Wanted - Home Help

Mike Margetts asks why clubs in League Two, in particular Hereford United, are doing so well on their travels and dropping points at home.

Any Hereford United supporter glancing down the list of League Two results on Saturday evening would, of course, have derived great pleasure from seeing the score line at Millmoor – another excellent win away from home for The Bulls.

But it would not only have been Bulls fans celebrating victory on the road: incredibly NINE of the 12 matches ended in the visitors claiming all three points.

Now although this was obviously a severe case of ‘home sickness’ it also underlines an unusual trend in League Two this season. A study of the current table shows that no fewer than 11 of the 24 clubs have prospered more on their travels than in their own backyards.

Given the benefit of history and the perceived wisdom that it’s generally more profitable to play at home, it does, inevitably, beg the question why. And why is the phenomenon apparently exclusive to League Two?

In the Premiership, for instance, just three clubs (Liverpool, Blackburn and Portsmouth) have performed better on their travels, in the Championship the figure is four (Watford, Crystal Palace, Burnley and Colchester) while in League One it’s three (Walsall, Oldham and Bristol Rovers).

In the Blue Square Premier the total rises to five – still significantly short of the League Two total. So what does it all mean?

It would appear that League Two is populated by clubs who, for one reason or another, are able to soak up the pressure as home teams push forward and then break out in swift counter attacks to score the goals that claim the points. But surely that’s too simplistic…or is it?

Certainly there will be many managers and coaches (Messrs Turner and Trewick included) who will be wrestling with the problem over the next few weeks as the season builds towards its climax.

And the way things are shaping up it is almost certain that the teams who can most quickly overcome their indifferent home results will be the ultimate promotion and play-off contenders.

Come on Hereford – let’s make sure that on Saturday Dagenham are the first to feel the force…

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