Southport – Hyde

Southport FC will feel confident of putting some distance between them and the relegation zone when they host the disastrous Hyde team in this Conference Premier round. Earlier this season Southport recorded a 2-1 win over Hyde away from home.

Southport is currently 19th in the standings, 2 points clear of relegation. While the hosts are obviously not a top team, their form at home has been excellent this season. With a 6-3-3 statline on their own turf, Southport are one of the best home teams in the league and any opponent will fear a visit at Haig Avenue. The hosts are actually better than their standings suggests, but a run of horrible form sent them in the relegation battle. However, Southport seems to have got out of the slump by getting a solid 1-0 win against Nuneaton Town last round. The team made 4 very interesting signings this month that should help improve the squad and avoid relegation.

Bet with the best odds and highest limits at Pinnacle.

Hyde is an absolute disaster this season. The visitors are last in the standings with only 3 points (!!!) in 24 rounds and their form is abysmal, with 10 consecutive losses. Short-term Hyde is playing purely rubbish, they have lost the last 4 games with an aggregate score of 15-2! The team released some players a couple of weeks ago after admitting that relegation can`t be avoided and at the moment Hyde is nowhere near Conference Premier standards. They have given up fighting, that is for sure. On the road Hyde managed to gain a single point this season, losing 11 out of 12 matches with a goal difference of 11-48 – losing by an average of almost 3 goals per game away from home.

Team news: Southport has a full squad to choose from, with the extra 4 players signed this month looking to get some playing time. Hyde has no new injury worries but they are depleted anyway after a couple of players left the club last month.

Southport to win is the obvious betting options here and it`s highly unlikely for Hyde to spring any surprises. One would expect Hyde to finally get a result at some point, but the way they are playing it`s really not impossible for them to finish the season with 3 points – and they really do not look likely to get something on the road, maybe at home. Southport is the better side, they are highly motivated in the race to avoid relegation and have a fully fit squad. Most importantly, the hosts are extremely strong at home, while Hyde are an even bigger disaster on the road than they are overall. I do not expect a blowout, but Southport should cover a 1 goal spread and win by 2 or more. My betting option here is -1 asian handicap on the hosts. Pick Southport to win this something like 2-0. Odds are slowly going down, which is not a surprise as I wouldn`t have priced the hosts over 1.40 for the simple win. 9 units seems to be the appropriate investment here, considering that moneyback (1 goal win) really looks like the worst case scenario.

Pick: Southport (-1 Asian Handicap)
Odds: 1.91 @ Pinnacle
Stake: 9
Possible profit: 8.19
Event date: 11 January

Editor Facts

• Tipster Rostick won his last 7 Conference tips