Football Bet of the Day: Don't Gif Mjallby a chance of avoiding defeat

Johan Mjallby - so good they named a team after him

Our betting journey around the football world continues, and Kevin Hatchard has squeezed himself into the pilot's chair, taking us to Sweden.

Last week, my colleague Tobias Gourlay took you on a dizzying journey which transported you lucky things to Scandinavia, the USA, Singapore and Brazil. Now it's my turn to whisk you around the planet in search of profits, so let's channel the spirit of globe-trotting, wager-loving cartoon lion Willy Fog and begin our journey.

We start the week in the Swedish Allsvenskan, as Gefle take on Mjallby (18:00 KO). Not Johan Mjallby of course - as good as the former Celtic defender was, he couldn't beat a whole team on his own - but the league's second-worst side. This is an intriguing relegation battle, as the hosts Gefle are only out of the relegation zone on goal difference, with Mjallby a point and two places below them.

Much like I did when I was a child, Anders Linderoth's Mjallby have a chronic case of travel sickness - they have lost six of their eight away games, and their only victory on the road came at rock-bottom Brommapojkarna. Confidence will have been boosted by last Sunday's home win over IFK Gothenburg, but that was their only victory in four games.

Gefle are hardly tearing the league up, but their recent form at their Stromvallen stadium is encouraging. Gif (as they are known locally) are unbeaten in their last three in front of their own fans, and in their last two home outings they beat Hacken and Halmstad, keeping clean sheets in both encounters. Midfielder Simon Lundevall is in excellent form, having bagged three goals in his last four appearances.

Bearing in mind that Mjallby have scored in all bar one of their away games, and that these sides drew 2-2 in the opening round of matches, you might be tempted by backing Yes in the Both Teams To Score market at 1.8810/11. That said, I'm plumping for the home win at 2.1211/10, as it looks a touch overpriced given Gefle's recent improvement, and Mjallby's hideous results away from home.

Recommended Bet

Back Gefle to beat Mjallby at 2.1211/10