League One Betting Preview: All over now for Royle's baby blues?

English Football League / Alan Dudman / 02 April 2009 / Leave a Comment

'Blonde, fresh-faced, innocent and beautiful' - Alan Dudman falls head over heels for his bet of the season and recommends you avoid Joe Royle's youngsters. Best Bet: Back Peterborough to beat Oldham @ [2.36].

Ladies and gentleman it is time to unveil the beast, or the monster, or indeed - quite simply - my best bet of the entire season. I have found it, and oh how I wish there were more of them.

When trawling through the value for this weekend something shone brighter than any other game. And when I viewed the odds for Oldham against Peterborough, it took me back to the moment I fell in love for the first time.

The love didn't last as long as I hoped, but I still vividly recall the evening I first laid eyes on her. Blonde, fresh-faced, innocent and beautiful, she was just about the perfect woman. And the moment we spoke over the jukebox (yes it was a while ago), this unkempt Brit-Pop wannabe was a blissfully happy man (ok, teenager)....that was of course until she dumped me a year later.

I know I have become rather sentimental over the past couple of weeks in this column, but there really was no other way to compare matters at Boundary Park this Saturday.

Oldham Athletic [2.98] v Peterborough [2.36], the draw [3.45]

That jukebox mentioned earlier really should have been playing Bob Dylan's 'The times they are a changing'. A song that is rather apt for the bizarre goings-on at Oldham.

Sheridan gone, Royle in. Ok, maybe we can understand that. But Lee Hughes to Blackpool on loan deadline day? Hello? Why an earth does a play-off club allow their leading goalscorer to leave at the most crucial point of the season?

I personally have no explanation, but thankfully Latics boss big Joe did, and he said: "It isn't a sign we have given up trying for the play-offs, it's just that we haven't been scoring with Lee in the side."

When Royle returned to the club I highlighted the fact that his absence from football and lack of League One know-how could be a worry - a few games since has confirmed this, as Oldham are still chasing their first win under the new boss. Gone is the side that were banging in goals left right and centre, now we have a team that have lost their way and are without a win since February.

Last Saturday's 2-1 defeat at Leyton Orient could well have wiped out their chances of the play-offs (backed at [2.04] for promotion), and their season is in danger of petering out to a rather meaningless end.

However, the olive in martini for Posh backers was not only the exit of Hughes last week, but Royle's words pre-match, in which he outlined his plans to give youth a chance over the next five or six games.

Oldham have some cracking young players, but they are taking on a team who are battering sides all around them. Posh have won their last six and turned over league leaders Leicester 2-0 last weekend. Boss Darren Ferguson oozes confidence and he is desperate to win the title, it seems his players are going all out to achieve this and trade at [5.10] to win the title.

It could be squeaky-bum time for Leicester however (backed as low as
[1.02] for the crown), and nervy times await.

The game is all about value, and with all the factors, I make Posh an odds-on shot for the weekend. They ain't, and they should be backed at [2.38].

Recommendations:

Back Peterborough @ [2.38] to beat Oldham
Back 0-1, 0-2 correct scores.

Cheltenham [2.74] v Leyton Orient [2.62], the draw [3.4]

If the previous game reminded me of my first love, this relegation battle reminds me of a night I got chatting to a woman in Blackpool who looked like Andriy Voronin. (Let's not go there).

Cheltenham are still scrapping and have a little gem of a footballer on loan from Bristol City called Harry Artus. His goal last Saturday was genius, and he could be the difference in a tight game where I see few chances.

Recommendations:

Back Cheltenham @ [2.74]
Back 1-0 correct scoreline