International break may well limit our opportunities for a punt but trust me there’s still plenty to go at this weekend. It’s time to dig deep and head to the lower leagues to find a few teams capable of bagging 3 points and completing my match odds acca. This one spans across the Friday and Saturday fixtures.
Colchester v Doncaster
I’m starting with not only a bit of an unorthodox market here but also a bet which simply has to be taken in my eyes. We’re kicking off the acca on Friday afternoon as Colchester take on Doncaster at the Community Homes Stadium.
Though the home side Colchester may be all but relegated from League One albeit still mathematically possible for them to survive, I’m going to take a bit of a punt here and take one of England’s worst defences to actually take something from the game. Their demise may be all but a formality, but Colchester have collected 5 points from their last 5 games, just 1 point less than they did from their previous 15.
A great draw here against Wigan last time out was followed by an unlucky loss against Walsall last weekend and here at home they’re unbeaten in 3. Donny are League One’s worst side on the form table and a loss against an out of sorts Peterborough last weekend has dropped them into an unthinkable position in the relegation zone with no win in 12 league games, losing the last 5 of those.
I’m going to take Colchester to take something from this, but I’m not brave enough to back the win, so I’m taking the Draw No Bet market knowing that if Colchester only manage a draw we’ll get our cash back from this leg of the acca.
BET: Colchester Draw No Bet at 17/20 with BetVictor
Oxford v Stevenage
Oxford may be slightly on the short side when it comes to price this weekend but as part of a 5-fold I feel I simply have to include them. 2nd in the league and 6 points clear of 4th placed Plymouth, the finish line is in sight now, even if they have played a game more than the teams around them.
Appleton’s men have a pretty tough run of fixtures ahead so will be looking to build on a 4-0 win over Dagenham and a 0-3 win away at Barnet by getting another 3 points on the board. To do so, they’ll need to beat a Stevenage side who continue to edge closer to the relegation zone. Sitting 22nd after 5 successive losses, they’re now only 7 points clear of the drop and have some big games coming up against Notts County and Newport who could yet be dragged into this battle.
When the two met earlier this season, Oxford ran out 1-5 winners at The Lamex, and with home advantage they shouldn’t be far off scoring 5 again.
BET: Oxford to win at 4/9 with BetVictor
Bristol Rovers v Cambridge
Sticking in League Two on the Friday, I’m also going to back the team chasing Oxford to continue their impressive chase. Bristol Rovers are the form side in League Two at the moment with 5 wins on the bounce but those wins have also been in pretty convincing fashion, scoring 14 whilst only conceding 3.
Here at The Memorial Stadium it’s 9 games without loss now in the league, winning 8 of those games including wins against the likes of Wycombe, Accrington and Leyton Orient, all of whom are above visitors Cambridge in the table.
Cambridge have picked up a couple of decent results lately holding league leaders Northampton to a draw before seeing off Yeovil with ease last weekend but given they have collected just 1 win in their last 5 away from home and the fact that they were beaten 1-2 by Bristol Rovers on home soil earlier this season, I have to take the Rovers win here.
BET: Bristol Rovers to win at 5/6 with BetVictor
Burton Albion v Oldham
Over to the Saturday fixtures now and frankly I am astounded at the price available about Burton picking up 3 points this weekend and I have to include this for that reason as well as many others. Nigel Clough’s men look all but a certainty to claim back to back promotions and be living in The Championship next season as they currently sit 6 points clear at the top of the league.
A very decent win at Port Vale last weekend by a 0-4 scoreline has cemented that top spot and here at The Pirelli Stadium where they have been beaten only 3 times all season, building the foundations of a Championship side. They welcome Oldham this weekend, a side who although occupy a relegation spot are only 1 point from safety as it stands.
But with only 1 win in their last 5 games which came against Blackpool and with only 4 away wins all season, I think they’ll find Burton too much to handle here.
BET: Burton Albion to win at 3/4 with BetVictor
Clyde v Arbroath
For my final fixture it’s time to head north of the border as Clyde take on Arbroath at Broadwood Stadium. The hosts have secured back to back wins against East Stirling and Annan Athletic in recent weeks so come into this game against struggling Arbroath in pretty decent form.
Clyde are without loss in 5 games now, winning 4 of those, a run which has seen them move 2nd in the table and standing a very good shot of securing a playoff spot. To reinforce their dominant position though, they need to get past Arbroath in what is seen as a must win fixture against a poor side.
The visitors have collected only 8 points from their previous 10 league games and 7 of those points have been collected in 3 fixtures against bottom side East Stiling which says something.
Arbroath may well have picked up a shock 0-2 win on their last visit here, but they have also lost their other 2 meetings with Clyde this season and I really don’t see a repeat shock against a Clyde side looking for a return to League One football after 5 years at this level.
BET: Clyde to win at 13/20 with BetVictor
The 5-fold pays 13/1 with BetVictor