League One Betting: Alan Dudman scouts the odds for more punting jewels

English Football League / Alan Dudman / 02 October 2008 / Leave a Comment

Our League One expert is on a hot streak and he's eyeing more winners this weekend...

This week an unemployed German man found an envelope containing over £12,000 in cash and jewellery on a road - and then subsequently handed it to the police (or polizei).

What a marvellous act of honesty from Thomas Liedtke, and I of course would have done exactly the same. However, I would probably have kept the gold medallion that was found inside the envelope amongst the jewellery items. As John Travolta once told me: "You can't whack a good medallion."

Or at least I think that is what he said.

No chunky necklaces on offer this weekend sadly in League One, but plenty of good betting opportunities. And fresh from last weekend's success where all three selections and a correct scoreline copped - we aim to do it again.

And talking of cops, if we win, there will be no handing over the cash to the local constabulary.

We kick off proceedings this week on Friday night, as Hartlepool [2.00] entertain Swindon Town [3.95].

I have failed to get involved with Hartlepool this season, and I am not sure the reason why. One of my friends called Ralph however does look exactly like Danny Wilson (Pool boss), so perhaps this is why I have avoided them so far?

Ralph's side (sorry I mean Wilson's) are in pretty decent form, with one defeat in their last four games. They've had some tough opponents but managed to collect seven points, with their only defeat recently coming against the flying Millwall.

Hartlepool have also scored the most goals at home in the league, averaging nearly three a game so far this season - with messrs Brown, Porter and Barker all in form.

If that statistic wasn't impressive enough, Wilson has moved in the transfer market this week and signed lumbering forward Kevin Kyle on a months loan from Coventry.

Swindon are in a bad trot, simple as that. It's no win in five, without three points since August, and have scored just four goals away from home all season.

However, the key factor for me is that Swindon will be missing their influential defender Hasney Aljofree, a viral infection has laid low the centre-back which could prove costly for the Robins.

Although Hartlepool are not bad value at evens, better option is again to be against side out of form so I will lay Swindon at [3.95] and also have a tickle at a home win either 2-0 or 3-0.

Essex seems to be a happy hunting ground for me recently (stop sniggering you lot), and I will take a look at Colchester [2.11] versus Bristol Rovers [4.13] this Saturday.

This looks a tough old game, the Us are managerless and haven't won at home all season whilst Rovers (who I liked a month ago) seem to have gone in to freefall with some shocking results.

Rovers have leaked goals all season, but opted for a 4-1-3-2 last week at Crewe. The holding man worked in the sense they kept a clean sheet, but their attacking options were slightly blunted in the goalless draw.

I think Paul Trollope will use that formation again looking to nick a point, and as Colchester have only scored two goals at home all season in the league I will definitely have a play on the draw at [3.65], under 2.5 goals at [2.02] and the 0-0 - which on Thursday
had £19 up there to be taken at [15.53]....way too big.

I mentioned Scunthorpe last week, and they are a decent price at [2.28] at Leyton Orient [3.50] this Saturday to continue their marvellous run of form.

Scunny made it seven straight wins against Yeovil last weekend. Goals aplenty and a mean defence, they have the two perfect components. In fact Glovers boss Russell Slade was left drooling - describing the Iron as the best team in the division.

Conversely, Orient are struggling, manager Martin Ling admitted this week that if his side don't pick up they face a relegation battle. They've lost their last three, have conceded plenty and have scored a measly five goals all season - the worst in the
division.

Back Scunthorpe at the terrific price available (they should be odds on). I also am tempted with 0-2 [12.55] and 0-3 [30.00], as well as over 2.5 goals at [2.04].