Big Saturday Multiple: Back Orient to make most of home advantage

Bet 1: Derby County (HOME) @ 1.728/11

Bet 2: Leyton Orient (HOME) @ 21/1

Bet 3: AFC Wimbledon (HOME) @ 1.910/11

Jonno Turner scans the bottom three English divisions and comes up with a treble to kick start the weekend in style...

It's been a miserable start to the season for relegated Fulham, and they're off to Derby County today, looking for their first point since their drop from the Premier League.

Back to back 1-0 losses have followed up an opening day defeat to Ipswich Town, and that leaves the Craven Cottage side languishing second bottom in the second tier, and on the road to becoming the whipping boys of the division.

And their form on the road is particularly poor. Just one victory since Boxing Day away from West London - a run consisting 13 outings - indicates that Felix Magath's side might struggle in this clash, as they make their way north up the M1.

Hosts Derby line up for this encounter having stumbled themselves, though. A 1-0 home win over Rotherham United was just the ticket for the first game of the season - but the Rams followed up with a goalless stalemate against Sheffield Wednesday, and a loss at Charlton last week.

But Steve McLaren's side are at least strong at Pride Park - and four wins from their last five in front of a home crowd will give them much confidence today.

County sit 14th in the table heading into this clash, but a win could put them right back amongst the top six - and they will be desperate to make the most of this opportunity.

It's been six year's since these two sides have done battle, but Derby have historically fared well against their guests, with five unbeaten from their last half a dozen home ties.

Bet 1: Derby County (HOME) @ 1.728/11

To the capital now, as we drop a division, where Leyton Orient host Walsall at the Matchroom Stadium.

The O's went into this season with big expectations following an impressive campaign last year which saw them narrowly miss out on promotion after leading for much of the way - but their hopes were quickly dashed as they succumbed to an opening day loss against Chesterfield.

Since that outing, Russell Slade appears to have galvanised his troops somewhat, and they have won two and drawn one of their subsequent three outings, a run which suggests that they are on an upward curve.

This is their first home clash since that surprise defeat, and the hosts will be keen to right a wrong, and grab their third win from four outings on their own patch.

One thing's for sure - this is a side drenched in goals. Darius Henderson, Dave Mooney and Kevin Lisbie have all gotten off the mark already this season, and six notched in their last three outings indicates that there is certainly no shortage of final third quality in Orient's ranks.

Walsall head south having won just one of their four outings this campaign - a League Cup clash against fourth division Southend United - and that means that the visitors are still to get off the mark in the league.

A 2-1 home defeat to Yeovil Town won't have done much for confidence in the Saddlers camp though, and with just two draws previous to that outing, Dean Smith's side teeter on the edge of the drop zone.

It is now four clashes since the visitors grabbed a win on the road, or indeed kept a clean sheet away from the Bescot Stadium, and I reckon that they might feel the full force of a Leyton Orient side keen to put things right in front of their home crowd.

Bet 2: Leyton Orient (HOME) @ 21/1

And heading south west of London now, where an in-form AFC Wimbledon welcome relegation-zone Hartlepool United to the Cherry Red Records Stadium.

The home side go into this one in fifth place in the fourth tier, and unbeaten in the league after their opening trio of outings.

A pair of back to back 1-0 wins on the road will have morale high in the home camp, and they will be looking to maintain that momentum as they line up on home turf.

With a front pairing of Matt Tubbs and Ade Akinfenwa, the Dons certainly know where the net is, and that experience could play a big part as they face a 'Pool side which has shipped a whopping 11 goals in their opening six hours of football this season.

Colin Cooper's charges make the arduous trip to this game having lost two home outings on the trot, both by two goals, and unfortunately for the Monkey Hangers, their form away from Victoria Park isn't much better.

In fact, they've not won in nine on their travels - and they've not even scored in six of those.

You have to ask whether their gaffer will be given much more time to turn around this miserable run, and that pressure could be playing on the visitor's minds a little bit. I just can't look past Neal Ardley's Dons for the win here.


Bet 3: AFC Wimbledon (HOME) @ 1.910/11

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Home and Away: Blades too sharp for Orient

Jonno Turner started the week in style with two winners from his opening two selections - and he's looking to continue that form as he focuses on two table toppers this evening.

Two winners from our two selections yesterday was a cracking start to the week, and we're looking to continue that success here with a couple more picks.

We're off to South Yorkshire for our first tip of the day - as Sheffield United host Leyton Orient at Bramall Lane, looking to secure their fifth straight league win.

Danny Wilson's side sit top of League One, and after a small blip around a month ago, look to be back on track in style - and formidable as at any point this season.

A 1-0 win at high-flying AFC Bournemouth at the weekend was impressive by anyone's standards, and Danny Wilson's side will be looking to secure their fourth consecutive clean sheet here, in order to extend their lead over second placed Swindon Town.

The Blades have no new injury or suspension news, and are likely to put out the same team that beat the Cherries, with forwards Dave Kitson and Jamie Murphy - who has scored in his last two outings - set to remain up top.

Visitors Leyton Orient travel north in the midst of a miserable run - and have won just one of their last five ahead of this clash.

