Kidderminster's recent form must be taken with a pinch of salt

Non-league / Editor / 16 November 2007 / Leave a Comment

Legendary Non-League manager Frank Gregan tells us why Kidderminster are a lay at home to Woking

Saturday's live offering comes from the Aggborough Stadium, home of Kidderminster Harriers who entertain Woking. Kidderminster look to be in fine form at present having won their last three games. Conversely, Woking's form of late has been dire, winless in their last six matches, three draws and three defeats are all they have to show for their efforts. Well, that's that fixture sorted - an absolute doddle, fill your boots with Kidderminster at odds of 1.87. 87% returns on your investment and you only have to tie up your money for a matter of hours. Try popping into any building society branch on your local high street and asking the manager to match that!

Ah, if only life were that simple. Examine the form carefully and you have to wonder if 1.87 does represent value. Kidderminster have won their last three matches but two of them have been cup ties against lower league opposition. Sandwiched in between was an excellent league victory against Burton but significantly that win was on the road and not at the Aggborough.

Their last four home league games have yielded only four points and their goal difference for the entire campaign at home this season is only plus two. They have lost the same amount of games at home as they have won, very unusual for a top half of the table side. The deeper I dig the less attractive that 1.87 looks.

Woking's last four games away from home have yielded five points including draws at Oxford and Stevenage plus a victory and a solitary defeat. They will be desperate to end this winless streak and will be buoyed by the fact that they have been doing well away from home of late. They will also enjoy the experience at Kidderminster, it is a nice ground and produces an atmosphere that is more friendly than hostile.

Indeed, I remember one of my teams playing there towards the end of the season when Kidderminster won promotion to the football league with Jan Molby at the helm. There was six thousand in the ground and they were in party mode having secured the league title the week before. We were fighting for our lives and knew that if we lost the game we would be relegated. Kidderminster led 3-0 with twenty minutes to go, we got it back to 3-2 and in the third minute of injury time we were awarded a penalty which was converted. We stayed up - how friendly is that!

That 1.87 is now definitely looking too skinny for me. Lay Kidderminster and let's hope they continue to be generous at home.

To read more about Kidderminster go to:

http://www.harriers.premiumtv.co.uk/page/Welcome