ENGLISH LEAGUE ONE BETTING PICK - STEVENAGE V DONCASTER ROVERS

English League One

2013-01-12 - Stevenage vs Doncaster Rovers

A Sports Betting Pick by ArmchairPunter

STEVENAGE v DONCASTER ROVERS
Football – England – League One
Saturday 12th January 2013 – Kickoff: 1500hrs

STEVENAGE

Ninth placed Stevenage take on second placed Doncaster Rovers in my next pick at the Lamex Stadium on Saturday afternoon with the hosts vying for a play-off berth come May.

Stevenage’s play-off hopes though have been dampened by their recent form which has resulted in just two wins from their last nine league matches which were victories at bottom club Hartlepool United 2-0 and Crewe Alexandra 2-1 away. But defeats against Preston NE and Sheffield United (both 1-4), Crawley Town 1-2, Coventry City 1-3 and Walsall 0-1 have pegged back their progress up the table and they remain two points adrift of MK Dons and the last remaining play-off place.

Strangely enough, Stevenage possess one of the best away records in League One (with 8 wins) second only to their opponents today (Doncaster Rovers – 9 wins on the road), so this should be an interesting contest. However, Stevenage’s job is made that more difficult when you consider they have not won a home match now for five matches. This has undone their previous hard work and perhaps the pressure is beginning to show?

Stevenage’s home record stands at a below-par 3-5-4 16/22, and they’ve kept just one clean sheet at the Lamex which was a 1-0 win over Scunthorpe United who occupy one of the relegation places in the division.

DONCASTER ROVERS

As mentioned previously, Doncaster Rovers possess the best away record in League One which currently stands at an impressive 9-3-1 23/8 and they also boast the meanest defensive record on the road too; unbeaten since early September, Rovers have also kept six clean sheets and bringing this kind of form into today’s match can only be bad news for Stevenage.

Only a 1-1 draw at fifth placed Swindon Town has prevented Doncaster Rovers from recording seven straight away wins, but six straight wins from their last seven is still very good as they’ve accounted for league leaders Tranmere Rovers, Notts County, Portsmouth, Carlisle United, Oldham Athletic and Preston North End.

THE BETTING VERDICT:

This will be new manager Brian Flynn’s first match in charge following the departure of former manager Dean Saunders to Championship club Wolves after they sacked Stale Solbakken, so I have eased back on my selection for this one, instead I recommend taking Doncaster Rovers with the round ball in case it ends in a draw. Rovers should edge this one 2-1 though.

The Pick :