FOOTBALL BETTING:
Betrescue’s Chief Sports Writer Chris Hutcheon takes his weekly look at all the bi games in the Championship, League One and League Two.
Newcastle’s lead in the Championship is now out to five points and the Magpies should at least maintain that this weekend by landing three points at Watford.
However, a best price of 10/11 with Betdaq does little to set the heart racing and as Chris Hughton’s men haven’t managed an away win in any competition in seven attempts, other sides represent better value.
Coventry are one such team; the Sky Blues priced at a tempting 5/6 by Totesport to send Scunthorpe home empty-handed. Chris Coleman’s side are coming into a bit of form having won three or their last four and only table-topping Newcastle have won at the Ricoh Arena in the league since October. Couple this with the Iron’s poor away record and it looks like a home banker, so much so in fact that they could prevail by at least two clear goals (12/5, 888Sport).
Also in the Championship, Swansea are unbeaten in eleven and are a shoo-in at 9/20 (Jaxx.com) against bottom club Peterborough, Ladbrokes’ 4/6 chances Middlesbrough should get the better of QPR while draw fanciers should look no further than the Walkers Stadium where Partybets price the East Midlands derby between Leicester and Nottingham Forest, at 9/4 to finish all square.
In League One, Southend haven’t won in eight but that sequence covers a horror period of fixtures against many of the top teams. That run continues against fourth-placed Charlton, but the Addicks patchy form suggests the Shrimpers can upset the odds and they’re subsequently huge at 23/10 with Paddy Power to end their winless streak, as they so nearly did at leaders Norwich in midweek.
Brighton can build on Tuesday’s victory at Charlton by seeing off Exeter at the Withdean Stadium; a result Victor Chandler rate at 23/10, Millwall are a safe-looking 1/2 (William Hill) at home to Hartlepool and another side that could defy bookies’ predictions are Leyton Orient; they’re 15/8 with bet365 to prevail in their home clash against high-flying Swindon.
Buoyed by their midweek victory at leaders Rochdale, Bradford (8/13, Betfred) can ease past League Two’s bottom side Darlington at Valley Parade, 888Sport’s 8/15 for a Notts County success at home to travel sick Hereford is one for an accumulator and Chesterfield’s great run looks set to continue at home to Aldershot; the Spireites quoted at 4/5 by Betfred.
Grimsby meanwhile, have drawn 14 of their last 18 and must surely be on the verge of ending their long wait for a maximum haul; they’re 9/2 with Victor Chandler to emerge triumphant at Dagenham and Barnet’s Underhill meeting with Bury, appeals at 9/4 with Stan James to finish all square.
To compare all the weekend’s match odds, click here
