WE got Walsall fan Matt Vale (@mattdvale) to send us a betting preview of his sides JPT clash with Sheffield United on Wednesday. So he did.
Walsall v Sheffield United | Wednesday 19:45 | Sky Sports 1
My team, Walsall, are an incredibly difficult side to predict. We’ve convincingly beat Preston, drew at home to Bristol City and won away at Notts County but these positive results have been blemished by defeats to fellow strugglers Yeovil, Crewe, Crawley and Scunthorpe. A record of W4 D6 L6 screams ‘consistently inconsistent’.
The Saddlers host Sheffield United inWednesday’s Football League Trophy area quarter-final live on Sky Sports 1. It’s a tough one to call so our main focus should be on the goal markets and in particular, a first half stalemate.
As a season ticket holder, I have no qualms in describing Walsall’s recent home games as tedious. This season’s home games average just 1.75 goals (the fewest in League One) and a quarter of our league games have already ended goalless. Similarly, the last six Sheffield United games have seen just nine goals scored and so the 8/11 on Under 2.5 goals with BetVictor appeals.
If you’re after slightly more value, look no further than the 0-0 Half Time Score Bet (7/4 with Paddy Power). Seven of Walsall’s last 10 home games against League One opposition have ended goalless at half-time and Sheffield United’s recent half-time record reads 0-0, 0-0, 0-0, 0-0 1-0, 0-0.
A victory on Wednesday would put the Saddlers just three games away from an historic first visit to Wembley Stadium and Dean Smith is likely to select a strong side in a bid to banish the reminders that the club has never been to the famous stadium. Jordan Cook is likely to shake off an illness and replace James Baxendale whilst Sam Mantom might get his first start of the season in an otherwise full-strength Walsall line-up.
Sheffield United manager Nigel Clough took the unusual step of naming his team to face Hartlepool United in the previous round on the day before the game. Clough made 11 changes and if he does the same again on Wednesday, the 17/10 available at Bet365 for a Walsall victory might be worth a small interest. As ever in this competition, it’s definitely worth keeping an eye on any team news and keeping stakes to a minimum.
Best Bet
Walsall v Sheff Utd – 0-0 Half-Time Score (7/4 Paddy Power)
