League Two Betting: Westley good for Stevenage

Graham Westley seems quietly hopeful his Stevenage side will steam along in League Two this season

Graham Westley might not be everybody's cup of tea, but Ian Lamont expects him to do well in League Two, even if Southend will probably send him from Roots Hall with a draw. Elsewhere, Bury need to start justifying the hype...

Southend 2.245/4 v Stevenage 3.814/5; the draw 3.412/5

Baseball legend Yogi Berra's saying "It's hard to make predictions, especially about the future" comes to mind with another set of tricky, even looking fixtures. 

But this presents opportunity. There were a surfeit of draws last season and here is this week's prime candidate. Both managers, Phil Brown at Southend and Stevenage's Graham Westley who has overhauled last year's squad, will look on this as a real measure of how their teams have progressed.

Southend ultimately didn't have a strong enough end of season having looked like promotion candidates last year and are a strong club in League Two, while Stevenage have returned their under a manager who is always looking to learn and graft, which he expects from his teams. 

Those are two of his more likeable traits, whereas his methods such as dropping players via text are not always appreciated.

Generally, I like and respect Westley and, back at the club where he achieved so much by bringing them into the Football League, there is a swagger back in the team as if they mean to aim for promotion, according to one observer.

It will take time to gel and they worked Hartlepool keeper Scott Flinders hard last week but only scored once.

Southend have Lee Barnard back with confidence after marking his 100th Shrimpers appearance with the winner at Accrington. The sides could cancel each other out in a low-scoring game.

Recommended Bet:
Back the draw @ 3.412/5

Cheltenham 2.111/10 v Accrington 4.1n/a; the draw 3.39/4

I tried writing a tip on Burton, but I just couldn't do it. Not because I don't think they will win, but that they are so far odds-on. Odds of 1.75/7 is no place for the punter in what looks a tight division again this year.

So I switched to Cheltenham, who at least have some value left at just over even money. There are bitter noises emanating from Mark Yates that the critics feel his side have no quality players or particular style - certainly not enough to challenge at the top end. 

Yet to me they remain a tempting 65.064/1 in the League Two winner market after a rough time last season in which they clearly underperformed at the start.

Victory at fancied Bury - who were themselves too short to tip - proved their work rate is first class. I have a feeling keeper Trevor Carson will cover himself in glory time over this season and with players like scorer Joe Hanks, 19, coming through the ranks, the Whaddon Road boss has some surprises up  his sleeve.

Accused by David Flitcroft of 'parking the bus', a strong defence gives the Robins something on which to build, with Jason Taylor working hard in midfield and Byron Harrison and Terry Gornell potentially finishing chances.

Accrington had a rotten start to last season and has every right to feel that it is he, not Cheltenham, who have to scratch around for quality players, given their budget as the Football League's worst supported club. They are used to being written off. It clearly jars with Yates - as does underperformance - and he will use this to the team's advantage. 

Recommended Bet:
Back Cheltenham @ 2.111/10

Morecambe 2.68/5 v Newport 3.211/5; the draw 3.412/5

Given a rampant start to the season - winning 3-0 at Dagenham - Morecambe are quite a juicy price to continue that form against the Exiles, whose season started with what Justin Edinburgh will hope is an off-day.

Accusing them of lacking belief and conviction against a team who struggled at the end of last season does not bode well at Rodney Parade.

Meanwhile, for the Shrimps Kevin Ellison continues to flourish although nearer to the end of his career than the beginning. I am sure one critic suggested he had lost some of his shine last season, but as long as his lanky frame can keep putting in deep crosses Jack Redshaw will relish the chance to put them away. Redshaw is up for the season, having spent much of the last one injured yet managing to score eight goals in 29 appearances having only begun his season in November.

Morecambe have been one of those sides - unfortunately - where it seems if you blink you miss their run of form. So now is the time.

Recommended Bet:
Back Morecambe @ 2.68/5

Hartlepool 3.02/1 v Bury 2.68/5; the draw 3.412/5

Tempted as I am by the big price of 3.412/5 on Northampton at York, there are plenty of reasons to believe the Minstermen can thwart, frustrate and hold out against a Cobblers side cock-a-hoop after defeating Wolves.

So I am heading to Hartlepool in the hope that Bury will redeem themselves after an opening day home defeat which burst the pre-season hype bubble of joint title favouritism, blemishing their strong home record built in the second half of last season. They will also be fired up after a controversial defeat at Bolton in the League Cup.

The hosts can't rely for ever on keeper Scott Flinders, who endured a spell at Crystal Palace some years ago and spent most of it on loan in Scotland. 

Keepers might help to win matches, but they don't score goals and are only one of five defenders. 

Bury have their own excellent stopper in Shwan Jalal and an experienced centre-back in Pablo Mills. Going forward they also have what should be a fruitful source of goals - Daniel Nardiello and Ryan Lowe, who has returned to the club in some fanfare after scoring a bucketful (19) for relegated Tranmere last year.

Time for the pair to pull their weight and kick-start Bury's season.

Recommended Bet:
Back Bury @ 2.68/5

P/L 2014-15

+6.2pt