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

28Mar 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...

Wigan 1.9 v Norwich 4.2; The Draw 3.5

Wigan are odds-on to overcome Norwich but that's a brave bet on a team that have won just three of their 17 home games in all competitions this season.

March and April are to the Latics what Christmas and Easter are to Christians, but there has been no consistent progress about their campaign, to the extent that their two league victories since Boxing Day were both followed by 0-4 reverses. They won their last match against Newcastle.

They are the only Premier League side without a home clean sheet, their average concession rate as hosts (2.13) being a divisional high. Their only DW Stadium triumphs came past West Ham, Reading and Newcastle. Against clubs beyond the bottom eight like Norwich, their record reads P9 W0 D2 L7.

Norwich have drawn five of their last seven and all five of their other trips to the bottom-six occupants, sharing spoils in nine meetings with bottom-eight dwellers in total.

Michael Lintorn's selection: Back The Draw @ 3.5

Nottm Forest 2.15 v Brighton 3.3; The Draw 3.25

This is a clash that at first glance is between two of the Championship's most in-form clubs. But on second glance, one team - Forest - are most definitely in form, while Brighton are playing well on home soil but away from home they're not so hot.

Forest have won six on the spin under Billy Davies and beat second-place Hull away from home last time out, and while the fear is that their good run has to come to an end sooner or later, I feel they have to be backed here at what appeals as a very generous price.

Brighton have won just one of their last seven on the road, and their last three away games - all against bottom half clubs - mustered just one goal and one point.

Mike Norman's selection: Back Nottm Forest @ 2.15

Colchester United 3.25 v Bournemouth 2.1; The Draw 3.25

Bournemouth are hopefully over their mini-wobble and look back on track for the title having won their last three games in League One. Forward Brett Pitman has scored in all of those clashes, and Cherries boss Eddie Howe has stressed how keen he is to boost their goal difference.

For me, Bournemouth are improved due to some of their players returning from injury, allowing the best footballer in League One, Matt Ritchie, to play in a more advanced role (he was filling in at left-back). And with them in-form again, I make them a good bet this Friday.

Alan Dudman's selection: Back Bournemouth to win @ 2.1

Bristol Rovers 2.06 v York City 3.7; The Draw 3.25

Some Opta stats put York's task into sharp focus: Bristol Rovers are the top team of 2013 (with Northampton), with 32 points from 16 games; York have just 10 points in the calendar year. In fact, they have led on just 15 occasions in the 2012-13 season, a divisional low.

Rovers might have kept only seven clean sheets - a league low - but three have come in the last five games and five in 10. Cynics might suggest that York lack steel and grit - as they are the only side to not have had a player sent off this season.

City boss Nigel Worthington has a huge task, then, to gain anything here, even if he has high hopes of his latest recruit Adam Reed who has basement battle experiences with Portsmouth and Leyton Orient.

Home boss John Ward might be "sad" to see the club that gave him his first job as a manager struggling and indeed it was the Minstermen who inflicted a 4-1 win to see Mark McGhee ousted from the Memorial Stadium. But, despite York clocking up 10 away draws, The Pirates ought to have enough, having rattled in nine goals in their last four games at home.

Ian Lamont's selection: Back Bristol Rovers @ 1.95

Recommended Bets

Back The Draw in Wigan v Norwich @ 3.5; Back Nottm Forest @ 2.15; Back Bournemouth at 2.1; Back Bristol Rovers @ 1.95; The Multiple pays approximately 30.0

Multiple prices are based on our Fixed Odds product, so any winnings are exempt from commission.