Sam Ingram’s Early Bird Tips: Goals Should Arrive During International Break

The Early Bird Tips for League Two is here, as our expert Sam Ingram primarily focuses on England’s lower leagues whilst the international break begins to gather pace.

Last week was slightly disappointing in terms of Early Bird tips for Sam; one loss, one push, and a half win – nothing too exhilarating there, with PSG rocked to their core in front of the raucous Geordie faithful.

But that’s behind us. Let’s look ahead to a selection in Crewe, something in Wrexham, and an Early, Early Bird punt in the Championship.

• Early Bird Tips for Crewe vs Tranmere: Crewe Win
• Early Bird Tips for Wrexham vs Salford: BTTS – Yes
• Early Bird Tips for West Brom vs Plymouth Argyle: West Brom -0.5 Asian Handicap

Acca odds: 6.01

Odds via bet365 as at 09:49, October 9th, 2023. Odds may now differ.

Crewe vs Tranmere: Rovers to struggle if the goals arrive

England, League Two, Saturday, October 14th, 15:00 (UK)

Tranmere heads to Crewe, having lost 5/5 of their away games to date in League Two.

They face a Crewe (28) outfit next, who have scored the most goals in the division, leaving Notts County (27), Swindon (27), and Wrexham (24) left playing catch-up in the goalscoring stakes.

The away team here have hit four goals in five games on the road – the fewest in the league when venturing away. Salford’s 4-2 victory over Crewe on the weekend reflects the former’s tentative steps into a decent vein of form and also some suspect officiating, which cost Crewe.

Crewe’s number 9, Courtney Baker-Richardson, posted a post-game Tweet; “One word, Shambles. You lot know what I’m talking about.” It was a dig at the game’s officiating, reposted by the club’s official Twitter account. Lee Bell said they got it ‘drastically wrong’ in terms of a goal ruled out for offside and the quick free-kick/counter-attack that came from it and ended in a Salford goal whilst Crewe were out of shape and retreating.

“I’ve never spoken to a referee after a game. I’m going to go and speak to the referee today because there’s a couple of things I didn’t like,” articulated manager Lee Bell in his post-game interview. Salford performed well in a tight encounter, which Bell also pointed out, though I completely understand why the club would feel hard done by here.

I assume we can expect this Crewe squad to feel pretty aggrieved with what happened this weekend. If they take that into Tranmere on home soil with the bit between their teeth, they could blow the visiting Rovers side away.

• Selection: Crewe Win (TRACKED BET)
• Best Odds: 1.90
• Bookmaker: bet365
• Stakes: 10/10

Wrexham vs Salford: Another Hollywood-like Script in Wales?

England, League Two, Saturday, October 14th, 15:00 (UK)

No team in England’s top four divisions has scored more goals at home than Wrexham in 2023/24. They’ve netted twenty goals in just six games. Twenty; 3.33 goals per90.

At the other end, they’ve also conceded more (16) than any other team from the Premier League to League Two. Burnley match that total (16) in the top flight, and Forest Green Rovers, who have lost 6/6 on home soil in League Two, have shipped 15 goals.

Wrexham home games this season (most recent first): 3-3, 3-0, 2-1, 5-5, 4-2 & 3-5.

Salford is their next visitor. And they may be starting to find their feet after a slow, slow start. Last season’s losing playoff semi-finalists have now won their last three, scoring four against an in-form Crewe side on Saturday, as touched on in the first bet above.

If we see another chaotic 90 minutes in Wales, anticipate that both sides will contribute at a decent price. I had BTTS down as a 1.50-1.60 shot here.

• Selection: BTTS – Yes (TRACKED BET)
• Best Odds: 1.80
• Bookmaker: Skybet
• Stakes: 10/10

West Brom vs Plymouth Argyle: Vacating home comforts

England, Championship, Saturday, October 21st, 15:00 (UK)

Both Bristol City (1.57) and Hull City (1.80) recently went off at shorter odds versus Argyle compared to how West Brom is priced with the bookmakers. The market is now cottoning on to Plymouth’s rocky nature away from home, and I’d hazard a guess that West Brom will be shorter than these 1.95 quotes following the international break.

It’s no secret that the Greens do their best work in Devon, and even that has faltered in recent weeks. West Brom boss Carlos Corberan has an impressive home record as Baggies coach, which I fear could rear its head here:

• Played: 21
• Won: 14
• Drew: 4
• Lost: 3

Argyle have clawed just 2/15 away points from five games so far, scoring four, which is the second-fewest away goal haul in the division behind Sheffield Wednesday (3) – no surprises there.

There’s an international break in the way between now and then, so you’ll have to wait a couple of weeks for this Early, Early Bird selection to be completed, but it may prove a shrewd position to take up to get a head start on the masses once the internationals have fizzled out.

• Selection: West Brom -0.5 Asian Handicap (TRACKED BET)
• Best Odds: 1.95
• Bookmaker: bet365
• Stakes: 10/10

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