S.P.Read Esq: Brighton v Sheffield Wednesday

Our daily columnist and pundit S.P. Read Esq. looks ahead to Monday’s Championship play-off game at 7.45pm between BRIGHTON v SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY and finds the best opportunities available on Star Spreads, the home of sports spread betting.

Unfair. That, of course, is the damn problem with the play-off system.

The fact that Brighton were within one win of automatic promotion to the Premier League when they went to the Riverside counts for nothing – as does the fact that they finished 15 points clear of Sheffield Wednesday in the ‘regular’ season.

Not only does it count for nothing – it also counts AGAINST them in my opinion. Brighton have had to regroup after coming so close yet Sheffield Wednesday are like a free roller at a poker tournament – playing carefree hands at a party that (for most of the season) they never expected to be at – four consecutive wins in March doing the trick for Wednesday.

It’s pointless whinging, as the rules are there for one and all but I’ve never been a great supporter of the play-off system which may well add end of season drama (and contribute to the new Wembley building costs) but remains a tad gimmicky for my liking.

The pressure certainly showed on The Seagulls in the first leg at Hillsborough when Sheffield Wednesday raced into a 2-0 lead thanks to goals from Ross Wallace and Kieran Lee – the deadlock finally broken between the pair as both matches in regular season had finished 0-0.

That leaves Brighton with plenty of work to do but in a funny way less pressure than if it had been, say, 0-0 in the first leg. Brighton may well relish the challenge of now being underdogs and can grab the match and the challenge by the b**** from the outset.

That certainly seems to be the view of the Brigton players too. Sam Baldock told the club website: “We’ve got nothing to lose now and the pressure is completely on them. We’re positive and we’re going to go for it. We’ve got 90 minutes for them to come to the Amex with a full stadium, with screaming fans egging us on.”

He added: ”Stranger things have happened. I came off the pitch thinking, ‘Come on, bring on Monday,’ because believe me, this tie is not over.”

Certainly, an early goal would make life interesting and I wouldn’t be completely surprised to see this one go the distance into penalties.

Brighton have fared worse in the injury stakes with doubts over Tomer Hemed, Connor Goldson, Anthony Knockaert and Steve Sidwell from the first leg.

Wednesday boss Carlos Carvalhal may well name an unchanged side.

Brighton & Hove Albion v Sheffield Wednesday
Championship Play-Off Semi-Final 2nd Leg
19:45 Sky Sports 1 / Sky Sports 1 HD

HEAD TO HEAD RECORD
(Maximum 10 matches)
May 2016 CHAMPIONSHIP PLAY-OFF Sheff Wed 2-0 Brighton
Mar 2016 CHAMPIONSHIP Brighton 0-0 Sheff Wed
Nov 2015 CHAMPIONSHIP Sheff Wed 0-0 Brighton
Feb 2015 CHAMPIONSHIP Sheff Wed 0-0 Brighton
Aug 2014 CHAMPIONSHIP Brighton 0-1 Sheff Wed
Mar 2014 CHAMPIONSHIP Sheff Wed 1-0 Brighton
Oct 2013 CHAMPIONSHIP Brighton 1-1 Sheff Wed
Feb 2013 CHAMPIONSHIP Sheff Wed 3-1 Brighton
Sep 2012 CHAMPIONSHIP Brighton 3-0 Sheff Wed
Apr 2011 LEAGUE ONE Brighton 2-0 Sheff Wed

Brighton have scored two or more goals in seven of their last 10 home league games and should be relied on for more goals tonight but the pressure to get goals could easily leave the back door open too.

Bookings may be the way to go with Star Spreads. I can easily see some wild tackles going in with so much at stake and a buy at 45 could be rewarded.

There were five yellows in the first leg dished out by Andre Mariner and Roger East could easily out do his seasonal average of 30.5 tonight.

CLICK FOR BRIGHTON v SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY MARKETS ON STAR SPREADS

RECOMMENDED BETS (scale 1-100 points)

