The French Connection: Ipswich, Brighton and Barnet are the last bets of the season

The French Connection / Andrew French / 02 May 2008 / 1

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Two back-to-back winners in the last two editions of the French Connection, both coming in at [8.5] - and there's just time left in the regular season to hopefully complete a treble of successful trebles!

However, it's particularly difficult this week with so many issues being decided during the final weekend.

In the Championship, while the temptation was to find a game which had little or no consequence, such is the situation at the top and bottom that almost every fixture has something resting on it!

Therefore, I'm looking for a team that has a proven record over the entire season: so step forward Ipswich Town.

The Horses have the best home record in the division and with a chance of creeping into the Play-Offs, they will be going all out for victory at Portman Road.

Visitors Hull City could still, mathematically, go up automatically - however, the matter is outside their control as they need other results to go their way. And with third place and pole position in the Play-Offs already guaranteed, Phil Brown's side could be excused for 'looking after themselves' in this one - especially if word comes through that scores at other venues are not conducive to them climbing into the top two.

With only one defeat in their last eight, Ipswich have found some form at a very late stage after threatening to fall away from the promotion race. As their own fate depends on so many other results, they will have to play for a win throughout and then see where it takes them.

At a price around [2.38], I'm making Town to be the first part of the treble.

In League One I'm going against the champions and backing Brighton to finish the season with a home victory over Swansea.

The Welsh club have done the hard part - getting promoted - and done it in style by wrapping up the league title to boot.

So, with the inevitable players' celebratory holiday probably already on the Swansea squad's minds, I'm suggesting Brighton can wrap up an above-expectations season with a win.

The Seagulls flirted with the play-off places until very recently, but they are not seventh in the table for no good reason, and their home form is particularly impressive: four wins in their last five at the Withdean.

Therefore, at a price of about [2.42], I'm siding with the Albion.

Finally, I'm looking to pray on a miserable period in the history of Rotherham United for my selection in League Two.

Millmoor is shrouded in doom as the club counts the cost of a second period in administration and a generally uncertain future. The Millers have taken some real pastings in recent weeks (4-1 v Rochdale, 5-1 v Morecambe), and they probably feel they have the weight of the world on their shoulders.

Contrast that with visitors Barnet, just one place below them in the table. Safely in mid-table and clearly thriving on rounding off their season with no pressure on them - they ended Stockport's automatic promotion hopes last weekend to make it three wins in four games.

The Bees can capitalise on the gloom at Rotherham, and I'm backing them at [2.04].

So, the French Connection for the last weekend of the regular season is Ipswich (at [2.38]), Brighton (at [2.42]) and Barnet (at [2.04]), for a treble that pays around the [11.7] mark.

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Rachel | 19 July 2008

I think this is a really great tipster page with some great ideals :)