Npower League Two 4th Sep

[slick]

Npower League Two Betting and Tips 4th Sep

[LionStory]

ALDERSHOT VS NORTHAMPTON, LEAGUE 2

If your a stats man then you will be interested to know that Northampton Town are the only team in the top 4 divisions in England not to have scored a goal from open play so far this season.

Last season they relied on Akinfenwa to score the goals who has now moved to Gillingham, leaving the current crop of strikers a bit clueless.

Three draws and one loss is enough for the bookies to give them a little respect which is evident in the excellent price on offer for Aldershot.

However Northampton are winless and only scored an 87th minute equaliser on Saturday to prevent a second loss. Things didn't get any better in the Johnstones Paint Trophy on Tuesday night as they got hammered by Hartlepool United 4-0.

Cobblers manager Ian Samson went on to say - "A shambles tonight - an absolute shambles. "We didn't apply ourselves properly and I could see it coming after five minutes.''

Aldershot are a team to admire for their attacking play. They have been searching for promotion for a few seasons now and consistently are one of the best teams in the division. Marvin Morgan is one of the best players in the division and is a real assett to 'The Shots'.

Unlike Northampton Town, Aldershot did win their JPT game against Oxford United 2-0. A result that bodes well for them to take advantage of a shot-shy Northampton side.

Furthermore Northampton have been rocked by the injury of Tadhg Purcell who adds to a number of worrying issues including a striker shortage, no left back and no cash.

TIP: ALDERSHOT WIN 11/10

[ThunderCelt]

Aldershot v Northampton
Under 2.5, 31/40, Bet365, 4 Units
Have to agree with much of what LionStory has written, even if we decide on different bets.

Northampton's player shortage is well documented, although how many of the absentees reported would have been starters is questionable. They do look a little light on depth though. Also, I'm not convinced they've replaved Guttridge (Aldershot) or Akinfewa (Gillingham). That said, Northampton have managed credible draws in three of their four games, with the blip being at Torquay, who have made an exceptional start. The Torquay hammering was the only game out of Northampton's four to date to have gone over.

Aldershot have a near-full squad to choose from, but Kevin Dillon's insistance on playing one up front, even at home, has drawn critical comment from some fans. He has said he will continue with the 4-2-3-1 system though. This 'solid' outlook can probably take some of the blame for our draw with Stevenage last week, and our scrambled victory over Southend previously. None of our four games have hit 2.5 yet, and I do fear that if Northampton come to get a draw they might just smother our attack.

The price on Aldershot has been falling with Northampton's injury news, and while I see the Shots as the most likely winners I struggle to see any value in the home or away prices. I do see the draw as better value than the 30% or so offered, but the stats and what I know about Aldershot's style suggest that unders is slightly better value. Having said that, I do find unders/overs difficult to predict so it's smaller stakes than Mr Kelly suggests!

[7HEGR1MR3AP3R]

Oxford to beat Macclesfield @ 11/10 (stan james)

Oxford havent had the best of starts to their 1st season back in the football league, playing 4 ,ending with 3 draws and 1 loss, and scoring just 1 goal in the process ! They look a very defensively effective team at this level , and once the goals start coming they`ll shoot up the table - a fact clearly not lost on their manager , who has just bought striker Tom Craddock from non league Luton this week. Two 0-0s draws away to Burton and Wycombe were very good performances, just missing the key vital finish at the end. With Constable to partner Craddock , that problem could now be solved. They also beat Bristol Rovers in the Carling cup 6-1, which can only bolster confidence. This is a team that are clearly a tough proposition to beat, and could well get higher than mid table given a few goals. In last years promotion season they lost just twice at home and conceded just 10 goals in 22 games, whilst scoring 36. It may have been a league lower, but theres very little between the conference and division 2 nowadays.

Morecambe have lost both away games so far, and are winless in 4 games in total, and the two away defeats just so happened to be at the same grounds where Oxford have managed 2 0-0 draws this year. They lost 3-2 at Burton, a team who dont score many, and 2-0 at Wycombe, to follow on from last years poor away form. Even last year when Morecambe made the playoffs they won only 6 away from 24 games, and theyve always struggled away from home. Its going to be a long season for them and trips like this arent what they need at this moment in time against an Oford outfit who will be bouyant after the 6-1 cup win and will look to get a run going.

Grim

[ThunderCelt]

Shrewsbury v Rotherham
Under 2.5 goals, 31/40 Bet 365, 4 Units
An identical bet to my Aldershot/Northampton one, even with identical odds. Similar reasoning, too, although I don't know either side as well as I know (the mighty) Aldershot.

Rotherham are traditionally cautious, often relying on a breakaway La Fondre goal to give them the edge. All but one game this season (the strange thriller against Cheltenham) have gone under.

Shrewsbury have had a good start, again by being solid.

The stats suggest that unders should be shorter.

[7HEGR1MR3AP3R]

Originally Posted by The Grim Reaper

Oxford to beat Macclesfield @ 11/10 (stan james)

Oxford havent had the best of starts to their 1st season back in the football league, playing 4 ,ending with 3 draws and 1 loss, and scoring just 1 goal in the process ! They look a very defensively effective team at this level , and once the goals start coming they`ll shoot up the table - a fact clearly not lost on their manager , who has just bought striker Tom Craddock from non league Luton this week. Two 0-0s draws away to Burton and Wycombe were very good performances, just missing the key vital finish at the end. With Constable to partner Craddock , that problem could now be solved. They also beat Bristol Rovers in the Carling cup 6-1, which can only bolster confidence. This is a team that are clearly a tough proposition to beat, and could well get higher than mid table given a few goals. In last years promotion season they lost just twice at home and conceded just 10 goals in 22 games, whilst scoring 36. It may have been a league lower, but theres very little between the conference and division 2 nowadays.

Morecambe have lost both away games so far, and are winless in 4 games in total, and the two away defeats just so happened to be at the same grounds where Oxford have managed 2 0-0 draws this year. They lost 3-2 at Burton, a team who dont score many, and 2-0 at Wycombe, to follow on from last years poor away form. Even last year when Morecambe made the playoffs they won only 6 away from 24 games, and theyve always struggled away from home. Its going to be a long season for them and trips like this arent what they need at this moment in time against an Oford outfit who will be bouyant after the 6-1 cup win and will look to get a run going.

Grim

2-0 after just 35mins !! There`s only 1 Jimmy Constable

[7HEGR1MR3AP3R]

Theyre playing Morecambe btw, not Macclesfield , lol