I have previewed three of tonight's Ligue 2 matches for subscribers (one below) and given stats for a fourth and also sent them notes about almost all of tomorrow morning's J-League fixtures. A massive weekend ahead for us and I am hoping to share one , maybe two more on here over the weekend.

France Ligue 2: ( written 09.30 Friday October 18)

We are ten rounds into the new season and we have seen a shortage of away wins, just 15%, which is a significant drop on the same stage in recent campaigns and (obviously) an increase in the number of home wins 48% and draws 37%. Goals are on the up @ an average of 2.54, which is a massive increase of 0.41 per match on 2011-12, in each of the last two seasons we have seen a significant increase in goals through rounds 11-20, that seems unlikely this time round as we are already batting well above average, but there is certainly no reason to feel that these will drop off. In general terms, we can expect the more open nature of Ligue 2 matches to continue and history also dictates that the number of away wins should start to increase and with so few already, maybe significantly. I hope so, as I am taking two today !

Laval-Le Havre

We were keen on Le Havre pre season and it is time for them to start delivering on a regular basis , ahead of their recent home win over Istres I wrote:

"They started the season very sluggishly, but we saw glimpses of the real HAC in the cup and last week ran in six goals (!) against league leaders Racing Club Lens, who were previously unbeaten in five and had only conceded twice. Riviere, Mesloub (twice), Mahrez and Sao ( see all above) all scored and had a further four assists between them,to get a couple of your offensive options firing at the same time is great, four is amazing, strikers tend to score goals in "batches" and it is very difficult not to see at least a couple of these going on a run now. Left winger Alexandre Bonnet also had a goal and an assist and he, to continue the theme, was very streaky last year, when he had 5 goals and seven assists, with 5 and 5 coming over separate five and six game periods( hope that makes sense !). They are without Riviere tonight, but with so many options upfront, coach Erick Mombaerts might be a little relieved he has one less decision to make, he does get forward James Fanchone back for the first time this season, he has 50 + goals at this level and it is worth noting that in limited playing time last season, he did manage a goal and assist in a 3-0 home defeat of Chateauroux."

"Alexandre Bonnet (6-3-1) scored both goals at Chat, where HAC should have won comfortably, he proved once again what a huge and varied offensive threat they pose and Lens, will not be the last team to lose heavily here this season. Riviere returns this evening and I just cannot see the visitors, who will struggle to stay in Ligue 2, despite a confidence boosting win over woeful Laval on Friday, keeping Le Havre at bay for too long."

They edged home there, but have only taken one point from two starts since and it has been a case of one step forward , one back and they have not yet fulfilled that huge promise. I am hoping that they will be inspired by returning to a stadium where they have won on their last two visits and they have a major boost with the return of Yohann Rivière who has not featured since the emphatic win over Lens. James Fanchone ( see above) is sidelined once again, but no other major problems and they look in good shape for this, in stark contrast to Laval, who are missing injured right sided midfielder Sébastien Renouard, central defender Malik Couturier (9-0-0) and defensive midfielders Anthony Gonçalves (10-0-1) and Hassane Alla ( 10-1-0) who are all suspended. That leaves the defensive spine of their team looking very short of options and this might be the road match that we see Le Havre cut loose and they should dominate the central third, Alexandre Bonnet ( see above) was very influential in the two games with Laval last season and with the two main holding players out, will surely fancy this, I will be disappointed if they do not win this evening.

1.5 units Le Havre -0.25 ball 2.26 asian line/Ibramarket.

Laval : Vanhamel, Hautbois - Rippert, Stosic, Perrot, Ben Djemia, Belaud - Robic, Tibéri, Adeoti, Baby, Lolohéa - Ma.Diallo, Bekamenga, Toudic, Guirassy.

Le Havre : Boucher, Pontdemé - Pinteaux, Louvion, Touré, Le Marchand, Mombris - Zola, Mahrez, Mesloub, Saïss, Fontaine, Bonnet, Sao - Le Bihan, Rivière.

Good Luck.