Conference Tips: Promoted club curse to sting Barnet

Martin Allen's fourth spell as Barnet boss is going rather well

Michael Lintorn is opposing Barnet, backing Alfreton Town and forecasting Memorial Ground goals...

Alfreton Town v Altrincham (Tuesday, 19:45)

Alfreton Town's 2014/15 to date has been dictionary-definition joyless: seven games, seven defeats, four goals for, 22 against. However, there are caveats (everyone they have faced is 11th or higher) and improvements (their ten men were beaten in injury time at leaders Barnet on Saturday) which indicate that the side who finished 11th last term will get off the mark at the eighth attempt.

Visitors Altrincham have lost all three of their away encounters since promotion and their struggles are far more alarming given that six of their seven opponents - including each of the trio who hosted them - currently reside in the bottom half.

Recommended Bet: Back Alfreton Town to win @ 2.89/5

Bristol Rovers v Wrexham (Tuesday, 19:45)

This fixture was once a League Two staple but this is Wrexham's seventh successive Conference campaign, so they are as qualified as anyone to warn newcomers Bristol Rovers that it is almost impossible to return to the Football League in a year. Carlisle were the last to manage it in 2004/05.

Bristol Rovers have probably got the message by now anyway after starting with two wins in seven, though there was evidence of acclimatisation in the three-match unbeaten sequence that preceded a 0-2 road reverse to Braintree. That was their first blank in five outings and they have kept one clean sheet in six themselves, so both teams to score appeals against Wrexham.

Recommended Bet: Back both teams to score @ 1.9210/11

Dover v Barnet
Wednesday, 19:45
Live on BT Sport 1

Match Odds: Dover 4.84/1, Barnet 1.834/5, The Draw 3.9n/a

Barnet have made a punchy start to their second season back in the Conference, winning six of their seven games, yet were similarly impressive early in 2013/14, avoiding defeat in their first six clashes before hitting a run of one victory in nine, which is why they remain lukewarm 6.05/1 title favourites.

One way of testing how the 2014/15 Bees compare to their predecessors is how they address one of the defects that led them to eighth: a record of one draw and three losses away to promoted clubs. Conference South play-off winners Dover have settled reasonably well, averaging a point a match despite having played each of the sides placed between second and fifth.

Recommended Bet: Lay Barnet to win @ 1.845/6