Onandi Lowe (right) can find the net again.

By Rob Freeman

Betting Box Tipping Guide

BETTING BOX
FIXED ODDS
	2.5pts on Luton to beat Chesterfield Ht/Ft at 8/5 (Hills).	Hatters in decent form and can score at will against Spireites.
	1pt Onandi Lowe to score at anytime for Rushden at 13/8 (Bet365).	Jamaican striker is a special talent and has scored in 10 of his last 11 games.
	3pts Hull and Huddersfield to win at 11/4 (Sporting Odds & Bet365).	Terriers have fantastic home record, while Hull can defeat injury-hit Rovers.
	1pt Jonathan Stead to score at anytime for Huddersfield at 11/8 (Bet365).	Nine goals at home already this season for a youngster with a bright future.

Starting our preview in the first division, Burnley could attract some support at 9/2 for their trip to Sunderland.

The Clarets beat Reading 3-0 in midweek – a result that made the whole league stand up and take note – and come to Sunderland this Saturday knowing that their hosts fell down by the same scoreline last weekend when they were humbled by Crewe.

Stan Ternent deserves a lot of credit for the good work he has been doing at Burnley this season in what has not been an easy job. Not only are the Turf Moor side crippled financially, but Ternent has also had more than his fair share of injuries to contend with – forcing him to name less than the five permitted substitutions on occasions.

At 9/2 Burnley look a reasonable prospect against a Sunderland side with just one win in six, but I am going to stop short of adding it to our weekend selections on the strength of the Black Cats' home record. They have been beaten just once at the Stadium of Light so far this season, and that could be an important factor in this game. While the Sunderland players do not have the collective talent to take this league by the scruff of the neck, they know that when they are performing in their own back yard, they are a match for any side in the division.

Instead, we shall move straight into the second division where I fancy that Luton can see off Chesterfield with the minimum of fuss when they meet at Kenilworth Road.

Luton have had an up-and-down season to some extent, but Mike Newell looks to have out his ship back in order now, and the Hatters are now on a seven game unbeaten run.

It's difficult to see anything other than a Luton win this weekend as they entertain a Chesterfield side still waiting for their first away win. So far they have drawn three and lost six on their travels, and Luton are certainly not the easiest team for a leaky defence to stop the rot against. With 20 goals at home this season, Luton have scored more goals than anyone in the division except Rushden and Plymouth, so the home fans are an expectant bunch.

Loan signing Gary McSheffrey's goals may have dried up recently, but former Norwich wide man Adrian Forbes has revelled in the limelight that he has found since moving into a more attacking role, and he now has 10 goals in 12 starts this season. Who needs McSheffrey's goals when you have another player just as prolific?

Luton are 4/6, but we can get a bigger price by backing the Ht/Ft result. Chesterfield have been losing at half-time and full-time in six of their nine games away from the Recreation Ground this season, so 8/5 about that result looks a fair punt on the Hatters.

Another bet that shouldn't be missed in the second division concerns Rushden and Diamonds striker Onandi Lowe scoring against Port Vale this weekend. If there is a striker anywhere in the country who has been scoring as regularly as Lowe, I'd like to hear about him.

Lowe has now scored in ten of his last eleven games in a Rushden shirt, and the Jamaican international brings a great presence to the Rushden attack. Indeed his manager reckons that when Lowe plays, the whole club gets a lift – that's no small compliment for the 29-year-old.

Only one side in the top half of the table has a worse defensive record than Port Vale, so it's a fair assumption that Lowe could get a few chances to add to his season's tally this weekend, especially since Rushden are now second in the scoring charts after Plymouth.

13/8 is on offer at Bet365 about Lowe continuing his impressive record, and that looks worth a small play in my opinion. He is a class above this division and can continue scoring the goals that win Rushden games.

In the third division we should be looking to back Huddersfield to continue their impressive home record this weekend when they take on the worst defence in the Football League.

Cheltenham have conceded 24 goals away from home already this season and over 40 in total – despite having played just 19 games so far this year. They have let in 15 in their last four away games, and although recent results would indicate some improvement in the performances of a side who are out of their depth, six home ties in their last eight has made finding wins somewhat easier.

A trip to Huddersfield won't be a simple task for Cheltenham – their Yorkshire based opponents have won seven at the Alfred McAlpine Stadium already this season - so represent one of the hardest away days that the third division has to offer. The Robins have lost six away from the Whaddon Road as well, so all the omens are in place for this to be yet another black day for Cheltenham.

Huddersfield are available at 4/6, and that is big enough for us to consider putting into a third division double. Punters shouldn't neglect to extend their interest in Huddersfield this weekend by backing Jonathan Stead to continue his meteoric rise to fame in Huddersfield.

Stead came out of the youth set-up last season, but failed to make an impact as the Terriers lost more than they won on their way out of the second division. This season has been a different story altogether for Stead though, and a move to play him in attack has resulted in 14 goals from 23 starts including nine goals in just ten games in front of his own fans.

Considering Stead has been among the most prolific strikers anywhere in the country this season, and will be facing probably the weakest defence in the football league, it is a massive surprise to see the youngster still offered at 11/8 to score again this week – not least because he has three in his last two starts for his side. Stead is another player worth putting our weight behind this week.

Finally, if we are taking Huddersfield to win, we could do worse than double up with league favourites Hull City, who travel to injury hit Bristol Rovers.

Ray Graydon will come into this game with just one fit striker – 20 year-old Dave Gilroy. Junior Agogo will have a late fitness test following recent knee surgery, but is unlikely to be passed fit, while Andy Rammall, Paul Tait and Lewis Haldane have all been ruled out.

Pirates' fans last saw their side win at the Memorial Stadium way back in September, and for Graydon it is now eight games without a win. The prospect of taking on Hull – arguably the best side in the division – without a number of first team regulars leaves a bleak-looking situation for Rovers this weekend.

Hull have enjoyed great form in recent months, and defeat at Huddersfield a fortnight ago was only the first reverse since August for the Tigers. Peter Taylor has done a great job, although with the squad of players he has at his disposal he has a unit that could hold their own in the second division with ease.

With the pressure starting to mount at the top of the table – four sides are separated by just two points – I firmly expect Taylor's men to respond in exactly the right way and produce a match winning performance when it matters the most. Many people have tried to write off them off as perennial underachievers, but this Hull side is different – they have a new manager, new players and a new stadium, and there is a winning spirit in the squad.

Hull can be backed at 5/4 generally, so doubling up with Huddersfield returns at a well-priced 11/4.