Port Vale’s home form, Accrington Stanley’s unbeaten run and Salford City’s winning streak provide some of the clearest betting angles on Saturday’s League Two programme, with William Hill News.
There are 11 fixtures to consider, with Salford facing a particularly interesting test against an Exeter side boasting the division’s best defensive record.
Grimsby Town v York City
Match odds: Grimsby 13/10 | Draw 13/5 | York 17/10.
Grimsby should take renewed confidence from their 4-1 victory at Gillingham, which ended a seven-game winless run in all competitions. York remain fifth, but their 3-1 midweek defeat at Barnet means they have won only once in their last five league matches. They are also still searching for their first away league victory after six attempts.
The Mariners’ latest result makes them difficult to oppose outright, although one strong performance does not erase their preceding struggles. York have enough quality to contribute to an entertaining contest, so goals at both ends appeal more than choosing a winner.
Score prediction: Grimsby Town 1-1 York City.
Port Vale v Rochdale
Match odds: Port Vale 13/20 | Draw 13/5 | Rochdale 4/1.
Port Vale’s home form makes them one of Saturday’s strongest selections. They remain unbeaten at Vale Park this season and made it five consecutive home wins in all competitions by beating Manchester City Under-21s 5-0 in the EFL Trophy.
Rochdale arrive after a damaging 5-0 home defeat to Accrington. They have conceded at least three goals in three of their last five matches across all competitions, leaving them with plenty to address. Vale’s confidence at home gives them a clear advantage.
Score prediction: Port Vale 1-0 Rochdale.
Accrington Stanley v Northampton Town
Match odds: Accrington 11/10 | Draw 9/4 | Northampton 23/10.
Accrington extended their unbeaten run to nine matches in all competitions with an emphatic 5-0 win at Rochdale. Stanley now sit just one point outside the play-off places and remain unbeaten at home this term.
Northampton should provide a more stubborn test. Their 2-0 victory over Colchester lifted them out of the relegation zone, and every one of their league fixtures this season has finished with fewer than three goals. Accrington are preferred to win, but the visitors’ low-scoring pattern makes the goals market the stronger angle.
Score prediction: Accrington Stanley 1-0 Northampton Town.
Colchester United v Walsall
Match odds: Colchester 6/4 | Draw 23/10 | Walsall 6/4.
Colchester’s 2-0 defeat at Northampton extended their winless run to 11 games across league and cup. They have scored only once in their last four League Two fixtures, making it difficult to build a convincing case for a home victory.
Walsall’s unbeaten start ended with a 4-2 defeat to Salford, while five of their six away league games have finished level. That tendency to share the points makes the draw the selection against a Colchester side desperate to stop their slide.
Score prediction: Colchester United 1-1 Walsall.
Crewe Alexandra v Barnet
Match odds: Crewe 19/10 | Draw 12/5 | Barnet 6/5.
This looks one of the best opportunities for goals. Crewe return home after successive away defeats at Exeter and Chesterfield, conceding seven goals across those matches. They remain unbeaten at home, but have allowed at least two goals in each of their last three league games.
Barnet, the division’s leading scorers, arrive after a 3-1 win over York. Both teams have scored in all 12 of their league fixtures. The hosts’ home record offers reason to expect a response, making both teams to score the preferred bet.
Score prediction: Crewe Alexandra 2-3 Barnet.
Fleetwood Town v Bristol Rovers
Match odds: Fleetwood 9/5 | Draw 23/10 | Bristol Rovers 11/8.
Fleetwood will be buoyant after eliminating Arsenal from the Carabao Cup on penalties in midweek. Their home record is encouraging too, with only one defeat in 11 matches across all competitions this season.
Bristol Rovers stopped a four-match losing sequence with a goalless draw against Swindon, but that alone does not establish a convincing recovery. Fleetwood must avoid a drop in intensity after their cup celebrations, yet their home record makes them an appealing selection at 9/5.
Score prediction: Fleetwood Town 2-1 Bristol Rovers.
Oldham Athletic v Crawley Town
Match odds: Oldham 7/10 | Draw 29/10 | Crawley 16/5.
Oldham rescued a point at Barnet through Mike Fondop’s 94th-minute equaliser last weekend. They have also scored four times in each of their previous two home matches, against Leeds’ academy side in the EFL Trophy and Cheltenham in the league.
Bottom club Crawley showed resilience in their first match under interim boss Kevin Blackwell, drawing 1-1 with Tranmere. Oldham may need patience rather than expecting a comfortable afternoon, but the hosts’ recent scoring at Boundary Park gives them the edge.
Score prediction: Oldham Athletic 2-1 Crawley Town.
Salford City v Exeter City
Match odds: Salford 13/20 | Draw 11/4 | Exeter 19/5.
Salford are the division’s form side after seven consecutive league victories. Their latest success, a 4-2 win against previously unbeaten Walsall, underlined their attacking quality and strengthened their position at the top.
Exeter are equipped to make this difficult. They are unbeaten in five and have conceded only seven goals in 13 league matches, the division’s best defensive record. Salford remain the likelier winners, but Exeter’s organisation points towards a tighter match than the leaders’ latest outing.
Score prediction: Salford City 1-0 Exeter City.
Shrewsbury Town v Gillingham
Match odds: Shrewsbury 19/20 | Draw 9/4 | Gillingham 11/4.
Shrewsbury have won three and drawn one of their last four matches in all competitions, although last weekend’s 3-3 draw at Rotherham brought another disciplinary setback. Kian McMahon-Brown’s dismissal leaves him suspended alongside Isaac Fletcher and Jay Turner-Cooke.
Those absences are a concern, but Gillingham arrive in poor form. Their 4-1 home defeat to Grimsby leaves them with just one win from their last six league games. Shrewsbury’s momentum earns them the preference.
Score prediction: Shrewsbury Town 2-1 Gillingham.
Swindon Town v Rotherham United
Match odds: Swindon 13/10 | Draw 12/5 | Rotherham 9/5.
Swindon have gone three games unbeaten, with a switch to a back three helping them look more secure. Their latest result was a goalless draw at Bristol Rovers, providing another sign of defensive improvement.
Rotherham have not won in six league matches. Although they scored three against Shrewsbury last weekend, they have failed to score in three of their last four away fixtures. That combination favours a low-scoring encounter, with Swindon narrowly preferred if either side finds a winner.
Score prediction: Swindon Town 1-0 Rotherham United.
Tranmere Rovers v Cheltenham Town
Match odds: Tranmere 17/20 | Draw 5/2 | Cheltenham 14/5.
Tranmere have scored exactly once in each of their last four league matches, dropping points in three of them. Last weekend’s 1-1 draw at Crawley again highlighted their difficulty turning attacking opportunities into a decisive advantage.
Cheltenham sit third, but their away record is less convincing than their league position. They have won only once on the road and collected just one point from their last three away league matches. With neither side offering a strong case for a comfortable victory, under 2.5 goals is the final selection.
Score prediction: Tranmere Rovers 1-1 Cheltenham Town.
Odds are correct as supplied and subject to change.
