Playing Away: Put your faith in the ‘S’ brigade for travel triumphs

A look across the latest League One and League Two fixture lists suggests that Swindon Town, Scunthorpe United and Southend United offer the best value for potential away punts this weekend in their games at Shrewsbury, Portsmouth and Plymouth respectively.

Last time out, my three ‘Playing Away’ picks were a let down, with Stevenage and Exeter failing to claim the victories required to bring home the big bucks.

But after a week in which a few teams surprised in the Capital One Cup, I’m feeling optimistic that my new picks can duly deliver.

And what a delivery it could be with odds of just under 15/1 providing winnings of £298.08 for anyone utilising bwin’s free £20 bet to back them in a treble.

They could also make for perfectly-placed single bets, which could also allow you to make use of that free bet.

So let’s get started, shall we?

Swindon Town to beat Shrewsbury Town @ 7/5

After a couple of crazy weeks at the County Ground, some semblance of normality appears to have returned to Paolo Di Canio and Swindon Town.

Gone are the days of criticising players, chihuahua references and pitch-side meltdowns, with the Robins returning to winning ways in style, with a Capital One cup victory over Championship side Burnley arguably the pick of the midweek results.

The win was their third on the bounce and with Swindon now sitting pretty in fifth, Di Canio will expect his side to kick on with a victory on the road at Shrewsbury.

Graham Turner’s side are hardly in the best of form, with just one win to their name from their last six League One matches, and they could well see that run extended against the Robins.

Swindon fans have enjoyed their recent encounters with the Shrews too, winning three of the previous four. I expect Di Canio’s boys to see this one out too with a triumph which is priced at a tempting 7/5.

Scunthorpe to beat Portsmouth @ 17/10

It sounds horrible to say, but these days a bet against Portsmouth is like taking sweets from a small child – you feel guilty about it, but it is just too easy to resist.

Michael Appleton has had to contend with a rag-tag squad of youngsters and journeymen in the kind of story that sounds like it should have some kind of Hollywood ending but is clearly not going to.

Pompey are fourth from bottom in League One and more importantly, have yet to claim a win at Fratton Park this season. Worse still, Appleton’s side head into this game on the back of three straight defeats.

That looks more than likely to continue against Scunthorpe, who are unbeaten in four and are no doubt relishing the prospect of a trip to one of the weakest teams in the division.

Backing an away win at 17/10 is as clear a dead cert as you are likely to see on the road.

Southend to beat Plymouth @ 13/10

Another team that look likely to struggle at home is Plymouth Argyle. The south-coast club have hardly been in impressive form at Home Park, having picked up just a single win in four attempts in League Two.

Carl Fletcher’s team have leaked plenty of goals there too, with eight shipped over those matches.

Southend, meanwhile, remain in contention for League One promotion having won five of their last six and will be confident of claiming more points on the road at Plymouth, considering they have plundered six goals in their last three away games.

Last season, the Shrimpers grabbed four in two games against Plymouth and could well pick up a win here at 13/10.

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