These two teams are currently 19 points apart in the League Two table with hosts Hartlepool United looking to cling on to Football League survival whilst Exeter City, who will be undertaking the 700 mile roundtrip up north, are chasing promotion via the play-offs.
Hartlepool managed to recover from a six-match win-less run to thrash fellow relegation battlers Crewe Alexandra 4-0 in midweek.
Perhaps the most surprising aspect of Dave Jones’s side’s victory was the fact they kept a clean sheet, their first in six games, considering they have the worst defensive record in the league with a very alarming 58 goals conceded in just 34 league matches. That trouncing of Crewe of course showed that Hartlepool can be very good going forward and their new total of 43 scored even betters that of play-off hopefuls Wycombe Wanderers.
That win over Crewe extended Hartlepool’s excellent recent record at Victoria Park with Pool now being unbeaten in their last four at home.
After putting together a fantastic winning run a couple of months ago, Exeter have suffered a dip in recent times. However, their win away at Crawley Town last time out may have put them back on the right track and they still sit inside the top seven.
Paul Tisdale’s men have been impressive in both boxes so far this campaign. They have the fourth-highest goals total in the league with 55 in 34 games and also have a respectable defensive record with just 38 conceded. Additionally, they have kept clean sheets in 35% of their matches – only Grimsby and Portsmouth have a higher clean sheet percentage.
The Exiles have been absolutely sublime on the road and have the best away record in League One with 35 points taken from 18 matches away from St James’s Park. They have also scored the second-highest number of goals away from home in League Two this season.
Although Hartlepool won last time out and have a decent home record, they may still be feeling a lack of confidence and, given Exeter’s away form, I cannot go against Tisdale’s men here. Furthermore, given Hartlepool’s poor defence and Exeter’s strong front-line, the Exiles should be scoring at least a few here.
‘Exeter City to Win & Over 1.5 Goals’ is one bet that is definitely worth placing at 6/4.
Read more from Thomas here.