Weekend Football Fever

Fri, Aug 27, 2010

By James Cochrane, Neil Hubbard and Gary Emmerson

Weekend Banker
Redditch v Telford
It may seem a strange place to start but my weekend banker comes from the Blue Square North division (we shouldn’t be worried about the magnitude of the games we bet on to be honest). Redditch host Telford United on Saturday and the away team will not only be eyeing a win, they will be looking to boost their goal difference. Redditch already look like bankers for relegation, they have lost all of their best players and I have heard that the players they do have are much below the standard needed to compete in their league. They have lost all four of their opening games, including a 9-0 loss at home to Boston and are currently sat with a goal difference of -16. Telford, on the other hand, have started well winning all four of their games, sitting top of the table and look strong candidates for promotion. I must admit, the 11/10 available on Telford HT/FT is a very good price and I will be having a look as it is worth backing, but so is the 1/2 for Telford to win the game.
Bettrends Advice
Telford – 1/2 (Coral)

Portsmouth v Cardiff
Craig Bellamy made the perfect start to his Cardiff career, scoring a goal and setting up two in the 4-0 win over Doncaster. The Welshman is a massive signing for the Bluebirds and a player of Bellamy’s calibre could well push them towards promotion. Cardiff travel to Portsmouth this weekend and Pompey’s bad start could be set to continue. Pompey have picked up only one point in their first three games this season and they have yet to play a real inform team. They look set to lose Marc Wilson which is a loss to an already threadbare squad and I cannot see them being able to contain the Cardiff attack. You may not like the guy but Bellamy is far too good for the championship and will lift the Bluebirds for each and every match.
Bettrends Advice
Cardiff – 7/5 (BlueSq, 888Sport)

Wolfsburg v Mainz
Wolfsburg look at tasty bet at 8/13 to give Steve McClaren his first win as manager since making the switch to Germany this summer. McClaren’s side were undone by an injury time winner last weekend when going down 2-1 at Bayern Munich on the opening weekend but there was plenty to like about that display as they held their own against the champions for much of the contest before conceding the late winner. Mainz head to the Volkswagen Arena on the back of a 2-0 victory over Stuttgart last week but will do well to match that effort against a decent Wolfsburg line-up that has plenty of goals in them with Edin Dzeko and Grafite leading the line.
Bettrends Advice
Wolfsburg – 8/13 (Sky Bet, Blue Square, 888Sport)

Hereford v Rotherham
The Merry Millers did us a favour by demolishing Cheltenham last week and although they made rather hard work of it they ultimately ran out comfortable winners. They head to Edgar Street this week to face a Hereford side that have now gone three league and cup games without scoring. Since starting with an opening day win at Crewe their form has nosedived and they were well beaten at Chesterfield last week. With Adam Le Fondre upfront you’d always fancy Rotherham to notch one and with the home side struggling to find the net an away victory looks most likely.
Bettrends Advice
Rotherham – 17/10 (Hills)

Bettrends double
Ipswich
Millwall
Generally 2.5/1

Bettrends Treble
Ipswich
Millwall
Bournemouth
Generally 6.35/1

Bettrends Four-Fold
Ipswich
Millwall
Bournemouth
Morecambe
Generally 15.54/1