League Two Betting: Outlandish remarks up in Rochdale and a good price on Brentford

English Football League / Ian Lamont / 08 January 2009 / 2 Comments

Ian Lamont tells us why he's been well and truly riled this week and talks us through the best betting opportunities in League Two this week.

Every so often I come across a quote so outlandish it defies belief to such an extent it fires me up.

That's how I felt after reading Keith Hill's remark on Rochdale signing Blackburn's Frank Fielding on loan, making a trio of stoppers at the club.

Hill said: "Every Premier League Team has three goalkeepers and we consider ourselves to be a Premier League team in the making."

Pardon? Is this the same club that has been in the lowest tier of English professional football for the past 34 years? Or is Mr Hill about to change his name to Joe King? I'll blame nobody for having ambition, but it must be tempered by reality.

Such is my indignation that Rochdale - for Hill's sheer cheek - become a lay at [2.8] to win at Chesterfield, who are probably the sort of team the Spotland outfit need to take points from this season if they are to match last season's achievement of reaching the play-offs.

With Chesterfield's coveted striker Jamie Ward seemingly off to Barnsley, on the face of it this should be a prime time for Adam Le Fondre, Will Buckley and the newly permanently acquired Lee McEvilly to garner points.

But making yourselves Big Time Charlies just won't wash, especially when your last point on your travels came at the end of November and your last win on the road 3.5 weeks before that.

It is not as if Rochdale are in a position to claim superiority by, for example, marching away with the League Two title.

And nor will Wycombe be if Brentford can reign them in by living up to their ability and grasp a bagful of points that January presents, starting at Lincoln.

Andy Scott has really put his stamp on the side in just over a year in charge. One of the big plusses this season has been Ben Hamer, the goalkeeper signed on a season-long loan from Reading. It is excellent to see a young English goalkeeper being given his chance, one which the 21-year-old has taken with aplomb.

If Brentford can dominate teams as they did at Exeter then come 5pm on Saturday the current price of [2.74] will look the generous price it surely is. With Notts County and Macclesfield to follow, the Bees ought to be looking at going 10 games unbeaten - and all nine points.

Key to a title challenge is an ability to win more than draw, tight away games. Brentford have conceded just once in their past four away trips, and just seven times on the road, only one more than Wycombe.

With enforcer Marcus Bean controlling the midfield and Sam Wood's corners and forward roving, they should be able to unlock a Lincoln side who themselves have been quite mean at home in the past four games, conceding just twice in four outings. Backing the result to finish with fewer than 2.5 goals also looks a decent side bet.

It should be a tight game at Sincil Bank and laying the hosts will have supporters at about [2.62] to cover the draw.

But as Lincoln failed to score in two of those last four home games - 0-0 draws against Shrewsbury and Bradford - I'm in the "all out" mood to back Brentford, especially with Dean Bowditch brought in to give Charlie MacDonald someone fresh to play off.

I think Aldershot Town can win away, too. With Andy Sandell signing from Salisbury permanently and the Shots having sorted out their poor away form which blighted their play-off place challenge in the early part of the season, Gary Waddock's men can kick on in a key part of the season.

I am relying on opponents Gillingham's strong home form taking a dip on the basis that they will be feeling flat after their FA Cup run ended at home to Villa.
They showed BBC viewers what a tight, well-organised unit they were last weekend, even if midfielder Mark Bentley was pushed into emergency action at centre-back. Aldershot have enough firepower from many angles to exploit any defensive frailties and win at [3.5].

Recommendations:

Back Brentford at [2.74]
Aldershot at [3.5]
Lay Rochdale at [2.8]

Comments (2)

1. Ross | 09 January 2009

   Ever heard of a 'tongue in cheek' comment? Or has that one flown ever so gracefully over your head?

   Clearly you're superbly qualified to talk about lower league football.

2. Ian Dignant | 09 January 2009

   Your "indignation" has horrified Joe King (Sorry, Keith Hill) so much that today he has sacked 2 of his keepers, poked the other in the eye and hired a local brickie as backup.

   Seriously. indignation, Joe King and 3.5 weeks! I hope they don't pay you to be indignant.