League Two Playoffs Semi-Final L1

[MickeyPaul]

10 May 17:35
Darlington v Rochdale 2.25 3.20 3.00

11 May 18:00
Wycombe v Stockport 2.30 3.10 3.00

Odds from Bet365

[MickeyPaul]

Rochdale FC Darlington FC 3:1 Tue 01-01-2008
Darlington FC Rochdale FC 1:1 Tue 02-10-2007

Wycombe Stockport County 0:0 Mon 24-03-2008
Stockport County Wycombe 6:0 Sat 08-12-2007

[MickeyPaul]

You'll be wanting links to reports of those games too I imagine. Lots to be learned in the reports although it looks like Wycombe have struggled a wee bit against Stockport this season.

And Rochdale won't fear Darlington.

[Scottieboy08]

Originally Posted by MickeyPaul

And Rochdale won't fear Darlington.

Is 3.00 looking good there then Mickey?

[MickeyPaul]

Not as good as the 3.20 @ Stan James and Betdirect

I think Rochdale had one of the best away records in the league, Scottie and I'm not sure Darlington's form was great last few weeks. Just looking now and they hadn't won in 8 before the 0-2 at already up, Peterbrough. That's not good.

I'll check the stats and obviously a read up on the head to heads this season is important. I'm interested in the away sides to nick something though at first glance.

[Scottieboy08]

Looking possibly at a Rochdale and draw Wycombe/Stockport double in this div I think.

Seems both Wycombe and Stockport have similar records since they met in the goalless draw (Wycombe 11 from 6, Stockport 13 from 7) in March, albeit Stockport's games looked slightly tougher.

[MickeyPaul]

Wycombe a good home record this season I think but never seem to score many from what I remember as I've backed them often enough this season and been left biting my nails. Just looking at their home stats and..... you have to go down to 14th placed Brentford to find a team scoring less at home and even then it was close. Bloody tight at the back though - only conceded 15. That's well hard. Tough one this but I'm already scribbling down the under 2.5

[Scottieboy08]

Under 2.5 looks good. What price would we be looking at Mickey?

[MickeyPaul]

It'll be crap, Scottie that's for sure. Usually when I get interested in an unders game the odds are around 1.66-1.7 and I end up a little deflated. I can't actually find any overs/unders odds for this.

Hang about. Stan James go 1.66 for the unders. Bah.

[kompressaur]

Darlington v Rochdale

This is a real tricky one to call but Darlington get the vote on the back of having home advantage and gaining a morale boosting win at Peterborough last weekend.

It has been a real tough few months for Dave Penney having lost most of his strikers in a woeful injury crisis, but the fact Darlo managed to bank their play-off place shows a lot about the character of this team and with just five defeats at home this season, the Quakers are a tough nut to crack and have one of the best home defensive records in the division.

Penney has revealed that certain star name players might be the in the frame to return for this one, but he has been keeping his cards close to his chest this week and will surely look to spring a surprise on Rochdale, who have been fantastic on the road this season but who might have question marks about how well they will cope with the pressure of being in the play-offs.

Rochdale have one of the youngest squads in the division and while they will head into the play-offs in good form this will be unchartered waters for most of the people associated with the club, and that could prove to be a telling factor if Penney can get some of his experienced heads back.

It's hard to fault Rochdale's record on the road this season, but a lot has to be said for how Darlo dug deep to bounce back to form at London Road last weekend, and while this will be tight, tense game (like the rest of them), the hosts could just sneak this one and at 11/8 look well worth having a nibble on.

Wycombe v Stockport

This promises to be one of the best games of the weekend, with two decent footballing sides going head-to-head, with both sides in a decent run of form.

The fact Wycombe have finally made the play-offs after so many years of near misses might make them dangerous proposition, but at the same time it's hard not to think back to how they have crumbled in recent years when promotion has been there for the taking, and with that in mind the vote goes to Stockport to leave Adams Park with the win on Sunday.

You can't fault Wycombe's finish to the season with three wins from their last four, but if you take a look at the opposition they played only one of the sides were in the top 10, and that was Bradford in 10th, and prior to that they played three of the top four sides and failed to win any of them, despite two being at home.

Stockport were one of those sides who managed to claim a goalless draw at Adams Park and being the form side in the division they are fancied to nick a 1-0 lead tohead back to Edgeley Park next week.

Jim Gannon's men have been superb over the last four months and have beaten the very best and worst this division has to offer, and while Wycombe are tough to beat at home, Stockport have been superb on the road all season, winning 13 of their 23 games, and with just three defeats from their last 15 games it would take a brave man to bet against the Hatters downing the Chairboys in their own backyard.

Bettingzone

[MickeyPaul]

Is anyone watching this can tell me how Rochdale are doing? I'd have maybe fancied chancing the draw still although it's difficult when you can't see what's happening. Really tight?

[MickeyPaul]

Bah.

[slick]

they just equalised m8, been riding their luck a wee bit at times but the games wide open now, i wouldent be surprised if Darlington nabbed a winner as they have been the better side and creating more chances.

[MickeyPaul]

I know they equalised, Slick. I don't randomly bah you know. I was just looking at Betfair and watching the odds for the draw creep up but I just sat staring blankly. I hope Rochdale can hold on for something though.

[slick]

aye but i posted b4 that bah , u must have hit reply a midges dick b4 me.

if anything that goal has turned the match as Darlington now look on the back foot and Rochdale the more likely to score.