English League Two
2012-05-17 - Torquay vs Cheltenham
A Sports Betting Pick by Addicted
Football : English : League Two
Thursday, May 17th, 2012, 7:45PM GMT
PREVIEW
Cheltenham finished 6th with 77 points and Torquay finished just above them on 81 points. The first leg of the playoffs went exactly as I expected, with Cheltenham netting twice while putting in a brilliant defensive effort to bring a 2-0 lead to Torquay. Waiting in the finals are Crewe, who somehow upset Southend with a win and a draw. It's hard to see Torquay coming back from this deficit.
Torquay have already met Cheltenham 3 times this season. The league matches ended in a draw and a Torquay win, but the FL Trophy match, as I said, gives us a better idea of how this would play out as that is a much more pressured situation. In that game, played at Cheltenham, Torquay lost 2-1.
Cheltenham have actually been great at home coming into this match, winning their last 4, including the 1st leg shutout. What does concern me is the fact they have conceded in each of their last 5 league games before they managed that home win.
While that is a concern, Torquay are even more worrying, entering this on the back of a 6 match winless run. That run is the reason Torquay missed out on automatic promotion, and they will likely be pissed and upset about that. Southend lost their first leg away too, and I thought they would bounce back at home and beat Crewe, but twice they surrendered the lead and went out, without even forcing extra time. Torquay have started miserably, and have scored just 1 goal in the 1st half of the last 10 games combined, which is truly shocking.
If Cheltenham take the lead they look a solid bet to close it out and win the tie. I simply cannot bring myself to bet on Torquay to win just because they need to, as I have seen too many teams blow chances when in similar situations.
BETTING VERDICT
Cheltenham came through for us by scoring twice in the 1st leg, and I think we should count on them finding their way through here again and getting on the scoresheet.
I shall respect Torquay enough to say they will get a goal, but in the end it will be Cheltenham who go through. Let's take both sides to score.
The Pick :
Both Teams To Score
BEST BETTING TIP :
Take Both Teams To Score @ 1.91
