League Two Betting: Back Salford on the rise

Ian Lamont
09 August 2019

Dannie Bulman, 40, the Crawley Town midfielder

Dannie Bulman won't want to end his career at his beloved Crawley with relegation

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Crawley, once seen as rich and swift climbers, find the boot on the other foot now and Ian Lamont says they could suffer defeat at home...

"Midfielder Dannie Bulman, 40, says Crawley is the team that has "got my heart" because it has been the place of his best achievements. He won't want to add relegation to that at the end of his career."

Upwardly mobile City too strong for Bulman's Red Devils

Crawley 3.39/4 v Salford City 2.68/5; the draw 3.613/5

Jealousy is an all too common human trait. Jamie Carragher was accused of it this week after pulling fun, in a tweet, at a "small club just outside Manchester" who desperately needed funds having played their first Football League match.

They are, of course, part owner by his fellow Sky pundit Gary Neville, along with a few other famous ex-Manchester United players. And they've got plenty of financial support, which means people are jealous of their success - just like they were once with Crawley.

The Red Devils - that's the Sussex variety, not those in Manchester - faced accusations of buying their way into the Football League, and then League One. But even if you do have money, you still have to perform on the pitch. Cash doesn't mean automatic success, even if it means probable success in the end. It is not even that Salford are unsupported - they averaged 2,500 gates last year.

The Ammies seem to have a large number of players at their disposal, including Adam Rooney - who has a famous cousin - who scored prolifically as Salford were promoted, while Emmanuel Dieservuvwe netted twice last weekend, deflecting attention. They also have experience, if age is anything to go by. Opta point out that City's team that beat Stevenage had the oldest average age in the division at 28 years 271 days.

City also have a wily manager in Graham Alexander, who has experience at Scunthorpe and Fleetwood and knows what will be required at this standard.

There are those who have Crawley marked down for relegation this season - and a 2-1 defeat at Carlisle on the opening day will have done little to assuage those fears.

Midfielder Dannie Bulman, 40, says Crawley is the team that has "got my heart" because it has been the place of his best achievements. He won't want to add relegation to that at the end of his career, especially when the Broadfield is now called the People's Pension Stadium. It might not be in honour of the Football League's oldest outfield player but, honestly, you couldn't make it up.

Gabriele Cioffi, who substituted Bulman at half-time during his 400th Crawley appearance, said he took positives from that opening day defeat. And they had their chances, through Panutche Camara and one taken by Beryly Lubala. Lewis Young's dismissal at the end won't help team selection. It could be a tricky season for the hosts, so back the visitors on a roll.

If the visitors can pull off a victory, Opta say it will be the first time since Yeovil in 2003-04 that a side has won their first two games in the Football League.

Ladabie Can lead Exiles to more points

Cambridge United 3.211/5 v Newport County 2.767/4; the draw 3.55/2

Debutant Luke Hannant was widely praised for his work rate and industry in Cambridge's goalless start to the season at Bradford, where he suffered cramp but carried on and the team gained a point with 10 men.

Boss Colin Calderwood's team will need all their battling qualities this season, as he blends the youth and emerging talents with experience from the likes of striker Marc Richards who has signed a short-term contract.

The manager proved a clever wheeler dealer last January and it is fans hopes that he has done so again with the likes of Andrew Dallas up front and Samir Carruthers, if he signs on loan from Sheffield United in time to face Newport.

The Exiles proved why they will be a tough nut to crack against Mansfield. The old guard, Joss Ladabie and Padraig Amond, scored in a 2-2 draw. Captain Ladabie believes they are becoming a force to be reckoned with, even though their form last season indicates they already are.

Their opening match was described as "breathless" by one report and expect nothing less than an all action affair at the Abbey, with the visitors coming out on top.

Cambridge have lost all six of their recent encounters with Newport in all competitions, stress Opta, who add that the Exiles, unbeaten in 11 league games, have only once gone 12 unbeaten, in 1938.

Cobblers need to start living up to the hype

Port Vale 2.77/4 v Northampton 3.211/5; the draw 3.55/2

Quite a few people expect Northampton to go well this season - at least finish in the top seven.

They have signed a dozen players since last season, including the experienced Alan McCormack, 35, a midfielder who won League One with Luton last season, and Nicky Adams, 32, returning for a second spell having helped the Cobblers up and out of League Two in 2015-16.

Keith Curle couldn't quite finish the job - of promotion - at Carlisle, having stabilised a sinking team on his arrival. He was quick about replacing the team though in the summer, adding youth in the form of Macclesfield striker Harry Smith, 24, and Scott Wharton on loan from Blackburn to those who know the division and who are used to scrapping in it, including Vadaine Oliver who was at Morecambe last season.

Port Vale midfielder Luke Joyce has been quick to wind his opponents up this week, saying they will now be under pressure to perform having "spent big" in the past three months.

A home defeat - to Walsall - on the opening day wouldn't have been the start Curle's men wanted, but perhaps they need a little time to gel. The Valiants released nine at the end of the season. John Askey will want to get the best out of Tom Pope, who scored early from the spot in the draw at Colchester, if Port Vale are to rise above the relegation strugglers.

Old and new working well for Pilgrims

Plymouth 2.1411/10 v Colchester 3.9; the draw 4.1

John McGreal lost key players Sammie Smodiczs and defenders Frankie Kent and Brennan Dickson over the summer.

It will be interesting to see how he can develop Paris Cowan-Hall and Jevani Brown, both forgotten men it seems in League Two. Like all managers in the division, he has sought out some youth from Premier League academies and signed left-back Cohen Bramall from Arsenal.

Whether his combination of youth and experience can prosper and reach the play-offs, on which the U's missed out narrowly last season, will be the big test of the season.

Plymouth at Home Park should be an obstacle too far, not least because of the Opta stat they have never won there in 17 attempts, the most times they have travelled to any club in the Football League without winning.

Ryan Lowe will be keen to show the Devon supporters what a team he has built - from his former club Bury and beyond.

Callum McFadzean, one of the new faces, and Joel Grant, one of the old guard, scored the goals in the opening win at Crewe. Josh Grant, 20, a defender signed on loan from Chelsea this week which shows the measure of Argyle's ambition. Prices like 2.1411/10 won't be around on the Pilgrims at home for long.

P/L 2019-20

+ 1.2pt

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Recommended bets

Back Salford City to beat Crawley @ 2.68/5
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