Betting Bad Part 6: Rooting against Rochdale

Ladies and gentlemen, we have a winner! Five attempts and a stupid chunk of money have been wasted through weeks 1-4, but the taste of sweet vindication was enjoyed by myself with last week’s victory. I will be honest, I so nearly cashed out, accepting a couple of pound loss, but I withheld, mainly because it was simpler than working out the difference of small decimals in my summarisation paragraph. I held off, getting more and more frustrated by the ineptitude from Falkirk in a must win game to see off winless Brechin City. Then, in the 93rd minute, Watford loan signing Alex Jakubiak to earn a huge three points for Falkirk, and more importantly, win a tidy £53.08.

Falkirk were the team to keep me on tenterhooks, but funnily enough, it was the Scottish side who were the only unders team on my threefold. Plymouth continued their push for promotion away to Oxford at 9/5, while Wycombe Wanderers beat Cheltenham with relative ease. As is the way with betting, it was not easy, not by a long shot, and a part of me would have loved to have had the bet tied up by half time. But, there are few feelings in the world as riveting as seeing the one team on your coupon that you have spent 90 minutes praying for winning with the last kick of the game!

I hope this isn’t a one off. I have covered by losses from the previous four weeks with this £53.08 win, but I am not here to cover losses, I am here to win big! To afford a trip to Argentina, to buy a house, or a car. But take heed, reader, this is one win out of hundreds of coupon loses. This was a fluke. You should continue to read on, not based on this being a potential winner, but as a potential loser. This way you will not who not to follow.

I don’t win very often, so I am privately going to celebrate, but you aren’t reading this to enjoy my success, you are reading this to laud over my failures. This was a blip, so it is only fair to you that I plunder on and tell you of my next betting slip so that we can enjoy my downfall together!

Reading v DERBY – 5/4

This selection from the Championship is probably the biggest longshot on the coupon this week. Derby are better than Reading, although the Royals are in desperate need of a win. Derby will never catch Wolves for top spot and are locked in a battle with Aston Villa and Cardiff for the second automatic promotion spot. The trip down to London won’t be easy for the Rams, I see a single goal deciding this match and I feel the visitors will be the one to get it. Derby will bring a loud and passionate support which may beat the home side on the decibel front! It is getting to the stage in the season where big teams need big performances, if Derby want to go up this year then this is the sort of game they have to win.

WIGAN v Rochdale – 4/9

Rochdale royally f****d me on a single bet last weekend, I gave them a 0% chance of getting a result against Spurs and bet heavily against them. They put in a herculean effort and forced a reply at Wembley, so fair play to them, it’s the magic of the FA Cup etc. But they are back to league action here, and their league form has been poor. Wigan are 3rd, two points behind Shrewsbury, while Rochdale are 23rd, ten points from safety. Both teams are desperate for a win and consequently, this match will be scrappy and low on quality, I imagine. Rochdale players will no doubt be a little worn down after their exploits last Sunday. With Wigan playing at home I have every confidence that they will win by a couple goals. What are the chances of Rochdale screwing me twice in six days…?

ST MIRREN v Brechin – 2/11

Banker. Top v bottom. 1st v 10th. 54 points v four points. Seventeen wins v zero wins. Jack Ross v Darren Dods. Apologies to any Brechin fans out there, I like your club and you’ve got a likable fan base, but your team is just not good enough this year. St Mirren will win and win big. They were spanked by 2nd placed Livingston last weekend and with a home tie against bottom of the league they will do their utmost to get back into the swing of things. Stake your life on this game. This week’s fourfold won’t win, but it won’t be failed based on this fixture.

RAITH v Arbroath – 4/5

Similarly to the above game, it’s hard to bet against top of the league. Raith have had a few slip ups this season, there is no denying that, but they have also won seventeen out of 26 games in League One. Arbroath are no mugs, they have won twelve of 24 games and sit third, but I believe that Raith at home will coast to victory. If they concede first they may be in trouble, but an early goal could see them hit three or four with ease. They score goals for fun and have the advantage of a home crowd behind them. 1st v 3rd is always a risk, but in Scotland the gap between teams can be substantial!

Bet slip:

Reading v DERBY – 5/4

WIGAN v Rochdale – 4/9

ST MIRREN v Brechin – 2/11

RAITH v Arbroath – 4/5

£5 placed at 5.91 returns £34.57

Remember folks, just because I got a decent win does not mean that my curse is truly broken, I have every certainty that my usual failures will rear their ugly head once more. I hope you win, but to do so, avoid these teams. I am cursed and will only lose my winnings from last week. The only exception is the St Mirren game, they WILL crush Brechin, and that is a Jack Wills guarantee. Do feel free to tweet @ByFarBlog with your own coupons, your belittling of my bet or your vicious rants if you are a Brechin fan who is unhappy at my displaying of fact. Until then, happy betting!

Money spent so far: £25

Winnings: £53.08

Profit – Loss: £33.08

Please gamble responsibly!