Odds pile up against Owls

However, the Owls will take heart from the fact that the visitors were edged out at home to Watford a week ago and there will be plenty of home supporters willing to back their side at 17/10 with Betdaq to send Mick McCarthy’s men back to the West Midlands empty-handed.

Nevertheless, after that disappointing Portman Road reverse, Brian Laws may settle for a draw; a result chalked up by VCBet at 23/10, and this, along with a 1-1 scoreline (11/2, Portlandbet) is the most appealing outcome. Elsewhere, bet365 give Wednesday a goal start in the handicaps at odds of 4/9; a wager that will appeal to anyone that feels Laws’ troops can get something from the contest.

Sheffield United endured a frustrating start to the campaign as they were held at home by Colchester and they also failed to convince in their midweek Carling Cup tie against Chesterfield.

They will have to improve their level of performance if they are to avoid defeat at Vicarage Road, where a point (9/4, Extrabet) would be a decent result against solid Watford, William Hill’s 23/20 favourites.

A Blades success is available at 11/5 with Stan James but avoiding defeat will be the priority and Bryan Robson is 4/6 (Blue Square) to guide his charges to either one point or three.

James Beattie’s goalscoring debut was one of the high points of last week’s Bramall Lane stalemate and 4m striker is an alluring 6/1 (bet365) to repay a little bit more of his transfer fee by notching the opener.

Colchester’s home record was the key to their impressive first Championship campaign and so Barnsley, who were comprehensively beaten by Coventry on Saturday will have their work cut out to overturn odds of 3/1 (SportingBet) and return from Layer Road with maximum points.

Extrabet mark the draw down at 12/5 but even that looks a tall order given Barnsley’s start to the season and they may even need more than the goal start Blue Square give them in the handicaps at 8/11 if they are to hinder Coral.co.uk’s 4/5 favourites.

In League One, Doncaster were held at home by Millwall in week one but can go one better tomorrow at Hartlepool where they look overpriced at 9/5 (bet365) to emerge triumphant.

SportingBet’s 6/5 favourites Chesterfield look primed for a home win against Stockport but Rotherham (17/10, Blue Square) will probably settle for a point, on offer at 23/10 with Extrabet against the club most pundits reckon will scoop the League Two title, Peterborough.

n Odds supplied by www.betrescue.com