Unlucky? Who knows and I’m sure if we were it will even itself out. Barnet led 2-0 before drawing 2-2 andRennes still can’t find the net anddrew 0-0 for the 4^th time in 5 away games so both those bets were void. The loser was NottsCounty where Rochdale won 2-1 making both bets a loser.

35 bets (32 points staked) :: 12 win – 4 void – 1 half void/loss – 18 losses :: +1.49

When Barnet were 2-0 up last night I was thinking of words like ‘inspired’ but two quick goals and I was thinking of words like ‘frustration’. At least we didn’t lose with the draw no bet. The other game was a loser and if we could have blown up at 70 mins would have had a nice winer but we couldn’t do that and we have had late goals go in our favour earlier this season.

No corner bets as nothing stood out and with managerial changes this week it makes it a bit more volatile. Just one bet.

Valenciennes v Rennes (France Ligue 1: Wednesday 7pm)

I never watch French football and no very little about it but I have been on holiday there a few times and eaten horse for lunch in some rural bar. Something about Rennesdraws me to them time and time again. They don’t score many but amazingly have kept a clean sheet in 5/10 matches this season. Today they travel to Valenciennes who don’t seem to have the home presence they had last season and have lost 6 of their last 7 games. Rennes are unbeaten in 8 matches and if they can just start scoring away can start winning and with Valenciennes in such poor form this looks ideal. Rennes have played 4 of the top 5 times in the league anddrew 3 and won 1 which I think shows their quality. I can’t see Rennes losing and so the 0 Asian handicap/Draw No Bet looks ideal here and with close to evens being offered I am very happy with this and will go 2 points.

++ Asian Handicap – Rennes (0) @ 1.95 on Stan James/Bet Direct (2pts)

2 point staked.

It was a very short roundup at the weekend and I didn’t get the chance to talk about Barcelona. They were absolutely stunning against Almeria and I will be looking to back them on the handicap this season as they score goals for fun. I’ve not been their biggest fan lately but with Eto’o back to his best they have a formidable team. Gijón won again this time 3-0 at Deportivo and took an amazing 5,000 fans along. Considering Osasuna must have had about 25 at the most when they came to Gijón the week before this fanatical support will serve them well.

I don’t have time to look at all the best today as I need to go through all the prem matches for corners tomorrow so will a couple of bets today and a couple tomorrow. Swansea look a big price at Wolves considering they seem to have found their feet and beat Wolves 3-1 a few weeks ago at home.

On to the matches.

Shrewsbury v Barnet (English League Two: Tuesday 7:45pm GMT)

At first glance this looks a home win as Shrewsbury sit in 5^th and Barnet are in 18^th but it’s the more recent form that needs to be looked at. Shrewsbury took the maximum 9 points from their first 3 matches but then have taken 13 points from the next 10. Barnet on the other hand took 1 point from their first 7 games and then 10 from the last 6. They have won 2 of the last 3 games away and although they have drawn and lost in their last two matches those games were against the teams in the top 3 places. Shrewsbury have just one win in the last 5 games, but do boast an excellent home record so could be too strong for Barnet. However, their goalie is still out and at 6.5 Barnet look far too big. I will err on the side of caution and take the draw no bet option.

++ Draw No Bet – Barnet (0) @ 4.5 on Bet365/Paddy Power (1pt)

NottsCounty v Rochdale (League Two: Tuesday 7:45pm GMT)

Not really one for betting on draws as I find them hard to call but I have kept an eye on Notts County since last season as they can’t help themselves but draw. This season they have drawn 9/13 matches and 5/6 at home and you may think that’s a freak but last season they drew 18/46 games (39%). Rochdale arrive and they have drawn 4/6 away games this season and although they are in good form Notts County are playing well too and the draw looks likely even before you take into account that 14/26 matches these two teams have played this season were draws. That’s 54% and odds of 1.86 so the draw at 3.4 is worth betting and so is 1-1 as 8/26 matches have been that score.

++ Win Market - Draw @ 3.4 on Skybet/Betfred/William Hill (½pt)

++ Correct Score – 1-1 @ 7 on Betfred/Blue Sq/Skybet (½pt) – Betfair is nearly always better on correct score odds

2 points staked.

I’m pretty sure there will be one 2 point bet tomorrow as well as a corner bet or two.

I’m getting in early this weekend and its’ another bad weekend. Weeks 8 and 9 had an eleven point profit but 10, 11 and 12 have lost seven points. At least we’re still in profit and good times must be around the corner. At the bets this weekend were draws so at least were close to winning and I would back them all again tomorrow if I could. Valencia was the biggest let down I think.

I really don’t like to moan about nearly selections but wish I had taken Liverpool and of the 6 other bets on my shortlist 4 were winners so can’t be doing too much wrong.

