The second international break of the autumn is over and a glorious English football coupon is the reward for all those who toughed it out. Sharp starts and impenetrable rearguards feature in our trio of best bets for the weekend’s action
English Weekend Football best bets
Tottenham to win 1st half vs West Ham @ 10/11
Under 0.5 Cambridge goals vs Wigan @ 9/5
Exeter to beat Shrewsbury @ 13/10
1st-half title-chasers Spurs to claim oranges advantage over tardy irons
For many, this is a season in which Tottenham have been operating at a particularly high level of ‘Spursiness’. Following up a impressive 3-0 win at Old Trafford by blowing a 2-0 lead to lose 3-2 at home to Brighton in their very next Premier League game would be exhibit A in that regard.
However, the Lilywhites’ underlying progress under Ange Postecoglou is demonstrated on numerous metrics, including xG where they (15.54) are one of four teams with an score between 15 and 16, alongside Arsenal (15.89), Liverpool (15.69) and Chelsea (15.59).
Another is their first half record of five wins, one draw and one defeat – only Liverpool have a better opening-period ‘points’ tally. Spurs look a good bet at 10/11 to win the first half against a West Ham outfit that have been losing at the interval in four of their seven games so far.
Tip: Tottenham to win 1st half vs West Ham @ 10/11
League One’s stingiest defence value to shut out rock bottom Cambridge
Wigan’s defence have been the toughest nut to crack in all of the third tier so far this term. The Latics have shipped just five goals in 10 games and turn up to face rock-bottom Cambridge United on a run of seven successive clean sheets in all competitions.
Under 0.5 Cambridge goals can be backed at 9/5 (what a way to make a living), despite the U’s having scored the fewest goals of any side in League One – six in nine outings.
Tip: Under 0.5 Cambridge goals vs Wigan @ 9/5
Impenetrable Exeter rearguard to prove platform for three points at Salop
It takes a compelling case for an away win to be tipped up on these pages, but Exeter look a strong bet at 13/10 to beat Shrewsbury at the Croud Meadow, where they arrive having kept five clean sheets in their last five matches in all competitions.
Hosts Salop have failed to bag in four of their last six home games and evidently won’t be getting much change out of the Grecians rearguard. That should leave them vulnerable to defeat in their own backyard given they have the division’s worst xG against – 21.46 goals in nine outings.
