Salford City v Stevenage betting preview, free tip & TV details

Sky Bet League Two
Sky Sports Football & Sky Sports Main Event, 12.30pm Saturday

Salford City have secured four promotions in five seasons and bookmakers are expecting the big-spending Ammies to take the step up to Sky Bet League Two in their stride.

Salford, whose powerful connections include six members of Manchester United’s Class of 92, are as short as 7-1 to claim the title and are odds-on to make a winning Football League debut at home to Stevenage.

The Greater Manchester club have an excellent manager at this level in Graham Alexander and clearly have the financial punch to cope with the step up in class.

However, the Ammies took time to hit their stride in the National League last season - they picked up only one point from their opening three games - and a similar tale could unfold as they adapt to life in League Two.

Salford haven’t been overambitious with their summer transfer policy and that is probably no bad thing given the struggles Notts County suffered last season.

The signing of Richie Towell, who made 28 appearances for Rotherham in the Championship last season, is a promising one and his link-up with Adam Rooney, a striker with experience of European football from his time at Aberdeen, looks exciting.

But Salford conceded more goals than any of the other top-five teams in the National League last term and they have questions to answer at the back.

Despite having a significant class edge on their league rivals last season, they claimed maximum points in only 14 of their 23 home games and at the prices they are worth opposing.

• Sky Bet League Two team rankings

Stevenage finished tenth last season and the general consensus is that they will struggle to emulate the feat due to a lack of creativity in the final third.

Loan star Ilias Chair played a key role in helping Boro secure their lofty position with six goals and six assists from just 16 appearances but he has returned to his parent club QPR, while striker Alex Revell has retired.

However, Stevenage are well-organised by manager Dino Maamria and their physical approach could ruffle Salford's feathers.

Boro started last season brightly, avoiding defeat in each of their opening four games, and they could pinch a share of the spoils at Moor Lane.

Recommendation
Draw
1pt 13-5 bet365

Bet on this match at Soccerbase.com

Team news
Salford
New arrivals Richie Towell, Oscar Threlkeld, Dan Jones, Joey Jones, Kyle Letheren and Luke Armstrong are in line to make their debuts.

Stevenage
Ben Nugent, Ben Kennedy and Paul Digby are all short on fitness and look likely to miss out. New recruits Jason Cowley, Jamie Fielding, Chris Stokes, Charlie Carter, Tyler Denton and Dean Parrett should be in contention.

Key stat
Stevenage finished last season's league campaign unbeaten in seven away games.

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