League One Betting Review - 22 January 2006
League One has a new leader in Colchester United who are now
favourites at 4/1. The U's maintained their fine home form at
odds of 4/6 but needed two goals from Richard Garcia to cancel
out a Michael Husbands penalty for Port Vale.
Swansea City were fully expected, at 8/13 to beat Hartlepool
United who are facing a realistic threat of relegation this
season. Ironically, Welshman Eifion Williams netted a 90 minute
equaliser for Hartlepool and Swansea are now second favourites
to win the division at 9/2.
Southend United were also guilty of underachieving against more
lowly opposition. The Shrimpers were 8/5 favourites to win away
at mid-table Tranmere but could only manage a goalless draw, a
result which extended their unbeaten run to 10 matches.
Two other promotion hopefuls, Brentford and Huddersfield Town,
met at Griffin Park. The Bees, at 6/5 favourites, didn't
disappoint the home crowd with a 2-0 win.
Odds-on Barnsley were 8/13 good things against bottom club
Milton Keynes Dons and two late goals kept the Tykes in the
play-off mix.
Underachieving Nottingham Forest saw their play-off hopes dented
even further with a 1-1 draw at bottom-three club Rotherham
United.
Draw specialists Chesterfield made a mockery of generous draw
odds of 12/5 when they chalked up their eleventh stalemate of
the season, 2-2 against Walsall.
Swindon Town gave their survival chances a boost with a
remarkable 4-2 win against Bournemouth. Both sides could be
backed at 6/4 before kick-off, but it was the home side that
conquered, with the Robins now just one point from safety.
A 1-1 draw did neither Bristol City nor Blackpool any favours in
their battle against relegation. Punters savvy enough to realise
matches involving two struggling teams tend to end all square
could have backed the draw at odds of 9/4.