English League One
2013-01-26 - Colchester United vs Walsall
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: English League One
Saturday 26 January 2013 - Kick Off 3pm
Colchester United
This was supposed to be a season when Colchester United could perhaps find their way into one of the Play Off places and bid to go up to the Championship... Instead, it is one where they are fighting to avoid relegation to League Two and there is plenty of work to be done in the final four months of the season.
The weekend will begin with Colchester down in 21st place in League One, 2 points from the safety zone but also with a chance to close the gap on 19th placed Oldham Athletic who play in the FA Cup. Colchester have a 4-3-6 record at home this season, scoring 16 goals and conceding 19 in those games.
A bad run of form has sent Colchester crashing down the table and that has seen them lose their last 9 League games in a row, while also losing 12 of their last 13 games in the Division. Colchester have lost 4 in a row at home since beating Bury 2-0 here and that run includes defeats to fellow struggling teams Oldham and Scunthorpe United. The side have conceded at least 2 goals in 4 straight games at home.
Walsall
While their opponents have been having a terrible run, Walsall have put together a bunch of results that has seen them moving up the table and perhaps giving them a chance to make the Play Offs. That would be a remarkable achievement for the side to even make the top 6 in League One this season, but the chance is there if they can maintain their form.
They are 10th in the League One table with 41 points to their name, a tally that leaves Walsall just 5 behind Bournemouth in the final Play Off places. They have a 5-4-5 away record so far this season, scoring 19 goals and conceding 21 in those games.
Walsall have actually won 4 League games in a row coming into this one and their run is even better considering they have won 6 of their last 7. The side had failed to win any of their previous 7 away games in all competitions, but have picked up a bit of form on their travels with 2 wins from their last 3 including a 1-3 win at Preston North End last time out.
Head to Head
Walsall beat Colchester United 1-0 at home earlier this season.
Last season, Colchester beat Walsall 1-0 here and have now won 3 in a row at home against their opponents.
Prediction
I am going to back this game to have at least 3 goals as both sides have scored and conceded goals in their home/away games respectively with great regularity.
3 of the last 4 Colchester United home games has seen at least 3 goals scored, while the last 4 Walsall away games have all seen the same.
Neither side is particularly known for keeping clean sheets either so the 2.00 for there being at least 3 goals looks the call.
The Pick :
Colchester United 1-2 Walsall
