15th August 2014

Bristol City v Colchester United

Bristol City are 7/10 to follow up their opening-day victory at Sheffield United with another three points at home to Colchester, who are 15/4 to take the spoils after going down to higher-division opposition in the Cup in midweek. Colchester led 1-0 and trailed 2-1 before drawing 2-2 with Oldham last weekend. Another draw is 11/4 here, with a 2-2 correct score bet returning 12/1. The home side’s Sam Baldock is the warm 7/2 favourite to be the first goalscorer, with Jabo Ibehre the shortest-priced player for the visitors at 8/1.

Top tip: Second-half to have most goals at even-money.

Chesterfield v Rochdale

Last season’s Sky Bet League 2 champions Chesterfield got their League 1 campaign off to a fine start with victory at Leyton Orient last weekend and gave Huddersfield a good run or their money in midweek too. The Spireites are 21/20 to make it two wins from two when they host fellow promoted side Rochdale (13/5). Both games between these two in League 2 last season ended 2-2; a repeat of that scoreline is 12/1 while any stalemate is 12/5. Eoin Doyle tops the first goalscorer betting for the home side at 9/2.

Top tip: Both teams to score in the first half at 7/2.

Crawley Town v Swindon Town

Swindon Town finished only a couple of places outside the play-off spots in Sky Bet League 1 last season and made a good start to their bid to get into the end-of-season shake-up this time around by beating Scunthorpe United 3-1 in their season opener. They’re 23/10 to pick up another victory at Crawley Town, who are 6/5 to make it two wins out of two themselves in the league, the home side having also enjoyed a fine evening in the Capital One Cup in midweek. These teams played out 1-1 and 0-0 draws last season, and its 23/10 for honours to end even once more.

Top tip: Draw and under 2.5 goals in match at 11/4.

 

Crewe Alexandra v Barnsley

Barnsley start as 7/5 favourites in a clash between two sides that tasted defeat on the opening day of the season, but who met only days ago in the Capital One Cup. Barnsley bossed parts of that game, but ultimately went down 2-0 to Alex and Crewe can be backed at 19/10 to win again in 90 minutes with the draw 23/10. Barnsley went down to an 82nd-minute Izale McLeod goal against Crawley Town last weekend; it’s 20/1 for the opening goal in this match to again come after the 80th minute.

Top tip: Draw at half-time at 11/10.

 

Doncaster Rovers v Port Vale

Doncaster Rovers are odds-on at 10/11 to build on an impressive 3-0 win at Yeovil Town with another three points here as they look to bounce back into the Sky Bet Championship. They had to wait for a late winner at York in the Cup in midweek and it’s 20/1 that the first goal in this match comes after the 80th minute. Port Vale started their Sky Bet League 1 campaign with a 1-1 draw against Walsall, but showed their goalscoring power when putting six past Hartlepool in midweek, and are 3/1 to get a win on the board here. Rovers are 13/2 to repeat their feat of the opening day and win by three or more goals.

Top tip: Both teams to score at 8/11.

Gillingham v Yeovil Town

Yeovil Town are 17/10 to bounce back from a 3-0 defeat to Doncaster on the opening day with a victory at Gillingham (13/8), but they will need to reverse the form of a midweek defeat to the same side in the Capital One Cup. The Gills are looking for their first League points of the season after a 4-2 defeat to MK Dons on the opening day. Gillingham are 4/1 to win on the handicap betting giving up a one-goal start. It’s 8/11 for both teams to score, while Danny Kedwell and James Hayter are the joint-favourites to be first goalscorer at 11/2.

Top tip: Both teams to score at 8/11.

Notts County v Fleetwood Town

Notts County finished just above the drop zone last season, but came within a couple of minutes of starting the new campaign with victory at Preston. A 1-1 draw at a side that finished in the play-off zone last season represents a solid start, though, and the Magpies are 13/8 to build on that with victory over Fleetwood Town. The visitors are the same price after seeing off Crewe last weekend, with the draw on offer at 23/10. David Ball at 6/1 is the shortest-priced player to open the scoring for Fleetwood, who did well to take Rotherham to extra-time in midweek.

Top tip: Both teams to score in the first half at 7/2.

 

Oldham Athletic v Leyton Orient

We’re struggling to split these two with Oldham Athletic at 17/10 and Leyton Orient 6/4 in the match betting. The draw is 23/10. Orient, who finished third in the division last season, will be keen to get back to winning ways after a home defeat to Chesterfield. The O’s can be backed at 17/2 to win 3-0, 3-1 or 3-2 in the group score betting, with Darius Henderson – who scored for them in midweek in the Cup – a 5/1 chance to be the first scorer in this match. It’s Jonathan Forte and Jonson Clarke-Harris who are considered the home side’s most likely players to open to scoring at 6/1.

Top tip: Under 1.5 goals at 5/2.

 

Peterborough United v MK Dons

Two sides near the head of the outright betting line up in a key early-season clash that could shape the top of the Sky Bet League 1 table. Both sides are already up and running nicely after starting the season with victories, and Peterborough United are a shade of odds-against at 11/10 to prevail here with the MK Dons and the draw both priced at 12/5. Peterborough came out on top in both encounters last season, winning four and losing two of their last six home games, and they weren’t disgraced against Portsmouth in the Cup. MK Dons put four past Gillingham and both teams look to have goals in them. Try over 3.5 goals in this match at 2/1.

Top tip: Over 3.5 goals at 2/1.

 

Scunthorpe United v Preston North End


Two sides both looking for their first league win of the season after a defeat and a draw respectively on the opening day. Preston North End remain among the main contenders for promotion at 5/2, and are the favourites for this one at 13/10, with Scunthorpe United 2/1 and the draw 23/10. Preston are 7/2 to win here giving Scunthorpe a one-goal start and their Joe Garner is favourite to net the game’s first goal at 11/2. The home side’s best chances may come from Paddy Madden (13/2 to be first scorer in the match), who also got on the scoresheet in the Cup in midweek.

Top tip: Paddy Madden to score in the match at 2/1.

 

Walsall v Bradford City


Two sides who will likely be happy enough with the start they made to the campaign this season, Bradford City edging out Coventry 3-2 and Walsall drawing 1-1 at Port Vale. The hosts are 23/20 to record victory in their first home game of the season, while Bradford are 12/5 with the draw 23/10. All four teams scored in these sides’ opening fixtures and both teams to score here is 8/11, while those hoping for a goal extravaganza might be tempted by the offer of 16/1 that both teams can score in both halves!

Top tip: Both teams to score at 8/11.

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