Guiseley tight one to predict

IT’S often the case that punters who, when they see one side holding home advantage against longer-priced opponents, automatically place bets on what they perceive to be an easy home victory without taking account of the visitors’ form or of other factors, such as their readiness to scrap for a point.

It may, therefore, come as a surprise to learn that while Arsenal have taken ten points from their last six league duels, Saturday’s opponents Guiseley have secured nine points over the same period.

In a league table based upon recent results, Town would be sixth; Guiseley would be tenth. Despite this, the visiting side are an enormous 4/1 (Skybet) to win at the Moss Rose on Saturday, whereas Macclesfield are offered at 4/6 (Unibet) to register three points.

On paper, Macclesfield should win, but it promises to be extremely close, a conclusion which, according to the match stats team at bettingexpert.com , supplemented the appeal of William Hill’s 14/5 odds for it to finish all square.

Indeed, shrewder backers appear to have taken note of Guiseley’s current form: BetVictor.com report ‘steady’ support for their 3/1 chalked in favour of it finishing as a score draw, while Coral’s 9/2 for both halves to conclude with honours even has proved similarly appealing to switched-on punters.

Macclesfield won 2-1 when the pair met in September and the likelihood of another narrow Macclesfield victory, by a one goal margin, is considered a 11/4 chance by bet365, while more precise folk have the opportunity to take 888sport’s 13/2 odds marked about a 1-0 home success.

Odds courtesy of customisable odds comparison site www. smartbets.com - get the best odds from the Premier League to the National League online at www.smartbets.com