English League One
2012-09-08 - Walsall vs MK Dons
A Sports Betting Pick by Lamps
Football : England : League One
Saturday 8th September - Kickoff 3:00pm
Walsall
Relegation candidates Walsall have made a decent start to the season. Smith's side occupy 14th place but have a healthy 5 points from their 4 games. This Saturday Walsall host one of the title contenders MK Dons at the Bescot looking to build on their point last time against Brentford.
In 6 games overall this season the side has won just twice. One game was in the League Cup against Brentford and the other a shock 1-0 win over Notts County here at the Bescot. In both games I felt the side were fortunate to win as the visitors had the better of the chances but even at this level you must take your chances. Walsall took theirs and won both games but they may not be so lucky this weekend.
Doncaster came to the Bescot and outclassed Walsall 3-0 whilst Brentford last weekend created numerous chances but fell 2-0 behind. The bees responded in the second half scoring twice but had Rosler's side not been so wasteful they would have won this easily.
It's been 5 games since Walsall won a League One game at home and even then it was against soon to be relegated Chesterfield. In the last 3 they have conceded 6 here and now face one of the best sides in the league. This side has pulled off some solid results this year but may find it a struggle against a side with the calibre of MK Dons.
MK Dons
Second favourites for the League One title MK Dons have started their season moderately. Robinson's men are in 7th with 7 points from a possible 12 which may sound ok but they won't be happy with the dropped points. On Saturday they face an ideal opponent and I think they will really fancy their chances.
In 7 games the MK Dons have been beaten just twice. Once to Di Canio's excellent Swindon side and the other midweek against Northampton in the Football League Trophy. The Dons have had 1 really big scalp in the League Cup beating Blackburn 2-1 at home. Other wins have come against Oldham, Carlisle and Cheltenham by a margin of 5 goals.
Looking specifically at the away record the side has 3 wins in the last 5 but hasn't won in the last 2. Bournemouth held the Dons but as mentioned above Swindon got the better on them in their last away game.
With the likes of Smith, Bullard and Chadwick in the middle of the park, I see the Dons controlling this game. Up top Lowe is very dangerous and along side young Powell they are deadly due in this league. A worry is that they haven't scored in their last 2 away but I expect that to change against a defence like Walsall's.
Betting Verdict
I'm going to back the Dons here to win this game. Away from home the stats are not great in very recent form but before their 2 games blip they won 3 straight and that's impressive.
Walsall from what I've seen have been very fortunate in their results. The side will slip down the table in my eyes and unless there's a repeat of the Notts County game, get dominated but win 1-0. I see the visitors having too much over the 90 minutes and for an odds against price I'm going to roll the dice on the Dons.
Good Luck
The Pick :
Walsall 0-2 MK Dons
