Tuesday Night Football League Tips

A full programme outside the Premiership, which can be a bit annoying for those of us who want to support our local clubs and watch some of the best sides in Europe (allegedly) in the Champions League. Once upon a time in another century Nottingham Forest won the European Cup and so it seems appropriate to start with them.


nPower Championship
Nottingham Forest v Sheffield United
Forest haven't exactly got off to a brilliant start, but they're undefeated at home and beating Swansea at the weekend might be the catalyst they need for another win. They've also only been beaten once by Sheffield United once in the last ten league games at the City Ground, but a draw cannot be ruled out and this looks as if could be a low scoring game. I'm recommending under 2.5 goals as well as a straight back bet for Forest and the usual dutch on the exchanges.

Additional information: home win/draw percentage for the Championship is 74 exactly, so a double chance bet on any game in this division should be 1.35, but a Forest/draw bet is 1.22, so no value at all. This is where the dutching strategy comes in.


nPower League 1
Brighton v Brentford
Yep, Brighton again, although they are not value for the win so no point in looking at a straight back bet. New(ish) manager Gus Poyet has had a big impact on the Sussex club, the main difference appears to be that the Seagulls are scoring regularly - in a nine game home streak last season they failed to score in six, including three consecutive games. Brentford are currently having similar difficulties away from home: eight games without a road win and the Bees have failed to score in four of them, including four of the last six. Low scoring game is in prospect so take under 2.5 goals; might also be worth looking at Brighton to keep a clean sheet.


Bristol Rovers v Tranmere Rovers
The hosts don't have brilliant home record but could be worth a straight win; the visitors are dreadful away from home - especially when they visit North Bristol, where they haven't won since March 1971 (eight meetings since). Tranmere have also failed to score in seven of their twelve visits to the Gas: there's a chance that may be repeated so looking at a Bristol Rovers clean sheet and under 2.5 goals could work nicely.
If you're wondering why Bristol Rovers are called the Gas, their old ground (Eastville) was right next door to a big gasometer. Neither of those structures are there anymore; there are Tesco and Ikea stores on the site now.


Additional info: home wins/draws account for 75% of the current results in League 1.

Don't touch with a barge pole:
Blue Square Conference
Kettering v Altrincham
The prospect of a dreadful game between two of the worst teams in English professional football. Kettering's home record over the last 20 games: two wins, eight draws, twelve defeats. Altrincham's away record in the same time frame: three wins, six draws, eleven defeats (six consecutive). Kettering have won the last two. I'll be interested in the result but I'm not throwing any cash at this one - anything could happen.