League Two and FA Cup Tips: Back Bantams and Stags

Bradford are in better shape than before

Scunthorpe 3.02/1 v Bradford 2.6213/8; the draw 3.412/5
League Two, Saturday, 15:00

Mark Trueman and Conor Sellars have not lost since replacing Stuart McCall as managers at Bradford, earning 11 points in five games. Further on the plus side, not receiving a nomination for manager of the month means they can't win it and suffer the curse of losing the next game.

Levi Sutton has earned plenty of plaudits for epitomising the Bantams' improved performances. Fellow midfielder Elliot Watt says the pair understand each other inside out. Onlookers also feel as a whole that Bradford are tougher to break down and a more cohesive unit than under their previous boss.

Lee Novak is keen to tie himself to a longer contract and if there is one worry it is that they haven't scored enough even in their revival. Novak has three goals in their unbeaten five games, but they have only scored five in total. Sutton netted one of the others and the final one was by midfielder Harry Pritchard, his second of the season. If only they could have harnessed Clayton Donaldson in his prime, rather than close to the end of his career.

They have only conceded two goals in five games, though, and one of those clean sheets and wins came at one-time league leaders Cambridge.

They could well pick up a win at Scunthorpe, who are the latest victims of the Stevenage rally, losing 3-1 despite Devarn Green scoring first, after just five minutes.

Points to look out for in the Iron's favour are that they have scored twice in three of their past five games and indeed their last two home matches. Miles Hippolyte has practically begged Neil Cox to use him as a central striker not on the wing, while they remain capable of stunning wins. A 5-2 victory at Harrogate for example, with Abo Eisa and Ryan Loft both scoring.

But only two wins in their past seven (as Opta point out that's five defeats and they don't do draws, with one in 20 league games) and not scoring in three of them shows an inconsistency that gives the visitors a real chance to cement their progress.

Improving pair can share a draw

Southend 3.412/5 v Barrow 2.35/4; the draw 3.613/5
League Two, Saturday 15:00

Manager Mark Molesley will be hoping that whatever fired Southend to three victories and a draw from mid-December can be found again by his players. A disappointing reverse at Leyton Orient suddenly seemed out of character and against the grain.

An enforced weather-related lay-off last weekend gave them time to regroup ahead of what should be a more winnable match than that postponed one at Newport. Barrow, as Opta point out, might have won two in an unbeaten three, but that is as many victories as they have taken in 20 previous league games. They are under new management now, of course.

The price on the hosts therefore seems generous if James Olayinka, Simeon Akinola or Thimothee Dieng can conjure something as they did in Southend's recent unbeaten run. Experienced winger Ricky Holmes has become the latest out of work player to want to join the Shrimpers. Centre-back Shaun Hobson, 22, has been voted player of the month by supporters. He says that it has taken a while for the players to shift their mentality after struggling for many months across seasons, but that there is a chance of attitude because of the management team's insistence and pushing of that side of the game.

Barrow will find this trip to Essex anything but straightforward. They are dangerous opponents, because Scott Quigley, whose goals propelled them into the Football League, has scored in four games running - and the team have done so in five in a row, either side of Michael Jolly's appointment as manager. Two clean sheets in their last three games suggest the visitors could gain a draw. Five of their opening eight matches this season finished level and their most recent game, at home to Tranmere, also finished that way.

Cambridge must deliver - at a decent price

Cambridge 2.56/4 v Harrogate Town 3.259/4; the draw 3.412/5
League Two, Saturday 15:00

Cambridge's price of 2.56/4 here is a reflection of their inconsistency. The signing of Jubril Okedina, on loan from Tottenham, shows where Mark Bonner's transfer market priorities lay: defence. The 20-year-old can play at right-back or centre-back.

In wild west shoot-out fashion, it seems a case of whose quick-fire signings will prove most fruitful. Harrogate have captured three: striker Josh March on loan from Forest Green, midfielder William Hondermarck, 20, on loan from Norwich and Kettering defender Jay Williams, formerly of Northampton, so with league experience. Simon Weaver promised to add strength and depth to his squad.

The U's have won six times at home (drawing three and losing two) while the Sulphurites have had much more success on their travels than at home, with six wins and a draw from 11. Paul Mullin, who has rocketed to the top of the scoring charts with 18 League Two goals this season, will want to score to push Cambridge back to the top three.

The hosts have at least won two in a row at the Abbey Stadium, winning three and losing three of their last six games overall.

Harrogate won on Boxing at Exeter, a turn up for the books. The previous time they won on a Saturday was 15 league games previously. They won twice in between, both on Tuesdays. An anomaly? A worthy statistic? Who knows? But they have something to find to actually win, while they rarely draw. Cambridge have conceded in each of their past 12 games emphasise Opta, which doesn't help their cause. But if they are serious about a promotion push they really need to deliver at a decent price.

Mansfield can cup-italise on good run

Cheltenham 2.265/4 v Mansfield 3.711/4; the draw 3.412/5
FA Cup, Sunday 13:30

Mansfield appear to be on a roll, at last, after a stuttered start under Nigel Clough. He was appointed manager just before the Stags beat Sunderland in the FA Cup in November, after no wins in the league to that point.

George Lapslie scored the only goal that day - and another in the 2-1 win at Forest Green a week later. And with neat symmetry he netted the first on Tuesday as Mansfield held off a Salford fightback to take a third straight win for the first time in two years. The result was also a second straight home win in quick succession, having not won at home in League Two this season, although they did defeat Dagenham at Field Mill in the FA Cup second round.

On the back of three wins (scoring nine goals) and a draw, they now go into Sunday's all-League Two FA Cup tie at Cheltenham full of confidence. Jordan Bowery has scored in all four of that unbeaten run, including a hat-trick in the 4-0 mauling of Port Vale.

Can the 15th-placed Stags now beat a team that has showed enough quality and consistency this season to be sitting fourth in League Two? Arguably, they are the underdog at 3.613/5 to win about the same price as the draw. But that makes them dangerous.

For the Robins, the FA Cup is a distraction from something they can actually win - promotion. There is a chink in their home form, with five wins, three draws and three defeats from their 11 games.

Furthermore, they have had a largely dreadful December. Having won at Bradford, they seemed to use up their goals for the rest of the month with a 5-3 win over Exeter at home, since when they have scored once in four games, drawing two nil-nil and scoring that solitary goal at home to Stevenage in another draw.

Manager Michael Duff must be deeply frustrated that his side are not in the top three, with a better points return in those past five. Maybe Gary Neville's compliment that they were "head and shoulders" above any other League Two team that the Salford co-owner has seen this season has gone to the players' heads. They were good in attack and defence, said the former Manchester United great. Alfie May and George Lloyd hit the metalwork when the teams met on December 12. Another distraction is that Duff has been linked as a "leading contender" for the Fleetwood Town vacancy.

Striker Reuben Reid is on his way to Yeovil, so the Robins seek another. Andy Williams hasn't scored since the Exeter match, so is due to add to his six. But I think the confident visitors can pull off the win.