League Two Best Bets

Michael Jolley picked up the December Manager of the Month award this week, and he can celebrate with another win as the Marriners continue to climb up the table from their poor opening matches of the campaign. They face Macclesfield, who despite occupying 23rd are at least improving themselves.

Grimsby had won six from eight ahead of going to Selhurst Park last week, and while they lost that one, a 1-0 scoreline is nothing to be ashamed of considering Palace fielded the likes of Zaha, Hennessey and Townsend among more fringe players.

Recent home games since October have seen Grimbsy beat Colcheter 1-0, MK Dons 3-1, Crawley 1-0, Tranmere 5-2, Swindon 2-1 and Notts Co 4-0. mixed in have been a 3-2 defeat to Newcastle U23's and a 1-0 defeat to Mansfield. They will be very pleased with that return.

Macclesfield have improved greatly over the same sort of time frame, and Sol Campbell is 2-3-3 since taking charge for a level goal difference, but this Grimsby side are taking aim, and odds-against is too big given their home form.

2pts Grimsby to beat Macclesfield at 6/5 (General)

Jim Bentley is well known as a fast starting manager, and Morecambe invariably collect a good % of their season's points before November, before slipping back down the table. I fear this may be the season where not enough nuts got buried to sustain them through the winter, and it could carry significant implications.

Bentley's side have now won just once in 10 - losing five of those, so a long trip to Exeter is far from ideal today.

I'm amazed to see the Grecians only marginally odds-on - they have won four from five now and should be more solid favourites to collect all three points given they have won seven of their 13 home games this season in League Two.

2pts Exeter to beat Morecambe at 17/20 (Bet365 or BetVictor)

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