Monkey Hangers set for big push after slow start
by Ian Wilkerson

IN August you could have made a case for about 12 teams making a push for promotion in League Two and, 22 games further down the line, it is fair to conclude that not a lot has really changed.

Walsall and Swindon got off to storming starts and looked at one stage as if they were going to pull away from the rest,but despite the Saddlers having managed to gain a five-point lead at the summit, you can still get odds-against about the title heading for the Bescot.

If big-priced away winners is your bag, then League Two is the section for you. Most of the teams are of a similar ability and visitors land odds of 3-1 or larger on a weekly basis.

Of the three each-way selections put up at the start of the season, Peterborough look to have the best chance on paper as they sit four points behind third-placed MK Dons.

However, Darlington and Chester look to have their work cut out to get into the frame but decent form over the winter could push them further up the table from mid-division. It isn’t an impossibility and a position in the play-offs will still be seen as a realistic target.

The fact that three relegated teams currently find themselves in the automatic promotion positions might lead some to conclude it is a weak section.

But while all three should certainly be involved in the mix, Walsall may be a bit wary that Wycombe blew a four-point lead at this time last season and ended up losing in the play-offs.

Perhaps the 2-0 home defeat by Swindon the week before last will have sown a few seeds of doubt.

The team that provides a bit of interestis the fourth side that made the drop into the Football League basement last season, Hartlepool. It took five games for the Monkey Hangers to get their game into gear and post their first win, but they have now begun to close the gap.

You have to go back to the beginning of October since they fell to their last league defeat – a 1-0 home reverse against Barnet.

They have won their last five games, including notable victories at Notts County, who were among the pacesetters but seem to have dropped off, and Bristol Rovers.

Perhaps more importantly, they have not conceded in their last four league outings, so Danny Wilson has managed to instill some solidity for the first time at Victoria Park.

Both goalscorer tips have been scuppered, with Iyseden Christie being packed off to Conference side Kidderminster from Rochdale and Peterbrough’s Simon Yeo suffering a serious injury.

It is difficult to put up MK Dons’ Izale McLoed, mainly because he could be on the move himself in January, but it might be worth a small interest in Mansfield’s Richie Barker.

He has banged in 11 so far and Hartlepool have already tried to sign him this season, leaving Stags fans up in arms as the chairman looked to push through a deal for the popular captain.

Even if he doesn’t move, he has shown enough at Field Mill over the last couple of seasons to suggest there could still be more to come from the former Rotherham hitman.

Already Recommended

Peterborough, 2pts each-way 16-1
Darlington, 2pts each-way 14-1
Chester, 1pt each-way 25-1
I Christie top scorer, 1pt each-way 66-1
S Yeo top scorer, 1pt each-way 40-1

New Recommendations

Hartlepool, 1pt e-w 25-1 Ladbrokes
R Barker top scorer, 1pt 8-1 Bet365