The Four by Four column: A quartet of English football selections

23Feb 2013

Betfair

Every weekend, four of betting.betfair's football writers will contribute one selection each from the top four leagues in English football, giving you, the readers, an exciting Fixed Odds Multiple option...

West Brom 2.0 v Sunderland 3.6; The Draw 3.5

A few weeks ago, I wrote about how Everton and Aston Villa's inexplicable tendency to bring the best out of one another. Clashes between West Brom and Sunderland have the same unusual allure, with seven of the last eight delivering three goals or more and at least four scored in the past four.

My primary reason for expecting over 2.5 goals once again at The Hawthorns is that both are pretty comfortable. Sunderland still aren't safe but are far more secure than before Christmas, while West Brom will climb back to seventh for the first time in over a month with victory.

This should encourage carefree play rather than caginess and both should harbour belief that they can win: West Brom due to their home record and recent win at Anfield and Sunderland because they are rarely beaten by those beyond the elite.

Six of the Baggies' last nine league games have featured three or more goals, as have eight of Sunderland's past nine on the road in all competitions.

Michael Lintorn's selection: Back Over 2.5 Goals @ 2.0

Bristol City 2.5 v Barnsley 2.8; The Draw 3.3

Barnsley are arguably the most in-form side in the country having won their last six games in all competitions and eight from their last nine, drawing the other. Confidence in the camp has to be sky high right now, thanks in large to new boss David Flitcroft.

Bristol City will be without a trio of key players for this encounter, and having lost two on the spin are at the mercy of a resurgent Barnsley.

The Tykes have scored more on their travels than they have at Oakwell and now face a side that sit bottom of the table, have lost 20 league games this season, and have conceded a massive 62 goals.

Mike Norman's selection: Back Barnsley to win @ 2.8

Scunthorpe 1.9 v Hartlepool 3.9; The Draw 3.5

Hartlepool are finally off the bottom of the division, and a five match unbeaten run has given the north east club renewed hope of staying up. Credit to new manager John Hughes, who I must admit, I knew very little about. But he has got them fighting since he took over in December and they have also won three of their last five matches in that unbeaten run.

Scunthorpe meanwhile have had a great February, winning three times at Glandford Park with victories against Carlisle, Crawley and Portsmouth. Opta tell us that the Iron's Akpo Sodje has hit four goals in his last three on home soil - a forward I always felt needed a few chances.

Four of Scunthorpe's last five matches have been over 2.5 goals, including that end-to-end 3-1 win over Carlisle. However, with the positions of both teams, I anticipate a slightly tighter game, with Hartlepool relying on the big physical presence of Steve Howard up front, who was a handful in Saturday's 2-1 win against Leyton Orient. The draw seems most attractive in what could potentially be a cagey affair.

Alan Dudman's selection: Back The Draw @ 3.5

Accrington 3.0 v Cheltenham 2.25; The Draw 3.2

Mark Yates' men really have to take this opportunity to improve their away record if they are to sustain a top three challenge. The Robins have left themselves with few excuses for failure, having captured strikers Paul Benson and Byron Harrison in January. Midfielder Marlon Pack's move to Swindon falling through can only be a good thing for the promotion hopes of last year's play-off finalists.

Accrington continue to lack the fighting qualities they all too often displayed under John Coleman. It's going to take more than the "lucky charm" of James Gray's mum turning up to watch to save them from the drop. She watched him play for the first time against Southend. He scored what is now Accrington's only goal in six games. Leam Richardson's men have one win in 15 match and it will be hard for them to pull out of the bottom two now they are there.

Ian Lamont's selection: Back Cheltenham to win @ 2.25

Recommneded Bets

Back Over 2.5 Goals in West Brom v Sunderland @ 2.0; Back Barnsley @ 2.8; Back The Draw in Scunthorpe v Hartlepool @ 3.5; Back Cheltenham @ 2.25; The Multiple pays approximately 44.0

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