League Two: Constable can help Oxford beat Dons

28Dec 2012

Oxford United should be doing better than they are says Ian Lamont, but can cement a fine December's work by winning at Wimbledon. Southend can win away, too.

AFC Wimbledon 3.1 Oxford 2.5 Draw 3.5

Oxford's form has been consistently inconsistent, to the extent some fans on forums are determined to have Chris Wilder out. The Kassam club are certainly under-performing for the sum of their parts, but let's not forget the chairman has a five-year plan to reach the Championship and success rarely comes swiftly. Even so, a club that has been pushing the play-offs in recent seasons should not be languishing in the lower half of the league. The U's can expect a bumper New Year's Day ground at home to Cheltenham if they can continue an unbeaten December's good work by winning at Wimbledon.

There is still time to make the play-offs, especially if James Constable - who has four goals in five games - can continue to find his scoring touch. A good win at Exeter will have given them confidence to beat the Dons, who might have needed the break of not playing on Boxing Day, but, therefore, have not had the chance to shake off a bad run of one point from four games.

Back Oxford @ 2.5

Cheltenham 1.7 Bristol Rovers 5.7 Draw 4.1

Mark Yates praised his Robins for "playing with bottle" in the 4-0 win over Wycombe, a result, the manager believed, that was achieved by the players concentrating on their own team and not the opposition. They will have to treat Bristol Rovers like a banana skin. At least it will give them a sense of what Everton will feel like when they visit Whaddon Road in the FA Cup. The Robins will not want to fall behind in the league because of the Cup and a victory here could well cement a top three slot before the Toffees visit. A strong home record is in their favour, as is having a plethora of different goalscorers. The crucial statistic is that Cheltenham have not lost at home since mid-September while John Ward is still picking up a side that has just two points from seven games. They fought well at fellow strugglers Aldershot, claiming a late leveller, but this is altogether a different prospect. Cheltenham, with plus four, are the only team in the top five with goal difference in less than double figures. This might be a chance for them to boost that, so back over 2.5 goals too.

Back Cheltenham @ 1.7

Burton 3.15 Southend 2.42 Draw 3.5

Billy Kee might have returned to form with five goals in seven games and Burton might have three wins and a draw in five, but their opponents are more determined. Southend are 14 league and FA Cup games unbeaten and will not fear a trip to the Pirelli after a 3-0 win at Dagenham. Apart from the blank at Fleetwood, Paul Sturrock's men have struck three or more in four of their last five away games. In the past 10 games, Gavin Tomlin has netted 11 goals to match Britt's Assombalonga league total. The Brewers are not easily shifted at home, but The Shrimpers will want to use this game to push for an automatic promotion slot that is long overdue.

Back Southend @ 2.42

Bradford 1.92 Rochdale 4.5 Draw 3.75

No attacker really likes being labelled a super-sub, like Adrian Heath for Everton in the 1980s, but that is Alan Connell's lot at the moment. The dislike for the tag is reduced when you score the winner, as the striker has against Torquay and Accrington in recent weeks. Phil Parkinson rates Connell's technical ability, which, it seems, flummoxes opposition defences late in games when they are tired. Something certainly seems to work for the Bantams who have only one defeat in eight. Rochdale remain on a hiding to nothing, a 4-1 win over Cheltenham a rare of sunshine in a murky, otherwise pointless, December. Come the New Year, John Coleman will need all those skills to get the best out of players he perfected at Accrington during a decade's careful plotting.

Back Bradford at 1.91