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

20Apr 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...

QPR 2.2 v Stoke 3.3; The Draw 3.3

With QPR neck-deep in relegation strife and Stoke up to their knees, you might have expected this to be pencilled in for TV coverage, but neither side are serving up enough entertainment at present.

Stoke fans have been starved of seeing goals both for and against them all season. Beyond a random spree of six straight games with over 2.5 goals after Christmas, just six of their 27 Premier League matches have delivered three goals or more. They've only scored twice in their last seven fixtures.

QPR meanwhile experienced a 3-1, 3-2, 3-2 scoreline sequence recently, though that was with Bobby Zamora and Loic Remy starting in tandem. Since Zamora's early dismissal two games back against Wigan, they have played out a 1-1 and 2-0. Five of their last six home league outings yielded two goals or fewer, and they've fired five league blanks in seven at Loftus Road.

Michael Lintorn's selection: Back Under 2.5 Goals @ 1.65

Watford 1.95 v Blackburn 3.8; The Draw 3.4

Watford have stuttered slightly of late, but their two most recent losses both came away from home and prior to that they had been in very good form. In fact a win at second-placed Hull, and a draw with likely champions Cardiff shows just how good Watford can be on their day. And they remain one of the highest-scoring clubs in the country this term.

Blackburn have won two on the trot but are still deep in relegation trouble. But more worrying is their away form which is quite frankly, the obvious reason as to why they will get relegated if that turns out to be the case. They have lost five on the spin away from home and haven't recorded a singly away victory in 2013 in the league. I don't see that changing today.

Mike Norman's selection: Back Watford @ 1.95

Oldham Athletic 2.25 v Crawley Town 2.8, the draw 3.2

Oldham have won their last two games 1-0 and probably need a point to keep themselves in the division. To achieve back-to-back victories is no mean feat, and new manager Lee Johnson got one over his Dad (Gary) on Tuesday with a 1-0 win over play-off contenders Yeovil.

Crawley have an outside chance of making the play-offs and are in a good run with three clean sheets from four matches and two fantastic wins against Sheffield United and Coventry. The latter success was a good tactical game for manager Richie Barker - who stopped the Sky Blues playing completely.

Town are a good passing side that have been winning games differently recently. It will be interesting to see how they play on a poor pitch at Boundary Park, and I think they are worth taking on a chance on getting something from this game.

Alan Dudman's selection: Back The Draw @ 3.2

Exeter 2.62 v Cheltenham 2.5; The Draw 3.0

How strong is Exeter's desire to reach the play-offs? Do they have anything left? Midfielder Alan Gow believes they should be there after the season they have had, in which they have held a top seven spot for long periods. His return from injury will no doubt boost them, as he has been a key player.

Supporters can pin hopes that a draw at AFC Wimbledon has turned the tide for Paul Tisdale's men after four defeats on the trot. They have slipped out of the play-off spots and sometimes that can galvanise a team who then forge a mentality that says: "We're better than this."

Cheltenham have a play-off spot secured and an away record just as terrible as Exeter's at home.

Automatic promotion is likely to elude last season's beaten play-off finalists, because of their continued poor run on their travels. They have one point from their last four away games.

Exeter's Jamie Reid scoring twice last weekend could paper over the cracks created by injuries to the likes of John O'Flynn and give the Grecians a renewed spark. Spectators know they can do it, having witnessed a 4-1 win over in-form Bradford a month ago, before their recent five-game slump.

Ian Lamont's selection: Back Exeter @ 2.62