Chesterfield and York the selections in League Two

What a huge difference five years can make in football. In Novermber 2008 Portsmouth were playing and almost beating Ac Milan in Europé in November 2013 they have games with Hartlepool and AFC Wimbledon scheduled. Bookmakers think that Pompey can start the slow climb back though the leagues and have them as 5/1 (GENERAL) favourites for the League Two title. Off the pitch Portsmouth are clearly the biggest club on it and should get huge crwods on it though is the a worry. I am not convinced that they have a squad any better than half the sides in the league and as such I can not recommend anyone siding with them.

The next two in the market, Fleetwood and Chesterfield, have the two best squads in the division. The former are 8/1 (betway) and this will appeal to some as they have made some good signings bringing in Ryan Creswell, Steven Schumacher and Jeff Hughes. The problem I have is I am not convinced by manager Graham Alexander who was a surprise choice to take control and at this price I can not be getting involved. Chesterfield at 9/1 (unibet) though do have a good manager in Paul Cook and have added some good players (Marc Richards, Eoin Doyle, Sam Morsy) to a side that finished eighth last season. I really like the look of the 9/5 (paddy Power/188 BET) on them to get promoted as I can not see them finishing out of the top three while the 8/1 betway are offering has to be worth an interest on them to lift the title.

Of the others I am not keen on Bristol Rovers at 16/1 (bet365/SKYBET/william hill) as it seems like every season they are overpriced in the betting and despite some good work for John Ward I think his squad is a long way short of some of the top sides.

Scunthorpe are also 16/1 (GENERAL) chances after relegation from their top flight but just three of the last 24 sides to be relegated have bounced straight back and neither they nor Hartlepool (25/1-SPREADEX) nor Bury (40/1-SKYBET/paddy Power) appeal.

The three beaten play-off sides will all be comeptitive though each has to deal with the loss of a key player. Cheltenham at 20/1 (GENERAL) have brought in striker Jamie Cureton to solve their scoring problems though the loss of influential palyer Marlon Pack will be felt. As will the loss of key striker Ade Akinfenwa for Northampton who are also set to be without influential Kelvin Langemead for the first three months of the season due to injury. Burton are 25/1 (GENERAL) chance though they will have to do without the goalscoring duo of Jacques Maghoma and Calvin Zola. All three could go well though look worth leaving until we see how they deal with these issues early on in the season.

Burton showed last season that sides can shoot from one end of the table to another in this division if things click and that is why I am going to take an each-way punt on York. The Minstermen might seem a strange selection but they do have some things going for them to suggest they could be value at 40/1 (SKYBET/STAN JAMES/william hill). Firstly, they played really well in spells last season, notably at the start and the end but for a freak 11 game run without a game should have finished much higher. In Nigel Worthington they have a solid no nonsense manager who has decent lower league success with Norwich and Blackpool and the signings have been good this summer with Richard Creswell among the additions.

BEST OF THE BETS

GOLD: Chesterfield to win promotion from League One,
SILVER: Chesterfield to win League One, 8/1 (unibet)
BRONZE: York EW in League Two, 40/1 (SKYBET/STAN JAMES/WILLIAM HILL)

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01/08/2013     © Frixo 2026