Another Saturday is upon us and we’re getting closer to the first “Ben’s Bets” winning accumulator of the season, this weekend we have a couple of big calls in the League One selections but they could be worth in the end.
Starting in the Championship and Bournemouth sit seven points outside of the play-off places and if they’re going to make a last minute charge they need to keep their recent run of form going.
They travel to lowly Birmingham this weekend, with three out of their last three away games resulting in wins and the Blues not notching a win at home in six attempts, Eddie Howe’s men are the value bet on the road.
Birmingham v Bourneouth – Bournemouth win @ 6/4
Next up, Mick McCarthy’s Ipswich host troublesome Nottingham Forest and this has all the signs of a home win.
Forest’s recent form has hit a slump, with no new manager in charge and at least two attempts to replace Billy Davies failed, the Tractor Boys are the smart bet at home, at odds of 6/5.
Ipswich have only lost one out of their last six, a win over Forest who lie a place above them could make them serious contenders for a play-off spot.
Ipswich v Nottingham Forest – Ipswich win @ 6/5
Dropping into League One and we have two games that throw up an interesting pairing.
At the top end of the form table, Rotherham and Bristol City meet in South Yorkshire.
Both sides have amassed 14 points in their last six and have very creditable goal difference from those games.
In Sam Baldock and Kieran Agard each side has a striker in form and so I can’t separate these two sides.
Rotherham v Bristol City – Draw @ 14/5
Staying in the division, but dropping to the very bottom of the form table, the bottom two sides meet each other on Merseyside.
Tranmere have just four points and only one win in the last six, their opponents, Carlisle haven’t even got that; no wins and three draws is all they can speak of.
Both sides straddle the League One drop zone and both will need the points.But, neither will want to lose this weekend and I think they may cancel each other out, so, much like the other game I’ve profiled in this league, I’m sitting on the fence for the value draw.
Tranmere v Carlisle – Draw @ 13/5
Finally, in League Two a side I have backed time and time again this season, Scunthorpe United.
The Iron are unbeaten in well over 20 games and have turned the corner from a recent spell of draws.
Three wins on the bounce behind them and the Claret and Blues host 21st place Wycombe Wanderers on Saturday.
Wanderers are hovering dangerously above the bottom two and should prove no problem for the high flying Iron to see off.
Scunny have title ambitions and have goals in abundance throughout the side, Wycombe have scored just one goal in the last five and don’t look like turning that around.
Scunthorpe v Wycombe – Scunthorpe win @ 3/4
Some punters aren’t keen on throwing in draws, so for those of you who only like a home or away bet, backing the three sides above will return just short of £50 for a fiver, not bad.
If you’re brave like me and want to throw in the two draws from the League One games, those returns look a lot healthier.
A £5 five-fold wins you over £650!
YTFC SPECIAL
There are two Yeovil specials this coming weekend, firstly, I’ve had a lot of success backing former Yeovil Town players to score goals for their new clubs in recent weeks.
In League One, Keiran “the Twansfer” Agard has scored 16 times so far this season and that included three in Rotherham’s last two games.
Drop down into League Two and last season’s goal scoring hero; Paddy Madden notched his third Scunthorpe goal last weekend and against struggling Wycombe this weekend he could fire again.
Into the Championship and Sheffield Wednesday are now safe from the relegation and that is in no short part down to Leon Best’s recent form.
Three goals in four games have recreated his form from his Glovers spell in 2007.
It’s a shame that Plymouth aren’t playing this weekend as Reuben Reid is the most prolific former Glover in the league!
So, for Agard, Madden and Best all to score in their respective games this weekend is over 8.5/1. A £5 treble would return you £47.
The second special is a simple one.
It’s a massive game at Huish Park on Saturday and if other results go the Glovers way, #MissionSurvival will look far better, that’s why the 7/2 available from the league’s sponsors for Yeovil to stay in the Championship is the value ahead of the big clash.
Those odds will tumble significantly should Yeovil get the three points, so I’ll be having my bet ahead of the game.
