Rotherham United vs Derby County
FreeBefore I begin today’s preview, I have to pay my respects to Daniel Jarque, who tragically passed away a couple of days ago. This is the first chance I’ve had to voice my own dismay at the loss of a talented centre-back. I can’t quite believe a man 26 years old can suffer a heart-attack whilst on tour in Italy with his beloved Espanyol, but so it proved. They had just secured a rather impressive draw at SSC Napoli and Captain Daniel Jarque would have been proud, no doubt, especially when reflecting on Espanyol’s impressive pre-season form. However, he died just a few hours after the game and now deprives the world of yet another good footballer, Espanyol of a Captain, and the world of a very loyal footballer. My respects to him and his family.
Before I begin today’s previewed game, I’d like to point out that I really don’t like the English Carling Cup, which takes precedence over the majority of the games today. I don’t like it because it’s second fiddle to the English FA Cup, it generally has no purpose other than to serve sponsors, it takes up valuable fixture spaces, and most clubs don’t have an interest in it, which makes it hard to predict. Aside from that, let’s crack on!
Today’s featured game is between Rotherham United and Derby County. It’s my previewed game because it’s potentially the best value of the day, providing it comes in, of course! Rotherham United are amongst the favourites to gain promotion to League One this year after an impressive campaign last year, marred only by the large point deduction at the start of their season. After a last-minute goal secured their first win of the season, it became apparent that Rotherham United have not only carried their momentum over from last season to this season but have also obtained some dogged tenacity to boot. Rotherham United are well-placed to have a Cup run as they’re comfortable in League Two and should finish in the top 6 regardless. Today they host Derby County, a side two divisions above them who also got off to a winning start, beating newly-promoted Peterborough United 2-1. However, their performance didn’t convince me and I think the main reason behind that is the number of players they had missing, most notably being talented midfielder Giles Barnes. This trip to Yorkshire is the last thing that Derby County want with a depleted squad and a Cup run should be off the radar as Clough seeks to take Derby County up the table, not to Wembley. I think 2/1 could be really good value on a home win here but take at draw no bet if unsure.
Tuesday’s Picks
My tips:
As ever, below are my recommended value tips for today in no particular order:
Rotherham United vs Derby County – home win at 2/1 – see introduction for full details.
Barnet vs Watford – away win at 5/6. This game isn’t too far off being a derby but I can’t imagine either side having too much interest in this game as both sides seek remaining in their respective divisions ahead of a Cup run. Out of the two, I think Watford are better placed for a Cup run but there’s not a great deal of love there, particularly for this meager trophy. My sole reason for this call is that Watford’s second string are better than Barnet’s first or second string so odds of 5/6 on an away win is worth a shot.
Bury vs West Bromwich Albion – away win with -1.75 handicap at 2/1. Before the season began, I’d have tipped Bury to perhaps cause an upset here. However, having watched Bury’s 3-0 humiliation at home to Bournemouth in their opening game and having seen West Bromwich Albion play some good football against Newcastle United, an away win here looks imminent. Both sides are well-placed in their leagues to have a Cup run but I think West Bromwich Albion will have too much ability for the hosts. However, there’s no value in the away win alone so I’m sticking my neck out for them to break the -1.75 handicap because it does look worthwhile, particularly at 2/1.
Cardiff City vs Dagenham & Redbridge – home win with -1.75 handicap at 11/10. I’ve been looking at these odds for a while and I still can’t explain them. Dagenham & Redbridge had a great start to the season with a 2-1 win away to recently relegated Crewe Alexandra. However, they’re travelling to Wales to face a Cardiff City side that annihlated Scunthorpe United at home at weekend and will be more than buoyant entering this game. They’ve had to do minimal travelling whereas the visitors have travelled from Dagenham to Crewe to Dagenham to Cardiff in the space of four days. Whereas it’s hardly a trek to the north pole, it will take its toll. Cardiff City have lost players over summer but they’re still a good side, particularly at home. They’re not going to be promoted or relegated this season so a Cup run looks ideal for them. Lastly, they’re two divisions above the side they’re hosting so why they’re 11/10 with -1.75 handicap is just beyond me. Quite possibly the bargain of the day!
Colchester United vs Leyton Orient – home win at 4/5. I expect a lot of goals in this game. Both sides made very impressive starts to the season and look more than apt at goalscoring, which makes this likely to be an interesting spectable. A lot of people will expect a whitewash following Colchester’s emphatic destruction of Norwich City away last game but I disagree; Norwich City made their own downfall and a professional Colchester United display piled the misery upon them. Leyton Orient are a lot stronger than they were last year and showed that in their opening game. As I said earlier, I see a lot of goals here and a good spectacle but a home win should be on the cards and it’s worth taking at 4/5.
