Internationals
This weekend sees the start of qualifying for the 2012 European Championships. As always, there will be many one-sided matches, and it is often extremely hard to find any true value from a betting point of view. However, if you look deep enough, a couple of decent punts can always be found, such as Montenegro to beat Wales at 5/6 @ Stan James. The Welsh are notoriously bad travellers, and lack any true world class stars to rival past names like Giggs and Hughes. A home win here is a sound call based on these facts.
Another decent
bet on football match this weekend involves the Portugal team, who host Cyprus in their qualification match. With coach Carlos Quieroz and star man Cristiano Ronaldo absent through various reasons, and with memories of their poor World Cup qualification attempts, not to mention performances at the tournament itself, the Cypriots may well fancy taking something from the game. A share of the points is 9/2 @ Blue Sq, and this seems a decent bet, and a small wager on a 0-0 result (16/1 @ Blue Sq) is also recommended; Cyprus will most likely park the bus and the home side have a history of failing to break down teams who play in a such a way.
League One
MK Dons should be backed this weekend to follow up their home win over Swindon Town seven days ago with another three points, this time when they host Hartlepool United. The Dons have a 100% home record this season, and will be looking to turn their ground into a fortress to build a promotion push from. Hartlepool are not in bad form themselves, being unbeaten on the road, but the Dons should have too much at 3/4 @ William Hill.
Managerless Southampton welcome Rochdale to St Mary’s this weekend, and the visitors could be line to create a small shock and come away with the three points. Southampton are in turmoil at the moment, with the surprise sacking of Alan Pardew this week, and were soundly beaten 0-3 by Swindon at home in a cup game on Tuesday. Rochdale are unbeaten on their travels this league season, and at 11/2 @ bet365, represent a fantastic value bet.
Carlisle are flying high at the moment, mainly on the back of their home form, and will be expecting to claim all three points again this weekend when Swindon visit. Swindon are yet to win away from home in the league, and at 11/10 @ Stan James, Carlisle look a good price to make sure both teams leave Brunton Park with their respective records in tact.
League Two
Torquay United are the in-form team in England right now, with a 4-0-0 start to the season, and look good value to extend their 100% record with victory at Southend United. Torquay have only conceded one league goal so far, and although Southend and comfortable in mid-table after a steady start to the campaign, Torquay must be fancied at 13/10 @ Paddy Power to come out on top.
Barnet are rooted to the bottom of the Football League, without a win to their name, and Cheltenham Town will be looking to record there first victory on the road this season this weekend when they visit Underhill. At 17/10 @ Blue Sq, the away win looks a very decent shout here.
Burton Albion look extremely good value this weekend to record a home victory over Hereford Town (11/10 @
Betbubbles). Unbeaten at home so far this season, and with Hereford coming of back-to-back losses, the home win here seems a certainty, as does there being a fair few goals. Go for there being over 2.5 goals at 1/1 @ William Hill.
