*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change
They say Saturday night’s alright for fighting, but some people just can’t wait that long. For a select handful of relatively-elite level footballers it’s all about tonight.
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To take advantage of the giddy, end of season fun in the sun, made extra spicy by some pure playoff passion, we’ve put together a little flutter on who’s going to be annoying the ref in tonight’s Luton v Huddersfield Championship playoff. Notebook at the ready, here we go.
*A Bet Builder with these four bets pays at approximately 27/1 with Paddy Power. CLICK HERE TO ADD IT TO YOUR BETSLIP
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Friday 7.45pm: Luton v Huddersfield
TV: Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Football
Over 3.5 Cards
These two finished 6th and 3rd in the Championship this season and it’s also not a bad reflection on their disciplinary records throughout the campaign. Huddersfield actually finished one spot higher than their league position in the Fair Play League while Luton were distinctly mid-table in 11th.
The Terriers picked up 73 yellows and no reds across their 46-game campaign while The Hatters were shown 87 yellows and two reds, one straight. It all boils down to an average of 1.95 cards per match for the home side and 1.58 for the visitors.
Those two averages smashed together gives us a shade over 3.5 cards accrued per game. Add in what’s on the line here – the chance to get mullered home and away every game next season – and we can rightly expect to easily pass the Over 3.5 Cards marker.
Henri Lansbury to be shown a card
Henri Lansbury tops Luton’s bad-boy list with 11 bookings to his name so far. I’m pretty certain he’ll start as The Hatters have a little bit of a crisis in midfield and he looks to one of three available players in that position.
He’s in decent form as well and picked up his last card just two games back, the 7-0 battering at Fulham. Henri Lansbury to be shown a card is your best bet in this field.
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Danny Hylton to be Shown a Card
You might think this Danny Hylton to be Shown a Card punt is a little bit of a maverick selection as he doesn’t feature highly on Luton’s naughty list. However, with the Hatters stalwart out of contract in the summer, this could be his last game in front of the Kenilworth Road faithful who he’s thrilled with his distinct brand of striker s**thousery since 2016.
He certainly won’t start but I can see him coming off the bench here. He’s only made five starts this season with a further 15 appearances as a substitute. In that limited time he’s picked up 4 yellows which isn’t bad going (and surely their highest per minute) and if he comes on it will be in his usual wrecking-ball role with time wasting and trolling firmly on the agenda.
Luton to get the most cards
All this leads us nicely to our final punt, Luton to be shown the most cards. A lot of this could depend on which team gets their nose in front in the tie and the desperation to hold onto that lead heading into the second leg. It inevitably leads to lots of niggly fouls and time wasting from those in the ascendency.
But, regardless of that, Luton could be out of sight in this market by half time. They’ll be pumped up for a playoff campaign they certainly didn’t imagine they’d be enjoying at the start of the season and will be roared on by their typically boisterous home support.
Add in the fact they picked up 17 more cards than Huddersfield in the regular campaign, and that The Terriers will be without their most prolific card-getter Sorba Thomas through injury, then Luton to get the most cards has to be the way to play in this market.
Luton v Huddersfield tips
Over 3.5 Cards
Henri Lansbury to be shown a card
Danny Hylton to be Shown a Card
Luton to get the most cards
*A Bet Builder with these four bets pays at approximately 27/1 with Paddy Power. CLICK HERE TO ADD IT TO YOUR BETSLIP
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*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change
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