League One Betting: Posh look a decent laying price again

Peterborough United's Michael Bostwick

Alan Dudman has struck six winning selections from his last eight, and hopes that run will continue with a trio of League One bets this Saturday...

Notts County 3.052/1 v Peterborough United 2.47/5, the draw 3.412/5 

Once again Peterborough are chalked up as favourites for a game they probably don't deserve to be. It's nearly the same scenario as last weekend when the Posh were shorter than Port Vale (who admittedly are a better side on home soil than Notts County), but this does mean they are a perfect laying price once again. 

If you weren't with us last week, I need to stress that Peterborough are 11th in League One and have collected just one victory from their last 12 matches - which hardly warrants a price of 2.47/5. Manager Darren Ferguson spoke well at the fan forum a few days ago, but he will still be concerned where this season is going. 

His side played OK in the first-half at Port Vale on Saturday, but they were swept aside by the Valiants in the second period, as their defence got dragged and pulled around by lone forward Ben Williamson. I'm not sure Ferguson's formation is working, and too many players are off the pace. I urge you to read the excellent Alan Swann from the Peterborough Telegraph - just to get an idea how they're playing. 

Notts County sit ninth, so on that basis alone they are overpriced. The Magpies started the season well but suffered a stuttering run, that was until last Saturday with a 2-1 victory over Crewe, whilst they were excellent defensively on Tuesday at Doncaster with a resilient 0-0 display at the Keepmoat. 

County boss Shaun Derry has built a nice mix of experience with youth. Old heads such as Alan Smith and Hayden Mullins can help the likes of Will Hayhurst and new loan addition Billy Daniels. I like Hayhurst from what I have seen, he whips in plenty of balls out wide for the Magpies forwards to feed off. 

Above all, and from my relative low experience of playing, there can be a lot said for teams that want to peform for their manager, and I've often stated that's the case with Derry's men - which hopefully will give us enough to collect. 

Recommended Bet
Lay Peterborough United to win @ 2.47/5

Port Vale 1.9420/21 v Crewe Alexandra 4.216/5, the draw 3.711/4 

Seeing as we're on the theme of sticking with successful sides from seven days ago, there shouldn't be a reason to avoid backing Port Vale again. The hosts are up there with League One's best in terms of their home form under new manager Robert Page - which currently stands at seven wins and one draw from nine outings. They also have averaged two goals a game in that period and are sitting ninth in the table. 

I'm not convinced they are a genuine play-off side, but as I mentioned last week, they are very dangerous (and very consistent) at Vale Park. 

It has been some transformation under Page, who took the job in September when the club were second from bottom. He rarely shifts from his tried and trusted 4-2-3-1, and he's even worked wonders with the great enigma that is Ben Williamson - the forward that often has been billed as a player to go places. 

Crewe can be a cruel mistress for backers - as you can often see a decent price and they can go close. Sometimes they have deserved to be huge in odds as frankly earlier in the campaign they were shocking. Manager Steve Davis has certainly got them playing better, and their overall form reads LWDWWLDL. 

This could be an interesting tactical head-to-head, as from their earlier match in the season, the Alex bullied and outmuscled Vale thanks to Marcus Haber and Vadaine Oliver. However, the Railwaymen don't keep too many clean sheets away from home - with just one since October, and their forward line looks different now. 

There are several markets I'm eager to highlight here too. Namely my old chum the correct score, and we ought to view trading Port Vale to win 2-1 and 3-1 - as the hosts have collected four 2-1 scorelines in that home run of nine matches. I do think they can net a couple here. 

The second market is a rare one for me, but having spotted in the local press that a certain Gavin Ward is refereeing, I am pushing towards the sending off market. Why? Well reading about Mr Ward (from Surrey as we are obliged to say) was far more interesting than I anticipated with his propensity to dish out a card. 

Recommended Bet
Back Port Vale to win @ 1.9520/21

Yeovil Town 2.526/4 v Coventry City 2.962/1, the draw 3.412/5

This looks a horrible game to tip (but here we go). Coventry are not very good at the moment, whilst Yeovil were previously not very good, but have played better in their last two matches. The question is will those two games sway backers to take 2.526/4 on the bottom placed club in League One?

The problem with Yeovil this season has been their paltry goal record and their dreadful inconsistency; as they just cannot seem to back a result up. So in that sense, it was pleasing that Tuesday's 1-1 draw at Preston followed on from Saturday's 1-0 home success against Bradford City. The latter have been in good form, but Preston are off the speed at the moment. 

Glovers boss Gary Johnson has changed things around, and his new look team dealt with most of Preston's aerial bombardment in midweek. He'll also be hoping Gozle Ugwu will be fit enough to line up, as he's netted twice in both matches and has been described as having the X Factor. So presumably that means he can't sing. 

Coventry manager Steven Pressley could be sweating on his job, as since the move back to the Ricoh they have badly under-performed. Granted the Scot hasn't had much luck with injuries, but this system isn't working with the players he has at his disposal. Their form is three defeats from five, but they have picked up a couple of away wins at Walsall and Port Vale in the last two months. 

Sky Blues defender Reda Johnson has been a huge miss at the back over the last six games, and the visiting fans will be hoping their talismanic centre-half returns to the squad. The Benin international has netted an unbelievable five times this season, and with his inclusion earlier in the campaign, City collected 23 points from 13 matches he featured in. 

I would lean towards backing Yeovil, but a more prudent way to play this will be going under 2.5 goals. I also like the look of using the half-time market with a 0-0 scoreline. 

Recommended Bet
Back under 2.5 goals @ 1.910/11

League One 2014/15 P/L (all selections one point)

- 3.73 pts