With the Christmas sales upon us there will be a mad rush for the hot price tags in the hottest stores. But sometimes it pays to look for bargains on the backstreets. In other words, while there will be plenty of focus on the English Premier League this weekend, there are some corking bets to fund our holidays lower down in the leagues.
We start with League One, where Bradford City take on Oxford United. Bradford are -137 for the three points with green-listed bookmakers Ladbrokes, William Hill and Paddy Power. Okay, it’s not the greatest price in the world but we’re convinced this is tantamount to free money.
While all you folks were enjoying the festivities with your families in the warm this Christmas, your correspondent could not feel his toes while watching Oxford play at Gillingham on Boxing Day. All for the research for this friendly picks column.
And we report back that there was very little that was warming about Oxford’s performance. They were awful and could well be on the end of the sort of hammering they have all-too-often suffered this term. Previous to the 1-1 draw at Gillingham they were beaten 7-0 by Wigan – at home. It was a record defeat.
Bradford have lost their last two and they couldn’t wish for a more calamitous backline to turn up and offer presents. The Bantams are a decent unit and their recent poor form is surely only a glitch.
In the league below, high-flying Luton travel to Vale Park to take on Port Vale. The Hatters are +110 with Paddy Power to record their 16th win of the campaign and we don’t expect Vale to put up much of a fight.
Luton are running away with things at the top of the table and are playing some terrific football into the bargain. They are unbeaten in their last 12 matches in all competitions and in that sequence they have won ten times.
Last time out they beat Swindon Town, well fancied for a swift return to League One, 5-0 on their own patch. It was a result which sent a message to the rest of the section
Port Vale are themselves enjoying a nice run – unbeaten in five. But this is by far their sternest test and they are never far off a stinker of a performance – particularly at home. They have three times conceded three or more goals at home and were outclassed 2-0 at Luton earlier in the season.
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