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The French Connection: Wednesday, Doncaster and Wrexham are the good things this Saturday

14 March 2008

1. Sheffield Wednesday to beat Coventry City @ [3.1]
2. Doncaster to beat Brighton @ 2.34
3. Wrexham to beat Bury @ [2.4]
£10 @ [17.4]

At this stage of the season, any struggling team that bundle up a sequence of games with few defeats but several points is likely to save itself - and that's why Sheffield Wednesday are the first leg of this week's treble.

Wednesday have lost just one of their last six, and there's no shame in being beaten by West Brom who are still challenging for outright promotion and the FA Cup.

The Owls have won their last two and done it the hard way on both occasions, having gone a goal down early on before winning 2-1 at Colchester and beaten QPR 2-1 at Hillsborough.

Visitors Coventry City are directly above Wednesday and their need is just as great with relegation a very real threat. However, the brief honeymoon period that the appointment of a new manager so often brings appears to be over as the Sky Blues are without a win in five, losing four of those games.

Chris Coleman's side have also struggled for goals - just three in that five-game sequence.

A win for Wednesday could see them open up a four-point cushion between themselves and the trap door, and with a couple of games in hand on those around them, Brian Laws will be keen for his side to grab their opportunity now rather than rely on taking points later on when the backlog of fixtures will create added pressure.

Therefore, I think Saturday will be good for Wednesday and will back them at [3.1].

In League One, I am taking on the formbook somewhat and suggesting that Brighton's eight-game unbeaten run at home will be ended by promotion-chasing Doncaster Rovers.

The Seagulls are flying at the moment, and the midweek victory at Walsall moved them to within three points of the play-off places with a game or two in hand on most of those around them.

However, they have undertaken a very demanding schedule of late as they make up ground following some postponements at the turn of the year. This weekend's game will be their ninth in a month.

Visitors Doncaster are as good on the road as they are at home. They have won five of their last six league away games, and kept a clean sheet in all five. Their only recent defeat on their travels came at Carlisle, who have the best home record in League One.

With automatic promotion very much in Donny's sights, I'm backing them at [2.34].

To complete this weekend's treble I am going right to the basement of the Football League. Wrexham are in dire need of points now or it's non-league football for them next season.

However, indications are they are not going down without a fight, and the midweek defeat at high-flying Wycombe was only their second in 10 games.

Visitors Bury are safely tucked away in lower mid-table and currently enjoying a three-match winning streak.

But home wins are essential if Brian Flynn's side are to climb up the table, so at [2.4], I'm adding them in.

Therefore, this week's French Connection treble is backing Sheffield Wednesday at [3.1], Doncaster at [2.34] and Wrexham at [2.4] - that should pay around the [17.4] mark.