Midweek Blue Square Premier Preview

By Team BlueSq.com on 15 February 2010 at 07:17

Alan Alger from the league sponsors highlights an important set of midweek fixtures in the Blue Square Premier. Four of the top five meet in thrilling clashes that will have a big say in where the title ends up:

The odds for the Blue Square Premier title swung back in Oxford United’s favour after a great weekend for Chris Wilder’s team. Oxford beat Histon 2-0 and have been cut to 8/11 (from Evens) to finish as league champions. Stevenage Borough drifted to 100/30 after their second defeat in three matches away at Rushden & Diamonds. York City lost their unbeaten run and drifted to 11/2, whilst Luton were cut to the same price after a valuable third win in three. Rushden nearly halved in price into 14/1 from 25/1 after that win over Stevenage.

Luton travelled to Eastbourne on Saturday as 5/6 favourites carrying my money as well as being the headline tip in the Racing Post. The main reason the Racing Post gave for tipping Luton struck a chord with me. They hinted that The Hatters have eventually become familiar with the league and what is required in certain matches. Last weeks win at Barrow and the resilience shown against Oxford last Tuesday can only boost morale and belief. The pressure from the Kenilworth Road crowd cannot be underestimated, which is why the stats prove that Richard Money’s side have been a much better proposition away from home. Results like the home defeat to Ebbsfleet have been all too familiar. After winning at Eastbourne they’ll need more of the same for their visit to York City.

The big games are coming thick and fast and it’s even more disappointing that we have no TV coverage to showcase the league. If a TV deal was in place then maybe we’d have had the mouth-watering prospect of Oxford versus Rushden on Tuesday night followed by York versus Luton on Thursday? It’s not to be and both of those clashes form part of a five game Tuesday fixture list. Oxford will be favourites at 4/5 for the visit of Rushden. After their weekend performance when they beat Stevenage, Rushden travel to the Kassam at a price of 16/5, nearly two points shorter than the prices put up for the original fixture on Boxing Day.

York boss Martin Foyle told the Blue Square weekend podcast that he was glad nobody was talking about his team in terms of a title challenge. If they can extend their fabulous home form with a midweek victory over Luton, then I’m sure they will no longer be the title races best kept secret. Lots of people I have spoken to are expecting a big York wobble at some point and that may have started at Ebbsfleet on Saturday, but Foyle will no doubt try and keep his side quietly plugging away. The loss of Richard Brodie to suspension will be a big blow.

Contrast this with Chris Wilder at Oxford who has the pressure of fans who remember the 2006/07 collapse. Additional pressure comes from the perceived level of spending from those casting envious glances at the clubs budget.

Elsewhere Tamworth travel to Salisbury for the first of two visits in five days to the Wiltshire club. Salisbury look a decent bet at Evens against the inconsistent travellers from the Lamb. Gateshead can earn some FA Trophy revenge over Barrow in a real relegation six pointer. Altrincham are 4/6 favourites for the visit of Eastbourne Borough. It promises to be a fascinating week as a forerunner to the last couple of months in an exciting league campaign.

Author: Alan Alger

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