English Football League / Alan Dudman / 04 September 2008 /

Alan "Heartbreaker" Dudman looks ahead to this weekend's League One clashes and predicts goals galore as a celebrated hitman makes his Southend debut.

I turned down a date with a lady on Monday night and opted to spend my time
more constructively instead. That's right - I decided to stay in and watch coverage
of the transfer deadline day/evening on Sky Sports News.

As I waited for the big one to happen, doubts crept in to my mind over the
decision to snub Laura (we'll call her that for the purposes of a story). However,
midway through my second packet of Doritos I was vindicated in my judgement
as Dougie Freedman delivered and promptly moved to Southend!!!!

Freedman was not alone in causing a shock. He was joined by messrs Robinho
and Berbatov (about the only time I will ever write about all three in the same
paragraph). However, it was pretty quiet regarding my favourite league, although
managers do have up until christmas to further strenghten their squads.

Last weekend the top three enhanced their credentials in various ways.
Leicester [3.85] and Carlisle [12.00] both scored four in convincing wins
whilst Oldham [12.50] showed tremendous grit in coming from two goals
behind to nick a point at Colchester.

As you know I like Carlisle, and tipped them outright for the title a few
weeks ago at a higher price. They entertain Freedman's Southend this weekend
in a game where all roads lead to the over 2.5 goals market.

It's a match the Cumbrians should win. Fresh from last weekend's 4-1
thumping of Yeovil (who are not a bad side), John Ward's men are quite
rightly hot favourites at [1.81]. It's actually not a bad price considering their
form, their players and their tremendous home record.

Southend are much better than they have shown. Confidence will be low
after last weekend's 5-2 defeat at Walsall - but they actually played well
for an hour. Admittedly they have not won since the opening day but with
Freedman arriving as well as a young holding midfielder from Portsmouth
by the name of Jean-Francois Christophe, I expect them to be a bit tighter
at the back and create a few openings.

So for that reason I'll avoid the match odds and back over 2.5 goals. Carlisle's
two home games have yielded 11 goals with 4-1 and 4-2 scorelines. Southend
probably won't concede five as they did last week, but they'll be under immense
pressure. I also hope to get a correct scoreline in soon having come so
close. Most interesting are 2-0, 2-1 and 3-0 in favour of the Foxes.

I really want to get involved in Walsall [1.98] versus Leyton Orient [4.01] as it
looked perhaps the hardest game to weigh up. The Saddlers will be flying after
the afore mentioned trouncing of Southend last Saturday, and have won
both games at home this season.

Orient are a side I like and have put in two (much needed) solid defensive
displays to earn 0-0 draws against promotion chasing pair Brighton and Carlisle.

It will be the Londoners fifth away game of the season and, after winning
4-2 in the midweek JPT competition with a weakened side, confidence at
both ends of the pitch will be high enough to get a result. Although the O's
lost striker Wayne Gray to a knee injury recently, I suggest a back of
Martin Ling's side at the tasty odds available.

I am never one to back draws. It is often a futile exercise, like finding a horse
who will finish seventh in a two-mile hurdle. However, there could be something
in the game at Whaddon Road this weekend.

Cheltenham [2.64] entertain Huddersfield [2.74], two teams who occupy
the bottom two places in the table. Both have collected a paltry five
points between them all term - although the Robins have come up against
Oldham and Leicester.

Cheltenham's ranks have been bolstered by striker Lloyd Owusu (averages
one-in-four) and Josh Low (an excellent crosser). Whilst Huddersfield
managed to lure young Derby striker Liam Dickinson to the Galpharm
recently.

Goals appear to be a struggle for Huddersfield. Boss Stan Ternent will be
cursing Danny Cadamateri's hamstring (he is ruled out for the weekend),
whilst veteran forward Andy Booth has a back problem and is 50-50.

The sensible option here is to back the draw at [3.65]. Too many
doubts about either side, Cheltenham probably the better of the
two, but not a team to put total faith in.

Finally goals are bound to be plentiful between Tranmere versus
Oldham. Ignore the outrights, get stuck in to over 2.5 goals and
a nibble at goals galore in the correct score markets.

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