Against All Odds: Defence to excel in France

It wasn't too long ago that Brest were playing footballing royalty

With four winners in the last five days, Paul Robinson is in good form and he is looking to start the week with a successful tip in France's Ligue Two Orange.

Brest v Nancy
Monday September 1, 19:30 BST

Brest were relegated from the top flight of French football a couple of seasons ago and while they were expected to go straight back up last year, they could only manage a seventh placed finish. The problem came in the attacking areas as with just 38 goals scored, only four other teams netted fewer. That led to their matches averaging a measly 1.84 goals each time, with 15 of their 38 going under 1.5.

It's already been a similar story for Alex Dupont's side this term as after an opening day 2-1 victory over Clermont, they have failed to score in their next three. Thankfully for them the defence managed to keep two clean sheets in a pair of 0-0 draws, but they lost last time - 1-0 at Orleans.

Nancy narrowly missed out on promotion last year as they finished fourth - one place and three points off the all-important top three. Again, like their opponents, scoring goals was the issue as they only registered 47. With 37 shipped at the other end, their matches averaged 2.21 goals per 90 minutes - 14 of which went under 1.5.

Pablo Correa's men are still unbeaten this term but as three of those were draws, they are only in 10th place. All four have finished with two goals or less  and that includes a 1-0 win and a 0-0 draw. 

When these two met last season the scores were 0-0 and 1-0 and nothing much has changed since. That's why, with over 1.5 goals trading at around the 1.51/2 mark, I have to make it my lay of the day.

Recommended Bet
Lay Over 1.5 goals in Brest v Nancy @ 1.51/2

2014 P/L (1pt each bet)

Wagered: 234 pts
Returned: 242.23 pts
P/L: + 8.23 pts (after commission)
(2013 P/L: + 3.80 pts)
(2012 P/L: + 9.60 pts)