one or nought in nine of their last 10, don't expect a thriller.

Lay Rotherham at [1.84] and back under 2.5 goals at [1.89]

'.$sign_up['title'].'

'; } } ?>

:

:

:

?

: