League Two Tips: Plenty of action anticipated at Sutton

Gray's men can avenge FA Cup defeat

Sutton United 2.26/5 v Bristol Rovers 2.757/4; the draw 3.613/5

Both sides will be in confident mood when they clash at Gander Green Lane. Both have four wins and double figures for goals scored in their past six matches. Both have had a midweek without a match, which will be a relief in particular to Bristol City left-back Josh Grant, whose regular injuries mean two games a week is problematic.

Matt Gray's hosts have a top three spot in their sights still (they only miss out currently by a goal) and have won five of an unbeaten last six at home, featuring four clean sheets stress Opta. They are unbeaten in seven games, home or away.

The manager believes his side don't get the credit they deserve, declaring their strengths of being a big side who are good at set pieces being just one part of the armoury that has taken them to the top end of the division.

Millwall's Isaac Olaofe is clearly relishing his third loan spell at the club, joining David Adijobe on seven goals as top scorer.

Their last six games have featured 17 goals. Bristol Rovers' last six have featured 19, as a fine run has edged them within shouting distance of their aim - the top seven.

Ryan Loft is a cute January capture from Scunthorpe (although yet to score) while Aaron Collins threatens all the time. He and Anthony Evans are very capable of popping up with goals from midfield and it seems both teams have much to play for. Which means they should continue to attack in current waves.

With over 2.5 goals and the home win both priced at 2.26/5 or thereabouts on the exchange, punters could do worse than to simply plumb for both, as the U's try to avenge this season's FA Cup defeat by their opponents, who they face for the first time in the EFL, Opta point out.

The stats compilers add that Rovers beat Scunthorpe in their most recent away game, but haven't won back-to-back away league games since October 2020.

Tranmere can continue great away form

Barrow 2.915/8 v Tranmere Rovers 2.8615/8; the draw 3.309/4

Tranmere came back from their mauling against Forest Green (they seem to save up all their goals against, rather like their goals for) by taking yet another narrow win, over Stevenage.

They will have to up their away though, having taken six draws on their travels. They didn't create too many chances on their last away trip, to Crawley, but just needed that half chance to sneak in through a crowded penalty area from a free kick, Jay Spearing obliging.

They have a great spine and that sense that they are very difficult to break down. Top scorers Kieron Morris (5), a midfielder, and Charlie Jolley (4) really need to push quickly towards 10 goals to give their team a sense they can rely on one outlet to net. Manager Micky Mellon must be frustrated with the low scoring matches. Clean sheets are one thing, but winning by the off goal most of the time is a bit of a risk.

Stevenage have upped their game recently and were no easy meat to overcome. Barrow lost three in a row - two to sides in real form - before a surprise midweek win at Northampton. Mark Cooper has been delighted to bring in promotion-winning former Bradford skipper Niall Canavan to the defence, and John Rooney for another spell at the club.

However, whether they can overcome Tranmere as they did Northampton is a different matter. What's more, with Josh McPake further embedded into the Rovers routine, the visitors should have enough to eke out a victory.

Opta say that five of the past nine meetings between these two have been drawn, but further add the more telling recent statistic that Tranmere have won three of their last four away games (after just two in the previous 16), while home boss Cooper has lost his last two against the visitors (having previously done the double over them twice).

Revived Boro can hold back-in-form Crawley

Crawley 2.6613/8 v Stevenage 3.185/40; the draw 3.412/5

According to Crawley boss John Yems, they can go from the worst performance he has seen in his tenure - when losing against Tranmere - to being fabulous again by beating Bradford and then drawing at high-flying Swindon. Well maybe he didn't quite say the latter, but he sure was angry about losing at home to Micky Mellon's side.

The Tranmere match was a bit of a scrap, with neither side creating many chances before yet another away win by a single goal. Had this match been back in the autumn, I am convinced Crawley would have won. However, Boro have picked up under Paul Tisdale, as they proved as recently as January 18 when they beat the Reds at their place, 2-1.

Yems is not shy of a few colourful comments, describing midfielder Jack Powell as a player who can "leave his brain in the dressing room" or be fantastic. Which he has been in the past two games, creating one goal and scoring another. If he puts any foot wrong, new signing Isaac Hutchinson will be there to replace him. George Francomb has started to frequent midfield, too, having played most of his career at full-back.

The manager will hope Alex Nichols can continue his fine form having scored three goals in six games. Scoring just five League Two goals this season leaves the striker well short of where he would like to be.

Crawley average a goal against and a goal for in their past six games, bagging eight points. More pertinent, perhaps, is the Opta revelation that they have conceded in each of their past 10 home games, something they have only done once previously since their promotion to the EFL in 2011 (in 2018).

Stevenage have just one defeat, notching 11 points with a 12-7 goal difference. They have also lost 1-0 to Tranmere. Midfielder Jake Taylor seems to be enjoying a new freedom, having scored all his three foals for the season in the past six games. Luke Norris also has three in that time.

It took Tisdale a while to make a difference, clearly, picking up just two points with Stevenage scoring just once in his first five games. Now they are motoring, but Crawley should have the inclination and quality to hold them to a draw, especially if they have any ambitions of reaching the top seven.

Last season's 1-0 win in this fixture by Stevenage was the first time Crawley had failed to score against them at home in the football league, say Opta. I have a feeling they will at least do that, in a score draw.