League One Betting: A new year, a new Hartlepool?

1Jan 2013

Following some topsy-turvy results over Christmas, can Hartlepool (the conquerors of league leaders Sheffield United) gain another result against out-of-form Preston on New Year's Day? Our League One man Alan Dudman also looks to the potential promotion clash of Bournemouth at Brentford in the best of the 2013 fixtures.

Brentford 2.34 v Bournemouth 3.20, the draw 3.45

A near top-of-the-table clash on New Years Day awaits, with two of the form teams in the division both bringing impressive runs, with Brentford undefeated in 10, and Bournemouth 15 and counting.

Dealing with Brentford first, who have picked up four points over Christmas (although disappointingly couldn't break down a stubborn Shrewsbury Town on Saturday), they are increasingly looking promotion material. Bees boss Uwe Rosler described the Shrews game as a fair result, and the 90 minutes certainly had the defences on top.

In fact, that 0-0 at Shrewsbury was in the face of some crazy results at the weekend, none more so than the 3-2 Hartlepool win at table-toppers Sheffield United. Brentford used effectively a 4-1-4-1 against Town but were forced to switch in the second-half with 'two holders' and two strikers. The Londoners do have goals in them, as they have hit 21 at Griffin Park this season.

Meanwhile Bournemouth moved up to fifth and are looking like title winners to me. They are now 15 unbeaten

and won all five games in December. Christmas encounters are often about maximising the potential of the home matches - of which the Cherries took six points with two shut-outs. Perfect.

It's important to mention the clean sheets, something manager Eddie Howe was striving for. The young defensive pairing of Tommy Elphick and Steve Cook (combined age 46) are looking very assured, whilst their 4-4-2 has width and plenty of firepower.

Saturday's 3-0 win over Crawley was most impressive, and I liked Josh McQuoid being used as a livewire winger.

Both are in such tremendous form that it's hard to split them. Arguably the case for Bournemouth is attractive considering the generous price, but they are keeping clean sheets which provides a good platform. And remember Brentford's knack of scoring late goals In-Play.

Recommended bets:

Back the draw @ 3.50

Back 0-0 @ 13.0 and 1-1 @ 8.0

Coventry City 1.77 v Shrewsbury Town 5.10, the draw 3.85

Another of the form teams in League One at the moment is Coventry, and from nowhere have entered the promotion picture by moving up to ninth in the table. New boss Mark Robins has not only got them organised, but are showing the ability to attack teams at will.

The Sky Blues have won six of their last eight (drawing the other two) and have hit four against Doncaster, five against Walsall and Hartlepool, whilst smashing the MK Dons for three on Saturday. It's an impressive run.

The Dons match was a cracking Christmas game on Saturday, with both attacking at ferocious pace providing a real end- to-end spectacle. Robins described their play as 'magnificent', and it was all done without leading marksman David McGoldrick who was serving a one-match suspension. He is one of the best in the division.

Eight of Coventry's last 10 matches have been over 2.5 goals, and are on such a roll, it's unlikely Shrewsbury will visit the Ricoh with the intention of attack. An early goal will be crucial in terms of the potential for an overs bet.

Salop's 0-0 home draw against Brentford showed how resilient they can be, and they really fought hard to keep out the in-form Bees who had won five straight before Saturday's game. Graham Turner's men are just one defeat from eight matches, but they have drawn far too many on the road (five).

Recommended bets:

Back over 2.5 goals @ 1.90

Back Coventry City to win @ 1.77

Hartlepool United 3.65 v Preston North End 2.12, the draw 3.50

Hartlepool had gone 23 matches and four months without a win prior to Saturday. They had failed to find the net in three matches prior to the weekend, and were 14 points from safety. So who would have predicted their amazing 3-2 win at the league leaders Sheffield United? Not me, that's for sure, and some of those lucky Hartlepool backers would have got 11.0 pre-match on that win.

Having just about got over the shock of that victory, it makes you wonder how such a result can be achieved for a team that were so chronically lacking in confidence. Their plan to go very direct to Steve Howard (who scored twice) obviously worked, but Sheffield United lost all the second-balls and couldn't deal with Howard's muscular presence.

Can you trust Pools to back up a 'come from nowhere' win? I am not so sure.

And then you read who the opponents are on New Year's Day - Preston North End. A side who were winless over Christmas with a heavy home defeat to Doncaster Rovers and a tame 0-0 against Bury. Manager Graham Westley was booed on Saturday - and not for that hideous fashion combo of the pink v-neck and blazer.

Westley is under pressure, and their current league position is not good enough for the club of North End's side. An ever-changing team has hardly helped, but the football isn't quite there. The Whites know how to defend but sadly are lacking the know-how of winning matches.

Pools had nothing to lose against the Blades, a totally different match to this home affair. Whilst Preston will be feeling nervous and will be set-up not to concede too early. It's a game worth chancing a 0-0 trade on, unless of course Hartlepool were too good to be true.

Recommended bets:

Back the draw @ 3.50

Back 0-0 @ 12.0