The French Connection: Crush the crunch with a 18.0 shot

The French Connection / Andrew French / 16 January 2009 / Leave a Comment

The worst home record in the Championship against the division's lowest scorers - a classic relegation six-pointer if ever there was one.

Southampton have won just one league game at St Mary's this season, and I am taking visitors Doncaster to extend the home fans misery by recording a victory to kick off this week's French Connection treble.

Okay, so Doncaster don't score many goals: just 17 in 26 league games. But six of those have come in back-to-back league wins, and their recent victory over promotion-chasing Burnley shows they are capable of better than a spot in the bottom three.

After a pretty awful start, Rovers have lost only three of their last 10 Championship fixtures - and they go to play Saints, who have not won on their own turf since September 30th, some eight home games ago.

So, at a price around [3.45], I'm making Doncaster the first leg of this week's French Connection.

New Crewe manager Gudjon Thordarson knows the size of the task ahead of him at Gresty Road every time he looks at the league table. The Alex are rock bottom and their leaky defence is shipping an average of two goals a game.

His side earned a gutsy draw at Millwall in the FA Cup, but those old defensive frailties returned as they lost the home replay 3-2.

This weekend they host promotion-chasing Scunthorpe, who were far more impressive in midweek winning 2-1 at Yeovil.

The Iron have one of the best away records in League One, and I think they can add to it at Gresty Road. Therefore, I'm including victory for Scunthorpe at a price around [2.18].
In League Two, Morecambe have reasonable home form for a side well below halfway. They have only lost twice at Christie Park - their problem is they draw too many, with five stalemates so far.

However, Sammy McIllroy's side have not lost at home in the league since late August, and after a series of draws earlier in the campaign they've won their last two in front of their own fans, including a 4-1 drubbing of Macclesfield.

I think they can add to their win tally this weekend when they host a Gillingham side whose grim away form is preventing them from pushing into the play-off places.

The Gills have tasted victory only twice when they've left Kent, and with nine goals in 11 away trips, they are the joint lowest scorers on the road. They have also taken some real hidings: 7-0 at Shrewsbury, 4-0 at Bury.

At a price around [2.68], Morecambe complete the treble.

So, this week's French Connection is backing Doncaster, Scunthorpe and Morecambe, a treble that pays around [18.1].