League Two weekend betting preview: Crown jewels for Cobblers

Aidy Boothroyd has finally discovered the winning formula at Northampton and they look a solid bet to notch a fourth straight win at 12/5 against an Accrington side still struggling to come to terms with the departure of John Coleman.

The Cobblers were looking stranded six weeks ago when defeat at Torquay left them bottom of the table three points adrift of safety and even successive wins over Wimbledon and Macclesfield weren't enough to keep the doomsayers at bay when a 2-1 reverse against Port Vale set them back days later.

But Boothroyd has been unwavering in his belief that Town would eventually climb the table and it's amazing how quickly things can turn around with a bit of perseverance. Northampton have now taken 16 points from the last seven matches and victory over fellow-strugglers Dagenham in midweek catapulted them up to the heady heights of 19th place with a five-point cushion on the drop zone.

Suddenly the pressure is off but the Cobblers are hardly likely to get complacent given how recently they were stuck in the quagmire trying to hold their nerve, so we should expect them to retain the steel while perhaps adding a freedom of expression that has perhaps been lacking in recent weeks.

All of which makes them a formidable proposition for those unfortunate enough to be coming up against them in the next few weeks and though Paul Cook has shown signs of slowly getting to grips with the job facing him at the Crown Ground, this assignment still seems liable to set him back.

Because when we talk in terms of progress at Accrington, we're merely referring to a run of late equalisers in the last three matches that have prevented them from stretching a run of four straight defeats to seven.

That will, of course, do their belief a power of good but ultimately it's Stanley's shocking defensive record since Coleman's departure that makes us want to oppose them - in the last eight matches they have shipped 17 goals with over half of them conceded in just three matches on home soil.

Recommended bet:

1pt Northampton to beat Accrington at 12/5 (Boylesports)

For more betting news and views, please visit Bestofthebets.com. You can also follow Mike Holden on Twitter: @Miguel_BOTB