Lots of games in midweek mean there is the chance to find some decent bets and hopefully get back some of the money from the bookies.

28 bets (25 points staked) :: 12 win – 2 void – 1 half void/loss – 14 losses :: +2.49

* This does not include the 2 antepost bets.

Will look at the games tonight and on Monday and post up bets then. Good to see both Carew and Adebayor score and they have 5 and 4 goals respectively.

Added the cards tab to the mini-console this week and very happy with the site at the moment. If you do have any comments then please email me at mail@simplesoccerstats.com.

I have added some more bookmaker links to the site. Mainly this is because I don’t earn any money from the site so any people signing up to accounts will generate me some money and I will stick to bookmakers I think are relevant. I have Bet365 and Betfair on the main page and added Sporting Index banners like the one below to the mini console.

I think the mini console lends itself to spread betting and after dabbling last season I am back on it again with corner bets. The offer they have is true and just 3 bets risking £20 allows you to have £100 credited to your account. It was that or a free £200 bet on over/under in a game and I remember ringing them up to bet it on a champions league game between Valencia and Schalke or Bremen but took the cash. It was very lucky as I was going over and the game ended 0-0.

Some interesting games around this week and Liverpool look overpriced at 5 against Chelsea. Both teams have been impressive this season and I think the price factors in Liverpool’s previously bad form against the big 4, but with a win already against Man United this season could snatch a win or easily draw.

On to this weeks games. No corner bets and all the others are win bets.

Brentford v Shrewsbury (English League Two: Saturday 3pm BST)

I was surprised to see the odds on this game and had to check the team news to make sure Brentford didn’t have high profile absentees. Brentford sit in 2^nd with Shrewsbury in 4^th and just 2 points separate them. Since losing on the opening day Brentford have not lost in 11 matches, winning 6 and at home have won 4 and drawn 2. Shrewsbury have won just once in the last 4 games and away from home haven’t won since their first away game in August. If we look at the straight stats we have 4 Brentford home wins and 2 Shrewsbury losses in 12 games (Bees at home and Shrews away) which  is odds of 2 so the 2.4 looks good value and worth a bet with the good Brentford form.

++ Win Market – Brentford @ 2.4 on Ladbrokes (1pt) – 2.375 on several others

Toulouse v Monaco (France: Saturday 8pm Local Time)

I looked at various ways to bet this but have come back to the win bet every time. Toulouse lost away to Bordeaux last week but are in 5^th place and just 3 points off leaders Lyon. They had won in a row prior to the defeat and at home have 3 wins and a draw with the draw against hard to beat Rennes. Monaco have drawn 2 and lost 2 away scoring just one goal and have lost 4 of the last 6 games. It looks quite a simple call on the price so fingers crossed we get the result.

++ Win Market – Toulose @ 2.1 on General (1pt)

Recreativo Huelva v Valencia (Spain La Liga : Sunday 5pm Local Time)

Valencia have started the season very well with 6 wins and 1 draw, scoring 17goals and conceding just 4. They sit on top of La Liga and visit Recreativo who have won just once in 7 matches, on the opening day, and lost 4 of the last 6. Last time at home they got beaten 4-0 by local rivals Malaga and selling Sinima-Pongolle to Atletico was a big loss for them as was their on loan Villarreal defender being sold to Barcelona. Looking at Valencia away games and Recre home games an away win would win 4/6 times which is odds of 1.5 and I would think Valencia should be more like 1.73. Stan James offer 1.95 on the win and I will go with that.

++ Win Market – Valencia @ 1.95 on Stan James (1pt) – 2.17 on Stan James and 2.23 on Pinnacle

3 points staked on the weekend.

Good luck in whatever bets you do.

Looks like the bear was right. Derby managed to lose 3-2 and then Reading could only win 2-1 so all the bets were losers. Still happy with the reasoning and will be back for more at the weekend when hopefully we’ll be due a winner or two.

28 bets (24 points staked) :: 11 win – 2 void – 1 half void/loss – 14 losses :: +5.49

Had a look at the Champions League and nothing looked that great. The two Madrid teams had decent odds and I could see them both winning but I’ll just watch them. Two games in the Championship have got me betting, even though Bear always tells me to avoid the Championship as a general rule of thumb. We shall see.

Blackpool v Derby (English Championship: Tuesday 7:45pm BST)

Derby gave us a big chunk of profit this season with their 2-1 away win at Norwich and I hope we will get a similar result tonight. Once again the correct score does appeal and 0-2 would be my preferred choices but I’ll play safe and go with the Asian Handicap. Blackpool have drawn their last 4 games and at home have won just once and have not scored more than one goal in any of their 5 home games. I think Derby have turned a corner and I do think Paul Jewell is an excellent manager and it was just a matter of time before he did. Derby lost 3 of their first 4 games but since then (30^th August) are unbeaten in 7 with 4 wins and 3 draws and 3 of those wins were in the last 4 games with the draw against 2^nd place Birmingham. 4 out of 5 Blackpool home games and 4 out of 5 Derby away games have been under 2.5 goals so we could have a low scoring game.

