It may be the fourth tier of English football and the lowest fully professional level of the EFL, but League 2 has been a goldmine for myself and CBK members. With a full slate of fixtures on Tuesday, I thought it was only right to share some of my favourite bets for midweek.
Crewe vs. Stockport: Crewe to Stock(port) on goals
What better way to start the article than with the CBK G.O.A.Ts Crewe Alexandra as they host Stockport FC at Gresty Road.
Crewe currently sit third in League 2, with 26 points from 14 games. Lee Bell’s side are the top scorers in the football league, with 34 goals in 14 games. The Railywaymen have scored two or more goals in 13/14 league games, with the exception of a 1-0 loss at Valley Parade against Bradford. They have the best home record in the league, with 17 points from seven, winning five games and drawing two. In these seven games, they’ve scored 17 and conceded eight.
Crewe’s last home defeat came against Leyton Orient on the 7th of February, so they have proven themselves a tough nut to crack.
Stockport currently tops the league with 29 points from 14 games, scoring 29 goals in the process. David Challinor’s side are the form team in the league, winning their last eight league games in a row. Louie Barry and Isaac Olaofe have led the charge, scoring nine goals each, with Olaofe scoring seven in his last six and Barry scoring eight in the last nine.
With mutual hatred between these two teams and goals in abundance displayed so far this season, expect an enticing and exciting game in Cheshire.
Matthew’s best bets:
Crewe over 1.5 team goals: 3.00 @ Bet 365
Over 2.5,3.0 goal line: 1.875 @ Bet 365
BTTS in both halves: 12.0 @ Bet365
Doncaster vs. Salford: Struggling to keep goals out at Keepmoat
Despite some people tipping Doncaster to finish in the top seven (what fraud would ever do such a thing?) Rovers have struggled this season and are currently 17th in the league.
However, Grant McCann’s side have turned it around in recent weeks, winning five of their last seven games, with their only losses coming away at strong opponents Barrow and Stockport. They’ve also found their scoring touch, scoring 2+ in 6/8, with over 2.5 match goals landing in 6/8.
The signing of Joe Ironside was seen as a real coup for Donny, but the 30-year-old struggled to make an early impact early on, scoring just once in his opening eight league games. However, he has finally found his goalscoring boots, scoring five in his last six.
Salford are another team who have struggled so far, despite plenty of pre-season hype, with some tipsters even having the audacity to tip them to win the league. Like Doncaster, Salford have scored 2+ goals in six of their last eight league games, with over 2.5 goals also landing the same amount of times. Neil Wood’s side have scored 2+ in their last six league encounters, losing just one of their last five games—a heartbreaking late collapse at Wrexham.
With both sides suddenly finding their groove in front of goal, Doncaster vs. Salford is another game where goals should be prominent.
Matthew’s best bets:
Over 2.5,3.0 goal line: 1.900 @ Bet365
BTTS in both halves: 11.00 @ Bet365
Both teams over 1.5 goals: 4.20 @ Bet365
Notts County vs. Newport County: Count(Y)ing the goals in Nottingham
The third game of the preview is the battle of the County’s as Notts County hosts Newport County.
Luke Williams’ side sits in second place after securing promotion back to the Football League via a dramatic playoff campaign. With thirty goals scored from 14 goals, the Magpies are the third-top scorers in the league. They’ve been particularly impressive at home, winning five and losing just one of their six home games, scoring 15 goals in the process. However, they’ve also looked suspect defensively, conceding 12 goals at Meadow Lane and 26 goals in total. All six games at home have seen over 2.5 goals land.
Their home games average 4.66 goals per game, with their away games seeing 3.5, meaning their games average four goals per 90. Despite being second in the league, Notts County have been lambasted for their inconsistency, losing 5-1 to last-placed Sutton, 5-4 to second-bottom Colchester, and 1-4 at home to rivals Mansfield. Despite this, they remain in second and will fancy their chances against Newport.
With 29 goals conceded, Newport currently have the second-worst defensive record in the league. Graham Coughlan’s side also boasts the best attacking record outside the top five, scoring 24 goals. Due to the frantic action at both ends, Newport games average 3.78 goals per game. Over 2.5 goals has landed in 12/14 for Coughlan’s side—the most in the league.
Their away record makes for grim reading, with the Exiles recording just one win away from home—a 3-0 victory over fellow strugglers Forest Green. Aside from this, Newport have lost to Accrington (3-0), Crewe (4-2), Crawley (4-1), Salford (2-1), and Swindon (2-0) on their travels. If these away-day woes continue, Newport could be in for a long afternoon in Nottingham.
Matthew’s best bets:
Notts County over 2.5 goals: 2.50 @ Bet365
Notts County over 3.5 goals: 5.00 @ Bet365
Notts County over 4.5 goals: 11:00 @ Bet365
Wrexham vs. Sutton: Red Dragons to Wrexham Havoc
I am afraid I am going to have to love you and leave you after this selection. There are plenty of other bets I like. Goals in Swindon. Goals in Walsall. Yes, there is a theme here. However, I will not bore you with those selections (I am lazy and can’t be bothered to explain the bets; sign up for VIP if you want these 😉 .
Wrexham, like Notts County, were promoted from the National League, blowing the competition out the window. They, also like Notts County, have started the League 2 season strongly. Phil Parkinson’s Hollywood Galacticos sit fourth in the league, with 28 goals and 26 conceded in 14 games, for an average of 3.85 goals per game. To say games at the Racecourse Ground have been entertaining is the understatement of the century, with the Welsh contingent being treated to a staggering 5.85 goals per game, with Wrexham scoring 23 and conceding 18. Due to the craziness of their home games, I will list the results below for your convenience:
3-5 MK Dons (L)
4-2 Walsall (W)
5-5 Swindon (D)
2-1 Doncaster (W)
3-0 Grimsby (W)
3-3 Crewe (D)
3-2 Salford (W)
As you can tell, Wrexham home games are radio rental, with over 2.5 goals landing in 7/7. They meet their match (not in the ability department but in the goals department) in Sutton United, who have seen over 2.5 goals land in 6/6 away games.
Matt Gray’s side have been diabolical this season and sit rock bottom of the league with seven points in 14 games, conceding a league-high 33 goals. They have been shocking away from home, losing all six while conceding 21 games. As I listed out all of Wrexham’s home games, it is only fair that I do the same for Sutton’s away games:
2-1 Barrow (L)
3-1 Newport (L)
5-3 Swindon (L)
4-1 Accrington (L)
3-0 Crawley (L)
4-1 Doncaster (L)
The U’S have seen an average of 4.66 goals per away game, conceding 2+ in all six and averaging 3.5 goals conceded per away game. First away clean sheet of the season anyway. Nah, but seriously, Wrexham will be licking their lips at the prospect of facing a dire Sutton side.
Matthew’s best bets:
Over 3.0 goal line: 1.8 @ Bet365
Wrexham over 2.5 goals: 2.20 @ Bet365
Wrexham over 3.5 goals: 4.0 @ Bet365
Wrexham over 4.5 goals: 9.0 @ Bet365
That ends the article there. But it would be rude not to have a ridiculous long shot to whet the whistle.
Notts County over 4.5 goals and Wrexham over 4.5 goals: 99.00 @ Bet365
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