Lays of the Weekend: Brighton and Preston vulnerable

"Charlton have lost just one in four against the Seagulls and on a mere one of their previous five trips to Brighton."
Lay Brighton to beat Charlton @ 1.845/6

Michael Lintorn sticks to the strategy that has yielded five winning lays out of six: a team from each Football League tier...

Lay Brighton to beat Charlton @ 1.845/6

This writer is unconvinced by Brighton boss Sami Hyypia due to how rapidly and irreparably things soured at Bayer Leverkusen last season. Though two wins and two losses might appear a reasonable Championship start for the Finn, the fixture list has been gentle, the victories arriving against lowly Leeds and Bolton while they were felled by unremarkable Sheffield Wednesday and Birmingham.

Meanwhile, Charlton's dramatically reconfigured squad have blended swiftly, occupying a play-off place following an unbeaten start in which they have defeated two of the early title favourites in Wigan and Derby. Two further advantages for the Addicks are that they have lost just one in four against the Seagulls since promotion and on a mere one of their previous five trips to Brighton.

Lay Preston to beat Sheffield United @ 2.01/1

Sheffield United's tally of six points from four League One games won't unnerve Preston, but it is a decent return given that they opened the campaign against a quartet of viable top-six contenders (Bristol City, Coventry, Peterborough and Crawley). They are also beginning to hit form, overcoming Peterborough and Crawley before a shootout success at Premier League side West Ham in midweek.

Preston are two points better off, but acquired those from a less taxing set of matches, and have been unintimidating at Deepdale, being held by Notts County and creeping past Oldham 1-0. They only vanquished one fellow top-seven adversary at their long-term home in 2013/14, with Sheffield United yet to experience defeat on their three League One visits, winning two and drawing one.

Lay Cambridge United to beat Carlisle @ 2.111/10

This is the least conviction-coated of this week's recommendations because Carlisle haven't settled too snugly on their return to League Two, yet some straightforward mathematics indicate that they warrant some support. The Cumbrians were two divisions and 28 places superior to the U's last term and there hasn't been enough evidence to suggest that gap has been eroded in less than a month.

Cambridge's sole triumph since regaining Football League status came when riding post-promotion momentum through Plymouth on the opening day. They have since exhausted that supply with a four-game winless run. Carlisle by contrast were suffering the effects of a relegation hangover to lose their initial three 2014/15 encounters, improving to draw the latter two against top-eight clubs.

Amazon Watches Center

Follow The Money: Duke being backed to be king of Brighton

Recommended Bets

Back Laudation @ 6.611/2 Nottingham 14:50

Back Highland Duke @ 2.021/1 Brighton 16:10

Lay Assembly @ 2.35/4 Newcastle 14:30

The Follow The Money team have reviewed the markets to come up with one selections each from this afternoon's meetings at Brighton, Newcastle and Nottingham...

Today's first selection comes from Nottingham at 14:50 where Laudation has been well supported from 8.25n/a in to 6.611/2. This colt showed promise in maidens on the all-weather but put in a good performance on his first turf start, finishing second at Yarmouth. His trainer William Jarvis reaches for the first time visor today and if that has a positive effect then the selection must go very close.

Our second back selection today arrives in the form of Highland Duke in the 16:10 at Brighton, who has been backed from a high of 2.747/4 in to 2.021/1. The Clive Cox trained four-year-old is having his second run of the season after a promising second earlier this month, narrowly failing to take advantage of a good tactical ride. Highland Duke comes here only 2lbs higher and with conditions to suit, he would not need much more to take this today.

We head North to Newcastle for today's negative where Assembly has been on the drift all morning in the 5f Maiden Stakes at 14:30, currently trading at 2.35/4 from an early 1.738/11. This William Haggas-trained runner has been disappointing on his two starts to date, firstly when down the field at Newmarket on debut before being beaten just over six lengths into third at Beverley last week, and comes here hoping to find easier pickings in this relatively weak race. However although bred for the trip he has to prove the drop in distance will suit and with his two main market rivals contracting in price it may not be a case of third time lucky.

Recommended Bets

Back Laudation @ 6.611/2 Nottingham 14:50
Back Highland Duke @ 2.021/1 Brighton 16:10
Lay Assembly @ 2.35/4 Newcastle 14:30

There are no comments on this article.

Product reviews and advice for best reference

Against All Odds: Brighton seeks redemption in Hull

Against All Odds / Paul Robinson / 22 February 2012 / Leave a Comment

Cheer up, Gus, Paul reckons you can get a result at Hull

"I think Brighton have it in them to get a result tonight, so with the home win trading at around [1.91], I have to make it my lay of the day."

Following their hammering against Liverpool, Brighton travel to Hull this evening. The current odds suggest that they won't be atoning tonight but Paul Robinson has other ideas.

Yesterday's lay was home and hosed by the half an hour mark which is always nice and I'm confident about today's selection too.

Hull City are eighth in the Championship. Club legend Nick Barmby has got his side on a decent run of form which has seen them move to within three points of the play-offs with at least one game in hand over their rivals. A win tonight would see The Tigers go sixth so they will certainly be motivated to go for the victory and not sit back and accept a draw.

They are, however, prone to the odd poor performance at the KC Stadium. They have been beaten by Derby and held by lowly Doncaster in 2012. In fact, they've only won five of their last nine at home in the league so their win rate is not much more than 50%. If you add away form, Hull have been victorious in just three of their last eight and, while that isn't a crisis, confidence is everything in football and it could play on their minds.

