Football League: Rampant Port Vale to bully Burton

Burton may need a wall to keep free-scoring Port Vale at bay

Christian Crowther predicts Port Vale's charge to continue at Burton and plenty of goals at Notts County in League One...

Notts County v Bournemouth, Tuesday 19:45, Match odds: Notts County 2.427/5, Bournemouth 3.39/4, The Draw 3.412/5
Eddie Howe's return to Bournemouth has already achieved the desired effect after the Cherries became the first team in League One to topple leaders Tranmere on Saturday. This was the Dorset club's second win in eight days and shows just how quickly fortunes can change in football. The team Howe helped guide into the third tier back in 2010 now face a trip to Notts County, whose fortunes have been mixed of late though they too have won successive League One games. A feature of both team's recent exploits has been an abundance of goals. Four of County's last five matches have gone over the 2.5 goal mark and five from Bournemouth's last seven have done the same.
Recommended Bet: Back over 2.5 goals @ 1.910/11

Stevenage v Portsmouth, Tuesday 19:45, Match odds: Stevenage 2.0421/20, Portsmouth 4.03/1, The Draw 3.55n/a
Any Stevenage fans who felt like Graham Westley's departure would spell immediate decline will now happily admit to being proved wrong since Gary Smith took charge in January. The Hertfordshire outfit have gone from strength to strength under Smith since narrowly missing out on reaching the play-off final in May. They have only lost once in the league all season and have won three out of their last four coming into this clash with Portsmouth. However, Pompey have markedly improved since their difficult opening spell now that all the new faces are gelling in their thrown-together squad. In forward Izale McLeod, they have unearthed a goal machine too - his five goals in four games have helped Pompey become the form team in League One.
Recommended Bet: Back the draw @ 3.55n/a

Burton v Port Vale, Tuesday 19:45, Match odds: Burton 3.412/5, Port Vale 2.3611/8, The Draw 3.39/4
Burton will have their work cut out to contain League Two's free-scoring bully boys Port Vale. The away side have plundered seven goals in their last two outings in the league and only conceded one in reply. Vale are also unbeaten in five games - recording four wins and a draw - since succumbing to leaders Gillingham. Burton have proven hard to beat themselves, although drawing had become their forte - four in five ending all square prior to a confidence-draining 4-1 thrashing at the hands of the Gills last time out. Micky Adams' men look good value for their ten-point advantage on their hosts, and in Tom Pope they have a striker too hot to handle at present, bagging five goals in his last three league starts.
Recommended Bet: Back Port Vale to beat Burton @ 2.3611/8