Confidence down at Brisbane Road will have taken a knock last week, as the O's lost two games and were dumped out of the Football League Trophy - and the away side are likely to be missing key players too.

Martin Rowlands missed the defeat by Crawley at the weekend with a groin injury, and could join top scorer Kevin Lisbie and defender Gary Sawyer amongst the absentees.

Just one win from seven on the road suggests that Orient are susceptible to suffering travel sickness, and that has played a key part in their position of 13th in the table.

The hosts are unbeaten in half a dozen clashes against Leyton Orient - winning four and drawing two - and I expect them to take three points here, too.

Bet 1: Sheffield United (HOME) @ 1.73

Switching our attentions to a slightly more glamourous tie now - as Barcelona welcome Real Madrid to the Camp Nou in the second leg of their Copa Del Rey semi-final.

Barcelona are going well this campaign, and are unbeaten in 22 at home ahead of this clash - but the last side to beat them on their own patch was Real, and this is an encounter when the form book often goes out of the window.

Indeed, Barca have won just one of their last six meetings with their rivals, and haven't been at their best of late - a 2-0 defeat in Milan last week reminding us that Tito Vilanova's side are human after all.

And the Catalans have not kept a clean sheet in 11 games - a stat which makes rather interesting reading, given that they line up against an in-form Cristiano Ronaldo, who has scored in his last five appearances against Barca (he is a cracking 2.3 to notch here).

Real Madrid go into this tie unbeaten in four, and welcome back key players such as Xabi Alonso and Karim Benzema, who missed their 2-1 victory at Deportivo La Coruna at the weekend.

Visiting defender Pepe has already mooted that his side will have to 'stay true to their style' if they are to come out on top here, so expect a tough tackling performance (and plenty of acrobatics) - and that makes the 2.32 available on a sending off worth a look. There have been 28 yellows and one red dished out in the last five meetings between these sides.

This promises to be another fast flowing and exciting encounter - and, in truth, these El Clasico games can go either way. For that reason, I'm tempted by the whopping odds of 5 available on Real Madrid to win this outright. We've already concluded that they are likely to notch a goal or two here, and if they make their mark first against an off-colour Barca side, this game could be a traders' dream.

Bet 2: Real Madrid (AWAY) @ 5

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Barcelona are odds-on for the second leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final with Real Madrid and despite the match

Jonno Turner scours the continent for his two Home and Away selections - and focuses on the top tiers in

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League One Betting: Slade's Orient making promotion noize

English Football League / Alan Dudman / 10 March 2011 / Leave a Comment

Russel Slade has put together a very effective unit at Brisbane Rd

"Orient haven't lost a league game since New Year's Day (a 5-0 drubbing at Brighton) and could just make a late charge into the play-offs. There has been no FA Cup hangover, and Tuesday's win over Walsall pushed them up to seventh place in the table."

Al Dudman thinks Leyton Orient are just magic and can keep one of the season's most unlikely promotion bids on track this weekend

Leyton Orient [1.85] v Oldham Athletic [4.80], the draw [3.55]
There are some amazing things in this world. Chocolate biscuits, magicians and Susannah Hoffs to name but three. There is a fourth though, and it's this amazing team that Leyton Orient manager Russell Slade has produced, and a quite staggering run of results.

Orient haven't lost a league game since New Year's Day (a 5-0 drubbing at Brighton) and could just make a late charge into the play-offs. There has been no FA Cup hangover, and Tuesday's win over Walsall pushed them up to seventh place in the table. Their season is very much alive, and are currently [9.8] to get promoted.

The Londoners dominated the game at the Saddlers for long periods, playing some neat one- and two-touch football. Slade plays a 4-4-2, which alternates to a 4-5-1 when leading scorer Alex Revell tucks in. They do have craft and guile, added to the league's second best defensive home record.

Oldham meanwhile have slipped down to mid-table, and are in a wretched run of eight games without a win. Goals are a problem (despite scoring twice in the 3-2 defeat against Sheffield Wednesday in midweek), whilst the leaky defence has a habit of crumbling under pressure.
Best bet: Back Leyton Orient to win @ [1.85]
Back Orient to win 2-0 [10.0] and 3-0 [19.0]

Colchester United [2.44] v MK Dons [3.05], the draw [3.35]
The MK Dons are another 'momentum' team worth backing this weekend, and once again I think their price is too big. Last Saturday Karl Robinson's side were similar odds at Rochdale - and they thumped the Dale 4-1 at Spotland with an ultra-convincing display.

Tuesday night was no different when they dispatched play-off hopefuls Charlton 2-0 in a game where the Addicks were not allowed to create anything upfront. Robinson described that success as one of the most important wins of the season. Added to that, the MK Dons have really got their act together on their travels.

The Buckinghamshire outfit have a good footballing philosophy, instilled into them by a manager who is very calm and confident. They create plenty of chances and are excellent in reaching the final third, a quality that many lack in this league. The MK Dons can move at pace, and their movement can sometimes be too hot to handle.

