Weekend Football Fever

Fri, Sep 3, 2010

By James Cochrane, Neil Hubbard and Gary Emmerson

Weekend Banker

MK Dons v Hartlepool
Mk Dons returned to winning ways last weekend with a 2-1 home success of Swindon and with Hartlepool in town this week it’s not hard to see them recording back-to-back league wins. Carl Robinson’s men have lost just once this season (a 4-1 hammering at Carlisle) and they can boast the League Cup scalp of Blackpool on their 2010/11 CV. They’re a potent force at home (they won ten games in a disjointed campaign last term) and are normally a solid place to start when looking at the weekend fixtures. Hartlepool were on the receiving end of a 5-0 home defeat by Sheff Wed last weekend and although they returned to form by defeating Northampton in the JPT on Tuesday this will be a much harder assignment.

Bettrends Advice
MK Dons – 8/11 (general)

Accrington v Wycombe
Accrington are yet to concede a goal this season (in the league) and they welcome a Wycombe side to the Crown Ground who have only conceded once. At the other end both teams have been rather shot shy too, scoring just 6 goals between them in their 8 games thus far. As the stats suggest, side with a low scoring encounter.

Bettrends Advice
Under 2.5 goals – 4/6 (general)

Slovenia v Northern Ireland
With Northern Ireland never being the strongest travellers – in fact they have won one of their last 13 internationals away from Belfast and that came against San Marino – Slovenia look a massive price at 4/6 (general) to win their opening Euro 2012 qualification Group game on Friday night. Nigel Worthington’s side went down 2-0 in Slovenia in World Cup qualification and there is little reason to expect a different outcome a year on. Slovenia posed England serious questions in the World Cup this summer and they should be far too good for Northern Ireland so taking Bet365’s offer of 21/10 (Blue Square, Paddy Power and 888Sport) for Slovenian minus one on the handicap is advisable.

Bettrends Advice
Slovenia -1 – 21/10 (Blue Square, Paddy Power, 888Sport)

Southend v Torquay
Torquay have made a cracking start to the season winning all four of their games, scoring nine goals in the process. They came through their biggest test of the season so far beating Port Vale away and they look the real deal. To be quite blunt, Torquay just don’t concede many goals, they have let in just one so far this season and even managed to keep out Bournemouth from League One. The Gulls travel to Southend this weekend and three points looks well within their reach. Southend picked up a fairly surprising win away at Bradford last week but that is the only positive so far and a relegation battle looks on the cards. If Torquay carry on their current form then I cannot see Southend being able to deal with their prolific front line or their strong defence, the 11/8 looks a decent price.

Bettrends Advice
Torquay – 11/8 (Bet365, Stan James)

Bradford v Port Vale
Bradford have made an appalling start to their campaign considering they were expected to be a strong outfit for the league and started second favourites. They suffered a bad defeat at home to strugglers Southend last weekend and have only picked up one win thanks to a 1-0 win against Stevenage which was down to a penalty and on current form they look set to struggle again this week. You will all be aware of Port Vales away form now and after picking up two wins out of two this year, they look a good bet this weekend. They should have far too much for a Bradford side lacking in confidence.

Bettrends Advice
Port Vale – 7/4 – (Bet365, Skybet, Stan James, Coral)

Bettrends Double
Torquay
Port Vale

Double generally pays – 5.5/1

Bettrends Treble
Torquay
Port Vale
Slovenia

Treble generally pays – 9.8/1

Bettrends four-fold
Torquay
Port Vale
Slovenia
Cheltenham

Four-fold generally pays – 29/1