Plymouth & Scunthorpe Co-Favored to Win 2019-20 England League Two Title at 8-1 Odds
- Relegated clubs fancied for quick success
- Argyle lifted by bold new coach Lowe
- Bradford City could push top-rated pair
England’s EFL League Two is a tough and gruelling competition with two newly-relegated teams favored to win the title after dropping down a level.
Plymouth Argyle and Scunthorpe United are jointly-fancied for the prize at +800 after tumbling from League One last May.
Newcomers to the competition are being highly-rated by the oddsmakers with Salford City – owned by a group of former Manchester United stars – viewed as joint-fourth favorites for the championship at +1000 after their promotion from the non-league National League.
EFL League Two Title Odds
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| Plymouth Argyle | +800 |
| Scunthorpe United | +800 |
| Bradford City | +900 |
| Mansfield Town | +1000 |
| Salford City | +1000 |
| Forest Green Rovers | +1200 |
| Leyton Orient | +1400 |
| Northampton Town | +1400 |
*Odds taken at 2019/07/28.
Bradford City were also relegated from League One and are third favorites at +900 with Mansfield Town alongside Salford City at +1000.
Plymouth are rightly favored but Bradford City offer a good choice at slightly better value.
Unwelcome Surprise
Relegation last season was an unwelcome surprise outcome for both Plymouth and Scunthorpe.
Both had been tipped for successful campaigns. Plymouth had finished seventh in League One in 2017-18 while Scunthorpe reached the playoffs.
REPORT: Did you miss yesterday's six-goal clash against @RangersFC under-23s? Read our match report to catch up on the action! ?
— Mansfield Town FC (@mansfieldtownfc) July 28, 2019
Plymouth now hope that the appointment of a new manager will provide the catalyst for a quick return.
Lowe is known for his bold and attacking style of play. His former club Bury hit 82 goals in 46 fixtures last season.
Ryan Lowe is highly-regarded after leading Bury to second place and promotion to League One last season despite the club being hampered by financial problems.
Lowe is known for his bold and attacking style of play. His former club Bury hit 82 goals in 46 fixtures last season.
But Argyle have lost both leading goal-scorers from last season.
Freddie Ladapo scored 18 EFL goals but has left for Rotherham United.
Ruben Lameiras has joined Famalicao of Portugal after hitting the net 17 times in all competitions for Argyle in 2018-19.
Eight New Signings
However, new coach Lowe has created a sense of optimism by making eight summer signings.
They include winger Danny Mayor who is among several new players who have been recruited from Bury.
The new 2019/20 #SalfordCity home and away kits by #Kappa #Leaguetwo #Football #Fussball #Soccer #Futbol pic.twitter.com/PGoMXsEEaC
— Pro Soccer Kits ⚽️ (@prosoccerkits) July 22, 2019
Attacking midfielder Jose Baxter will also be a key part of Lowe’s plans after arriving from Oldham Athletic.
Scunthorpe also have a new manager in Paul Hurst.
Lee Novak was Scunthorpe’s top scorer last season with 12 goals in all competitions and has remained with the team.
Hurst led Shrewsbury Town to the 2017-18 League One playoffs in 2017-18 before a brief unsuccessful spell at Ipswich Town last season.
Lee Novak was Scunthorpe’s top scorer last season with 12 goals in all competitions and has remained with the team.
The two major signings have been the return of veteran defender Andy Butler after 11 years away from the club where he began his career and the arrival of South African international defender Kgosi Ntlhe from Rochdale.
Butler was a League One title winner with Scunthorpe in 2006-07.
Bowyer Overhauls Bradford
Bradford City manager Gary Bowyer was appointed last March but could not stop the team finishing bottom of League One.
However, he has a reputation for restoring fallen clubs’ fortunes. He won promotion to League One for Blackpool in 2016-17 in the first season after they were relegated.
Ryan Lowe after Danny Mayor's superb goal, plus an assist, in Argyle's 2-0 pre-season win against AFC Wimbledon at La Manga.
“He gave us 65, nearly 70 minutes of pure quality. You will probably hear that out of me all season.”#pafc #AllSystemsLowehttps://t.co/9OTLEeomZc
— Chris Errington (@ChrisErrington1) July 21, 2019
Bowyer has made ten new signings as he overhauls the club.
They include Welsh international defender Adam Henley who played for Bowyer at Blackburn Rovers and the experienced striker Clayton Donaldson.
Mansfield will be hampered by the loss of striker Tyler Walker who scored 22 goals on loan from Nottingham Forest last season.
There was disappintment for Mansfield Town last season. They finished fourth in League Two. But they lost in the playoff semifinals against Newport County.
They will be hampered by the loss of striker Tyler Walker who scored 22 goals on loan from Nottingham Forest last season. He has now been loaned to Coventry City.
Prolific striker Andy Cook has been signed as replacement from Walsall.
? GALLERY: Steve Hope presents photos from the Iron’s 2-0 home pre-season friendly win over Lincoln – https://t.co/jd5Mm8Cqsc#UTI #IRON pic.twitter.com/ygajX0Vyhw
— S c u n t h o r p e U n i t e d (@SUFCOfficial) July 28, 2019
Salford City’s owners include former Old Trafford heroes David Beckham, Gary and Phiilip Neville, Ryan Giggs and Nicky Butt. They are stronger financially than most League Two clubs.
Four Promotions
They won the non-league National League playoffs last season.
They have reached the EFL for the first time after four promotions climbing up England’s football “ladder” in the previous five seasons.
Pick: Plymouth Argyle +800
John Dillon is a leading member of the UK's sporting media, having spent three decades as a national newspaper soccer and sports writer, broadcaster and author. He has covered five World Cups, six European Championships and was Chief Sports Writer at the Daily Express for 14 years.
