
Booth and Huddersfield can prevail (Getty Images).
TERRIERS TO BITE
By Grant Williams
Betting Box Tipping
Guide
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BETTING BOX
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FIXED ODDS
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2pts Huddersfield to beat Mansfield at 11/8 (Hills and Stanleybet). |
Bounced back well after missing out on automatic promotion and look good value to win inside 90 minutes. |
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2pts more than 2.5 goals at evens (Bet365). |
Have shared 10 goals between each other in two games this season. |
Huddersfield look good value at 11/8 to get the better of Mansfield in Bank Holiday Monday's Nationwide Three play-off final at the Millennium Stadium.
After the agony of missing out on automatic promotion on the final day of the season, Peter Jackson has rallied his troops together for one last attempt at making an instant return to Division Two.
I for one was worried that after choking in their last two games and allowing Torquay to pip them to third spot, they may not be able to get over the disappointment in time for the play-offs.
However, they showed they were up for the fight by producing two battling performances to see off the determined challenge of Lincoln in the semis.
The Terriers won the first leg at Sincil Bank 2-1 before coming back from two goals down at the McAlpine Stadium to draw 2-2 and go through 3-2 on aggregate.
Since the turn of the year Huddersfield have been easily one of the best sides in the division and up until the middle of April, when they started to feel the pressure, had won 15 games out of 21.
The fact that they didn't lose either of their games against Lincoln indicates they are back to their best, as they bid to become the third straight team to win the Third Division play-offs after finishing the season in fourth spot.
Town have been boosted with the news that both Nathan Clarke and Tony Carss are fit again after missing the two games against Lincoln.
Experienced striker Andy Booth has also recovered from a slight knee problem and should start up front alongside Iffy Onura.
Efe Sodje and Danny Schofield showed in the two games against Lincoln that they are crucial players for Huddersfield and there is no doubt that they both deserve to be playing in Nationwide Two next season.
However, to do that they have to get the better of a Mansfield side that turned them over 3-1 on their own patch just four weeks ago.
The Stags head to Cardiff after somehow managing to get past Northampton in the semis.
Keith Curle's men were outplayed for long periods in both games but still managed to score three times, before eventually going through on penalties.
To say they don't deserve to be in the final would be completely unfair, and what they did show in the two games against Northampton is that they are one of the hardest working sides in the division.
In Liam Lawrence they have a midfielder who has notched an incredible 22 goals this season and he will be one player Huddersfield will have to keep an eye on.
When these two sides met at Field Mill back in November the game finished 3-3 - meaning that they have shared 10 goals between them this season.
Bearing in mind that Mansfield scored 76 and conceded 62 in 46 league games, Monday's game looks to have goals written all over it.
Indeed, the last three Nationwide Three play-off finals have had four or more goals in them, with last year's match between Bournemouth and Lincoln finishing 5-2 to the Cherries.
This match definitely looks one for the neutrals and from a betting viewpoint Huddersfield get the vote.
To bounce back from the heartache of missing out to Torquay they have shown their true fighting qualities and will be determined to finish the job off in Wales.
Furthermore in recent weeks they have played better away from the pressure cooker that is the McAlpine Stadium and with the likes of Sodje, Booth and Onuro all bringing bags of experience to the side they should come out on top.
With goals definitely looking on the agenda having a few quid on more than 2.5 goals at even money with Bet365 should also prove a profitable play.
Preview posted at 1800BST on 28/05/2004.
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