North East sides the value in Football League

It has been a tough start to the season for North-Eastern football fans with Sunderland at the bottom of the Premier League, Middlesbrough going slowly in the Championship and the comedy trio of Joe Kinnear, Mike Ashley and Alan Pardew at Newcastle. Things though could be taking a turn for the better in the Football League as both Carlisle and Hartlepool are rapidly improving and both sides form the basis of our bets this weekend.

Carlisle picked up just two points from their first five league games and ended up sacking manager Greg Abbott. Since the introduction of Graham Kavanagh, first on a temporary basis then as permanent manager, they have taken 13 points from the next seven games including a big win at MK Dons in midweek.

Bristol City meanwhile have not won a single game all season and have taken just six points from their 12 games. I am amazed then that some firms have the Bristol side as their favourites for this game. True City have won four of the last five meetings between these sides but none of these have come in the last three seasons and hold little relevance.

SPREADEX have the Cumbrians at 2/1 to win the match which is crazy. City have drawn 50% of their league games this season so it is important to cover the draw so take the Cumbrians at 6/5 (SPREADEX) in the draw no bet market. Elsewhere in the division Leyton Orient are 19/20 (CORAL/william hill) favourites for their home game with Rotherham as they look to bounce back from their first league defeat of the season, to Coventry on Tuesday night.

It looks like being a three horse race for the two automatic promotion slots with Wolves, Leyton Orient and Peterborough starting to form a little gap at the top. Both Wolves and Peterborough are away from home this weekend with the Black Country side 13/10 (GENERAL) to win at Bradford while Posh are 4/5 (GENERAL) to beat Colchester.

Rochdale are the new leaders in League Two after a run of form that has seen them win three games straight. Up next for Dale is a visit to Dagenham & Redbridge and the visitors are the 6/4 (GENERAL) favourites to pick all three points.

Any slip-up from Rochdale could allow in Chesterfield or Exeter though the Spireites are badly out of form without a victory in their last five league games and would not be rushing to back them at 5/4 (GENERAL) to defeat Bristol Rovers. Rovers are currently without a win in eight league games so this looks a game to miss. Exeter are at home to Burton and while at first glance the 31/20 (bet365/BETVICTOR) on the Grecians looks generous a word of caution the visitors are dangerous away opponents with four wins from their six away games.

The best bet in this division though is in taking Hartlepool to get something from their visit to Scunthorpe. Pool are on fire at the moment winning each of their last five games in all competitions including wins at third placed Exeter and seventh placed Mansfield. The Irons did win at Fleetwood last week but the week before that they were hammered 4-0 by Exeter, the same Exeter side that Hartlepool beat 3-0. Take the 5/4 (BETVICTOR/paddy Power) on Hartlepool in the draw no bet market.

Sticking with this game and I like the look of Luke James in the anytime scorer market. The player has six goals from his last six games and is ll/4 (paddy Power) to net here.

BEST OF THE BETS

GOLD: Carlisle draw no bet v Bristol City, 6/5 (SPREADEX)
SILVER: Hartlepool draw no bet v Scunthorpe, 5/4 (BETVICTOR/paddy Power)
BRONZE: Luke James to net anytime v Scunthorpe, 11/4 (paddy Power)

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27/10/2013     © Frixo 2026