Matt’s Lower League Tips

League One/Two Tips

 

Dagenham & Redbridge V Morecambe

 

Saturday 26th September – 15:00 GMT

 

 

Dagenham are currently the most prolific goalscoring side in the league right now, scoring nineteen goals in their eight games so far. However, the free scoring Dagenham only comes out to play on home soil and they have been blessed with a return back to Victoria Road as a game with Morecambe awaits them. 15 of their nineteen goals thus far have all come at home, with Dag & Red averaging nearly four goals a game on home soil.

 

Dag & Red have also been very tidy at the back, with the exception of the 5-3 win over Torquay. Dagenham have conceded just four goals at home, three of those coming against Torquay. They’ve kept two clean sheets against Lincoln City and Shrewsbury and, although it’s still early days, Dagenham look to have solid claims for promotion this season and they do find themselves in a handy position in second place.

 

Their opponents, however, cannot boast such fantastic statistics as they find themselves hovering above the relegation zone with eight points. However, they will be buoyed by their most recent and maiden win of the season when they beat Notts County 2-1 last weekend. That did, however, come at home and their away form has been pretty dire. They may be unbeaten on the road in two games but they previously lost their two opening away outings against Burton Albion & Barnet, both by comfortable margins.

 

Morecambe have big problems with scoring goals, mainly on the road it has to be said. So far, Morecambe have managed to score just three times on their travels, with two of those coming in a 5-3 defeat away at Burton. They failed to score against Rotherham in their previous away encounter but, with them conceding just the one goal in their last two away games, it’s pretty clear that Morecambe manager; Sammy McLLroy, tends to set his side up to defend whilst on their travels and he will need to mastermind something extra special for his side to keep an high flying Dagenham & Redbridge at bay for the full 90 minutes.

 

 

Matt’s Tip: Dagenham & Redbridge to WIN

 

Dagenham have been a class apart at home and they should comply without any qualms in this game. Morecambe will be tough to break down and the longer the game goes without a goal the more concerned we might be. However, an early goal for the home side could and should be curtains for Morecambe as the floodgates really could open.

 

ODDS: 8/13 or 1.62 – SkyBet

 

 

Side Bet: Under 2.5 Goals

 

This is potential a risky punt as Dag could score any number of goals against any team in the league but Morecambe’s defensive mindset, whilst on their travels, leaves us with no alternative but to have a small cheeky bet on this being a game decided by the odd goal, hopefully in the favour of the home side, to land double the spoils.

 

ODDS: 21/20 or 2.05 – Bet365

 

 

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Swindon Town V Wycombe Wanderers

 

 

Saturday 26th September – 15:00 GMT

 

For some reason Wycombe tend to be a favourable side with the backers but, after a dreadful start to the campaign, they are now a bookies best friend. Swindon, on the other hand, have been a tough nut to crack and are unbeaten in the league in seven games. For once the bookies have made Wycombe the clear outsiders and it would be typical for them to now being their recovery but we don’t see it happening, not against a tricky Swindon side.

 

Swindon aren’t the most reliable of teams to follow, with a record in the league of 3-4-1, but they are still a very tough side to get the better of on their day. They have surpassed many people’s expectations but climbing up the table into 9th but they fully deserve to be in such a comfortable position.

 

The same can’t be said about the visitors, with Wycombe’s record in League One currently standing at 1-2-5. Their only win of the season thus far coming at home, with three of their five defeats coming on their travels. They did pick up a point in their most recent away encounter but they failed o build upon a fairly decent result by losing their corresponding fixture 1-0 at home to MK Dons.

 

Swindon are far from being the most prolific team on home soil but they appear to have a knack for doing just enough. Their two victories at home have both come by the slimmest of margins, beating Southampton 1-0 and Southend 2-1. Both MK Dons & Colchester United have held Swindon to low scoring draws at The County Ground but those two sides are fourth and fifth respectively.

 

 

Matt’s Tip: Swindon Town to WIN

 

Wycombe have scored just once in their last two away outings, and when you take into consideration that their opposition were Hartlepool & Brighton, two teams expected to struggle this season and the pair already find themselves near the the bottom four, then you can see why Wycombe look a terrible proposition despite their glorious price tag.

 

I’m not quite sure if Swindon are worth the odds on tag but if this goes the way of the form book then they should grind out another narrow but well earned home victory. Even a draw for them would extend their unbeaten run to eight games but we’re banking on them taking all three points.

 

ODDS: 4/5 or 1.8 – Coral

 

 

Side Bet: Under 2.5 Goals

 

Neither side has been finding the net all that often but the pair have also kept it pretty tight at the back. Early indications state that this will be a very tight affair with goals at a premium and, although the form book cannot be completely relied upon, the odds on Under 2.5 Goals looks big enough to tempt us into a small wager.

 

ODDS: 4/5 or 1.8 – SkyBet

 

 

 

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MK Dons V Leeds United

 

Saturday 26th September – 15:00 GMT

 

 

A high flying Leeds United could find their match this weekend in the form of Paul Ince’s MK Dons. The latter find themselves in fifth position, five points adrift of Leeds of occupy top spot in League One. However, both are in superb form and although Leeds do possess more quality within their ranks, the fact that MK are playing at home could even this duel out a tad.

 

MK Dons have high hopes of at least reaching the play-off’s this season but they have to beat those around them if they are to do so. Leeds United are arguably playing in the wrong league as far as quality goes and they will be eager to notch up as many points as possible as they aim to secure promotion automatically this season and avoid the potential heartbreak of another play-off upset.

 

Were it not for a recent slip up at home to Huddersfield, losing 3-2, MK Don’s could boast very impressive home form after two wins and a draw from their opening four home fixtures. However, that defeat against Huddersfield, currently sat in sixth, just reiterated how hard MK will find life in League One this year in terms of completing their seasonal objective. Consistency is key and MK have shown already that they can drop off and fall to some silly and avoidable results.

 

Leeds are Mr. Consistent right now, with their 0-0 draw with Southend their only game thus far that they have dropped any points in. They have picked up 22 points from a maximum of 25 and sent out a message to all of League One that they certainly mean business this time around. Leeds quite literally are setting the standard and they are the unsurprising favourites here although they will have to work harder than they have done in recent weeks to secure all three points.

 

MK Don’s do boast two wins against Norwich & Wycombe, with the victory over Norwich their most recent success on home soil. They have a home record of 2-1-1 but on the hole they have been pretty decent at stadium MK. Their defence does look a slight concerning as their only home clean sheet thus far came on the opening day of the season in a disappointing 0-0 draw with Hartlepool. Since then, Colcehster, Huddersfield & Norwich have all found the MK goal on MK soil.

 

Leeds haven’t been phased wherever they play but they’ve yet to face one of the more talented sides in the division as of yet. However, that will change this weekend when they to Wimbledon. Leeds have an away record of 3-1-0 and have yet to suffer a defeat this season. They have managed to score five in four on the road, conceding just two goals in return.

 

 

Matt’s Tip: Both teams to score

 

This will be a tight affair, although Leeds should just knick it. However, we aren’t confident enough to pick an away win as MK, on their day, can be a right handful. We can’t see Leeds United not scoring while MK should do the same. An early goal for either side would spark this match into action as neither team can afford to lose but were Leeds to open the scoring they look the more capable of the two of holding out and possibly keeping MK at bay. An early MK goal would be lovely but we don’t always get what we want in betting, actually, hardly ever!

 

ODDS: 4/5 or 1.8 – Bet365