League One Betting: Coventry no Shaw thing at Crewe

Andy Thorn - sacked at the Ricoh Arena

Following the first managerial casualty of the League One season, Alan Dudman gets his first look at Coventry City, and the best bets of the weekend in the division.

Stevenage Borough v Shrewsbury Town, Saturday 15:00 BST

Stevenage Borough 2.001/1, Shrewsbury Town 4.10n/a, the draw 3.505/2

Last season, Stevenage were a good source of profit for those backing under 2.5 goals in games. Their home record of conceding just 23 goals in the same amount of matches was impressive, and their start to the new term has been equally miserly in the conceding stakes. Wins over Oldham and Leyton Orient (both 1-0) and a home 1-1 with Carlisle will give us a good starting point for a few bets this Saturday.

Borough boss Gary Smith has a newly assembled side, but the blueprint is still the same. They were always very organised and hard to break down last term, with a strong defence and aerial presence.

Smith has been using a 4-5-1 (4-2-3-1), with the solo striker Marcus Haber supported by Luke Freeman who provides the occasional spark of creativity. The Hertfordshire outfit like to concentrate on getting the ball in from wide areas and win the ball through their tenacious midfield two.

Shrewsbury's three games this season have all been under 2.5 goals, but they played really well at Sheffield United in the League One opener, even Blades boss Danny Wilson described their play as 'brilliant at times'.

The visitors have good possession in their locker, and I think this game will be dominated by midfield play. Any correct score players will have to base their predictions on the Shrews scoring no more than one, but the canny play is the unders.

Recommended bets:
Back under 2.5 goals 1.804/5
Back Stevenage to win 1-0 @ 7.4013/2

Crewe Alexandra v Coventry City, Saturday 15:00 BST

Crewe Alexandra 2.789/5, Coventry City 2.608/5, the draw 3.505/2

This will be my first chance to assess both of the League One new boys, with neither exactly brimming with confidence at the moment. City sacked manager Andy Thorn at the weekend, to claim the division's earliest casualty, whilst the Alex were hammered 5-1 at Brentford last Saturday.

Dealing with City first, and their obvious problem of not being able to hold a lead. Saturday's 2-2 draw with Bury saw them waste the two goal advantage, which was a replay of their situation against Yeovil and Sheffield United.

As to who replaces Thorn at the Ricoh is subject to plenty of speculation, whilst caretaker boss Richard Shaw has thrown his hat into the ring. Shaw was in charge for the midweek League Cup success over Birmingham, but I am always worried about sides following up from that competition.

Crewe have lost two of their three games this campaign, but crucially all of them over 2.5 goals. Their defeat to Brentford recently was shocking, as they were outpassed completely. The Bees had 18 shots on target that day, as the Alex were terrorised by their pace.

The Railwaymen play a passing game and a 4-4-2, whist Coventry have lined up 4-1-2-1-2. Crewe might be the edgier of the two early, as Coventry started brightly in the Bury game (but subsequently reverted to rotten defending). I am still waiting for Sky Blues striker Cody McDonald to hit top gear, although he's been looking lively, I think there are plenty of goals in him.

Recommended bets:
Back over 2.5 goals @ 1.9010/11
Back Crewe to win 2-1 @ 11.0010/1

MK Dons v Carlisle United, Saturday 15:00 BST

MK Dons 1.804/5, Carlisle United 5.004/1, the draw 3.7011/4

It's hard to think the MK Dons are still in this division. In footballing terms they are the best in business, but their inability to come through their play-offs in recent seasons has been their Achilles heel. Bizarrely for this purest of teams, they have recorded an astonishing four red cards already this term.

33-year-old midfielder Jimmy Bullard has arrived at stadium:mk but might still be a few weeks away from full fitness. The former Wigan schemer's brief will be to create and score, whilst summer signing Ryan Lowe was an excellent move, as manager Karl Robinson never replaced Sam Baldock, and he could now play the role of goal poacher.

Robinson favours a 4-5-1 with a fluent pass and move style, but they couldn't get hold of the ball at Swindon last weekend and were beaten 1-0.

Carlisle's style is perhaps not so aesthetically pleasing, and the blow of losing star striker Lee Miller to an ankle injury is a void manager Greg Abbott may struggle to fill. Although Carlisle's 4-2 win over Portsmouth last weekend looks great, their performance was littered with mistakes.

In short, if the Dons can get their fluent passing game going, they should be able to wear down the Foxes who are lacking their fulcrum in attack.

Back the MK Dons to win 1-0 8.007/1 and 2-0 10.009/1