League One Betting Preview: Title contenders battle to get back on track

English Football League / Alan Dudman / 01 October 2009 / Leave a Comment

Can Leeds take charge of the title race on Saturday?

Weekend Best Bets:
Back the draw Wycombe v Orient @ [3.40]
Back Charlton to beat Leeds @ [4.20]
Back Colchester to beat Huddersfield @ [2.20]

Alan Dudman selects the best bets from the top of the table clash as well as the rest of the weekend's third tier action...

It's official, I hate Wycombe. Purely talking through my wallet of course, but that last minute goal from the Chairboys last weekend completely ballsed up (the technical term) my correct score against Swindon. Napoleon often used to ask his generals: "Have you luck?". I answer: "After 89 minutes Napoleon, no."

Leeds United [1.93] v Charlton Athletic [4.20]

This is about as good as it gets. Top against second, 49 points collected between them thus far, and only one defeat from the pair in 20 games. And with both dominating the League One market over the summer - could this be the Shirley MacLaine?

The mighty whites dropped their first points at Elland Road for 10 months in midweek following their 1-1 draw against Carlisle. Simon Grayson admitted it was an average performance, whilst I wondered if Leeds were a bit jaded. The Yorkshire outfit will be hoping it was just one bad display, and now have a rip-roaring atmosphere to look forward to this weekend.

Grayson will be hoping midfielder Robert Snodgrass can shake off an ankle injury in time for the Addicks clash. Despite the goals of Beckford, Snodgrass is their most influential player.

So Leeds have to get back on track? So do Charlton. They lost their unbeaten record at Colchester on Tuesday, under the bombardment of the Boothroyd long ball. But the Londoners have been the best team for me so far this season, and they are surely far too big a price at [4.20].

Charlton simply made mistakes in that 3-0 defeat, although the defending was poor, they were individual mistakes and Colchester were slightly flattered. They have enough quality
to give Leeds a scare and it's a far too generous price.

Recommendations: Back Charlton @ [4.20]

Colchester United [2.30] v Huddersfield Town [3.05]

It's not quite Liverpool circa 1988 against Wimbledon, but it's pretty close. The aerial threat of Colchester against the more flowing football of Huddersfield. As ugly as the direct approach is, it has been working for Aidy Boothroyd in his new job. With the Us back on track, they've collected three clean sheets in five games.

Boothroyd has a simple mantra. A big guy up front, learn and work, and put the ball into dangerous areas. Some teams can handle it, some can't. They beat Charlton 3-0 on Tuesday, so it worked.

Huddersfield have gone off the boil lately and are looking fragile on their travels. Basic errors cost them dear at Walsall on Tuesday night. I like them as a side, and I like manager Lee Clark. However, I fear for them under siege in Essex and against my principles, could side with route one this Saturday.

Recommendations:

Back Colchester to win @ [2.30]
Back Colchester to win 1-0 [10.00], 2-1 [14.00]

Wycombe Wanderers [2.2] v Leyton Orient [2.90]

Okay, so there is unlikely to be an 'Alan Dudman Way' down in Wycombe, but this could
be a dreadful game. Both sides are woefully out of form, both dodgy defensively, with goals as light as a hermit's address book.

Recommendations:
Back The Draw @ [3.40]
Back 0-0 [11.00], 1-1 [13.00]