League Two Tips: Back experienced Salford away

Henderson can make the case for happy Ammies

Stevenage 4.03/1 v Salford 2.26/5; the draw 3.613/5

Gary Neville, one of the Salford City co-owners, says he fundamentally disagrees with salary caps, which limit League Two clubs to £1.5 million in light of Covid-19, but he understands why the clubs are for it on the whole.

It's easy for him not to like it, when he has funds to plough into his project and so do several of his former Manchester United team-mates. But two other stories this week strike home reality for most. Firstly, Rick Parry, the EFL chairman, said several member clubs were on the brink of collapse. And then he had to deny rumours that the League One and Two seasons might be curtailed because clubs couldn't afford it without the income from fans in stadiums.

On another basis, it feels like playing roulette each week commenting on matches when they could be called off through positive Covid-19 tests.

Neville has also said Salford got a "clip round the ear" last season after struggling to realise their aim of promotion. Graham Alexander's Ammies seem to have started in the same vein as last year in one sense, with a barnstorming away win but draws at home. Last season they had five wins, six draws and eight defeats at home, but eight wins and five draws and defeats away, with a 29-22 goal difference.

A total of 11 newcomers over the summer shows no resting on laurels. After Ian Henderson scored twice at Grimsby, making it four goals in his first two games, one reviewer said how lucky they had been to sign Rochdale's second highest all-time goalscorer.

The striker is 35, but age is no barrier to enjoying, or succeeding in, this division. With Tom Elliott, 29, and Bruno Andrade, 26 but with plenty of action at Lincoln, the Ammies are fitting in a lot of experience to their attack.

Stevenage coped with Inih Effiong missing a penalty to win 3-0 at home to Oldham, before losing at Bradford without three players after positive coronavirus tests.

But with Salford goalkeeper Vaclav Hladky's skills fully called upon last weekend against Forest Green, the hosts will need to take any chances they can muster. Hladky saved the most shots in the Scottish Premier League last season. Opta point out Salford are unbeaten in five games, with four clean sheets. It's not hard to see why.

Midfielder Elliot Osbourne announced himself with man of the match that day, but, relative to their hosts, Alex Revell's men look inexperienced.

Two sides still finding their stride could draw

Tranmere 2.166/5 v Scunthorpe 4.131/10; the draw 3.412/5

The BBC Breakfast sports reporter was most amused when she arrived at Tranmere this week, to talk about the financial difficulties within the EFL with chairman Mark Palios, to see the tactics board being wiped as she arrived. Did they think she was spying, she asked, ahead of the game against Scunthorpe on Saturday?

Maybe after three goalless League Two and League Cup appearances there was a simple message, in the style of Steve McClaren when in the embers of his England management days: score. Tranmere are one of three sides, says Opta, yet to score in the division.

They netted in midweek at least, against Liverpool U21s in the EFL Trophy, winning 3-2 through goals from James Vaughan (who had replaced Kaiyne Woolery at half-time), and Stefan Payne. Scoring will at least be a relief to boss Mike Jackson.

Jordan Hallam's only goal of the game gave the Iron their first win of the season against a Carlisle side already seemingly struggling. Alex Gilliead took advantage of an opponent's mistake to set up the chance.
Boss Neil Cox didn't think they played well. A gale seemed to take over to inhibit the football. Rory Watson made some fine saves.

Neither side have really hit their stride yet, and as draws continue to proliferate in the division (just over a third at 12 out of 34 matches), it seems reasonable to think this could be another.

Tristan's trajectory has Exiles excited

Newport 2.47/5 v Mansfield 3.39/4; the draw 3.55/2

Cup kings Newport have enjoyed the start to the season. Games thick and fast in meaningful competitions seem to suit them. And losing to Newcastle on penalties in the League Cup shouldn't have been too draining, what with the lack of extra time.

Even without a crowd to watch the glory, the players still rise to the occasion, having seen off Swansea and Watford this season.

A visit from Mansfield, then, should hold no fear for Mike Flynn's men, for example Tristan Abrahams, who already has six League Cup and League Two goals, including the two that sank Bolton on their own ground last weekend.

Flynn says his striker, who is in his second season at the Exiles since switching from Norwich, could play at a higher level. He might want to be careful what he wishes for the 21-year-old.

Padraig Amond might be relieved the talk is not all about him. Opponents might take their eyes off him as a result. The manager says he has a fantastic group.

They have scored in every match so far, winning five and drawing two (if we count the game lost on penalties). Confidence must be high.

The Mansfield camp is less happy. Off the field, the owners have taken the unusual step of saying the club is financially secure - amid all those stories implying EFL clubs are struggling - but encouraged fans to sign up to the televised match service.

But on the field, Graham Coughlan's frustration at "sloppy" fielding to concede twice against Exeter having led was obvious. He also said they have "switched off" in the 2-2 draw at Leyton Orient. They have at least started to score, forwards Jordan Bowery and Andy Cook are off the mark along with defender Rollin Menayese.

We have had a few false dawns hoping the Exiles can turn great cup exploits into a fully fledged promotion bid. But a price of 2.47/5 on the hosts seems a bit large on form. It won't be repeated for other home matches if Newport, who will be aiming to win three consecutive games for the first time since last October say Opta, can keep up their momentum.

Once they score, Rovers can roar

Forest Green 2.35/4 v Walsall 3.55/2; the draw 3.613/5

Mark Cooper says he knows for a fact that if Forest Green play like they did against Salford, a match he insists they should have won, they will win a lot of games. Doubtless I will have picked the wrong match to tip on - Exeter have an equally winnable home match at the same price - but I'm going to trust that the improved 'shots on target' ratio is going to keep climbing.

Five shots on target - three more than the week before - were among the positives for the Rovers manager, who marvelled at the Salford keeper's showing. If they could achieve three more on target, eight, they should really be scoring from sufficient of them to give themselves eight points for the season.

It's always been a bit of an "if" with Forest Green, because scoring has never seemed their forte, Carl Winchester thunderbolts excepted.

Jayden Richardson has settled in well, on loan from Nottingham Forest, and teaming up with his old Exeter clubmate Jordan Moore-Taylor gives him familiarity in a new setting. But that's on the defensive side.

Aaron Collins, who has scored once, and Jamille Matt really have to start converting those chances.

Cooper seems confident and certain of success. Walsall's development seems less progressed, partly because their game against Leyton Orient was postponed.

Ryan Holden says he is worked to repay his manager Darrell Clarke's faith - and the boss says the penny has dropped for striker Elijah Adebayo, 22, who can be a total handful at this level. His form at the end of last season was why Opta can point to the fact they haven't lost in seven League Two matches.

Cooper's solid defensive unit will have to game manage his threat, but the Rovers boss will hope the penny drops sufficiently with his own strikes to secure three points.