The French Connection: Accrington Stanley (whoever they are) to land treble

The French Connection / Andrew French / 18 September 2009 / Leave a Comment

They may have refused to die, but any mention of Accrington Stanley these days still brings back memories of that awful milk advert

Back Bristol City @ 1.84; Back Exeter @ 2.1; Back Accrington Stanley @ 2.9; The Treble pays approximately 11.2

It won't just be a third successive win for Accrington Stanley should they triumph on Saturday; they may also be providing Andrew French with the third leg of his weekend treble.

Leg 1: Bristol City at [1.84] to beat Scunthorpe

You can't deny Scunthorpe have hit a purple patch having followed a 4-0 drubbing of Crystal Palace with a 3-1 win over Preston - but I think Nigel Adkins' side will be promptly brought back down to Earth at Bristol City. It's pretty much all or nothing for Scunny as before those two wins they had lost four of their five league games and this weekend's visit to Ashton Gate takes them to one of the more difficult away grounds in the Championship.

The Robins have won all three home games so far, and suffered just three defeats on their own patch last term. With Nicky Maynard already having six goals to his name this term, I think City will have too much for Scunthorpe, and so will kick off my treble by backing them at [1.84].

Leg 2: Exeter at [2.1] to beat Tranmere

If there is one crumb of comfort for Tranmere manager John Barnes, it has to be that Inverness Caledonian Thistle are not on the fixture list. Having been humbled by them while manager of Celtic, Barnes will be grateful struggling Rovers do not risk a similar fate - although six defeats in seven league games and a whopping 18 goals conceded is grim enough.

They visit Exeter this weekend, and the Grecians have hardly set the world alight this season and they are yet to win at home. However, with Tranmere so clearly struggling, they will not get many better chances. Therefore, include Exeter at [2.1].

Leg 3: Accrington Stanley at [2.9] to beat Hereford

Back-to-back victories against struggling sides has lifted Accrington Stanley into a comfortable mid-table position, and I fancy them to take three points at another team at the foot of the table this weekend.

Stanley's wins against Bury and Darlington certainly don't suggest they are suddenly going to soar up the table, but it does show they are in good heart and may just be that bit better than those sides preparing for a long hard winter of scrapping against relegation. Hereford appear to be in that category: winless, next to bottom and without a clean sheet in the league. Stanley may not be world beaters, but at [2.9] to win this one, I'm prepared to add them in.

*The Treble pays around 11.2