English League One
2013-03-16 - Oldham Athletic vs Bournemouth
A Sports Betting Pick by ArmchairPunter
Football – England – League One
Saturday 16th March 2013 – Kickoff: 1500hrs
OLDHAM ATHLETIC
Relegation-threatened Oldham Athletic host a jittery Bournemouth side at Boundary Park on Saturday afternoon with both sides looking for all three points for differing reasons.
Firstly, I’ll focus on the hosts Oldham Athletic as they currently sit in 21st place occupying the last remaining relegation place and two points adrift of Scunthorpe United and the safety position of 20th. Oldham will be looking to avoid a third successive league defeat when Bournemouth come to town following losses to Sheffield United 0-2 and Tranmere Rovers 0-1 away last weekend.
Just a few weeks ago, this would have looked like an unavoidable third defeat on the trot given Bournemouth’s impressive run of form, but The Cherries have slumped recently which gives Oldham some hope here. Oldham’s home record however isn’t great which stands at 5-3-9 17/21 with only relegation rivals Bury (14 goals) and Hartlepool United (16 goals) scoring fewer home goals than The Latics so far this season.
In fact, Oldham have failed to score on six separate occasions while keeping just three clean sheets at home all season which could spell trouble for a Bournemouth side who are capable of scoring goals both home and away.
BOURNEMOUTH
Onto Bournemouth now then, and The Cherries ended a disastrous sudden slump in form of five defeats on the trot with a much-needed away win and three points at Stevenage on Tuesday night in a tense 1-0 win.
However, Bournemouth still remain on the fringes of the play-off pack following their recent dismal run but they do have the added incentive of a chance of getting back into the play-off positions if they take another three points at Oldham on Saturday.
Bournemouth’s away form is still pretty good at 8-4-7 28/32 and they’ve won four of their last six on their travels which still puts them in a good position at Boundary Park I feel and it’s obviously still not too late for them to mount a challenge for at least a play-off place and with The Cherries just four points adrift of second placed Sheffield United, they could still yet achieve automatic promotion.
THE BETTING VERDICT:
Oldham have recently lost to Sheffield United and Tranmere, and just a few weeks ago, Bournemouth were also at the same level of these two.
So if Bournmouth can recapture that earlier form on the back of their win at Stevenage in midweek, they could take all the points here today; however I’ll back Bournemouth with the draw no bet option just to be on the safe side.
Bournemouth to win perhaps 1-0.
The Pick :
Oldham Athletic 0 Bournemouth 1
Gooner’s Statistical Value Bet