++ Asian Handicap – Derby (0) @ 2.04 on Ladbrokes (1pt) – 2.06 on Pinnacle

Reading v Doncaster (English Championship: Tuesday 8pm BST)

At the weekend Reading lost to Preston and Doncaster managed to get a draw but this game looks like a banker. Reading have won all 5 of their home games scoring 17 goals and winning by 2 or more goals every game. Doncaster won their first away game at Derby but since have lost all 4 games and the last 2 have both been 4-1 defeats. Pinnacle offer 1.6 on Reading -1 Asian Handicap and I will take some of that but won’t put that sort of bet up here. It takes a bit of time and effort to get a Pinnacle account up and running but they really are the best on these bets time and time again. Reading on the -1.5 AH returns over evens and I’m happy with that but will split the stake here and also have a bet on the number of goals Reading score. They have scored 4 or more in 3/5 games and Doncaster have let in 4 or more in 2/5 games. That looks like evens to me and so 5.5 on Paddy Power looks worth a risk. ½point on both of those and I will also be sticking a lucky tenner on Reading to win 6/1 at 125/1! I like the look of a Reading/Barcelona double at 2.16.

++ Handicap Betting (NOT ASIAN as better odds) - Reading (-1) @ 2.2 on Bet365/Betfred/Stan James (½pt)

++ Number of Team Goals – Reading to score 4 or more goals @ 5.5 on Paddy Power (½pt)

2 points staked.

Very late with this roundup. Was at the Molinon to see Sporting Gijón get their second consecutive win and move up the table with a huge victory that they made very hard. Real Madrid won the derby against Atletico and probably deserved it although the officials had the biggest impact on the game. They do just lose it sometimes!

In terms of bets we had a winner, a loser and one void. Peterborough needed a 90^th minute equaliser to draw 3-3 at Carlisle and maybe I took a bit of a risk with that game. A safer Asian Handicap bet would have given us a weely profit. Rennes drew 0-0 so have drawn 0-0 3 of their 4 away games now. Bolton outscored Blackburn 11-8 on corners so that was a winner and overall a -0.1 point loss.

25 bets (22 points staked) :: 11 win – 2 void – 1 half void/loss – 11 losses :: +7.49

* This does not include the 2 antepost bets.

Full program in the England midweek, bar the Premiership, so I’ll look at them later and should have some midweek bets.

Good luck in whatever bets you do.

Made a bit more progress on the mini console today and although I said I would have removed the beta wording this week it still remains but should be taken off early next week.

I had to laugh this week when I saw the match fixing allegation regarding the Norwich andDerby match as that was where most of our seasons profit has come from!

Nice to have a full set of games to look at but it is still very early in the European leagues and more patterns need to develop. Then we should be able to find HT/FT, over/under, HT result bets amongst others. I got my ticket for the Sporting Gijón game against Osasuna on Sunday and I do fancy Gijón to win but is unlikely I’ll ever include them in any bets on this. You have to avoid betting with your heart rather than your head as the bookie often ends up the winner. They are down the bottom of the table but the way the fixture list is Gijón, Racing Santander and Real Betis  are the only teams to have been through that 4 game mangle (Sevilla, RM, Barca and Villarreal) and they lie 14^th, 19^th and 20^th. Once a few more teams have been through that the bottom half should even out. The Madridderby is on Saturday night as well and that should be a good match. Just hope Atletico actually stand up and play but I could see a draw there.

On to this weeks games

Bolton v Blackburn (English Premiership: Saturday 3pm BST)

This is the 3^rd season where I have dig around corner bets and I like to think I have a decent angle on things and know what sort of prices I want to see when I see the fixtures. This game stuck out when I saw it and hope I have made the right choice. The Asian Handicap corner line is very tight here as it’s Bolton -0.5. I was expecting to see something a little higher and think the figures might be slightly uneven for Bolton as they had a game against Arsenal where the gunners had 10 more corners. In the other 2 Bolton home games they have won by 2 and 1 corner and average a respectable 6 corners in these 3 games. Taking their away games as the average stays at 5.8 compared to the Blackburn average of 4.5 in all games and 4.6 in the away games. Looking back at last seasons data the line we have would have produced a winner in 23/38 games (Bolton at home andBlackburn away) which is 60% and equates to odds of 1.65 which is much less than the 1.9 on offer. I think it will be close but hopefully close our way.

