Saturday, February 19, 2011

SATURDAY ....


I have written four previews today, including one double stake selection, think that I will post two of them on the blog, one is below and I will add the other later in the morning.

DIVISION 1
COLCHESTER UNITED- WALSALL


Walsall did us a big favour in midweek with a 1-0 win over Dagenham, that might have appeared a little hard earned, but they once again dominated the game, created an enormous number of scoring chances and are playing at a completely different level from two months ago, when they looked certain to be playing fourth tier football next season. Coach Dean Smith has done an amazing job in his short spell in charge and his team could actually find themselves out of the drop zone with a win today. Smith has bought in a number of experienced players to work alongside his youngsters, who he can handle well having always previously been a youth team coach, this combination is working well and he has also given his players an attacking freedom which they didn't have under former boss Chris Hutchings. A brief word about Hutchings, he has only ever coached struggling teams ( Bradford, Wigan and Walsall) and never been able to instill a winning mentality into his teams, with barely a 30% win rate, losing becomes a habit and the Saddlers clearly needed a change and more positive approach. I am a firm believer that you need to be a winner, to know how to win ( which is not as simplistic as it sounds) and personally, I would rather take a lower league coach with a winning record, than one who has performed poorly at a higher level.


United have a reputation as a strong home team, but they have won the second lowest total of home starts amongst the top half teams and only Peterborough have conceded more goals. They have won just three of their last 13 starts, once was a very fortunate defeat of Swindon with a 94th minute goal and they trailed in the other two, this is another team who have lost their way a little and a good looking opponent for the inform and newly found confident visitors.

Walsall draw no bet 3.10 + ..... 3.25 in places.

Good Luck.

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