Midweek League One Betting Tips: Manning's Dons to go all out attack on Addicks

Pompey can maintain perfect start

Portsmouth v Shrewsbury Town

A perfect start for Pompey and the new Danny Cowley era. Cowley's methods have been a success save for Huddersfield everywhere he has gone, and a much-needed boost on the south coast has seen the chimes ringing again.

They brushed aside Crewe with ease at the weekend, and having tipped up the Alex, the reports indicated a woeful display. They were even outgunned on the passing stats - which rarely happens with David Artell's team.

Let's focus on the positives though for Portsmouth; and in particular the former Manchester United youth player Ryan Tunnicliffe - who gave their midfield some invention at last, a performance on Saturday that kept them ticking over, quickly and efficiently. That's exactly how Cowley likes his team to play. It was a fine debut from the 28-year-old who has never scaled the heights of some of his illustrious former team mates at Old Trafford, but he is a danger at League One level.

Prices for Tuesday night have the hosts at 1.768/11 and 5/6 on the Sportsbook, and that's fair given the hosts have made a perfect start with two wins from two.

Siding with Portsmouth has a raft a stats to support too from Opta, as they have lost just one of their last six against Tueday's opponents, and Shrewsbury themselves are woeful historically -losing 10 of their last 14. It's all fairly emphatic here.

We can back the hosts with some confidence as Salop have a thin squad, very thin. Manager Steve Cotterill battled Covid over the spring and has galvanised the club, but they are so short on numbers that it's impossible to even consider them. They fell apart in Saturday's 2-0 loss to Morecambe, and backing a blank again is the way to go here.

KEY OPTA STAT: This is Danny Cowley's third match against Shrewsbury Town and he has won his previous two, a 1-0 win in the 2018 Football League Trophy final at Wembley with Lincoln and 2-1 with Portsmouth last season.

Chairboys and Ainsworth looking good

Wigan Athletic v Wycombe Wanderers

One of the more curious stats on offer for this from Opta is that Wycombe haven't won any of their last 10 league games against sides with Athletic in their name (D3 L7) since beating Oldham 3-2 in March 2004. And they are outsiders at 3.1511/5 to try and break that hex.

Another former Manchester United star pops up again this week, with Will Keane scoring for Wigan on Saturday, beating a well-drilled Rotherham team with a 90th minute winner. That was a bruising encounter and the Latics were forced to defend at home for long periods. They can expect another bruiser on Tuesday.

Wycombe are back in the League One, and have made a supreme start with a pair of wins. They weren't quite at their best beating Cheltenham at the weekend 3-1, but the gulf in class from a relegated Championship side against a newly promoted one from League Two was huge and it marked a landmark weekend for teenager Oli Pendlebury who scored his first two senior goals for the club. Sam Vokes added another, a player with vast experience who will do well this season.

The Chairboys are highly effective and don't need much of the ball. Their passing stats have both been very low at 39% for their two wins, but Gareth Ainsworth showed in this division two seasons' ago, possession isn't needed.

Wycombe have never won away at Wigan in the Football League in seven previous attempts (D3 L4) but I like their price for Tuesday as the bigger of the two. This is their sternest test thus far, but the 3.1511/5 appeals plenty.

KEY OPTA STAT: Wigan's Stephen Humphrys has scored three goals in three league appearances against Wycombe, although he's ended on the losing side in both games he's scored in - scoring once in a 3-2 defeat in October 2018 and a brace in a 4-3 defeat in August 2019.

Attacking Dons to have too much for Addicks

MK Dons v Charlton Athletic

The MK Dons named their new manager last week; Liam Manning. A coach with experience at the Ipswich Academy and more latterly the Belgian second tier with SK Lommel. He guided them to a third-placed finish and was hailed a success. His methods fit in the with the Buckinghamshire club's ethos and instantly bore fruit with their 60% possession stat against Sunderland on Saturday.

The Black Cats triumphed 1-2 but it was a great game, pretty frenetic and several waves of attacks from Manning's team.

Spurs fans will be aware of the hype surrounding Troy Parrott, hype that has been floating around on social media for quite a while. And the on-loan Irish forward gave a bit of a cameo with some deft touches, audacious play and a first goal for MK. It highlights the strength in depth that Manning has at his disposal in terms of attacking options. They will always have a goal in them.

At times, the Dons bombarded Sunderland, although Lee Johnson's side are now unbeaten in all three games this season and are looking like the candidates they are meant to be. The Mackems are now 6/5 to be promoted on the Sportsbook.

Charlton boss Nigel Adkins lost for the first time away on Saturday at Oxford, and their midfield was cruelly exposed by United's three in the middle. They couldn't get the ball, nor could they make inroads further up the pitch than intended, something Adkins will need to rectify, but might be unable this Tuesday as MK will have the bulk of the possession again.

They've had a tough couple of opening games including their Sky match against Sheffield Wednesday, and one thing Adkins is clear on is the need to supply winger Charlie Kirk with more ball. Adkins is keen to solve that in the transfer window as Jayden Stockley up front is a handful and the Londoners almost play with two wingers off the forward. If the Dons can cut the supply lines to Stockley, they can win this and 2.68/5 on offer for an attacking team is very attractive.

KEY OPTA STAT: Charlton Athletic manager Nigel Adkins hasn't faced MK Dons in the league since April 2011, when his Southampton side came from 2-0 down to win 3-2 in a League One match thanks to a Jonathan Forte brace and goal from Lee Barnard.