LEAGUE TWO 2018/19 PREVIEW & PREDICTIONS
BURY v NOTTS COUNTY
Chris Dagnall loves a home encounter with the Magpies having scored in his previous three encounters against County when on home soil. Bury’s record at Gigg Lane has become formidable and I expect them to use that to their advantage. They were unlucky to not pick up three points at Crewe but I can’t see them dropping points in this one. Depsite Kewell making Notts harder to beat I still think this game may have come too early for him.
PREDICTION: 3-1 Bury
CRAWLEY v NEWPORT
After speaking to Michael Flynn last week it is clear how together his Newport side are but Crawley are very good at Broadfield winning four of the last five. Ollie Palmer is close to having a career season but Newport have only lost one in 12 for a reason.
PREDICTION: 1-1 draw
FOREST GREEN v CHELTENHAM
Despite their excellent football it is easy to see why the wasteful Rovers have failed to pick up more points in the League. Often missing chances and then making a crucial mistake the Green Devils will be desperate to avoid a similar story against Michael Duff’s Robins. El Glousico should be a tense encounter and Cheltenham will have to watch out for Reuben Reid who has scored eight in his last nine against the Robins. Hard to call but you feel the home side have enough to win it.
PREDICTION: 2-0 Forest Green
GRIMSBY v EXETER
Back-to-back wins have eased the pressure on Michael Jolley somewhat but improvement is needed if they are to get something against high flying Exeter. Only Jordan Cook has scored more than one league goal for the Mariners this season and therein lays the problem. Exeter on the other hand have had no issues finding the net averaging 2.3 per game across their last seven with Jayden Stockley remaining the top scorer in 2018 in League Two. I think this has all the signs of going the way of the form book but I would like to see Wes Thomas hit form as he is easily Grimsby’s most natural threat.
PREDICTION: 1-0 Exeter
LINCOLN v CAMBRIDGE
The Imps are enjoying this season and rightly so. They have a talented squad, a packed stadium and a management team they trust. The antithesis to Cambridge if you like. The U’s are in a bad way with suspicions about the financial security of the club rearing their head once more. They rely on Jevani Brown and George Maris for their creativity but still lack a goal scorer. Another fruitless afternoon in store for boys in Amber here.
PREDICTION: 3-0 Lincoln
MACCLESFIELD v CARLISLE
Macclesfield will be eyeing this one as their best chance of ending their run of 36 games without a win in the EFL. They have been close a couple of times but it wasn’t enough to stop the club parting company with Mark Yates. Carlisle are better away from home and will be looking to bounce back from a disappointing home defeat to Morecambe last time out. I see goals in this but will sit on the fence as far as the result is concerned.
PREDICTION: 2-2 draw
STAT ATTACK ⚡️⚽️
Carlisle may well be struggling at home but they have lost just two of their previous 13 away games in League Two (W8 D3), winning each of the last three in a row.#cufc pic.twitter.com/Z54KPw1t1H
— D3D4Football (@d3d4football) October 17, 2018
MK DONS v NORTHAMPTON
Paul Tisdale meets Keith Curle. Two managers I admire and who know this division well. As it stands the former Exeter boss looks better placed to come out on top in this one but Northampton are a different proposition under Curle already showing a spirit they lacked before he arrived. Despite Tisdale’s poor record against the Cobblers, losing four of his last five against them, I see him getting the win he needs here.
PREDICTION: 2-1 MK Dons
MORECAMBE v COLCHESTER
The Shrimps are good against teams in and around them but hopeless against sides at the top of the division. John McGreal will know this and will go out with an attacking lineup at the Globe. His front three are very impressive with Luke Norris looking a rejuvenated player since moving to Essex. I like Colchester and for good reason as they are out performing their xG stats by a good margin so far this season.
PREDICTION: 3-1 Colchester
STAT ATTACK ⚡️⚽️@ColU_Official are the top-scoring team in League Two this term, scoring 28 goals at an average of 2.2 per game. 💪
With an xG of 20.26 they are over performing by 7.74 👌
Take a bow John McGreal 🔥#ColU pic.twitter.com/vLdt2yneGD
— D3D4Football (@d3d4football) October 17, 2018
OLDHAM v PORT VALE
Frankie Bunn’s men will be fresh from a break last weekend and will be hoping to catch a Port Vale side still licking their wounds from the 6-2 mauling by Lincoln last weekend. Port Vale ae yet to find consistent form and away from home even more so. Going for a home win in this one and backing, if he is fit, Sam Surridge to back another for the Latics.
PREDICTION: 2-0 Oldham
STAT ATTACK ⚡️⚽️
Sam Surridge has scored 6⃣ goals in seven appearances in League Two this term, more than twice as many as any other @OfficialOAFC player.
Super Sam 🦸♂️#oafc pic.twitter.com/emiN6c2F9A
— D3D4Football (@d3d4football) October 17, 2018
STEVENAGE v CREWE
Crewe have hit just six goals in their last 11 games and have struggled to find the net since that 6-0 win over Morecambe on the opening day. Stevenage have won the last three at home and were unfortunate to lose at Rodney Parade last weekend, going down to an individual mistake in the last seconds on injury time. I think Dino Maamria’s side will triumph here.
PREDICTION: 2-0 Stevenage
SWINDON v MANSFIELD
I’m looking forward to this one and feel it is the fixture of the day in League Two for me. Both sides are under pressure to do better and Mansfield really need to start picking up the points that their quality suggests they are capable of. Phil Brown was left hugely frustrated by the defending that lost them the game at Exeter last weekend and it is likely that they will be much better prepared for this one.
PREDICTION: 2-2 draw
YEOVIL v TRANMERE
Yeovil are without key defender Omar Sowunmi after the player injured his ankle ligaments against MK Dons. Without key men at the back the Glovers look vulnerable against a Rovers side that have put together a three match winning run. That coupled with the fact that Yeovil have won just once in their last 14 home games in all competitions lends me to the fact that they won’t come out on top in this one.
PREDICTION: 1-0 Tranmere
words James Richards, D3D4 Football