Football Bet of the Day: Back The Dragon to make a flying start

I expect The Dragon to make light work of Vila Nova

Kevin Hatchard returned to winning ways in double-quick time yesterday, and now he's looking for another successful selection in Brazil.

Atletico GO v Vila Nova
Friday October 31, 21:30

It's always nice when you get a winner, but it's even nicer if that winner arrives in the first quarter of a match. We wanted our Algerian pals MC Alger and JS Kabylie to produce three goals between them, and by the 23-minute mark the hosts were 2-1 up. Happy days for us, but not for the home side, who went on to lose 4-2.

Today we make the trip from North Africa to South America, and we're all set for a clash from the second tier of Brazilian football. In-form Atletico GO are up against Vila Nova, who are staring relegation in the face after a dreadful campaign.

Atletico GO are in excellent shape, having won their last four matches, and having taken 17 points from the last 21 available. In their last 12 Serie B outings, Wagner Lopes' boys have racked up seven wins, three draws and just two defeats.

Atletico are nicknamed The Dragon, and their opponents Vila Nova are used to getting burned. They are second from bottom, 12 points adrift of safety, and their tally of 22 defeats is by far the highest in the division. They also have the worst defence is the league, having shipped 56 goals in 32 games.

The home side are rightly the favourites to win at 1.4640/85, and I'm confident they will claim all three points against a team that has lost ten of its last 15 matches. However, there is more profit to be gained from looking at how that victory might come about.

Atletico GO tend to be out of the blocks pretty quickly. In ten of their 14 league victories this term, Atletico have led at half-time. While Atletico tend to go "on the B of the BANG", Vila Nova are usually still straining to hear the starter's pistol. In 15 of their 22 league defeats this term, Vila Nova have trailed at the break.

On that basis, it seems sensible to back Atletico/Atletico in the HT/FT market at a much more attractive 2.245/4.

Recommended Bet

Back Atletico/Atletico in the HT/FT market at 2.245/4

2014 P/L (1pt per bet)

Points Staked: 46

Points Returned: 44.26

P/L: -1.74 points