Something For The Weekend Part I

Lots of information coming up over the next couple of days, so let's get to it: lower divisions in England and the only games I'm interested in north of the border in Scotland to start with.


Saturday 18th September - all games are 3pm GMT kickoffs.
nPower League 1
Brentford v Hartlepool
A straight win for Brentford win has no value, so either laying Hartlepool outright (the more profitable option) or dutching Brentford/draw are the alternatives; the visitors have only won once in the last ten league meetings and that was in December 1967!


Walsall v Swindon
Similar to the Tranmere/Charlton game mentioned below, but a Walsall win is far more likely. Swindon are without a league win in six away games and have only won once in their last ten trips to Walsall's Banks's Stadium (2-0, December 2006). I hope I got those apostrophes right; I hope I get my recommendation to back Walsall and/or dutch Walsall/draw correct too.


nPower League 2
Shrewsbury Town v Northampton Town
Another one of these games where as long as you can find Shrewsbury at anything over evens then they should be worth taking. Northampton have gone six games away from home without a win and haven't won at Shrewsbury since November 1993. Some bonus information: Shrewsbury have never failed to score at home against Northampton, which implies that - if you can afford it - laying 0-0 would be a very good idea.


Irn-Bru Scottish League Division 1
Dundee v Raith Rovers
Back Dundee at any price greater than evens. May also be profitable to back Dundee to keep a clean sheet as they've done that in five straight home games and Raith have failed to score in five of their last six aways.


Leave Them Alone:
nPower League 1
Tranmere Rovers v Charlton Athletic
Tranmere are tremendous value - if you think they'll win. The problem is that they have a home record that's about as inconsistent as Charlton's away record. Six of the last 10 games between these two at Tranmere have been draws if that's any help; the last Tranmere win was in October 1996. Could go either way.


Irn-Bru Scottish League Division 3
Queen's Park v East Stirling
Tough to separate these two until you look at how the last 20 games at Hampden Park, which is Queen's Park's home as well as where the Scottish national team plays. The Spiders have won eight of the last ten meetings there so it may be worth siding with them, although drawn games are a rarity in the series - one in the last twenty in Glasgow - so there's a potential trap there. Might have to stick a throw darts at this one; I think Queen's Park might win, but I wouldn't bet on it!