Home Heroes: Swindon Town, Port Vale and Oxford United

While the dust may only just have settled on Europe’s stunning comeback in the Ryder Cup, I have a feeling that the midweek League One and League Two action could see a similar fightback from your resident pundit-in-chief.

Last Saturday’s ‘Home Heroes’ marked something of a low point for me after I tipped Portsmouth to lose at home to Scunthorpe, likening Pompey to a small, defenceless child. What a fool I was, as the south-coast boys claimed a 2-1 win over a sorry Scunny.

Nevertheless, I was not prepared to let a few dodgy results hold me back and quickly returned to the drawing board to begin the long and arduous process again. And, after a few false starts and Mark Bright-inspired night terrors, I think I have a solution.

By my calculations, the magic trio of Swindon Town, Port Vale and Oxford United offer the best bets as either single home banker punts or as part of a treble priced at 9/2.

And for new punters claiming the free £20 bet offered by bwin, winnings of £93.42 could be on offer if the full amount is used to back the three-timer.

Swindon to beat Colchester @ 57/100

My love affair with all things Paolo Di Canio continued last weekend as Swindon proved a reliable bet for a win at Shrewsbury – thus matching my ‘Playing Away’ prediction from earlier in the week.

The win was the Robins’ fourth on the bounce in all competitions, with things starting to look rosy again for everyone at the County Ground following a few unsteady weeks.

I expect that momentum to continue against Colchester United, who, despite having a new manager in Joe Dunne, remain outsiders for any points here, having failed to even score in any of their last five away matches.

Swindon have been impressive at home for much of the last season-and-a-half and have won five of their last six at the County Ground.

History is also on their side, with the two teams’ previous meeting at Swindon resulting in a 2-1 win for the hosts. I expect another home victory at 57/100.

Port Vale to beat Dagenham & Redbridge @ 7/10

A quick look at the League Two standings should provide a basic indication of why second-placed Port Vale should be backed against fifth-from-bottom Dagenham & Redbridge.

Micky Adams has done a fine job at Port Vale, who, aside from a defeat to league leaders Gillingham, have won four of their last five games in League Two.

Vale have been particularly potent at home too, scoring 12 goals in their five competitive games at Vale Park. The Daggers, meanwhile, head into this game with just one win in their last five matches in all competitions.

They have been particularly weak away from home, having failed to win in six on the road, conceding 11 goals along the way, including seven in their last three matches on their travels

A home win should be backed here at a decent-looking price of 7/10.

Oxford United to beat AFC Wimbledon @ 3/4

The U’s have hardly been in scintillating form of late but in AFC Wimbledon, they now face opponents who have proven even worse so far this season.

Oxford have history on their side, having won each of their last four encounters with the Dons, scoring six goals in the process. More importantly, AFC Wimbledon have yet to score a single goal against Oxford.

As they welcome the managerless Dons at the Kassam Stadium, Oxford will be confident of returning to winning ways, having claimed victory in four of their last six games at home.

AFC Wimbledon, meanwhile, remain among the weakest travellers in the Football League, having won just one of their last 16 on the road.

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