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Blue Square Premier Betting Preview

Alan Alger from league sponsors Blue Square takes a look at the betting markets in a tricky weekend for those in contention for the Blue Square Premier title.

The top three teams in the Blue Square Premier have difficult fixtures as they look to keep ahead of the chasing pack this weekend. Leaders Stevenage travel to Tamworth as the 3/4 favourites but will be mindful of an opening day home draw against the Midlands outfit which began their usual early season jitters.

Borough also lost at Ebbsfleet late last year and are a totally different betting proposition away from Broadhall Way, where they are unbeaten. Second placed Oxford United are the 8/13 favourites as they welcome Kidderminster Harriers to the Kassam Stadium.

The Harriers shocked Chris Wilder's side with a 3-1 win back in November last year and will be looking to complete a double under new boss Steve Burr. York City currently occupy third place and have the hardest task of all on paper, a trip to Kettering. York are slight favourites for this one at 6/4. A treble on the top three pays 6/1, but I can see at least one of them failing to make their mark.

Better bets can be had further down the table starting with Salisbury who travel to Altrincham. Alty are 13/10 favourites despite a home record which has seen them win only three from 13 in the league. They host an in-form Salisbury side who would be as high as eighth place in the table just involving away matches. That makes them a good value bet at 2/1.

Another away side who have improved are Wrexham. They travel to Eastbourne who have struggled of late. Wrexham are the 11/10 favourites to win on the South Coast and with their ability to score restored in the transfer window they look a good prospect.

Considering how poor Cambridge have been this season, the price for Crawley to register a home win against them on Saturday does look good. Crawley are just a shade odds-on at 19/20 to beat Martin Ling's strugglers who are on a run of five straight losses in the league.

Crawley have thrown in the odd stinker at home to unfancied sides but look a good bet to extend their five game unbeaten run here. Rushden & Diamonds look like by far the best win bet on the coupon even though they are a restrictive 4/6 to win at Grays.

The Essex outfit shouldn't put up too much of a fight against their former boss Justin Edinburgh in this one. Two outsiders that may make some appeal are Forest Green and Gateshead both at 11/2. Forest Green go to AFC Wimbledon, who have until recently made heavy work of their home matches.

Gateshead go to inconsistent Mansfield where they are a nice price to find only their third away win of the season. It would not surprise me to see two tight encounters fall the way of the outsider as Barrow host Luton and Histon host Hayes & Yeading.

Barrow are 23/10 to get back to winning ways in the league against The Hatters who keep frustrating their fans when looking to have turned the corner. Hayes & Yeading have had a difficult time of late but manager Garry Haylock could induce a big response against Histon who have won only two of their last ten.