BUY BOOKINGS for 35 points at 45 with Star Spreads

BETS RECORD FROM FEBRUARY
2 Feb -275.00 (SELL 1st WEST HAM MATCH GOAL 25 points at 47)
3 Feb +116.25 (SELL CHELSEA SUPREMACY 75 points at 0.55)
6 Feb -100.00 (BUY BOOKINGS 25 points at 44)
7 Feb -735.00 (BUY BOOKINGS 35 points at 51)
8 Feb -1260.00 (BUY 1st MATCH GOAL 35 points at 41)
9 Feb +245.00 (SELL 1st WEST HAM MATCH GOAL 35 points at 52)
9 Feb -455.00 (SELL 3rd MATCH GOAL 35 points at 77)
10 Feb -490.00 (SELL 3rd MATCH GOAL 35 points at 76)
13 Feb -1295.00 (SELL 1st MATCH GOAL 35 points at 40)
14 Feb +315.00 (BUY 1st MATCH GOAL 35 points at 36)
15 Feb -350.00 (SELL 3rd MATCH GOAL 35 points at 80)
16 Feb +175.00 (SELL 1st PSG MATCH GOAL 25 points at 46)
17 Feb -1050.00 (SELL 1st ROMA MATCH GOAL 30 points at 55)
18 Feb +0.00 (SELL 3rd MATCH GOAL 50 points at 77)
19 Feb -150.00 (SELL 1st EVERTON MATCH GOAL 25 points at 49)
19 Feb -750.00 (SELL 3rd MATCH GOAL 50 points at 75)
20 Feb +275.00 (SELL 1st CHELSEA MATCH GOAL 25 points at 46)
20 Feb +1400.00 (SELL 3rd MATCH GOAL 50 points at 76)
21 Feb +0.00 (SELL 1st MAN U MATCH GOAL 45 points at 37)
21 Feb +840.00 (SELL 3rd MATCH GOAL 70 points at 73)
23 Feb -1270.00 (SELL 3rd MATCH GOAL 70 points at 72)
25 Feb +210.00 (SELL 1st MAN U MATCH GOAL 70 points at 32)
27 Feb -1500.00 (BUY 1st MATCH GOAL 50 points at 42)
28 Feb +1200.00 (BUY 3rd MATCH GOAL 80 points at 75)
28 Feb -68.00 (BUY TOTAL MATCH GOALS 80 points at 2.85)
29 Feb +4000.00 (SELL 3rd MATCH GOAL 80 points at 78)
3 Mar NO BET
4 Mar -108.00 (BUY CORNERS 40 points at 10.7)
5 Mar +570.00 (BUY BOOKINGS 30 points at 56)
6 Mar -1200 (SELL 1st MAN U MATCH GOAL 30 points at 50)
8 Mar +90.00 (SELL 1st ARSENAL MATCH GOAL 30 points at 44)
9 Mar -240.00 (BUY BOOKINGS 30 points at 68)
10 Mar +150.00 (BUY BOOKINGS 30 points at 55)
12 Mar -470.00 (BUY CORNERS 100 points at 11.7)
13 Mar -320.00 (SELL 1st WEST HAM MATCH GOAL 40 points at 60)
15 Mar +840.00 (assorted Cheltenham Festival trades)
16 Mar -65.00 (assorted Cheltenham Festival trades)
17 Mar +148.00 (assorted Cheltenham Festival trades)
18 Mar -250.00 (assorted Cheltenham Festival trades)
19 Mar -420.00 (SELL 3rd MATCH GOAL 35 points at 78)
20 Mar +446.25 (BUY CORNERS 85 points at 10.75)
24 Mar -35.00 (BUY NORTHERN IRELAND 35 points at 11)
26 Mar +175.00 (BUY CORNERS 100 points at 10.25)
29 Mar +0.00 (SELL 3rd MATCH GOAL 25 points at 77)
30 Mar -450.00 (BUY BOOKINGS 25 points at 38)
2 Apr -840.00 (BUY BOOKINGS 35 points at 44)
3 Apr -37.50 (BUY CORNERS 75 points at 10.5)
5 Apr +2805.00 (BUY BOOKINGS TWO MATCHES)
6 Apr +720.00 (SELL 3rd MATCH GOAL 45 points at 75)
7 Apr +1665.00 (BUY AINTREE DISTANCES 45 points at 37)
8 Apr -775.25 (BUY AINTREE DISTANCES 35 points at 38)
9 Apr -310.00 (ASSORTED GRAND NATIONAL TRADES)
10 Apr +455.00 (BUY BOOKINGS 35 points at 47)
11 Apr +525.00 (SELL 2nd MATCH GOAL 35 points at 65)
12 Apr -455.00 (SELL 3rd MATCH GOAL 35 points at 64)
13 Apr -625.00 (BUY WEST HAM WIN INDEX 50 points at 12.5)
14 Apr +1320.00 (SELL TIME OF 1st DORTMUND GOAL 30 points at 49)
16 Apr -120.00 (SELL TIME OF 1st MATCH GOAL 30 points at 37)
17 Apr -570.00 (SELL TIME OF 1st MATCH GOAL 30 points at 71)
18 Apr +120.00 (SELL 3rd MATCH GOAL 30 points at 75)
19 Apr -540.00 (SELL 3rd MATCH GOAL 30 points at 72)
21 Apr -900.00 (SELL 3rd MATCH GOAL 50 points at 72)
23 Apr +650.00 (SELL 1st MAN U GOAL 50 points at 47)
24 Apr +100.00 (SELL 1st WATFORD GOAL 50 points at 57)
25 Apr +0.00 (SELL 1st SPURS GOAL 50 points at 33)
26 Apr -760.00 (BUY BOOKINGS 40 points at 49)
27 Apr +0.00 (BUY BOOKINGS 50 points at 50)
28 Apr -990.00 (SELL 1st LIVERPOOL GOAL 30 points at 57)
30 Apr -1260.00 (SELL 3rd MATCH GOAL 60 points at 69)
1 May +2700.00 (SELL 2nd MATCH GOAL 60 points at 62)
2 May +3700.00 (BUY BOOKINGS 50 points at 46)
3 May +105.00 (SELL 3rd MATCH GOAL 35 points at 77)
4 May -630.00 (SELL 3rd MATCH GOAL 35 points at 72)
5 May +455.00 (BUY BOOKINGS 35 points at 52)
7 May -35.00 (BUY BOOKINGS 35 points at 46)
8 May -700.00 (BUY 1st MATCH GOAL 25 points at 36)
10 May +220.00 (BUY MATCH GOALS 100 points at 2.8)
11 May -700.00 (BUY BOOKINGS 25 points at 38)

• Any spread prices quoted are indicative and as always prices are subject to fluctuation.
• Please note the opinion, views and forecasts above are of the author and not of Star Spreads.