Football betting analyst Mark O’Haire was back on the winning trail at the weekend and is looking for more success this midweek during Tuesday night’s card from League Two.
It’s been a while since I’ve been able to bask in the glory of a stoppage-time winner but Sunday’s match-up between Genoa and Atalanta certainly scratched that itch. Despite only returning a half-stakes profit, the feeling of exhilaration following two dramatically late goals at the Marassi can’t be matched and it’s a reminder of why we all adore this game.
On Saturday, RB Leipzig recovered from a wretched start to show what they’re capable of against all-conquering Bayern Munich after half-time. Die Rotten Bullen collected a well-deserved draw, justifying our selection opposing Bayern at odds-on quotes, to put us in a strong position ahead of a busy midweek from home and abroad.
Swindon were 21.0 shouts for League Two glory before a ball was kicked but Richie Wellens’ outfit have parachuted into rock-solid 6.0 market leaders after eight rounds of action. The Robins have pocketed five victories already and look a decent price just shy of even-money to enhance that excellent opening with another success at home to Colchester on Tuesday.
The Robins racked up three goals for their third successive encounter on Saturday when making mincemeat of Macclesfield (3-0) at the County Ground, and have now plundered at least two goals in all bar two of their League Two tussles thus far. The Wiltshire outfit are also amongst the fourth-tier front-runners across a range of major data metrics.
Town have also tabled three triumphs on home soil already this term with their only reverse against Northampton unjust. Swindon’s opponents scored a controversial goal that should have been ruled out – it was Northampton’s only attempt on-target as they managed just four efforts at goal overall and enjoyed only 34% of the ball at the County Ground.
Eoin Doyle scored in each half on Saturday to move onto seven goals – the most in the division – and his blossoming partnership with Jerry Yates is a match for any at this level. Keshi Anderson and Lloyd Isgrove are penetrating options from the flanks, with Danny Rose and Anthony Grant impressing in central areas. Michael Doughty is also back from a ban.
Swindon boss Richie Wellens has his side rocking right now!
Wellens has warned against complacency coming into this midweek’s match, urging his players on the periphery to be ready for the challenge if called upon.
Eager to keep his group fresh, focussed and firing, it wouldn’t be a huge surprise to see the Swindon boss make a few tactical tweaks to his 4-4-2 system for the visit of inconsistent Colchester.
‘The U’s’ were edged out 1-0 at Forest Green in their most recent outing, although John McGreal had few complaints about the final score. The Essex outfit put themselves into promising positions but again failed to show a clinical touch, managing a solitary on-target effort as they looked to improve on a paltry effort of just four open play goals this term.
Of the 65 league goals Colchester scored last season, more than half of them were netted by players who were not involved at Forest Green, and so the task to fill that deficit remains tall. Whether the visitors are capable of filling that void here is questionable considering United’s rotten road record under McGreal at top-half League Two teams (W8-D9-L20).
I still expect Colchester to come good in 2019/20 and threaten the top-seven, but right now Swindon are fair favourites at the top of the League Two betting and should be snapped up at 1.97 quotes to extend their winning streak to four.
Alongside Swindon, Crewe have arguably been League Two’s most eye-catching outfit in the early exchanges. The Railwaymen finished last season like a train, picking up the most points in the division over the final 23 games, and have continued their fine form this term, tabling five victories in their opening eight outings.
On Saturday, the Alex fell to a 3-2 reverse at home to Cambridge, although David Artell’s men played 50 minutes with 10 men after Paul Green was dismissed. Despite their deficit, Crewe won all the major performance counts and conceded from all three shots on-target conceded at Gresty Road.
I doubt the Cheshire club will dwell too much on that defeat.
The Railwaymen now head to the capital to face newly-promoted Leyton Orient as pre-match favourites. Having seen at first-hand how impressive this Crewe side are, I wouldn’t want to oppose such a stance, although I can see the hosts causing Alex problems at Brisbane Road, and therefore a goals-based bet holds plenty of appeal at kind quotes.
New signing Chuma Anene was on the scoresheet in Saturday’s loss to Cambridge.
Orient (W2-D3-L3) have been a model of inconsistency on paper but dig deeper and Ross Embleton’s men have put in a series of positive performances. Sure, Saturday’s last-gasp point picked up at Exeter was kind after the O’s were under the cosh for large swathes of that clash, but overall the newcomers have equipped themselves very well at this level.
Half of Orient’s first eight games have come against current top-eight outfits, and the Londoners have still managed to infiltrate the top eight for shots, efforts on-target, attempts from inside the penalty area, Expected Goals (xG) and xG from open play. Frustratingly for Embleton, his team have also given opponents plenty of encouragement.
Orient have shipped at least two goals in five fixtures and may struggle to keep Crewe’s exciting crop of attacking youngsters quiet this midweek. So with two offensively-minded clubs on show, it makes sense to support Over 2.5 Goals at 1.92 – it’s a selection that’s already proven profitable in 10 of their combined 16 matches this term.
