League Two Betting: It may be a long-shot but this saucy threesome could well come in

English Football League / Ian Lamont / 02 October 2008 / Leave a Comment

Ian Lamont is going old-school with this tips in this week's League Two preview.

I'm always being told by my colleagues in the day job that there's nothing like the good ole days. So I thought I would test the theory doing as the bookmakers used to force us beleaguered punters and pick three results for a treble.

Of course, the bookies loved that, didn't they? How much did they make from people thinking they could make a packet each week from backing three odds-on home selections to treble or quadruple their stake? Billions of pounds probably, even though that was a time when billions hadn't really entered the public's consciousness.

Mind you, some people had to win each week and it seems to me there are some very good reasons to put an old-fashioned formula into practice this weekend.

First up are Rotherham, who can finally reach positive equity after their handicap of a points deduction by seeing off managerless Grimsby Town. I offer this with the caveat that a new manager must not be in place at Blundell Park in time to have worked with the squad. This is because there is no team more certain to win than one trying to impress a new boss, even at whopping odds, Grimsby being [5.0], even when it seems thorough unlikely. Spurs fans got stung last November, when Birmingham City won at White Hart Lane at [7.0] for Alex McLeish.

Rotherham really went for the jugular at Dagenham in the first half last weekend, a 4-3-3 formation causing all sorts of trouble for their hosts. Drewe Broughton and Alex Rhodes should be a handful for a Grimsby defence that has conceded nine in four games on the road.

Next in my odds-on treble will be Brentford, a side who put four past Grimsby early in the season. Andy Scott's charges have been growing in confidence, not least after a 1-0 at Chesterfield who have been thorough disappointing this term.

Unbeaten at home, The Bees' defences have been breached just three times this season - a feat bettered only by Wycombe. So it would seem inconceivable that Macclesfield will get the better of a backline further bolstered last week with the addition of John Halls, the former Arsenal and Reading player. The 26-year-old went straight into the side at Chesterfield and came out with rave reviews. He also has a clause in his contract agreeing that he can move on if a club from a higher level comes in for him. Surely that is just a sign of his ambition and if Brentford go up, then he will be more inclined to stay.

The final leg of my no-frills threesome is Bradford. Striker Peter Thorne is back in training and expected to galvanise Stuart McCall's troops against Luton. It is interesting that McCall, with TJ Moncur and Paul Armiston injured, declined to sign a right-back on loan for what he hopes will be one game. Save the cash and spend it on what you really need later in the season seems to be the philosophy. Luton are in a worse state, with injuries to Sam Parkin, Kevin Watson, Kevin Nicholls and George Pilkington.

That little lot should fetch more than [5.0] as a treble, with Bradford [1.96], Brentford [1.8] and Rotherham [1.7] to be taken individually, too.

For anyone seeking value, Shrewsbury Town, who conquered fellow title hopefuls Bradford last week, seem over-priced at close to [3.0] to win at Darlington. To truly state their promotion credentials, they have to start replicating their immaculate home record - with not even a goal let in - away from home.

The big bosses at the club talk of the new Prostar Stadium providing a sound commercial footing on which Paul Simpson can build great things. They talk of reaching the Championship. But talk - in a credit crunch or not - is cheap and drawing half your away games, as they have done so far, is not going to leave them in the money come promotion time. It is about time Grant Holt repaid that £170,000 summer transfer fee with more goals from open play. So far, three of his four have come from the penalty spot.

As for Darlington, they are there for the taking - Dave Penney's side have only beaten Accrington Stanley and Port Vale in their last two home games, so they haven't really been fully stretched!