English Other
2007-05-26 - Bristol Rovers vs Shrewsbury Town
A Sports Betting Pick by Merlin
Date: Saturday, 26th May
Kick-off: 1500 BST
Venue: Wembley Stadium
Referee: Mike Jones (Cheshire)
Bristol Rovers
The Pirates are in tremendous form and if they were to win today it will be their sixth consecutive victory.
They finished a place and a point above the Shrews in the league, prima facie signifying this game is a close call. However, as all Gasheads well know, in the past they haven’t been very successful when contesting play-off finals – indeed , any final.
The haunting facts remain, the stat books read, four finals – four defeats. The six-million dollar question is: can the Pirates muster-up a swashbuckling display - can they tame the Shrews?
Current form suggests they can do it – but this flies in the face of empirical, finals evidence. The jury is out – at least for a few minutes.
Shrewsbury Town
Evidently, the Shrews did extremely well in the play-offs, but only made them by the skin-of-their-teeth , edging out Stockport on goal difference.
This will be their second appearance in a Wembley final – It was in 1996 they were beaten by Rotherham in the Auto Windscreens Shield.
However, as recently as 2004 they did win a Conference play-off final. During these three subsequent years in league two, this terms 7th place has been their best position.
Analysis
There is an important goalkeeping irony in this final, in as much that the Shrews first-choice goalie can’t play, on account of him being a Pirate on loan.
Moreover, two midfield Shrews will be missing; Ben Davies who picked-up an injury in the semi-final, and David Edwards because he told the Chairman to stick his new contract where the sun don’t shine.
The Pirates suffer one loss in the shape of defensive player, Joe Jacobson, whose loan period has expired.
All game head-to-head statistics show that the Pirates have tamed the Shrews 25 times, the shrews replied, recording 15 wins – they have shared the spoils 13 times.
The Verdict
Lady luck has been with Shrewsbury, culminating in the good fortune of goal difference which catapulted them into this final. And as every man and his punting dog knows, lady luck always arrives unexpectedly and vanishes quickly and silently.
I therefore have no hesitation in stating that serendipity will not be on the Shrewsbury team bus to Wembley.
We have to be frank – can we really expect the Shrews to steal the treasure from the Pirates – the answer is a resounding no.
Lest not forget, they have lost their goalkeeper, have suffered 25 previous swashbuckling defeats. Notwithstanding they find themselves gracing the Wembley turf without two useful midfielders.
If Shrewsbury win this, I’ll start believing in miracles.
The Pick :
Bristol Rovers 2 – 0 Shrewsbury
BEST BETTING TIP :
Bristol Rovers to win @ 2.40 with Victor ChandlerRichard Lambert any time goalscorer @ 3.25 with >Bet365
