Exeter City vs Colchester United
22 June 1715hrs
Football – England –League 2
Pick Under 2.5 Total Goals
Bookmaker Betfred
Odds: 8/13 odds taken at 16:00 BST, Friday 19 June
Table of Contents
Just one goal separated these sides at Jobserve Community Stadium on Thursday – can Exeter overturn the deficit and reach Wembley for the third year running?
Exeter Preview – City facing striker dilemma
Experienced City striker Lee Martin is set to miss Monday’s second leg of the League Two play-offs with injury.
That compounds the problems for manager Matt Taylor as Nicky Ajose missed the first-leg defeat having picked up a knock in training.
With Nicky Law, Dean Moxey and Jack Sparkes failing to see out the 90 minutes at Colchester, Taylor may have to shuffle his pack in an attempt to claw back a one-goal deficit.
The two teams played out a goalless draw at St James Park in January but the Grecians can’t afford to draw a blank again if they want to keep alive promotion hopes.
Brennan Dickinson is likely to start if neither Ajose nor Martin are fit and Ryan Bowman may have to push further forward but City are on a winless run that stretches to five matches and may struggle to shake off the ring-rustiness that was evident in the first leg.
Colchester Preview – United can’t afford to be complacent
Colchester don’t draw many matches but would settle for a stalemate at St James Park after their late winner in the first leg.
John McGreal’s team don’t need to force the pace in Devon thanks to Cohen Bramall’s late free-kick but the former Arsenal full-back’s key job is to nullify the threat of Randell Williams.
The first leg wasn’t a classic by any means but United were rarely threatened by their opponents and know they only have to keep them at arm’s length for another 90 minutes to make the final.
Winger Callum Harriott could be fit for the second leg but won’t be risked unless the U’s need to find a goal. Luke P{rosser, Frank Nouble and Ryan Jackson will all start again despite having been told that their contracts won’t be renewed.
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Trends – Exeter vs Colchester Betting Tips
- Colchester haven’t won at Exeter in more than 10 years
- Colchester haven’t scored a goal at St James Park in their last four visits
Colchester’s recent record at St James Park leaves much to be desired and they are not great travellers on the whole but the play-offs bring their own pressures and their hosts may have to field a makeshift forward line so the U’s will be happy not take any risks. A 0-0 Correct Score is 15/2 with Paddy Power.
The best betting odds for Exeter vs Colchester
 |
 |
 |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Exeter | 6/5 | 5/4 | 5/4 |
| Colchester | 23/10 | 12/5 | 9/4 |
| Draw | 23/10 | 21/10 | 9/4 |
