English League One
2012-09-29 - Shrewsbury Town vs Swindon Town
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: English League One
Saturday 29 September 2012 - Kick Off 3pm
Shrewsbury Town
These two sides will be familiar with one another having both achieved promotion from League Two last season, but Shrewsbury Town don't have the same ambitions as Swindon Town this season. They lost a number of key players in the Summer so survival is the goal for them this season and they have made a mixed start to that end.
Shrewsbury were able to move up to 16th in the League One table thanks to a 2-2 draw earned at Hartlepool United last time out and they now have 9 points on the season. The side are 2-1-1 at home so far, scoring 6 goals and conceding 3 having beaten Coventry City 4-1 in their last home game.
That win over Coventry is the only one the team have produced in their last 6 games in all competitions. Shrewsbury did lose to Scunthorpe United at home this season, the only time they have been beaten in front of their own fans in 36 games in all competitions.
Swindon Town
Paolo Di Canio has made a real impact in his first managerial role at Swindon Town as he led the team to promotion from League Two in his first season. He has helped the team make a good start to life in League One and has also progressed to the Capital One Cup fourth round thanks to a 3-1 home win over Burnley to go with their surprise win at Stoke City.
At the end of the day, Di Canio will be judged on how Swindon perform in the League and they are currently residing in 5th spot in League One and they are just 6 points behind the leaders Tranmere Rovers. The team are just 1-2-1 away from the County Ground, scoring 5 goals and conceding 7.
However, Swindon are unbeaten in 4 games in all competitions and have won 3 in a row including their first away win of the season in the League at Portsmouth in their last game on their travels. After a surprise home loss to Leyton Orient, Swindon have scored at least 2 goals in their last 4 games. The team had actually failed to win any of their last 8 away games in all competitions before the defeat of Pompey.
Head to Head
Both Shrewsbury Town and Swindon Town won their home game against the other last season as they were both promoted and both victories came by the same 2-1 scoreline.
Previous to that defeat, Swindon had won 4 in a row at Shrewsbury.
Prediction
I have kept Swindon Town on side when it comes to picking games that should have at least 3 goals in them and I'll back them to help this game go over 2.5 goals at odds against too.
Shrewsbury Town have struggled to get to grips with the League One opposition, but that was expected coming into the new season. The loss to Scunthorpe would have been a surprise considering their recent record at home, but they have also earned draws against Preston and Tranmere so a more familiar foe like Swindon shouldn't hold any fear for them.
However, Swindon shouldn't be concerned about this game either as they have their first away win of the League season under their belt and they have scored 4 goals in their last 2 away games. The concern will be the fact they have conceded in their last 5 away games in all competitions.
I am a little concerned about the 1-1 scoreline scuppering my pick in this one, but the over 2.5 goals looks a decent shout at odds against. 7 of the last 8 meetings between these teams would have seen that pick come in as a winner, including last season, so I'll take my shot.
The Pick :
Shrewsbury Town 1-2 Swindon Town
