Tuesday Results

Oh dear! Not quite the night that I had planned, but not a complete disaster either...

BURNLEY 2-1 MK Dons - First up is the positive result of the night, as Burnley just about delivered the win at Evens. They were hardly convincing however, being 1-0 down early on and only striking home the winning goal in the 89th minute.

Aldershot 2-1 Rochdale (Under 2.5) -The goals in this one came each time an unders backer would just about start to feel confident. Rochdale opened the scoring just prior to half-time, with Aldershot equalising immediately after the break. Defeat for both the visitors and the selection came in the 78th minute as Aldershot advanced to the Fourth Round for the first time in their history.

Leeds 0-3 Manchester United (Over 3.5) - Defeat as an overs backer this time, again by just one goal, in what I think is a justifiably unlucky outcome. Man Utd were 3-0 up before half-time as Michael Owen bagged a brace and Ryan Giggs put the outcome beyond reasonable doubt. However, no goals came at all in the second half, Leeds spurning a great one-on-one chance in the final seconds to leave the total goals at three.

TAMWORTH 0-1 Forest Green Rovers - The nap selection of the night was ironically the tip that was furthest from the mark. Forest Green maintained their excellent start to the season away from home (still unbeaten) thanks to an early own-goal when Paul Green deflected the ball into his own net. Tamworth's first home defeat of the year came despite them hitting the bar in the second half.


Summary of Bets


One winner: BURNLEY v MK Dons 1pt at Evs

Three losers: TAMWORTH v Forest Green Rovers 2pts @ 5/4
                     Aldershot v Rochdale Under 2.5 1pt @ Evs
                     Leeds v Man Utd Over 3.5 1pt @ 6/5

Total Loss: 3 points


TOTAL RUNNING PROFIT FOR SEASON: 1.06 points

Check back later today for the selections for matches this evening.

Tuesday Selections

Four games with selections tonight as the Carling Cup and Blue Square Premier take the spotlight on the domestic scene.

BURNLEY (1pt) v MK Dons

UNDER 2.5 (1pt) Aldershot v Rochdale

OVER 3.5 (1pt) Leeds v Man Utd

TAMWORTH (2pts) v Forest Green

An outlay of 5pts on the night, check back this evening for a review of the selections.

Cagey Encounter Expected

Dean Holdsworth has called on Aldershot fans to create a cup-final atmosphere tonight ahead of the visit of Rochdale in the Carling Cup. Since reforming, Aldershot have never reached this stage of the competition and the prospect of a place in the last 16 has certainly captured the minds of many at the club. It may be an ever more sweet achievement for Aldershot if they achieve it considering their difficult road to this stage – the ‘shots came back from 1-0 down to win at West Ham, before overcoming Carlisle 2-0 at home in round two.

The home side have no injury or suspension concerns and should be able to field a full strength line-up that Holdsworth is still hoping to push further. Since winning at West Ham in round one, Aldershot have not been beaten. On that run, they have secured two more home wins and a home draw, while they have secured six points from six in their last two matches – a 2-0 win at Hereford followed by a 1-0 win at Bristol Rovers. This should be keeping morale very high and with confidence brimming the hosts will present a real challenge tonight.

As for Rochdale, who are making the long journey south, they come into the contest on the back of frustrating 3-2 home loss against Charlton in a game where they will have been frustrated not to earn at least a point. However, while they may not have claimed the scalp of the ‘big boys’ in their own division, ‘dale have their own Carling Cup scalp to rival that of Aldershot’s. After an extra time win at home against Chesterfield in round one, Rochdale were 2-0 winners at QPR in round two, although Neil Warnock was publically hardly disappointed to lose that particular contest. Despite some disappointing away form in the league (losing at Sheffield Wednesday, Stevenage and Oldham), Rochdale appeared to strike a better vain of form when winning 4-2 at rivals Bury and defeating Scunthorpe 1-0 at Spotland. The performance against Charlton should keep belief around the club that they have turned a corner, and the only change forced upon the visitors tonight is in goal as on-loan Blackburn goalkeeper Jake Keane will be replaced by David Lucas.

As an away fan when Rushden and Diamonds made it to the Setanta Shield Final against Aldershot at the Recreation Ground, I can vouch first hand for the kind of ‘cup final’ atmosphere that Rochdale will face tonight. However, their 4-2 win at Bury has shown that this squad can cope with big atmospheres, and both of these sides have already defeated higher league opposition away from home in the Carling Cup this season. However, the prize of a fourth round place is a serious one for both clubs given their relative stature, and ultimately that fact and the atmosphere may lead to a tight contest.

Aldershot have not had more than 2 goals in a game since their victory at West Ham and only twice all season, neither of those games being at home. That run should be extended tonight, and unders is certainly the value call in this contest.

SUGGESTION:

Aldershot v Rochdale: 1pt UNDER 2.5 GOALS @ Evens (William Hill and various)