Alll the odds as Hatters visit the Stags

Dartford leapfrogged Luton in the Conference table with their 2-0 win at Kenilworth Road last weekend, meaning 15th placed Woking have a better home record than the Hatters after their latest League reverse.

The FA Cup replay win against Nuneaton midweek gave further evidence, if any was needed, that for whatever reason Paul Buckle’s side are currently a better team on the road and they get the opportunity to improve their away record at Mansfield on Sunday.

Somehow the Hatters are still only four points off the top of the table but they won’t find things easy at the One Call Stadium given the hosts have only lost one home game to date and picked up 20 of their 25 points in front of their own supporters. Luton would be two points clear at the top of the table with a similar home record.

The Stags are 6/4 favourites for the three points with Luton 7/1 and the draw at 5/2. This is a game the Hatters should take something from and Scott Rendell is 11/2 to open the scoring with Stuart Fleetwood the 5/1 favourite.

Mansfield have conceded 22 goals in eight games on their travels but are a different proposition at home with only six goals conceded in nine games. Those statistics suggest a tight game but I think Luton can nick this one 2-1 which is 10/1; three goals or more is priced at 4/6 with two or fewer goals at 11/10.

The Hatters remain favourites for the title at 2/1 with the two Welsh clubs Wrexham (7/2) and leaders Newport County at 13/2.

The odds suggest it remains a wide-open League but if Luton lose and Newport win at the weekend the Welsh side will have opened up a seven-point lead with a game in hand. Hardly insurmountable I know and it is a league that there doesn’t appear to be an outstanding team although I remain confident (misguided?) that when the dust has finally settled Luton will be back in the Football League.

With respect to the North London Derby (money back on selected markets at BetVictor if there is a red card in the game) the match that is likely to get the most column inches this weekend is QPR v Southampton with both managers coming into the game under intense pressure; Rangers are 20/21 to get all three points with the Saints 31/10 and the draw at 13/5.

Nigel Adkins is 11/10 favourite to be the first PL managerial casualty of the season with Mark Hughes 5/2 and Roberto Mancini 10s; the latter was 5/1 when they were a goal down to Spurs at half time but once again his side found a way to win despite not playing at their best.

For all your weekend odds check out betvictor.com

Be lucky

Charlie