S.P. Read Esq. Rotherham v Preston. (7.45pm SKY)

Our daily columnist and pundit S.P. Read Esq is back looking at the League One play off semi-final between Rotherham and Preston.

Hardly the most exciting match ever, never mind an Europa League final.

The recommended bet of a buy on bookings was looking good after a rapid three yellows but they dried up quickly and I was left with a loss on the make-up of 30.

Even the penalty shootout seemed exempt from the normal drama and it seemed more relief that the competition had eventually come to an end.

Back to the play offs tonight after we were rudely interrupted by the European action.

Leyton Orient have already booked their place in the League One final and will play either Rotherham or Preston who fight it out tonight (7.45pm, SKY) at the New York Stadium.

If it was a boxing bout I would have had Rotherham ahead on points after the first leg – it took a superb volley from Preston to equalise and it finished all square as indeed it has done the last three times these sides have met.

Check out the head to head stats….

HEAD TO HEAD RECORD
(Max last 10 only)
May 2014 League One Play-Off Preston 1-1 Rotherham
Feb 2014 League One Preston 3-3 Rotherham
Aug 2013 League One Rotherham 0-0 Preston
Apr 2005 Championship Rotherham 1-2 Preston
Aug 2004 Championship Preston 2-0 Rotherham
Mar 2004 League Div 1 Rotherham 1-0 Preston
Sep 2003 League Div 1 Preston 4-1 Rotherham
Dec 2002 League Div 1 Preston 0-2 Rotherham
Aug 2002 League Div 1 Rotherham 0-0 Preston
Mar 2002 League Div 1 Preston 2-1 Rotherham

As we saw with Benfica last night, hoodoos are hard to shrug off. Benfica have now lost their last EIGHT major European finals and Preston have failed to be promoted via the play-offs in EIGHT previous attempts.

Rotherham have home advantage tonight of course where they are unbeaten in their last 11 games. They are also a side that don’t mind scoring goals. Their tally of 86 goals this season has only been bettered by the champions, Wolves.

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Should be plenty of passion here and I’m a buyer of bookings on Star Spreads at around 45.

RECOMMENDED BET (scale 1-100 points)

BUY BOOKINGS for 10 points at around 45 with Star Spreads

S.P. READ ESQ. RUNNING RETURN (MAY): LOSS 214.50 POINTS

• 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.