September 30 2008

The Football League

Tuesday night sees the first South London Derby of the season and it is hardly a fixture Crystal Palace have had much to cheer about in recent years, by Danny Hayes.

You have to go back to 1996 for the last league victory for the Eagles over their local rivals. Within that time Palace had to suffer an anguishing relegation at the Valley, although much as changed since that despairing afternoon in 2005 with both sides currently finding themselves operating in the bottom half of the Championship.

With home advantage Palace head the market and after a much-improved performance at Ipswich on Saturday their price is fully justified. Charlton suffered a surprise loss at home to Sheffield Wednesday, where two defensive lapses cost them dearly.

It would be no surprise, therefore, to see Charlton try to soak up any Palace pressure and attempt to hit the Eagles on the counter-attack.

A draw for Alan Pardew’s men wouldn’t be a bad result and given they have kept clean-sheets in their last two away games they are more than competent at defending. With Palace still far from looking prolific in front of goal I can see the game turning into a frustrating 0-0 affair.

Back 0-0 Draw @ 17/2 with SportingBet

After finally putting up a successful bet at the weekend I will be looking to continue the luck with a Tuesday night treble. I fancy Bristol City to be too good for Plymouth, Burnley to continue their fine form at home to Watford and Cardiff to defeat Coventry, which is roughly 7/1 with all the leading bookmakers.