WITH a full Football League card to enjoy on Tuesday night, Mark O’Haire (@MarkOHaire) outlines three hunky bets worth considering…
Huddersfield v Brighton | 19.45
Chris Powell’s made an immediate impact at the John Smith’s Stadium. Three wins in four have lifted Huddersfield to within a point of the top-half and I’ll be backing the Terriers to collect maximum points when Brighton visit.
Saturday’s 4-2 victory over Blackpool saw the hosts storm into a 3-0 lead before the 20-minute mark and the former Charlton boss must be applauded for his role. Powell has chopped and changed his starting XI, tinkered with systems and managed to breath life back into the club since taking over the role just a matter of weeks ago.
And I just can’t work out how Huddersfield can be rated outsiders at 9/5 with Bet365 to win the match. The hosts have scored nine goals in those four aforementioned fixtures and recorded back-to-back victories in front of their home fans.
Brighton arrive on an eight-game winless run in the Championship and Sami Hyypia is already under pressure in his position. The Seagulls have a solid away record dating back to the start of last season but plenty has changed at the Albion over the summer and although they did avoid defeat at Watford and Forest in their previous two road games, they look vastly overrated by the markets.
Bristol City v Bradford | 19.45
It’s a tricky looking League One card but I’m looking for attractive, big-priced bets to tackle after a woeful weekend. So Bristol City’s trend for high-scoring games and victories is next on the list. You can back the Robins and Both Teams To Score at a very healthy 12/5 with BetVictor and that’s more than good enough for me.
It’s worth noting Bristol City haven’t beaten Bradford in 10 games but rather than head-to-head contests, I prefer to look to current or long-term form as a more accurate barometer.
Now since Steve Cotterill took charge at Ashton Gate, City have won 11/19 games at home. That’s 58% and in betting terms, corresponds to an 8/11 shot. But the odds on offer are just 4/6 – probably down to Bradford’s record of only losing 10/29 (34%) on the road since the start of last season.
But City are the best side in the third tier at the moment. They’re five points clear and scoring gallons of goals. They’ve netted in 12/13 League One fixtures and even smashed 3+ in six of their last seven. Their last five have all seen Both Teams Score with a total of 22 goals (13 scored, nine conceded). Whilst we're talking about Both Teams To Score, it's banked in 12/19 (63%) home matches under Cotterill.
Bradford have brought Jon Stead back to bolster their attacking options and can also call upon James Hanson following his injury trails. You can be sure visiting boss Phil Parkinson will fancy his chances of at least pinching a goal in what should be an entertaining affair.
Exeter v Wycombe | 19.45
Two clubs with two very likeable managers meet at St James Park and it’s goals I want to be with. Betfair have made Both Teams To Score an even-money shot and that’s good enough to get me interested.
I could spend hours waxing lyrical about the genius of Paul Tisdale but in this instance, I’m going to focus on Exeter’s goal trends. The Grecians have failed to keep a clean sheet in 13 outings but they have netted in their past eight and in 10/13 overall – naturally, that’s led to plenty of Both Teams To Score winners.
And I could spend weeks gushing about Gareth Ainsworth too. His table-topping Chairboys were comprehensive victors over Wimbledon at Adams Park on Saturday and Ainsworth continues to stress his side are just looking for safety this season.
Wycombe have kept 6/13 clean sheets in League Two football this campaign but have seen Both Teams Score in 3/5 on their travels now and can expect a real test when they make the journey west. At evens with Betfair, it’s well worth a poke.
Best Bets
Huddersfield v Brighton – Huddersfield to win (9/5 Bet365)
Bristol City v Bradford – Bristol City to win + Both Teams To Score (12/5 BetVictor)
Exeter v Wycombe – Both Teams To Score (1/1 Betfair)