This game will suit Colchester better, who got embroiled in a dogfight at Dagenham on Tuesday night. Manager John Ward called that a soft display in a poor game of football. Fighting and scrapping isn't really what the Essex side do, as they tend to play possession football with a good tempo. The home team can score here, however the MK Dons are rolling and will be confident to go playing for the win - which also brings into play the overs.
Suggested bet: Back MK Dons to win @ [3.05]
Back over 2.5 goals @ [2.1]
Back MK Dons to win 1-2 @ [14.0] and 1-3 [22.0]

Bristol Rovers [4.00] v Huddersfield Town [2.02], the draw [3.50]
Bristol Rovers sacked Dave Penney on Monday, and have installed player (and fans favourite) Stuart Campbell in charge - and he worked the magic on Tuesday by switching formation in a 1-0 win against Tranmere. The players looked happier, and it
seems all was not well under Penney. Has the gloom lifted?

Huddersfield need a win to keep in touch for automatic promotion, but will be without star winger Antony Pilkington who suffered an horrific leg break in midweek against Rochdale, an injury that rocked manager Lee Clark and his team. It could have a galvanising efffect on the Terriers, who are more resolute and solid these days rather than spectacular.

I'd like Huddersfield to win, but I think it's going to be a scrap. The [2.02] on offer for an away victory is tempting, but the safer option could be the unders at around [2.00].
Suggested bets: Back under 2.5 goals @ [2.0] or bigger.
Back 1-1 @ [12.0]

Al Dudman thinks Leyton Orient are just magic and can keep one of the season's most unlikely promotion bids on track this weekend...

Top of the league and top of the form table, the Spireites are bordering on the unbeatable - can Crewe upset them? Meanwhile, the brave will back Coleman's men to get the draw and the Valiants bid to get back...

Alan Dudman talks us through the best bets in League One this weekend, starting with why Bournemouth can beat Oldham at the ground formerly known as Dean Court......

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FA Cup Results: Arsenal rocked by Orient while City enjoy a Sunday stroll

FA Cup / Joe Dyer / 20 February 2011 / Leave a Comment

Os captain Stephen Dawson gets ahead of Nicklas Bendtner

"Arsenal had been backed at [1.04] to win in 90 minutes after Tomas Rosicky's 53rd minute header put them in the lead at Leyton Orient."

Leyton Orient pull off a classic cup performance as [1.04] Arsenal are denied while five-star Manchester City sink Paul Ince's Notts County

A small piece of FA Cup magic was created by Leyton Orient in east London tonight when the League One outfit denied Arsenal with a late, late equaliser to rock their illustrious opponents.

The Gunners had been backed at [1.04] to win in 90 minutes after Tomas Rosicky's 53rd minute header put them in the lead.

But the Os plugged away and got their reward when Jonathan Tehoue burst through the Arsenal rearguard at the death to score. The draw was backed at [28.0] on Betfair.

In the day's early kick-off Manchester CIty strode into the fifth round of the FA Cup after a 5-0 hammering of Notts County at Eastlands today.

Betfair customers make Roberto Mancini's men the [6.0] third favourites to lift the trophy at Wembley in the final.

City were backed at [22.0] to win 5-0 - a result they achieved thanks to a late onslaught, scoring goals in the 84th, 89th and 91st minutes to add a big cherry to the Sunday cake.

With a major trophy the goal for the Citizen's mega-rich owners, you sense a Wembley final is likely. But it won't be easy, the fifth round brings Aston Villa to Eastlands while Everton or Reading will visit should City get past the Claret and Blues.

The day's other match saw Bolton eliminate Fulham. Wanderers were backed at [5.4] for an away win.

An FA Cup classic is on the cards after Arsenal/Leyton Orient were pulled out of the hat to face Manchester United in the fifth round...

Leyton Orient pull off a classic cup performance as [1.04] Arsenal are denied while five-star Manchester City sink Paul Ince's Notts County...

County's cup run should finish here, says Feizal Rahman, who has dug up a few bets to accompany that eventuality...

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FA Cup Results: 26-1 Orient shock Swansea

FA Cup / Joe Dyer / 29 January 2011 / Leave a Comment

Jimmy Smith scores the opener at Swansea

"The Os - conquerors of Norwich in the third round - were matched at [27.0] for the win in-running on Betfair with the Swans backed like sure things at [1.43]."

Leyton Orient get the fourth round under way with an away win at Swansea. Joe Dyer rounds up that and all the other FA Cup results

Leyton Orient pulled off a classic FA Cup upset today when beating Championship opponents Swansea in the early kick-off at the Liberty Stadium.

The Os - conquerors of Norwich in the third round - were matched at [27.0] for the win in-running on Betfair with the Swans backed like sure things at [1.43].

The Londoners took an early lead only to concede on the stroke of half-time, but had the home captain, Alan Tate, to thank after he scored an own goal in the 88th minute to send the League One outfit into the fifth round draw.

In ther other early kick-offs Aston Villa trounced Blackburn 3-1, while Everton and Chelsea fought out a 1-1 draw. The Toffees traded at [1.36] but Salomon Kalou scored in the 76th minute to deny the hosts a win.

Chelsea are [6.4] joint third favourites with Manchester City to win the Cup. Everton are [28.0], Aston Villa [17.0] and Orient [550.0].

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