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English Football League

Championship Play-off Betting: Bristol City v Crystal Palace, 2nd Leg

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The betting is tight in all markets as City and Palace prepare for fireworks at Ashton Gate

So we've seen all six semi-final first legs from this season's Football League play-offs - and now we're back where we started with the second leg (this time at Ashton Gate) of Bristol City against Crystal Palace.

I made the point in the Leeds-Carlisle preview that no more than three goals had been scored in any of the games and the biggest winning margin was 2-0. Here we have a match-up poised on a knife-edge despite two late goals - one for each side - at Selhurst Park sending the Over 2.5 goals backers into ecstasy without materially changing the state of the tie. Away goals, thankfully, do not count double at any stage.

A bit of a cop-out it may be, but I'm finding it almost impossible to resolve in my mind the likely outcome of what will be a match played in a white-hot atmosphere after folk from both camps enjoyed a little dummy-throwing in the heat at Selhurst Park last Saturday lunchtime.

Normally I can see a scoreline - or at least result - in my mind's eye but I just can't get to that point with this one. The Match Odds reflect my indecision I feel, with City [2.84] to back, Palace [2.78] and the Draw at [3.35] - all 90-minute betting don't forget.

Lee Johnson's likely to return from injury for the hosts while defender Matt Lawrence could be available again for the visitors - neither piece of team news makes any real difference to proceedings so it's as you were in terms of squad strength, save for Palace being without the injured forward James Scowcroft.

It may pay to stay clear of selecting the likely victor and involve yourself in other markets surrounding this mouth-watering clash. I'm going to stick with my Eagles' goalscoring choice from leg one, teenage winger Victor Moses, to register on the night. He's at [4.7] in the To Score list, and a more unlikely [10.5] to be the First Goalscorer. I think the former offers enough of a return for your investment.

As for City, it's kind of the night someone with the mercurial talent of a Lee Trundle might shine - so let's put him in the mix from the To Score list at odds of [3.8]. Unlikely goal here Louis Carey, the City centre-half, is a fancy [22.0] to score at any time. The loyal Robins' servant couldn't double his season's tally, could he?

There is one result-driven market I'm prepared to have an interest on - the Half-Time result. Whilst there'll be plenty of blood & thunder early on at Ashton Gate, I think Gary Johnson will be keeping it unusually tight for him, happy to play on the counter-attack. Therefore can I point you in the direction of the Draw at around [2.14] to back. City are [3.15] and Palace [3.2] if, unlike me, you can see an interval leader.

Will there be lots of goals or not? Dunno, depends what happens early on. A quick one from the visitors gives them momentum and would probably force City out of their likely sit-and-wait game-plan. The 2.5 goals market is tight with Unders a [1.73] chance and Overs at [2.32]. I don't have a strong feeling either way for this, the first of the second legs, but both managers are by nature quite attack-minded so perhaps the Overs is where it's at.

Whatever the detail, this will be a fractious affair. On the Robins' website, Johnson's been cranking it up by suggesting the stuff Neil Warnock's saying is inspiring his players to do better. Whether that proves so or not, I really fancy a sending-off. Get stuck into the [5.0] available for at least one red card to be shown.

Ultimately, though, after all my pontificating, there really is something special about Neil Warnock - and no, you don't have to like him to say that. So while it'd have to be a Palace victory to force this scenario, I can picture the man leading his side out at Wembley, that's just the way I see it. So I'm going to make my final selection Crystal Palace in the To Qualify match-up. They're priced at [3.3], which is too generous for a (albeit lop-sided) two-horse race, in my humblest of opinions. Good luck!