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Saturday 27 January 2024 - Slow Stags

Welcome to I, Punter, in which the author muses on life and recommends a weekly bet in reward for his reader’s patience.


I am writing this on 25 January. That means Christmas Day was a month ago. That time has shot by; yet why does January seem to be never ending? There’s still six days of it left. I’ve either uncovered a glitch in the matrix or I’ve just become a very obvious blogger. It’s the latter.


Last weekend’s recommended double was a loser, thanks to Derby County’s inability to break down the brick wall that must have been constructed around Lincoln City’s goal the night before. The Rams had sixty-six percent possession, twelve corners and nineteen shots on target (plus about the same amount of shots off-target). They were the right pick but I still felt like a right prick for backing them. 0-0. My other selection, Juventus, won 0-3 and they now sit top of Serie A where I predict they will stay. To date I have tipped Juventus five times and they have yet to let me down. I would back them to beat any team in the Premier League, they are really that good.

My assertion a couple of blogs ago that Mansfield Town are bottlers also appears to be panning out.  They have only managed to scrape two points out of their last three games including a 1-1 draw with Sutton United who are second from bottom of League Two.  Mid-table obscurity beckons - you read it here first! 

Crewe Alexandra (19/20) are another team that have yet to let me down and should be looking to make it five wins on the bounce in League Two when they welcome Salford City to Gresty Road at three pm on Saturday. Salford have won just one game in their last five, albeit a creditable 0-1 away win at Crawley Town, but Crewe are flying and have home advantage to get them over the line.  

I have a genuinely dim memory of having a pint thrown over me at a pub in Chesterfield (4/11), back in the days when I briefly followed Notts County on the road (and who will be playing for a new manager on Saturday). I don’t hold that against either the club or the town and hopefully the former will make belated amends by seeing off Southend United who are making the long trip up from Essex to Derbyshire. It’s another three pm kick off, this time in the National League, and another previous winning selection for this blog carrying my hopes.      

My “hypothetical” £20 win double on Crewe Alexandra and Chesterfield F.C. currently returns £53.18 with Sky Bet at combined odds of 1.66/1 for a profit of £33.18 after deduction of stake.  You never know.

        I hope to see you next time.


Finally, my sincere apology for the poor quality of yet another blog, but Slow Horses won’t watch itself.  What do you mean you’ve never heard of Slow Horses?  It’s on Apple TV+.  Yes, Apple TV+.  No, it’s not on Netflix.  It can’t be that good if you’ve never heard of it?  Well get Apple TV+ then.  You’ve already got Netflix and Disney+ and you can’t afford another subscription service?  Well treat yourself to the latest iPhone and you’ll get a free six month subscription.  What, really?  Yes.  Probably.

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