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Here are your subscription selections for this weekend…

Wolves v Plymouth

Wolves have won only once in their last 10 games (we have laid them a couple of times during that run) and take on struggling Plymouth this weekend. Plymouth got a great draw against Sheffield Utd last time out, though, and generally raise their game against the bigger sides. Despite their struggles, they do have an astute manager in Paul Sturrock, and he will do his utmost to expose Wolves’ insecurities. The most attractive thing about this fixture is the odds; Wolves are as short as 1.44 in places, and at that price – getting over 2/1 on them not winning – they simply have to be a lay. It is also tempting to play Plymouth at a huge 7/1 for a small stake.

LAY Wolves @ 1.56 (Betfair) – 1 point liability

Plymouth @ 7/1 (Betfair) – 0.5 points

Brighton v Crewe

Having won only 9 games previously (and only 2 from 20 immediately before) Crewe have now won four of their last five games, and are a team bang in form. Gudjon Thordason, since he took over at Christmas, has lifted Crewe from being adrift at the bottom to only two points from safety, and they are a team rejuvenated under him. Brighton secured a shock win away to Millwall in the immediate wake of Micky Adams departure, and drew with Northampton last time out, but have just had an approach for Jim Gannon rejected (despite him stating his position was ‘untenable’) and may start to feel rudderless with no new manager in the offing. An in form side at a stuttering one riddled with uncertainty, in similar league positions but with Crewe on the up, makes the 3/1 available attractive.

Crewe @ 3/1 (SkyBet) – 1 point

Stockport v Huddersfield

An upper mid-table clash, with either of these sides more than capable of reaching the League 1 playoffs. However, home advantage is huge, with Huddersfield on a run of three consecutive away defeats and four defeats in five. Stockport have a decent home record, with three wins in five, and their only recent defeat was to table topping MK Dons. Indeed, over the season they have only really struggled against the very top sides, which Huddersfield are not, certainly away from home. Furthermore, Stockport will be buoyed by the loyalty shown by Jim Gannon (discussed above) and will want to repay him.

Stockport @ 11/8 (Bet365, BlueSq, SkyBet) – 1 point

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Premiership

Two sides stand out in the Premiership this weekend – Aston Villa, who rested most of their first team against CSKA Moscow and are home to a Stoke side who travel terribly, and Everton, who are performing well under Moyes again, with only one loss in fourteen. Their very recent form may look a little sketchy but consider that they have played Villa, Man Utd, Liverpool three times, and Arsenal in their last eight and it gives their run a far better complexion. Neither side offer outstanding value, with Villa trading at around 4/9 and Everton at 1/2, but doubling the two gives odds against which represents decent value.

Everton and Villa double @ 1/2 and 4/9 (pays 2.16 as a double) (Betfred) – 1 point

CSKA were comfortable winners over Aston Villa reserves last night, triumphing 2-0 and dumping Villa out of the UEFA Cup.

We advised a 2 point bet on CSKA earlier in the week, when the price was as high as 4/6. That was a good winner for us.

Our weekend selections will be up shortly…

It was an unusually lean night for Wakuba, with only our lay of Oldham paying off. Remember that Wakuba is a long term strategy; there will be losing days, and weeks – our aim is to win a 10-20% margin in the long term. It is not betting, it’s investing…

Read here to remind yourself of our aims and goals – and stick with us for long term gains.

Here is our free selection from the midweek fixtures – subscribe now to access all of our subscription content…

Swindon v Hartlepool

Before you read this I have to admit I am a Swindon fan… but we have been vastly improved under Danny Wilson, and are in a decent run of form (undefeated in five). We were cruelly denied against both Leicester and Millwall, each time conceding equalisers after leading for much of the game; and last time out we came back from 2-0 down to win 4-2 against Scunthorpe. That was a real feel-good win after letting the previous two games slip away, and we should carry that momentum into the game against Hartlepool. There is little between us in terms of position, but we are in a much better place confidence and form wise. Hartlepool have lost 10 of their 15 away games, and are without a win in eight matches.

At home, any odds against on Swindon represents decent value.

Swindon @ 11/10 (Hills, Betfred, SportingBet) – 2 points

Middlesbrough v Wigan was a predictable bore-fest – we are regretting not going on 0-0, but still a nice 2 point winner on under 2.5 goals – and Wolves only just managed to snatch a draw against Cardiff, making them a good lay.

Swansea bounced back in style against Doncaster – but the 4-1 that was available on the away side still represented good value (Doncaster did take the lead, but suffered an injury that threw their momentum).

Overall, a small profit for the weekend.

This week sees Hull v Spurs tonight, a game we will stay away from, before Champions League this midweek – along with a wealth of lower league fixtures. Our selections for those games will be up in plenty of time for you to get your bets on before kick off.

Password protection removed 23/02/09 – 10.50 a.m.

Here are our subscription selections for the weekend…

Middlesbrough v Wigan

Wigan’s games have been severely short of goals in recent weeks – 0-0,0-0,1-1,0-1,0-1,1-0 – and they have not won for 5 matches. Boro are struggling hugely, without a win in months, and this is a massive game for both sides. With a win, either could spark a turnaround; but another defeat continues their slide. With the lack of goals a problem for both sides, under 2.5 is the way to go, even with the poor odds.

Boro v Wigan under 2.5 goals @ 1.62 (Betfair) – 2 points

Swansea v Doncaster

Swansea lost last time out to Watford, their first defeat for 14 games. Often teams suffer ‘come down’s’ at the end of strong runs, and there is certainly the possibility of that here. Doncaster and Swansea played together in League Two and are similar sides, playing attractive, passing football. Donnie are the form side of the division, unbeaten in 11 games tith 8 wins from them. Were it not for their appalling start to the season they would be much, much higher – and now they are playing like a top half side, the 4/1 available looks extremely attractive.

Doncaster @ 4/1 (Widely Available) – 1 point
Doncaster/Draw (Double Chance) @ 2.05 (Ladbrokes) – 1 point

Wolves v Cardiff

Wolves have been very erratic in recent weeks, losing their last two and only winning one of their last five. Cardiff, if they win their games in hand, could go top – and threaten to cause the home side more heartache. Their defeat to Arsenal aside, they have excellent recent form, and the odds on the home side are short enough to justify a lay.

LAY Wolves @ 2.18 (Betfair) – 1 point

Last night was looking good, with both of our 2 point selections winning going into stoppage time – but then Leicester conceded in the 91st minute to Hartlepool, and unbelievably Rochdale then also conceded to Morecambe, turning a 3.5 point win into a 4 point loss, all in the last couple of minutes.

Hereford were a good winner at 7/2 against Leeds, but with Southend losing and the lack of goals in the two games we picked, it was an unprofitable night. Bring on the weekend so we can turn things around… in fact let’s start now…

Derby v Blackpool

Derby are a recent Wakuba favourite, showing promising league form (two wins on the trot) and manful performances in the cup. There are good signs for Nigel Clough – and they could make it three wins in a row with victory over Blackpool tonight. They’ve only won one of seven away, against out of form Crystal Palace, and could struggle against a resolute Derby side. At slight odds on, there is value in the home side.

Derby @ 5/6 (Widely available) – 1 point