Crewe Alexandra vs Blackpool – away win at 11/10. Blackpool claimed a very credible draw off moneybags Queens Park Rangers on their opening day of the season. They’re a strange side at the best of times but they’re resilient and tough to play against. Blackpool have made a decent signing or two and look an interesting prospect for this season. I’m not sure a Cup run is on their list of “things to do” this year, but they’re travelling to a demoralised Crewe Alexandra who will be focused on returning to League One with all speed. For those reasons, I think an away win is a possibility but I must emphasise caution because both sides are capable of being really poor and really good on a very infrequent basis. Still, 11/10 makes this look intriguing.
Gillingham vs Plymouth Argyle – home win at 8/5. I don’t think there’s any great secret that Plymouth Argyle’s aim is to stay in the Championship this year. They’re not great on the road as they’re generally a home side. They’ve lost influential footballer Paul Gallagher to Blackburn Rovers as his loan spell finished last season and they may well struggle without him. The last thing they want at the moment is a Cup run. Gillingham, however, got off to a fantastic start to their season, destroying Swindon Town 5-0. They know they’re safe in the division this year and a Cup run could well be something they’re looking for. For those reasons, a home win here at 8/5 looks like a decent bet.
Shrewsbury Town vs Ipswich Town – away win at 10/11. I really fancy an away win here. Ipswich Town were under a lot of pressure at Coventry City at weekend, hence a poor start to the game from their point of view. In the end it cost them, despite actually controlling the game for between 5o and 60 minutes of the game. Still, it’s goals that count. However, make no mistake; most of them will have suffered the wrath of Roy Keane massively after this game and they will be whipped into shape. Roy Keane has a squad at Ipswich Town that is capable of both a Cup run and potential promotion so this game looks like a good bet for an away win, particularly as Shrewsbury Town have their focus on promotion following their disappointment last year. The hosts aren’t really good enough to compete with Ipswich Town if the visitors turn up and I thoroughly expect them to turn up. 11/10 for an away win looks a bargain.
As ever, any questions/explanations required, feel free to email me at thefootytipster@gmail.com. For the complete picks listing, see below!
World Cup Qualifier – North American section:
Trinidad & Tobago vs El Salvador (5) 1-1
Copa Nissan Sudamericana:
Liga de Quito vs Libertad Asuncion (8) 2-0
Blooming Santa Cruz vs River Plate Montevideo (6) 1-2
Brazilian Serie A:
Internacional vs Sport Recife (8) -1.75 handicap
English League Cup:
Crystal Palace vs Torquay United (7)
Accrington Stanley vs Walsall (5)
Barnet vs Watford (7)
Brentford vs Bristol City (6)
Bristol Rovers vs Aldershot Town (6)
Bury vs West Bromwich Albion (8) -1.75 handicap
Cardiff City vs Dagenham & Redbridge (8) -1.75 handicap
Carlisle United vs Oldham Athletic (6)
Colchester United vs Leyton Orient (7)
Cheltenham Town vs Southend United (5)
Crewe Alexandra vs Blackpool (6)
Exeter City vs Queens Park Rangers (5)
Gillingham vs Plymouth Argyle (6)
Hereford United vs Charlton Athletic (4)
Huddersfield Town vs Stockport County (8)
Lincoln City vs Barnsley (7)
Milton Keynes Dons vs Swindon Town (7)
Milwall vs Bournemouth (5)
Notts County vs Doncaster Rovers (6)
Preston North End vs Morecambe (8)
Rotherham United vs Derby County (6)
Scunthorpe United vs Chesterfield (5)
Sheffield United vs Port Vale (8)
Sheffield Wednesday vs Rochdale (8)
Shrewsbury Town vs Ipswich Town (7)
Southampton vs Northampton Town (6)
Swansea City vs Brighton & Hove Albion (6)
Tranmere Rovers vs Grimsby Town (4)
Wycombe Wanderers vs Peterborough United (5)
Yeovil Town vs Norwich City (5)
Reading vs Burton Albion (9)
Friendly Internationals – U21:
Ukraine U21 vs Iran U21 (9) 2-0
Bulgaria U21 vs Ghana U21 (7) 3-1
Serbia U21 vs Israel U21 (8) 1-0
Slovenia U21 vs Bosnia-Herzegovina U21 (8) 3-1
Portugal U21 vs Northern Ireland U21 (9) -1.75 handicap
Germany U21 vs Turkey U21 (4) 2-2
Holland U21 vs England U21 (5) 1-2, draw no bet
Irish Premier League:
St Patrick’s Athletic vs Bohemians (6) 1-2, draw no bet, at least one red card in this game
Galway United vs Drogheda United (7) 2-1
Dundalk vs Bray Wanderers (8) 2-0
Cork City vs Shamrock Rovers (6) 1-1
Sligo Rovers vs Derry City (5) 0-1
Republic of Macedonia Prva Liga:
Milano Kumanovo vs Rabotnicki Skopje (6)
Norwegian Adeccoligaen:
Skeid Oslo vs Sarpsborg (6)
Sogndal vs Haugesund (7) over 2.5 goals
Enjoy your free betting tips!