Football Tips: Saturday’s 26/1 Stockport v MK Dons Bet Builder

Football tipster James O'Rourke finds the five value picks in Saturday's kickoff.

STOCKPORT V MK DONS BET BUILDER TIPS

BET BUILDER

Under 3.5 Goals
Alex Gilbey Anytime Goalscorer
Both Teams to Score in the First Half – No
MK Dons +2
Half Time Draw

The latest football odds are on PaddyPower.com now

Stockport v MK Dons
League Two match at Edgeley Park, Stockport
TV: Sky Sports Main Event & Football, 5:15pm

UNDER 3.5 GOALS

Heading into this round of fixtures, this is 2nd against 4th, but two games in hand for Stockport means some would argue places more significance on this match for MK Dons. All other promotion rivals will play earlier in the day, but no matter what happens, this is still a high-pressure top-of-the-table battle.

With that being the case, there is every chance this turns into quite a tactical affair where there is plenty of respect on show. One win in seven for Stockport suggests they’re not at the top of their game right now, whilst four of their last five contained two goals or less.

As for the away side, only four of their 16 encounters in 2024 have seen over 3.5 goals payout. Also, only once in their last eight away from home has done so too, meaning this has all the makings of a close match.

ALEX GILBEY ANYTIME GOALSCORER

Only two players in the MK Dons have managed to achieve double-digit goals in all competitions, one of those being attacking midfielder Alex Gilbey. The other is striker Max Dean, who is out injured, so there is a degree of expectancy on Gilbey to get the goals to fire them to promotion. Three in the last six games suggest he is doing his bit and is backed to contribute again on Saturday.

As mentioned, this will probably be quite a cagey game, so it could be a shot from distance that gets beyond a congested part of the pitch. Four MK Dons players have managed over 30 shots on goal from outside the box this season and Gilbey is in the best form of them all.

Stockport have failed to score in four of their last six and Gilbey has scored only one goal fewer amount of goals over his last six games compared to Stockport overall in the same time.

BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE IN THE FIRST HALF – NO

If this game is ever going to take off then it would most likely be in the second half. As mentioned, this is the final clash of the day, and all other promotion rivals will play earlier on. That’ll have a slight impact on the game, knowing what’s a more favourable result is given the circumstances.

A strong case has already been built for this not necessarily being a high-scoring contest anyway, but especially not in the opening 45 of a top-of-the-table meeting. The first goal is often particularly key in matches of this nature. So fewer risks will be taken.

This has only been a winning bet in just over 16% of Stockport’s League Two fixtures this season, whereas for MK Dons it’s just over 28%.

MK DONS +2

Stockport are an odds-on shot but one win in seven makes them opposable and raises MK Dons’ prospects from a handicap perspective. Nine of MK’s 12 league defeats this season have come away from home, but six of those came by a one-goal margin, meaning the selection has been a winner in over 84% of their away league matches.

The hosts have enjoyed some convincing wins this season, including an 8-0 success over the bottom side Sutton, but most of their games against the top sides have largely been closer affairs. Of their 18 meetings versus top-half clubs, a +2 handicap would have been a full payout for the opposition on 15 of those occasions.

HALF TIME DRAW

To continue the theme of this being a close game, that makes the halftime draw a big player here. There will be plenty of respect on show from the off and the two teams will look to progressively build their way into the match.

Stockport have found recent wins hard to come by and MK Dons have lost five of their last eight away, so we may not see their best versions until later on. Four of Stockport’s last five have been goalless at halftime, and with them being the hosts they should dictate the pace early on.

STOCKPORT V MK DONS BET BUILDER TIPS

BET BUILDER

Under 3.5 Goals
Alex Gilbey Anytime Goalscorer
Both Teams to Score in the First Half – No
MK Dons +2
Half Time Draw

All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.

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