A winning start for our pro this week, and a first big profit of the season from our regulars as the betting column finally kicked into life for the new season.Where do the lads see the value in this weekend's markets?
Both pundits were rewarded for their optimism last week, backing Rangers to win at Wolves at 7.2. That led to a first profit of the season for Andy (a quid, but a profit all the same). Brian made considerably more as he banked a tidy treble on the Shrewsbury , Gillingham and Charlton wins and a refund on his horse bet for a £64.39 profit on the week. Andy is now £140.50 down, Brian has reduced his losses to £53.80. Our new pro Owen Goulding, odds compiler for a High Street bookie, was spot on with his tip of more than 2/5 goals at Wolves v QPR too.
Previously Advised:
£15 Australia to win Rugby World Cup 7/2
£5 O'Connor top tryscorer 16/1
ONE POUND. One single, solitary, lonely pound. A quarter of a pint in London , or three minutes of football from R Block where I sit. It’s not a lot of money, but that one pound is the most important pound of this column’s season for me, for it is the PROFIT I made on last week's betting. Hillman is well and truly back. Although not quite in the black yet. That profit was generated from the QPR to win, draw no bet on QPR against Wolves last week. Kudos to Brian for being even more cavalier and backing the straight win, available at 7/2 instead, and generating a much more healthy return.
This week we’re back at home, against Premiership mainstays Villa. QPR are best priced 13/10 for the win, which aren’t the most spectacular odds to be fair. Villa are missing Bent, which is a huge loss for them, and places a lot of burden on Agbonlahor. I’m going to be pessimistic and go for the draw, priced at 23/10 with Skybet. I’m also having Wright-Phillips to score anytime at 4/1 - his performances so far make him due a goal. To hedge my bets, a fiver on Agbonlahor to score first @ 8/1 with Unibet.
Elsewhere, the odds on Spurs to beat Wigan appear to be very generous in my opinion - you can get evens on a straight spurs to win, and a massive 9/4 on Spurs winning to nil. I'm going to have a piece of that.
Finally, my multiple for the week, and I've gone for a fairly easy fivefold (I think I've said that every week...) I've gone for Chelsea, Celtic, Charlton, Not Wolves and Not Bury. Only 4/1, but I could do with my first multiple win on here!
For the Weekend:
QPR vs. Villa - Draw - £10 @ 23/10 (Skybet)
QPR vs. Villa - SWP to score anytime - £5 @ 4/1 (Unibet)
QPR vs. Villa - Agbonlahor to score first - £5 @ 8/1 (Unibet)
Wigan vs Spurs - Spurs win to nil - £10 @ 9/4 (Betfair)
fivefold accumulator: Chelsea, Celtic, Charlton, Not Wolves and Not Bury £10 @ 4/1 (Betfair)
Previously Advised:
Rugby World Cup:
New Zealand to not win - £15 @ 6/4 (Various)
The Big 4 to all win their group - £10 @ 11/8 (Various)
Prior to last Saturday's kick offs, the bookmakers struggled to split these two teams, but a steady stream of money for QPR throughout the week has seen the current odds very much favour the home side. With a strong Aston Villa side crumbling to an out of form Bolton team in the Cup in midweek, it is easy to understand why. It wasn't going to take much of an excuse for the Holte End faithful to start getting on McLeish's case and the performance in midweek certainly provided that. However, it would be easy to get suckered into this negativity surrounding the Midlanders- but the criticism aimed at the Scotsman will be like water off a Jock's back and the simple fact is that Aston Villa are currently unbeaten in the Premiership and will be a tough nut to crack. The potential loss of Darren Bent - late fitness test expected - will have a big bearing on this game. I can see QPR very much on the front foot and McLeish may well revert to his well known defensive tactics - certainly in the early stages of the game. A big difference here for QPR as opposed to their previous two games is the Villa side is well suited for playing on the counter attack. With the pace of N'Zogbia, Agbonlahor and Darren Bent (if fit), it really will be a true test of how far the Superhoops have progressed defensively with the new team structure. I see this as a bit of tight cagey affair- certainly to begin with, but think there could well be goals later on in the game. A such, I am going to recommend a small bet on the Half time correct score of 0-0 - 7/4 (currently available at Stan James).
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