It's the opening weekend for the EFL with the vast majority of League 2 games kicking off at 3pm on Saturday. Gavin Puszczalowskyi looks looks ahead to the action and picks out his 3 best bets.
Vale to win?
I have tipped Port Vale as automatic promotion contenders. They have recruited well with the likes of Byers in midfield, Jaydon Stockley has joined to and the unknown Ruari Paton who has joined Vale after a prolific goalscoring spell in Scotland. Darren Moore and his men rock up at Salford who have also made a few good signings.
Ben Woodburn, yes, that Ben Woodburn who made his debut aged 17 for Liverpool. Fast forward 7 years and he is about to make his Salford debut. The home side have also signed Cole Stockton who has an eye for goal, and James Chester is a good signing in defence.
Salford only won 5 home league games last season, which is the same at Sutton United and Forest Green Rovers, who are starting the season in non-league. Each of the last 5 meetings between these 2 sides have finished 1-0, but Salford leak plenty of goals at home, and if they don’t fix that, James Chester may help, I think they could struggle again at home and Port Vale have goal scorers.
Vale to win are 21/10 in many places and that is a play for me.
Rovers to start with a bang
My next tip is Doncaster Rovers to win at home to Accrington but at 3/5 on to win, you are not getting rich quick, so, Doncaster to win and goals is what I am looking at. Accrington has been awful in pre-season, losing every friendly so far. They have lost to Wigan, fair enough, and to Barnsley, which is OK, but they have also lost recently to Clitheroe and Lancaster City, which is definitely not OK, and away from home last season they lost 13 of 23 games and more often than not, conceded over 1.5 and 2.5 goals.
Doncaster are one of the favourites to be promoted automatically, and they have signed Billy Sharp. They have also won 13 of 18 games towards the end of last season and they thumped Stanley 4-0 in April at home. Doncaster to win and 3 or more goals in the match is 13/10 at Hills. Yes please.
Bantams to cause a shock.
My third pick could be a cracking game with plenty of goals. MK Dons v Bradford City. MK Dons won 14 home games last season, only the top 2, Stockport and Wrexham won more. Dons did really fall away at the end of the season conceding 13 in their last 3 home games. Bradford have got goals in their side with Andy Cook providing the fire power for the Bantams who I think will go well this season. Bradford won 10 games away from Valley Parade last season, then won 9 at home.
Something tells me Bradford, who have won 2 of their last 3 games at MK Dons could be a play. So I’m going with my gut instinct. There will be goals in this game. Bradford to win and over 2.5 goals is 4/1
My selections are Port Vale to win at Salford, 21/10. Doncaster to win and 3 or more goals in the game at 13/10. And Bradford to win and over 2.5 goals at 4/1. That treble works out around 36/1.
Good luck and whatever your bets are, please gamble responsibly.