The Fab Four - the weekend's football betting guide

Last updated : 19 September 2003 By Bear Able

Odds and Sods-. Looking at last seasons returns noticed that more often than not over half all the forecasts came up. Which was a good enough return for the singles punters. But some of us like a bit of fun with our bets, and the Foursome came up at the first time of asking last season, but failed to repeat the triumph for the rest of the season.

Still some comfort could be drawn from the fact that it was late in the season when the Fab Four was first published, and the loyal punters ended the season with a healthy profit. And let’s not forget the occasional treble bringing back the price of a few pints pint now and then.

Not much in the way of pickings in the Scottish divisions this week as we look for the best evens and above forecasts on the coupon. So will stick with the more tempting English fixtures

So let’s look at the First Foursome Of The Season:

English Premiership - Tottenham v SOUTHAMPTON 2/1

Spurs have had a hapless start to their campaign with a 1-0 defeat at Birmingham. Although it seemed they had shaken the “blues” with a narrow 2-1 win at home to Leeds the following week. But back in the “red” with a 0-0 draw at Liverpool at their next match and visitors Fulham were next to take advantage of Spurs early nerves with a fine 3-1 victory. A visit to Chelsea last week ended in further “blues” with their fellow Londoners claiming a 4-2 victory.

Southampton also a sticky beginnings with a 2-2 Draw at home to Leicester, then failed to score at Birmingham or against next guests Leeds United. With both matches ending in 0-0 it looked like visitors Man United were in for some easy target practice the following week. But Gordon Strachan’s men had finally found their feet and recorded a superb 1-0 victory over the Manchester giants and followed this with a fine 2-0 win at home to Wolves. The Saints should have their tails well up and wagging for their visit to a very shaky Spurs whose own appendage appears tucked firmly between their legs.

Nationwide Division 3 - Bournemouth v RUSHDEN & DIAMONDS 9/5

A desperate 90th minute goal v Sheffield Wednesday last week marked the Cherries first home win of the season (1-0). Overall the reds have recorded 3 wins 3 draws and two defeats They will not be relishing the visit of the Diamonds looking for their second away win on the trot after their 3-1 trouncing of Notts County last week.

Although Rushden in 10th are only 3 places above their hosts, they have still to move up a gear to reclaim their excellent form of last season. Their overall record of four wins from 8 games is not the Rushden of yore. At tight game to call, but expect the Diamonds to sparkle at odds that may not be quite so generous later in the season

Nationwide Division 3 - Brentford v HARTLEPOOL 7/5

The ‘Pool started the season well with a fine 4-3 win away to Peterborough, but then surprisingly stumbled slightly failing to score at home in a 0-0 draw against Tranmere, but followed this with a reasonable 1-1 away result at Bristol City.

Then an overdue 2-0 home win versus Port Vale was marred by a 3-2 defeat at Luton town followed by another 0-0 stumble at home versus Oldham. But amends were made with an amazing 8-1 demolition of Grimsby at home and then a 2-1 away victory at Stockport last week which pushed them 10 places up the table into 2nd place.

They visit Brentford who are sitting in a lowly 20th place courtesy of five defeats from the first eight games. Although one of their victories was a respectable 1-0 away to the seemingly out-of-sorts Rushden they followed this by failing to score in a draw at home to fellow relegation fodder Blackpool last week. It looks likely that another ‘Pool is all set to go to “Town” with Brentford this week.

Nationwide Division 3 - BRIGHTON 11/8 v Sheffield Wednesday

Sheffield in 7th place recently marred a fairly reasonable run of four wins from six games with a 2-2 draw at home to Stockport and a one-nil defeat away to Bournemouth last week.

However Brighton’s similar over all total of four wins from eight games makes slightly better reading as they have only conceded only one defeat from the past six games which leaves them sitting at 6th in the table, one place ahead of today’s visitors. Add in their 1-0 home win versus Chesterfield last week and with home advantage once again, expect Brighton to exploit this in what should be quite a Close game.

Suggested Bet @ £1.00 unit stakes. Perm all four trebles + the fourfold =£5.00

Trebles Return:

Southampton/Rushden/Hartlepool returns= £20.16

Southampton/Rushden/Brighton returns=£19.85

Southampton/Hartlepool/Brighton returns=£17.10

Rushden/Hartlepool/Brighton returns=£15.96

All four returns £47.88 plus all four trebles @ £73.07 = £120.95

For singles and doubles take your pick from above or from the best of the rest below:

EPL

STOKE CITY 11/8 v Norwich

Portsmouth v BLACKBURN 8/5

Nationwide Division 1

BURNLEY 11/10 v Bradford

Crewe v NOTTINGHAM FORREST 5/4

Nationwide Division 2

BARNSLEY 6/5 v Swindon

Luton v QPR 7/5

WYCOMBE 5/4 v Oldham

Nationwide Division 3

BOSTON 11/8 v Bury

KIDDERMINSTER 6/5 v Lincoln

LEYTON ORIENT 6/4v Scunthorpe

All prices quoted From Stanley Bet.

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BEAR ABLE

Link: www.stanleybet.com/bet?AFF_ID=72