GEORGE Elek (@georgeelek) fills in for Mark O'Haire as he picks out his Tuesday Football League fancies.
Coventry v Port Vale | Tuesday 19:45
With just one away league win to their name this season, backing Port Vale on their travels should normally come with a health warning, but there is enough cause to suggest that this could be the week to side with them.
There have been encouraging away performances in recent weeks for Vale, none more so than the 1-1 draw against promotion hopefuls Southend at Roots Hall. They have also scored in four of their last five games on their travels, suggesting the toothless away displays from Bruno Ribeiro’s reign are a thing of the past.
They recorded an impressive 2-1 won over Shrewsbury on Friday evening in a potentially season defining performance, that has put them back to just two points from safety with two games in hand, this being one.
Coventry, on the other hand, are destined for the drop and have very little to play for. They have lost their last three home games by a margin of two goals and, with the Checkatrade Trophy Final against Oxford United on April 2nd , there can be little doubt that Coventry’s season has now come down to that day alone.
I wouldn’t be siding with Coventry against many teams at the 6/5 quoted, and Port Vale could well make a mockery of the 5/2 on them to emerge victorious. Due to their poor away record, it is worth advising some caution and splitting stakes with Port Vale DNB at 6/4.
Morecambe v Accrington Stanley | Tuesday 19:45
The stats suggest it is worth siding with the visitors to break the deadlock at The Globe Arena on Tuesday evening. The hosts have lost four consecutive League 2 matches, and seem to have taken their foot off the gas since a good run earlier in the year fired them away from the relegation scrap. They have conceded the first goal in all of their last five games, in which they have scored three, all coming in the second-half of games.
Accrington, on the other hand, have a tremendous record at getting the noses in front. They have grabbed the opening goal in all of their past eight matches, showing a tendency to come out of the blocks quickly, that should set them in good stead against the seemingly sluggish Morecambe.
Whilst they are unbeaten in these eight games, they have sacrificed the lead four times, three of which on their travels, so Accrington to score the first goal at 4/5 with looks to be the safe bet here.
Matty Pearson has scored eight goals this season for Stanley, with five in his last seven, so he is worth chancing at 25/1 and 9/1 for first and anytime goalscorer respectively with Paddy Power.
Best Bets
Coventry v Port Vale – Port Vale to win (5/2 Bet365)
Coventry v Port Vale – Port Vale Draw No Bet (6/4 Betfred)
Morecambe v Accrington Stanley – Accrington to score the first goal (4/5 Betfred)
Morecambe v Accrington Stanley – Matty Pearson First Goalscorer (25/1 Paddy Power)
Morecambe v Accrington Stanley – Matty Pearson Anytime Goalscorer (9/1 Paddy Power)
