English League One
2010-01-19 - Huddersfield Town vs Bristol Rovers
A Sports Betting Pick by ArmChair
Football : England : Coca Cola League One
Tuesday 19th January 2010 1945hrs
When I first looked at this fixture, my instant gut reaction was a Huddersfield Town home win no brainer. But then my creative betting outlook went into gear and found that perhaps Over 2.5 goals was also a good option considering the amount of goals these two sides are capable of generating.
So, Im taking a slightly different approach for this fixture and providing arguments for both picks and letting you, the punter, choose which one you prefer. You can, of course, choose neither as well!
Huddersfield Town (5th) Home : 10-3-0 36:9
Huddersfield Town are indeed in a rich vein of form at home, having remained unbeaten in thirteen home matches so far, boasting a home record of 10-3-0 36/9, with in-form Norwich City the only other team in League One to have won ten games at home.
The goal stats make impressive reading as they have scored the most goals at home (Norwich come second with 34 at home), whilst conceding a meager 9 goals (only Gillingham 7 and Leeds United 8) have better defensive records perhaps a note of caution for those plumping for the Over 2.5 option?
The Terriers have won seven of their last eight home matches at the Galpharm Stadium, the other a six-goal thriller with Tranmere Rovers, drawing 3-3. They have won three on the trot; 2-1 v Gillingham, 1-0 v MK Dons & 2-1 v Southend Utd the latter a bit of a tricky side to bet against and have tripped me up before, so this bodes well for the visit of Bristol Rovers.
Its also worth noting that Huddersfield have participated in ten matches out of thirteen at home where there have been a total of three goals or more scored.
Onto firepower 19 year old striker Jordan Rhodes has certainly had a great season so far with 13 goals and 6 assists, and will undoubtedly more than double his 7 goal tally previously yielded with Brentford in a league lower (League Two) and looks to have a very bright future. If you study his stats a little closer, he has had 17 shots on target and scored 13! not a bad ratio.
Rhodes is backed up by fellow strikers Lee Novak (6 goals) & Theo Robinson (6 gpals). Creativity is not a problem either with corner-taking Anthony Pilkington (4 goals, 6 assists) and midfielder Gary Roberts (3 goals, 6 assists) chipping in.
Bristol Rovers (9th) Away : 4-0-8 16:24
Sorry Bristol Rovers fans, now its your turn. The Gas are pushing for a play-off place, but this largely comes off the back of a 7-1-3 home record which is solid but perhaps of little consequence when talking about away games.
Their record on the road is less successful with a return so far of 4-0-8 16/24, but what is really setting the alarm bells off at Rovers is their shocking run of seven straight away defeats, drawing a blank in their last three;
- 0-1 at Colchester United,
- 0-2 v Tranmere Rovers
- and 0-2 v Millwall.
Rovers started the season well enough having won four of their first five away matches, but that ended with a 3-2 win at Southampton back in September last year.
Bristol do however have players capable of finding the net in Jo Kuffour ( 7goals) & defender Jeff Hughes (7 goals), with creativity in the shape of Stuart Campbell (6 assists).
By the way, eight of Bristol Rovers twelve away matches so far have resulted in three goals or more.
THe Betting Verdict
Just one more thing to add Huddersfield can also destroy teams at the Galpharm - just ask the travelling fans of Brighton (7-1), Dagenham & Redbridge (6-1 in the FA Cup), and Wycombe Wanderers who were promptly despatched 6-0 a week later!
I expect to see Huddersfield Town to win this - and plenty of goals in the game. Good luck & enjoy!
BEST BETTING TIP :
I would therefore recommend taking :Huddersfield Town to win at 1.68
Or Over 2.5 Goals at 1.74
