| |

It was a frustrating, albeit profitable .

My biggest fancy (Bristol City) took the lead at Hull six minutes from time, only for the hosts to equalise from the spot in stoppage time.

And to make it even more sickening, I greedily scoffed at the reduced odds on offer with Betfair and their 90 minutes promotion (if a team is winning when the clock hits 90, the bet is paid out) opting for the slightly enhanced odds which proved to be the bet's downfall.

I was fishing for big carp at the time so was following the action via radio from the banks of a 28-acre gravel pit and whilst I was painfully aware of the Robins' blunder, I was blissfully unaware of the chances Hakeem Odoffin was squandering for Rotherham.

All is forgiven though. He features again below along with another player from last week's edition. Call me lazy but I think the prices are still simply too big.


Huddersfield vs Stevenage

  • Kick-off time: 15:00 BST, Saturday

BEN WILES. The column’s savour on opening day weekend.

Exactly as predicted, he has started the season on fire. It was a difficult season for him last term but credit to the midfielder, he looks to have knuckled down over the summer (as he always does) and it has paid dividends.


Lincoln vs Barnsley

  • Kick-off time: 15:00 BST, Saturday

It might not be a tip for this weekend but one to bookmark for the future FOR SURE.

I am behind the curve but DONOVAN PINES is a set piece monster.

The American defender netted his third goal for Barnsley on Tuesday in just five appearances, an insane, albeit potentially unsustainable, goalscoring purple patch. Or is it?


Rotherham vs Bristol Rovers

  • Kick-off time: 15:00 BST, Saturday

Tuesday night, around 21:40 I suddenly felt very sick.

It was through no fault of my own, it was around the time HAKEEM ODOFFIN scrambled home a sloppy cross from the second phase of a set piece in Rotherham’s 2-1 Carabao Cup win over Crewe.

Rotherham United v Crewe Alexandra highlights

This was the tree I was barking up in the Millers' season opener: Odoffin’s set piece threat. At Exeter, the midfielder had two shots, hit the post and notched up an xG of 0.51.

His failure to net simultaneously dashed bets at 15/2 and 67/1 on Saturday and then to rub salt in the wounds he comes off the bench and scores in the cup on Tuesday.

I am not bitter though, promise, and I have certainly not learned my lesson because here he is back in the staking plan TO SCORE ANYTIME.

Originally, bet365 had him at 15/2 but have clipped him in a point following his exploits in midweek, nevertheless, I think it is still a bet and will be taking him all the way down to 5/1.


Generational wealth

If you're going to do it, you may as well do it properly and combine the goalscorers in anytime and brace trixie (3x doubles, 1x treble) combinations.

This way, when they score six goals, equally split between them on Saturday, we will be able to retire. It must be said, these selections are only worth loose change.

  • Pines, Wiles & Odoffin anytime trixie at 674/1 (bet365) or
  • Pines, Wiles & Odoffin brace trixie at 520,505/1 (bet365) or

Odds correct at 1500 BST (15/08/2024)

More from Sporting Life


Safer gambling

We are committed in our support of safer gambling. Recommended bets are advised to over-18s and we strongly encourage readers to wager only what they can afford to lose.

If you are concerned about your gambling, please call the National Gambling Helpline / on 0808 8020 133.

Further support and information can be found at and .