Don’t you just love unexpected treats. You’re rummaging around in your coat pocket and you find a Lucky 15 betting slip from weeks ago.
It’s hard to believe the bet would be still valid owing to its crumpled state. But the £1.72 was welcomed into my wallet with open arms. People live for the bank-breaking, life-changing return but this win felt just as good. The subsequent cappuccino was up there with the best I’ve ever had – “Would you like sugar sir?”, “No thanks darling, this one will taste sweet enough”.
My quest to smash the bookies continues this week – I will defeat those money-grabbing scoundrels.
The Premier League fixtures at the weekend can be likened to a Thomas Cook package deal – completely devoid of any value, so stay clear of the tricky looking schedule.
The team that will spearhead my punting action for the weekend will be Barnsley – as they look overly priced at 7-5 to beat Crystal Palace at Oakwell.
Paul Hart’s Palace were devoid of any attacking ideas against Bristol City on Tuesday night and should have lost by more than the solitary Chris Iwelumo strike. Under the former Pompey man Palace fans can expect negative tactics and players being played out of position – that’s if he continues to employ the methods he used at his 28-day stint at QPR. Barnsley, however, boast a strong home record. Mark Robins’ side are unbeaten at Oakwell against the top eight sides. You can also totally write off their 6-1 drubbing at Newcastle last week. Goalkeeper Luke Steele’s sending off at 0-0 was a game changer and to make matters worse the ten men were undone by four world-class Newcastle goals.
Barnsley are an underrated force on their own patch and will surely dispatch Palace with ease.
Staying in the Championship - the goals market, despite my past failings (I never learn), in the Coventry v Plymouth match has reeled me in. The two sides are identical in the style in which they play; all that differs is their league standings. Both teams rarely throw any men forward and live by the method that if the other team fails to score we will win the game - something that the Sky Blues do slightly better than the Pilgrims. Expect a scrappy, physical, dull and goalless affair, which will make the 4-5 in the under 2.5 goals market look like the steal of the century.
Stick the two aforementioned bets in a double and you’re looking at a 3-1 shot - which is the same price as José Mourinho becoming England manager before 2014. I know which one I’d rather be on.
And, hopefully, come Saturday night the taste of my champagne will be just as sweet as that unexpected cappuccino.
Lewis Jones
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