Banker Football Treble – Saturday 17th March

At first glance this Saturday’s fixture list looks one of the most competitive of the season, and there are not many what you would call ‘bankers’ about. But it always pays to delve a little deeper, and I have concocted a treble that I’m very happy with. League 2 looks the tightest of all this weekend, with only Crawley odds on shots for a win, but it would take a brave punter to back them in their current form!

Ipswich Town v Peterborough 3.00pm

The Tractor Boys have been in fantastic form since the end of January and they must be backed to beat leaky Peterborough here.

Ipswich have come away from two consecutive away games with 2 hard earned points against a resilient Hull City and classy table toppers Southampton, and will be glad to be back on home turf this weekend to play what must be considered much weaker opponents.

Portman Road has been a very difficult place to get any points from lately as West Ham(1-5), Cardiff City (0-3) and Bristol City(3-0) will testify.

Visitors Peterborough have done their better work at home this season, and are yet to win a game on their travels in 2012.

Last weekends 3-0 home win over Blackpool will be a confidence booster for The Posh, although Ipswich hold all the aces here and should record another 3 points to make it 4 consecutive home wins.

Barnsley v Reading 3.00pm

Many would discard Reading as a banker selection purely because they are odds against…. Why?

The Royals are on an amazing run of 12 wins from their last 15 games, and dropped their first points in 8 games when they drew 1-1 at the Keepmoat against Doncaster in midweek.

Barnsley have collected just one win in their last 8 games (2-0 v Portsmouth) and although they are safely clear of the relegation zone their season is petering out and Terry McDermott’s Reading are still firing on all cylinders and currently occupy 2nd place and an automatic promotion spot.

Stranraer v Montrose 3.00pm

Stranraer will be looking to secure a treble of victories over Montrose by beating Montrose here, and they look a good bet to do so.

Already beating today’s opponents 3-1 and 6-0 away from home this season and drawing 4-4 at home, Stranraer can improve on that high scoring stalemate and make it 10 points from a possible 12.

Montrose sit 1 place off the bottom of the table, 23 points behind 2nd placed Stranraer. With a record of just 3 away wins in 14 this season, Montrose shouldn’t cause too many problems for Stranraer, who gained a good 3 points last weekend at 5th placed Annan.

The treble pays a best price of 5.26 with Betfred