10th Oct 2013 | Football
England v Montenegro Tip
The hosts have strikers on form but a goalkeeper teetering on the verge of crisis.
With England nothing longer than the highly unappealing price of 4/11 (Betfred) to beat Montenegro on Friday night, we have to look for an angle to find more tempting odds. WilliamHill go a best price 11/4 on the hosts winning but with both teams scoring, and that seems much better.
The main reason for backing Hodgson’s men to take three points is that he has all his best attacking players available and on form. Sturridge, Rooney and Defoe have been banging them in for their clubs while Welbeck and Lambert have been finding the net at international level.
The concern would be at the other end, in particular the fragile form of Joe Hart. The Manchester City goalkeeper is the player under greatest scrutiny after a series of below par performances for his club. Hodgson has been forced to publicly back the 26-year-old but both men will know how costly a blunder could be in the next week.
Montenegro scored against the Three Lions in the return match, as well as in Poland and Ukraine. The visitors to Wembley have 15 points, only one less than England and clearly shouldn’t be under-estimated. They might cause a scare but England’s firepower should get the job done.
Odds correct at time of publishing: 12:13 10th Oct, 2013 but subject to change
