League sponsors price up Hatters as favourites again
For the fourth season running the Town are league sponsor Blue Square’s favourites for the title.
Blue Square’s 5/2 quote is one of the most generous around – and that’s after the Hatters were as big as a 7/2 chance when the prices were first revealed when the fixtures were decided by the Conference board.
The Town are as short as 5/4 with Blue Square to clinch promotion by any means as they aim to make it fourth time lucky. It’s 2/11 for a top-five finish and a monstrous 200/1 to finish in the bottom four and be relegated.
But the talk of the town is simply promotion and the Hatters are odds-on to record an opening day victory against Gateshead on Saturday.
Ian Bogie’s Tynesiders have always provided a stern test for the Town – aside from the 5-1 walloping dished out by the Hatters at Kenilworth Road last term – but Paul Buckle’s men are the clear 4/7 favourites with Blue Square to earn all three points in front of an 7,200+ crowd.
The Hatters have won six of their last nine opening fixtures with the last coming two years ago when a late winner from Matthew Barnes-Homer saw off Altrincham.
Having kept six clean sheets in seven pre-season games the Town are 7/4 to win to nil and it’s 11/10 that the defence hold firm once more and earn another shut-out.
On the other end of the park all eyes will be on striker Jon Shaw as he looks to net against the club for who he scored 35 times for last season.
The 28-year-old is the 7/2 fav to net the opener on Saturday but, having yet to play a full 90 minutes, it might be worth favouring the 5/1 about fellow new-boy Scott Rendell to score first. Stuart Fleetwood is 4/1 and Andre Gray is 9/2, but midfielder Jake Howells is an interesting 18/1 shot.
Remember, betting through Blue Square helps the Hatters and all the clubs in the division so what are you waiting for?
To place your bets through Blue Square visit .www.bluesq.com/fans
Recommendations:
Town to win to nil 7/4
Town to win on the handicap -1 8/5
Scott Rendell first goalscorer 5/1
Jake Howells first goalscorer 18/1 (e/w)