Goal times offering good value betting

ANALYSIS by the match stats team at bettingexpert.com suggests that punters could be ignoring a relatively straightforward strategy when placing their weekend bets.

Instead of drooling over the lengthy odds against a misfiring forward notching a hat-trick, for instance, it appears that backers would do better to examine the time at which goals are scored.

Last weekend, for example, the number of goals scored in England’s top four divisions totalled 102, of which 56, or 55 percent, came in the second half. Rarely does this ratio change, although it’s worth noting that this is an aggregate total (the same ratio in the Championship was 67 per cent). Nevertheless, the 11/10 odds posted by Ladbrokes against the second period being the highest-scoring of the two when Rochdale host Oldham on Saturday looks attractive, as does Paddy Power’s 10/11 for the game’s final goal to arrive after the 72nd minute.

The sides drew 0-0 in last term’s corresponding fixture, an unusual outcome considering that in four of their last five duels, one of the sides has scored three goals. Home advantage accounts for Rochdale’s even money starting price (Ladbrokes) whereas Oldham, who have scored only five goals in seven away matches this term, kick off as William Hill’s 3/1 outsiders. Skybet post 13/5 about the draw.

As statistics show that most league contests display a bias towards the goalscoring action being concentrated in the second half, the 7/2 offered by Marathonbet against Rochdale emerging victorious following a drawn first period is worthy of note; alternatively, 188bet mark 11/2 against it ending one apiece, while Matchbook. com offer 6/1 against Rochdale recording a 1-0 win.

All odds are supplied by the customisable odds comparison site, SmartBets.com the number one destination for finding the best League One odds.