FOOTBALL BETTING: Sam Tomlinson fancies the chances of Sheffield Utd, Newcastle, Doncaster, Leeds, Norwich, Southampton, Millwall, Wycombe, Hereford and Darlo in the football league.
There seems to be a school of thought on occasion that the formbook should be thrown out of the window if a team with a desperate need for points comes up against opposition with nothing to play for.
The thinking is that the extra incentive will translate into extra urgency and ensure the team without much motivation are beaten. However, we’re not so quick to subscribe to this theory, which is why Sheffield United look huge at 11/5 with Victor Chandler to get the better of Swansea at Bramall Lane.
Every point is crucial to Paulo Sousa’s men as they seek to cling on to a play-off place but they’ve been jittery of late, winning just two of their last nine (both of those at home) and there a few reasons other than the fact that they need the win more than the hosts, to suggest they should be favourites to beat a team that has lost just three times on their own patch this season.
Admittedly the Blades are patch themselves at present but those worried about their form can back them at 4/7 (Stan James) to avoid defeat or alternatively, Kevin Blackwell’s men are 5/4 in Paddy Power’s ‘Draw No Bet’ market.
Newcastle wrapped up the title on Monday but that doesn’t mean that they’ll take their foot of the gas as they look to preserve their unbeaten home record.
They’re a banker then at 8/15 with Totesport to see off Ipswich and as eight of their nine consecutive wins at St James’ Park have been by at least two goals; they’re worth considering 11/8 in 888Sport’s handicap market, where they will kick-off a goal in arrears.
Also in the Championship, Sheffield Wednesday are 5/2 (Betfred) to earn a valuable point at Cardiff and Doncaster are 11/10 with Jaxx.com to defeat a Scunthorpe side who might take their eye off the ball now survival has been guaranteed.
In League One, as the finish line approaches, a quartet of the better teams can all keep their heads by registering home wins; Leeds (4/9, Betdaq), Norwich (1/2, Ladbrokes), Southampton (2/5, Betfred) and Millwall (2/5, Totesport) available at 13/4 in an accumulator with 888Sport as they host MK Dons, Gillingham, Carlisle and Leyton Orient respectively.
Struggling Wycombe meanwhile, are overpriced at 12/5 with Partybets as they entertain faltering promotion hopefuls Swindon.
Finally, in League Two, Rochdale have limped over the finish line and bet365 make them 9/4 to go down at Hereford, whose home record is relatively solid and the same firm price improving Darlington, the bottom club, at a tempting 2/1 to defeat Grimsby, the team directly above them.
To compare all the weekend’s match odds, click here
