The French Connection: Improvement on the road can help Blackpool climb table

The French Connection / Andrew French / 30 October 2009 / Leave a Comment

Ian Holloway's Blackpool are the surprise team in the Championship so, but a little improvement on the road could see them move firmly into the promotion hunt

Back Blackpool @ 3.0; Back Southampton @ 2.1; Back Bournemouth @ 2.24; The Treble pays approximately 14.1

Andrew French is of the opinion that Blackpool can improve their away form by beating Doncaster this weekend, as well as seeing wins for Southampton and Bournemouth as part of this weekend's treble.

Leg 1: Blackpool at [3.0] to beat Doncaster

Anyone who was brave (or at the time mad) enough to back Blackpool for promotion must now be faced with the dilemma of whether to see how much further Ian Holloway and his side can go, or trade out for a profit. Few would have predicted they'd sit eighth in the table with nearly a third of the season gone. With better away form they'd be even closer to the top of the table, but I fancy them to improve their record on the road with a win at Doncaster this weekend.

Rovers were unlucky to lose at Newcastle last weekend, but that masks some very poor recent form: one win in their last nine. Fellow strugglers Barnsley ended Donny's unbeaten home record a fortnight ago, and at a price around [3.0], I'm prepared to back Blackpool.

Leg 2: Southampton at [2.1] to beat Leyton Orient

The 10-point deduction that Southampton began the season with is really starting to tell now that they are winning games. The Saints would be sitting just outside the play-off places but for that handicap - instead they are still in the bottom three. However, don't let that fool you because Alan Pardew's men really are flying at present: four consecutive league wins and 13 goals in the process. Last weekend's 3-1 success over MK Dons showed they are more than capable of mixing with the teams at the top, even if their points situation dictates otherwise.

They visit Leyton Orient, who have been plagued by inconsistency. The east London side have won three and lost three of their last six, but have suffered a couple of 4-0 thumpings. With only two home wins they are clearly susceptible at Brisbane Road, and so I'm backing Saints at [2.1] to continue their excellent run.

Leg 3: Bournemouth at [2.24] to beat Rochdale

If you take a form line through Accrington Stanley, then you'd have no worries backing Bournemouth to beat Rochdale in this weekend's top of the table clash. Bournemouth won 1-0 at Stanley two weeks ago, Dale were beaten 2-1 at home by Stanley last week. However, if football was played on paper we'd all get rich backing winners, so it's never that easy. However, I still feel confident that the Cherries will add to their impressive home record when Rochdale visit this weekend.

They did lose their 100% home record recently when losing to Chesterfield, but they have bounced back with a couple of victories since and with only four goals conceded in seven games on their own turf, any visitors will find life hard. Rochdale were flying before last week's home defeat, having won six of their previous seven. But they don't keep many clean sheets for a promotion chasing side (only three in 14 league games), and that could leave the door open. Therefore, back Bournemouth at [2.24]

*The Treble pays around 14.1