League One Betting Preview: Classy Canaries have title favs worried

English Football League / Alan Dudman / 21 January 2010 / Leave a Comment

"Lambert's team are different class. At [3.33] for the title, most are scared, including Leeds [1.70]."

Are Wycombe getting worse, what's up with Colchester and can the Canaries catch Leeds? Alan Dudman selects the weekend's best bets from the third tier.

Southend United [1.84] v Wycombe Wanderers [5.10], the draw [3.60]

The Shrimpers have their problems off the field, and manager Steve Tilson will have a job-and-a-half to keep hold of leading goalscorer Lee Barnard this summer. It seems as though Southampton and Leeds United are fairly keen to land the blonde forward - and with 17 goals to his name this term - you can understand why. Barnard can backed at [13.50] to be the league's top scorer.

Southend seem to have settled on mid-division mediocrity for the season, and with 29 points collected thus far, they are no nearer the play-offs than they are relegation. With just two wins from their last seven games, the signs are not obvious to pile in at [1.84], but there were very encouraging efforts at Huddersfield last Saturday. The bette noire of many teams in this divsion are sloppy goals - and Southend conceded two bad ones at the Galpharm, and I would not be wrong to say that they deserved a point.

Tilson likes a 4-5-1, with Barnard working very hard up front. The fact he remains isolated for long periods means Southend will not score loads and perhaps with a strike partner, they would be a tad better.

Wycombe seem to be unlucky nearly every other week, but the stats say they are still one of the worst teams in the division. Although a change in formation looks better - with Beavon playing just off the front two of Harrold and Pittman - I would be surprised if Wycombe would turn the home team over.

Suggested bets: Back Southend to win [1.84]
Back Southend to win 1-0 [9.00], 2-1 [14.00]

Gillingham [2.96] v Colchester United [2.56], the draw [3.35]

What has happened to Aidy Boothroyd's Colchester? In short, I don't know, but their last
two results make for grim reading. A 5-0 defeat at home to Norwich, and a 7-0 loss to Preston in
the cup wouldn't give too many backers confidence this weekend.

I still think they are a solid side, and this game represents the ideal opportunity for them to get back on track. Four of the goals last weekend were bad defensively, with Boothroyd forthright in his views by describing them as all 'daft'.

Gillingham are a different animal at home, and are nothing like the impotent force away from the
Priestfield, where goals are rarer than a celebrity on Big Brother.

The Gills are dangerous, especially with Simeone Jackson (who seems most threatening at home), but I think Colchester are the better side. I am not sure [2.56] is the best price in the world for a side that have gone down 12-0 over two games, but a nice clean sheet would be perfect if they can get back to their big, strong, organised best.

Suggested bets: Back 0-0 [10.00], 0-1 [14.00]

Norwich City [1.51] v Brentford [8.00], the draw [4.40]

For fear of repeating myself concerning Norwich, the message is simple. Even at [1.51], for a team that doesn't concede and scores plenty - it's another chance to withdraw from the payout counter courtesy of the best team in the division.

I sat back on Saturday night with Manish on BBC1 and saw the Canaries obliterate Colchester. Bad defending yes, but Lambert's team are different class. At [3.33] for the title, most are scared, including Leeds [1.70]. And one thing that struck me about them is how fir they are for a team in January.

Brentford have got better, with great improvement under Andy Scott. Their forward line is a bit too weak to make them play-off contenders however, and they will find it very tough to penetrate an impeccable defence at the fortress. Clean sheet backing a must here.

Suggested bets: Back Norwich to win @ [1.51]
Back 1-0 [8.00], 2-0 [8.00], 3-0 [13.00]