Welcome to another weekly column previewing the weekend's betting action. There's little to excite us in the Premier League this weekend so we'll start off a bit lower down in the Championship as Cardiff travel to Portsmouth. Here we have two clubs with a similar debt levels but who have approached their problems in different ways. Cardiff have continued to splash the cash in a last ditch effort to get to the land of milk and honey, whilst Pompey will be aiming to avoid a trip to Hartlepool next season.
Cardiff did the business for us last week and are worth supporting again at 5/4 with Coral to see off a threadbare Pompey side.
The top game in League Two this weekend sees two unbeaten sides in Port Vale and Torquay clash at Vale Park. One of these sides may find out they've overachieved so far this season and it will be interesting to see how Vale bounce back from their 6-0 midweek drubbing. Torquay have still not conceded in the League since April and could be worth a few quid at 2/1.
Meanwhile, the mighty Shrews travel to Stockport, a game in which they are 11/8 favourites to win. This should be a good test of Salop's promotion credentials as ex-Town gaffer Paul Simpson will have his side fired up. As a betting proposition not much appeals though. Benji Van Den Broek is still priced wrongly at 16/1 to score first, however he's unlikely to start; and after not getting a run for our money last week (where he came on for just 2 minutes) we are reluctant to back him again as last scorer.
Elsewhere in League Two, Barnet host Bury and will be looking to get a reaction to their 7-0 pasting last week. Bury are one of a few League Two sides who have had a high turnover of players in the close season and they are just starting to show signs of gelling. After losing to Port Vale, the Shakers have beaten Oxford away and drawn with Northampton. They are good value at 6/4 with Coral to deepen Mark Stimson's worries at Barnet.
Finally in League Two, Morecambe at home to Gillingham look at a decent price at 13/10. The Shrimpers had a great record at home last season and come up against a Gillingham side managed by Andy Hessenthaler who has major injury worries to contend with this week.
Don't forget Shrewsweb's betting partner Coral are offering a free bet of up to £40 if you place a bet of up to £20. Help raise funds for STFC by opening an account today - but remember the golden rule of betting - only bet with funds that you can afford to lose!
Coming soon - we will start a formal tipping guide with a staking plan - which if you follow til the end of the season should have you quids in! We like to keep our powder dry in the first month or so of the season but watch this space...
