Home And Away: Huddersfield run to continue at Charlton

Daily Tipping / Jonno Turner / 28 November 2011 / Leave a Comment

Lee Clark will aim to cut into Charlton's lead at the top of League One

Jonno Turner is backing Huddersfield to extend the longest unbeaten streak in Football League history at The Valley, and fancies Malaga too...

We're off to La Liga this evening as Malaga welcome Villarreal to La Rosaleda aiming to extend their excellent recent home form.

Malaga are currently sixth in the league following an impressive run of seven wins in nine home games - the two they failed to win being against Barcelona and Real Madrid, which is very forgivable!

And Manuel Pellegrini has really got his side, who have won two of their last three, playing with confidence. Malaga invested heavily during the close season and have assembled an impressive squad featuring the likes of Joaquin, Santi Cazorla and Ruud van Nistelrooy - and contrary to some expectations, seem to have gelled pretty well thus far.

Villarreal head to southern Spain on a nightmare run which has seen them fail to win in 15 games on the road. You have to go all the way back to March to find the Yellows last La Liga success away from El Madrigal, and that barren run has contributed to their position of 12th in the league.

The home side smashed in three goals in their last game, and should have a few opportunities come their way against a Villarreal side which has conceded an average of two in their last four games away from home.

I'm sticking my money on the home win here, to lift Los Boquerones into fifth place in the league.

Bet 1: Malaga (HOME) to win @ [1.82]

It's the battle of the big two in League One tonight - as Huddersfield travel to Charlton in what promises to be a great game.

They appear to be two evenly matched sides so the form guide isn't much help here - both teams have been on excellent runs going into this one, and both have an abundance of talent at this level.

Charlton have won their last five in the league, however those games have been against some of the league's poorer sides - and haven't lost at The Valley since April. The team to beat them that day were Huddersfield.

And the Addicks are fallible, as shown by their loss to hard-working Stevenage last month. Chris Powell's side have conceded seven in their last seven outings in front of their own fans, which isn't a disaster, but against a side as solid as Huddersfield the odd goal could be the difference here.

Indeed, Lee Clark's side could make it 44 league games unbeaten this evening, which is an astonishing feat at any level. The Terriers boss has ingrained a never-say-die attitude into his charges and strengthened further on loan deadline day, snapping up Jon Parkin and six Duracell bunnies.

Jordan Rhodes has been in red hot form for the away side and goes into this game having smashed 21 goals, the same as Robin van Persie, in all competitions. And his side need to win here to keep themselves in the top two, following Sheffield Wednesday's win at the weekend.

There is no denying that this will be a tight game, however if anyone can stop Charlton, it's tonight's opponents, and at great value as well. Importantly, the Addicks are without their injured captain Johnnie Jackson, who has been instrumental in their success so far this campaign, and I think this could be a telling loss come 22:00 tonight.

Bet 2: Huddersfield (AWAY) to win @ [3.2]

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The Inside Man uses his inside knowledge to tell us which side of the over/under 2.5 goals market to be on. Still following?...

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FA Cup Betting: Arsenal v Huddersfield

FA Cup / Frank Gregan / 29 January 2011 / Leave a Comment

Arsene Wenger will play a few 'squad' players against Huddersfield - but it's not a bad squad to choose from

"I've kept pinching myself to make sure I'm not dreaming but odds against have been matched on Arsenal winning this game to nil."

Frank Gregan can't believe his eyes - near even money on a home win 'to nil' - fill yer boots time!

Sunday January 30
Kick Off 12:00, live on ESPN

An Arsenal fan returning from a 12 month expedition to the jungles of Borneo could be forgiven for thinking that his team have been relegated. This will be the Gunners' fifth game in seven matches against opposition from outside the Premier League. Their record in the last four games against the underdogs reads won two, drawn one and lost one, a return of only seven points had they been league games.

That's not the kind of return Wenger's men are used to but of course they were cup games and the bottom line is they progressed in both competitions - job done. At home to a side from League One, the Frenchman is unlikely to pick his strongest side but he won't be taking the opposition for granted.

Huddersfield come into this tie lying in third place in their division but they have conceded goals away from home recently. They lost 4-1 against Southampton at the end of last month and if they defend like they did against Carlisle last week in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy (they were beaten 4-0), the Gunners fans may have to take their shoes and socks off in order to keep the score!

Arsenal should be able to welcome Sebastien Squillaci (hamstring), Tomas Rosicky (virus) and Abou Diaby (calf) back to the squad. Huddersfield will be without the injured Jordan Rhodes (ankle) and youngster Benik Afobe who is on loan from the Gunners and is ineligible because of FA regulations relating to youth contracts.

Match Odds - Arsenal [1.14], Huddersfield [23.0], The Draw [10.5]
The [1.14] available on the Gunners is marginally bigger than their midweek starting price against Championship side Ipswich and if the Arsenal line up is strong there will be plenty out there happy to take a 14% return on their investment. The trend-buckers may have a go on Huddersfield at [23.0] but will probably opt to have the draw on their side by pressing the Arsenal lay button.

Over/Under 2.5 Goals
Another lop sided market with overs priced at [1.36] and unders at [3.7]. Those odds reflect the fact that eight of Arsenal's 11 home league games this season have yielded over 2.5 goals and against a side two divisions below it will be a shock if this is a low scoring affair.

Correct Score
Any unquoted (either team to score four goals or more) is available to back at [2.52] which is almost an identical price that was available in midweek prior to Arsenal's Carling Cup game against Ipswich. Keep an eye on this market In-Play because after 20 minutes on Tuesday night the price had swollen to [4.0] and with half an hour on the clock and the scores still level it was [5.0]. When Arsenal scored their third it plummeted to [2.3] affording plenty of opportunity to trade. Huddersfield will be desperate not to concede early and if they manage to hold out for 20 minutes or so a much more tempting price will be available.

Arsenal to Win to Nil
The old saying 'if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is' has been modified in the investment world with definitely replacing probably! However, I've kept pinching myself to make sure I'm not dreaming but odds against have been matched on Arsenal winning this game to nil. I understand the importance of the team-sheet and I accept that Lee Clark is a bright, attack-minded young manager but Arsenal are one of the best clubs in the country (and Europe) at home against a League One side and odds against represents tremendous value.

Best Bet: Back Arsenal to win to nil at [2.04] or better.
Other Recommendation: If Arsenal don't score early back any unquoted in the correct score market as soon as [4.0] or better becomes available.

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