++ Asian Handicap Corners – Bolton (-0.5) @ 1.9 on Bet365 (1pt)

Carlisle v Peterborough (English League One: Saturday 3pm BST)

Carlisle started the season on fire with 4 wins and a draw but since then have been in freefall losing 5 in a row. I have just seen on the BBC site they also have a loan goalkeeper making his debut and so probably wouldn’t want Peterborough to be coming to town. In a reverse to Carlisle Peterborough started badly losing 3 of the first 4 but since then are unbeaten in 6 games with 4 of them wins over Leeds and the MK Dons who are both in the top 6. The evens quote on draw no bet appeals but I think I will risk the win bet here.

++ Win Market – Peterborough @ 2.8 on Sporting Bet/Ladbrokes (1pt)

Auxerre v Rennes (Ligue 1 France: Sunday 5pm CET)

The French league is a bit of a funny one in that Lyon have dominated it for so long and it is also characterised by a lot of low scoring games. Before the international break Rennes beat Lyon 3-0 which was huge. Rennes’s problem so far this season has been too many draws as they have only lost 1 of 8 games, but have drawn 4. On the opening day they drew 4-4 with Marseille but since then they have been tighter than a tic tac lid letting in 3 goals in 7 games, are unbeaten in the last 6 and leaked just one goal in the last 5. Auxerre have been a bit inconsistent and lost half their games this season and the 3 wins they have came against teams in the bottom 4. Rennes themselves have not scored away yet this season and survived on their defensive record. I hope they can break that this time and with their run of form I think it’s unlikely Auxerre can win so the Asian Handicap is the obvious bet.

++ Asian Handicap/Draw No Bet – Rennes (0) @ 2.2 on Bet365 (DNB) (1pt) – 2.17 on Stan James (DNB) and 2.23 on Pinnacle (AH)

3 points staked on the weekend.

Good luck in whatever bets you do.

I guess a weekend like this was due after the recent run but it’s no fun. Leeds beat Brighton 3-1, scoring two goals in the last 2 minutes of the first half. Looking back I wonder if this was the wrong choice and if I have a slightly anti-Leeds bias. I’ll be wary of opposing them again this season. Wycombe could only draw 1-1 at Hereford and I would bet on them in that game again every time. I was a bit risky on the scores but the straight win bet would have lost as well so that was always going to be a point lost.

Be nice to get back to some proper games next weekend and looking forward to watching the Madrid derby on Saturday night and a trip to the Molinon on Sunday for the Gijón v Osasuna clash.

22 bets (19 points staked) :: 10 win – 1 void – 1 half void/loss – 10 losses :: +7.59

* This does not include the 2 antepost bets.

Just a couple of fixtures tonight and the usual one Conference game on Thursday so I won’t be betting again till the weekend. Will try to get the bets up on Friday afternoon.

Good luck in whatever bets you do.

Been working hard on the console all day and the main console is done. I will remove the beta wording next week and will concentrate on adding cards to the mini-console and then correcting any snags there.

Less games this weekend and so naturally less selections

Grimsby v Wycombe (English League Two: Saturday 3pm BST)

This is one of those games that you look at and see a team that looks good value to win so then its about trying to extract the value bet from it. Unbeaten Wycombe are away at winless Grimsby and the stat that sticks out for me is that Grimsby have scored just one home goal in 4 games and Wycombe are yet to let in a goal on their travels. Does that mean each that these runs are likely to come to an end? I am happy to go along with the stats and the point to Wycombe winning to 0 but the odds on this are just 3.4. Wycombe’s scores away have been 0-1, 0-2, 0-0 and 0-1 so I am happy to cover 0-1 and 0-2 with ½ a point each, especially as 2/4 Grimsby home games have ended 0-2.

++ Correct Score – 0-1 and 0-2 @ 8 (Ladbrokes/Stan James) and 9.5 (Paddy Power/William Hill) (2 x ½pt = 1pt)

Leeds v Brighton (English League One: Saturday 3pm BST)

After winning 4 on the bounce Leeds went down to Peterborough last weekend and then also went out of the Johnstones Paint trophy in midweek. Maybe that’s no big deal but they look a quite a short price against a Brighton team who are unbeaten away. Brighton are not winning many games but have only lost 2 of their 9 and I think Leeds name has an effect on their price. At Elland Road this season they have W2, D1 and L1 with the wins coming against Crewe and Hereford who have amassed one away point in 8 games between them. I am very tempted by the 6 available on Brighton to win but will play safe as the Asian Handicap offers a nice line and a nice price. Brighton can be backed at above evens on +0.5, +1 and I think it’s worth a bet as a Leeds victory by more than one goal is the only way we lose the whole point.

++ Asian Handicap – Brighton (+0.5, +1) on VC @ 2.08 (1pt) - 2.05 on Bet365 (no Pinnacle price available but normally it’s the best)

2 points staked on the weekend.