Brighton are one place behind tonight's opponents. After an incredible start to the campaign, last year's League One champions slumped down the table after a poor run of results, but Gus Poyet has stopped the slide and they are in decent nick again. While they did suffer a 6-1 mauling at Anfield in the cup on Sunday, they aren't facing opposition anywhere near as good as that tonight and The Seagulls are on an unbeaten run of seven in the Championship. Away from Falmer Stadium, Albion have won two of their last three and drawn the other, scoring five goals in the process. After serving a three match ban, midfielder Matt Sparrow is available again and he should bring some freshness to the team as they look to put the Liverpool result behind them.

A match between The Tigers and The Seagulls sounds like a forgone conclusion, but I think Brighton have it in them to get a result tonight, so with the home win trading at around [1.91], I have to make it my lay of the day.

Recommended Bet
Lay Hull against Brighton @ [1.91]

Barnsley host Birmingham in the English Championship tonight in what, on paper, appears to be a goalfest in the making. Under 2.5 goals is odds-on though and Paul Robinson believes that is definitely worth opposing....

Real Zaragoza entertain Real Betis tonight in Spain's La Liga in what is a huge match for both clubs. Both sides could do with winning this one so attacking football should be on the menu. Paul Robinson talks us through...

Sedan take on ESTAC Troyes in France's Ligue Two this evening and the home side are a shade odds-on for the win. They are without a victory in three on their own turf though and Paul Robinson thinks that this...

Amazon Watches Center

Championship Previews: Excellent odds for Brighton victory

Championship / Andrew French / 14 February 2012 / 1 Comments

Brighton boss Gus Poyet

"Birmingham have been particularly mean at home this season; 15 teams have visited St Andrews in the league, and nine of them have left without a goal."

A full midweek programme of Championship action has had Andrew French scouring for the best bets of the night, and he believes Brighton to beat Millwall is exactly that.

Brighton v Millwall, KO: Tuesday 19:45, Match Odds: Brighton [2.1], Millwall [4.2], The Draw [3.5]

Crazy price alert! Brighton are unbeaten in nine in all competitions, and have won five of their last six at home. They are hosting a Millwall side that has lost five of its last seven. The Seagulls should surely be a shade of odds on - shouldn't they? They are now available to back at [2.1] having been available at [2.22] on Monday.

Gus Poyet's side made a superb start having come out of League One and were top of the table in early September. Perhaps understandably they couldn't sustain that and had slid down to 16th by the end of 2011. However, Poyet brought in three loan players from the Premier League (Sam Vokes, Gonzalo Jara and Joe Mattock) and 16 points from the last 18 has lifted them back to 8th.They refused to settle for a draw at Leeds on Saturday, and have won their last three at the Falmer Stadium without conceding a goal.

Millwall have failed to score in eight of their last 11 league games and are in the thick of the relegation scrap in 20th. Brighton have played all four sides beneath the Lions in the table at home - and won the lot.

Back Brighton @ [2.1]

Middlesbrough v Nottm Forest, KO: Tuesday 19:45, Match Odds: Middlesbrough [2.02], Nottm Forest [4.4], The Draw [3.5]

It seems that the fears among some Middlesbrough fans that their promotion push may falter due to a lack of squad depth are coming true. Boro have gone six games without a win since Boxing Day - and travelling all the way down to Ipswich for a farcical abandonment on Saturday won't have helped. Goals have not been in plentiful supply at either end of the field at the Riverside this season: just 27 in 15 league games. All of Middlesbrough's last six home games have produced less than 2.5 goals: in fact 80% of Boro's home fixtures this season have gone the same way.

And here they are hosting a team that scored its first goal at home since November 19 on Saturday. Forest may have broken their scoring duck hosting Watford but their finishing was still profligate. No surprise they have the worst scoring record in the division then (0.79 goals per game) - and they're up against a defence that lets in less than a goal a game at home.

Back Under 2.5 Goals @ [1.76]

Birmingham v Hull, KO: Tuesday 19:45, Match Odds: Birmingham [1.93], Hull [4.7], The Draw [3.6]

When you've got a defence that gives little or nothing away, it makes it a good bit easier to win games. Birmingham have been particularly mean at home this season; 15 teams have visited St Andrews in the league, and nine of them have left without a goal. That 60% clean sheet rate at home is the best in the division: indeed, no visiting Championship team has managed more than one goal at Birmingham this term. Chris Hughton's side are unbeaten in nine, and have managed five shut-outs in that sequence.

Hull are unbeaten in four but they have not been frequent scorers - they have one of the worst scoring record in the division, surprising for a team that is sixth. They average only 0.86 goals per game away from home and have drawn a blank in four of their last seven league outings.

Back Birmingham Clean Sheet @ [2.34]

Home games at Barnsley and Ipswich have produced plenty of goals in recent months, and Andrew French believes that trend will continue when Birmingham and Middlesbrough visit this weekend....

Birmingham have won six consecutive games in all competitions says Andrew French and he believes they have an excellent chance of beating promotion-chasing Southampton....

There's a full programme of Championship action in midweek and Andrew French has picked out his best bets including Nottingham Forest's dreadful home form set to continue....

Amazon Watches Center

Brighton

Going Report / Editor / 26 May 2011 / Leave a Comment

First Race Time: 14:10
Going: Good to firm (watered)
Other Information: Very light immeasurable shower overnight. Forecast windy day with some showers.

First Race Time: 14:20 Going: Good to soft, soft in places. 8.5 on going stick. Other Information: 3mm of rain overnight. Forecast cloudy day with moderate wind and scattered showers with up to 3mm of rain and a maximum temperature of 13 degrees....

First Race Time: 17:40 Going: Good to firm, good in places Other Information: Light, immeasurable shower overnight. Watering this morning....

First Race Time: 17:50 Going: Good to firm, firm in places in home straight Other Information: Dry overnight. Forecast showers during the day with 3-8mm of rain possible, clearing this evening. Finished watering two days ago....

Play Casino & Poker here