English League Two
2012-10-27 - Burton Albion vs Bradford City
A Sports Betting Pick by Lamps
Football : England : League Two
Saturday 27th October - Kickoff 3:00pm
Burton
10th place Burton have 20 points from 14 games and trail the playoff places by a single point. On Saturday they host 5th placed Bradford knowing a win will bring them to within a point of Parkinson's men.
Rowett is going well with this side. Albion have lost 1 of the last 7 but their biggest problem is they draw far too many games. In this run 5 games have been draw which shows the side is tough to beat but perhaps lacks the quality needed to get that vital win.
At home the hosts are 5 unbeaten, drawing the last 3 but they did win the other 2. The wins came over Oxford (4-0) and York (3-1) in dominating fashion. The sides to hold them have been Northampton (3-3), Bristol Rovers (1-1) and Port Vale (1-1).
Over this 5 game run Rowett's men have scored 12 goals at an average of nearly 2.50 goals a game which is massive. Defensively they leak goals conceding in 9 of their last 10 at the Pirelli Stadium at an average of over 1.50 a game.
Bradford
Bradford's win midweek has lept them into the top 5 of the table. Another win on Saturday could see them rise up into 3rd but on the other hand a loss could see the drop down to 9th.
Parkinson's side are now 3 unbeaten winning 2 to put them right into the playoff mix. It's tougher to maintain this level of form but given Burton's lack of wins lately they should extend this run to 4 games after Saturday.
Away from home Bradford have 1 loss in the last 5 at Dag and Red (4-3). They have recorded decent wins at Oxford (0-2) and Northampton (0-1). City have found the net in 4 of the last 5 away games getting at least a second in 2 of them.
Defensively they are excellent keeping 3 clean sheets in the last 4 but in the game they didn't keep a clean sheet Dag & Red put 4 past them!
Betting Verdict
The bookies can't split the 2 sides and I can see why. Burton are unbeaten in 5 at home and have lost just 1 of their last 7 overall. The visitors are 3 unbeaten and themselves have only lost 1 away in 5 so the draw if anything makes the most appeal.
I like both to score in this game for the following reasons. Burton have had BTTS in their last 4 at home. Bradford's excellent defensive record is a negative but Burton are averaging 2.50 goals a game and I can't see the visitors keeping them out.
At the other end Bradford have scored 4 in the last 2 away games and now face a side that at home gives up 1.50 goals a game. Because both sides are tough to beat I fear 1-1 and despite the stats saying over 2.50 goals I will stick with both scoring in a potential 1-1 scoreline.
Good Luck
The Pick :
Burton 1-1 Bradford
