Nearly men have a chance to prove themselves
Oldham [2.9] v Exeter [2.7]; the draw [3.4]
Exeter have been the nearly men over the past few seasons: Paul Tisdale took them to the play-off final two seasons running before, last year, under Matt Taylor, they missed out by a point and two places.
They have had a steady start and, in one way, an inauspicious one when Tom Parkes was banned for three games for violent conduct, cited via video after a clash late against Stevenage. He is suspended here, but they survived against Swindon, one of the better teams so far, and now effectively share top spot.
This, having only scored once in each of their three League Two games. Arsenal won championships that way – 1-0. Macclesfield were the other team they beat, so this is an equally tough test of progress.
Once again, an Exeter academy product finds himself in the spotlight. This time it is Ben Chrisene, says Taylor, who has the potential to be a top level player having become the Grecians’ youngest-ever player at 15 years and seven months. Ethan Ampadu was the last, Ollie Watkins (Brentford) and Matt Grimes (Swansea) were before him. However, the west country club need to become known for more than just a feeder club, producing talent for others. Fans, having earned stability off the field it seems, will want progress on it.
Rather than the future, the “here and now” could be another teen, Jayden Richardson, on loan from Nottingham Forest. Nicky Law (10 last season) and Ryan Bowman (5) need to keep banging in the goals and reach double figures each by Christmas if Exeter are to be pushing for promotion.
They have an excellent place to start, at Oldham whose season was given a good old jolt at Bradford with a 3-0 defeat.
Signing Zeus de la Paz took their keeper recruits this summer to three. Manager Laurent Banide demanded “better” of his players before their League Cup tie at Blackburn this time last week and was rewarded when they led until the closing stages. But Saturday will have been chastening. Mohamed Maouche rattled a post from 20 yards, but he, Desire Segbe-Azankpo and others have to start taking those chances before demoralisation sets in. This fixture could be a long night for the hosts.
Goals outweigh other options at the Abbey
Cambridge [2.8] v Scunthorpe [3.0]; the draw [3.3]
Scunthorpe have endured their start to League Two, rather than enjoyed it. Like many a relegated club, their slim early price of [12.0] to go back up has swiftly developed middle age spread of [30.0]. It’s never easy for the layers to judge which way fortunes will go – and that’s the beauty of sport.
They have an experienced manager in Paul Hurst – who did a fantastic job at Shrewsbury. But then again Macclesfield, after a magnificent promotion, appointed an experienced, respected hand in Mark Yates and they had a poor start. To say the least.
On Saturday, the Iron showed signs of determination to come from behind against Crawley, then lead 2-1 through Rory McArdle and Matthew Lund, only to be pegged back for a draw. And they could easily have lost to late penalty. Rory Watson proved the hero for a point and some believe his confidence will have really been given a boost by his performance. Ebo Eisa also impressed locals on his debut.
Jordan Clarke could return after injury, while Ryan Colclough (groin) could have to wait until the weekend after slipping in training, while Lee Novak – the only other person to have scored a goal for them this season – will be out for a couple of months.
They are still lacking a Saturday victory since February, points out a local statistician. In fact, if you are looking for any sort of competitive competition victory, their last came on a Tuesday – March 13. Which is all very much in the clutching at straws department.
Scunthorpe, in fairness, seem to have gritted their teeth and shown signs of life at the weekend, but I think it would be a risk too far to suggest they could add to the theory that suggests midweek results can buck form. It is theory, incidentally, to keep an eye on.
Colin Calderwood‘s men, after a slow start and two goalless draws, picked up their first win of the season on Saturday, quite surprisingly, at Colchester.
The experienced Marc Richards bagged an equaliser for the visitors, before Harry Darling’s element of surprise – scoring his first goal for the U’s – bagged the points late on.
I’m not utterly convinced about Cambridge yet, either. So, while we assess both sides I’m taking over 2.5 goals at [2.34] as both teams press for what each thinks will be a good chance to win. This could be an error-strewn, goalmouth-testing game to excite the “new” owner – shareholder Paul Barry‘s takeover bid being on the table for approval. Both side will be looking to make a point – and they might both get one, but goals are the over-riding consideration at the Abbey Stadium.
Toughened Valiants face strong visiting defence
Port Vale [2.34] v Forest Green [3.4]; the draw [3.6]
The Valiants feel frustrated for different reasons to bottom club Oldham. John Askey‘s men might not have won yet but at least they have three draws. Their latest frustration is that they were denied victory at Salford City because of an injury time equaliser.
Three draws, however, is far from a disaster. Three different scorers in Richie Bennett, Tom Pope and David Amoo is also a promising sign. David Worrall might be a doubt with a suspected broken nose, but it seems Askey might have toughened up the hosts who seemed to wilt at times last season.
We will see. Can they find a way past Forest Green’s mean defence which has only conceded once this season? If you add in the League Cup at Charlton they have three clean sheets. The backline looks strong.
Junior Mondal came off the bench to clinch the winner at Grimsby, but a lack of firepower in Mark Cooper‘s team has already become a worry for local observers. Yet they did fine without their top scorer for most of last season as they pushed into the play-offs. Lacking the summer departures Reece Hall and Christian Doidge could yet be a problem however.
Taylor Allen, also a substitute, brought the opening day victory over Oldham. Shawn McCoulsky looked great in pre-season. It is time he scored.
League Two seems tighter than ever this season when you consider only nine goals in the 12 games were scored before the hour on Saturday – and only 22 between the 24 clubs. It could be that, with a strong defence, Cooper can at least achieve another unbeaten game as both sides settle for a draw.
Lowe needs to find some quick answers
Plymouth [2.2] v Salford City [3.7]; the draw [3.5]
Salford didn’t enjoy their last trip south, having a total off day at Crawley. So they might feel a little trepidation for the doubly long trip to Devon, as they try to prove themselves against another of the pre-season favourites.
They fought back to take a point at home to Port Vale – who are taking a few by surprise this season – while Gary Neville, one of their co-owners, said a while back that they have reached the Football League three years early. Skipper Liam Hogan, Adam Rooney and co won’t see it that way, but the Ammies are beginning to find out what the division is all about now.
Plymouth will want to stamp out that enthusiasm pretty early in this encounter, even if it is a sell-out as looks possible. Ryan Lowe will also want to get that first defeat leading the team, against Newport, out of the system.
Loanee defender Josh Grant believes Argyle under Lowe is the perfect place to learn (at least until January) while the manager wants to sign an attacker in the last few days of the transfer window. He already has plenty, of course, but Byron Moore and Joel Grant have already picked up injuries. Ryan Taylor and Dom Telford have also had pre-season problems.
Solving these issues quickly will be key – and taking points in the meantime is crucial to establishing a resolve and reputation that will get the Pilgrims a foothold on their promotion ambitions, rather than see them falter in the first month. Lowe sorted out Bury for this time last year. He needs to draw on that experience again.
Source: BetFair Tips
