Midweek League One Betting: Miserly Blades To Blunt Swindon

Swindon boss Paolo Di Canio - and his famous green jacket

With a feast of midweek League One action to look forward to, Alan Dudman will be hoping his two favourite footballing icons - Paolo Di Canio and Eddie Howe, can make it a profitable Tuesday night.

Swindon Town 2.285/4 v Sheffield United 3.505/2, the draw 3.4012/5

I haven't delved too far into the crazy world of Paolo Di Canio this season, which is a strange thing to admit from a West Ham fan, and as someone who adored the maverick Italian. No one quite pulls off a green parka jacket like PDC, and no one does a post-match like him either.

It's been a losing last seven days for the Robins, a 3-2 defeat in the Capital One Cup to Aston Villa (in which they produced a storming fightback) was followed by an FA Cup exit at the hands of Macclesfield at the weekend. The latter was painful, and was Swindon's most miserable display of the season. Di Canio blamed the players completely, and described their approach as pathetic and rubbish. Which more managers should do.

The Wiltshire outfit also have quite a few injuries at the moment, and Aden Flint is suspended for Tuesday
night's game. However, Swindon are a rattling good team under the brilliant Di Canio, and have the second best home defence in the division - in which they currently sit in seventh.

If you like playing correct scores of 1-1 and 1-0, then Sheffield United are your team. They have recorded
six each of those results this season, and have the best away defence in League One. The Blades are extremely difficult to play against, and have yet to lose a game away from Bramall Lane.

The case for an unders bet is fairly simple here, given their respective records, with good opportunities to get to half-time using the In-Play options, and my much underrated market, the first half goals.

Recommended bets:
Back 0-0 @ 11.0010/1 (with view to trade In-Play)
Back under 2.5 goals @ 1.9010/11
Back under 1.5 goals @ 3.6013/5
Back draw in half time market @' 2.1411/10

Colchester United 2.506/4 v Notts County 3.002/1, the draw 3.6013/5

Any backer of Notts County is probably licking their lips in anticipation at the fact they are away from Meadow Lane. The Magpies are without a win on home soil since September - astonishing for a side that is a genuine promotion contender. However, their away form is excellent, scoring 14 goals and conceding just six on their travels - whilst picking up four wins and three draws.

County boss Keith Curle should have veteran forward Lee Hughes fit again after a virus, and he likes to line up a fairly attacking 4-3-3 with leading scorer Yoann Arquin spearheading the front trio. The Nottinghamshire club always have a goal in them and look a decent side going forward.

Whilst Curle enjoyed an FA Cup win at Portsmouth, his opposite number at Colchester didn't. Joe Dunne described the 3-1 defeat to Chelmsford as his worst day in football. However, the Irishman has created an excellent impression since taking over from John Ward earlier this season. The new boss has recorded six league wins already, and they've been achieved with a certain swagger and style.

Colchester will play football under Dunne, and they play and pass from the back. Their Arsenal loanee duo of Craig Eastmond and Sanchez Watt are both fleet of foot, and at times can play teams off the their park with their neat triangles.

The negative for the Essex club would be their defending of set-pieces on occasions, but I like their approach and I am sure there will be goals in this affair.

Recommended bets:
Back over 2.5 goals @ 1.9010/11

Bournemouth 1.674/6 v Shrewsbury Town 5.609/2, the draw 4.407/2

The are no secrets here, hence the lucrative odds on the visitors. But no prizes for guessing my favourite team at the moment. Bournemouth are flying under new manager Eddie Howe, and they smashed Dagenham and Redbridge 4-0 in their recent FA Cup success - a game Howe thought they could have scored more.

The Cherries are five unbeaten since the arrival of the golden boy, and players are discovering how good they are since his return. Footballers such as the talented Josh McQuoid (who failed to fire under previous boss Paul Groves) is now starting to find his scoring boots, whilst Shaun Macdonald is showing why he should be playing in the division above.

Howe's side have scored 14 goals in their last four games and showed some sensational attacking play during their FA Cup win. They have width, and are starting to use the 4-4-2 with one striker dropping to link the midfield play, whilst the full-backs push on with the width. The hosts have no injury worries, and should have too much for a Shrewsbury team that are leaking goals and are just one win from their last 10 in League One.

Recommended bets:
Back Bournemouth to win @ 1.674/6
Back over 3.5 goals @ 3.45n/a
Back over 2.5 goals @ 1.865/6