Football Bet of the Day: Saints to be sinners

Derby joy for hosts

Boreham Wood v St Albans
Monday 06 December, 19:45
Live on ITV4

Our Tobias' cup did not run over, as his boys Salford City crashed to a 2-0 home defeat against Chesterfield yesterday. He's off to catch up on Christmas shopping, while I take the tinsel-wrapped baton (yes, it's early, but they've been playing Christmas music in shops since October).

We're taking in a game on my patch tonight, the Thameslink derby between Boreham Wood and St Albans in the FA Cup. I live in Mill Hill, so it's a short zoom down the A1.

Boreham Wood are flying in the National League. They are just a point behind the leaders Chesterfield, and their only defeat in the last 12 matches in all competitions was against the Spireites. At Meadow Park, they have won six of their last seven matches, and they are unbeaten this term. In their ten competitive matches at home, they have racked up seven clean sheets.

St Albans are operating at the level below, but they are still providing enough entertainment to keep people away from the local Roman museum (which is very good, by the way). The Saints (see what they've done there) have rattled in 27 goals in 13 games in the league, but they are only eighth, although they have games in hand which could soon propel them up the standings. Former Boreham Wood striker Sean Jeffers is the man to watch, as he has rattled in a Lewandowski-esque 16 goals in 13 games.

St Albans gave notice of their quality by knocking out Forest Green Rovers in the previous round by three goals to two, as Jeffers grabbed the winner. They haven't lost an away game since August.

Boreham Wood will absolutely take this seriously, despite their promotion push. You could simply back them to win at 1.625/8, but you could boost that price to 3.39/4 if you back them to win and Both Teams To Score. The in-form Jeffers is also 3.39/4 on the Sportsbook to find the net.

However, I'll go for Boreham Wood -1.0 on the Asian Handicap at 1.9210/11. As it's a derby, the hosts will give this their full attention, and this bet would have paid out in four of the last six home matches, and you'd have only lost your stake once.