So far this season in two BTTS columns, we’ve been one game short in both fivefolds. Still can’t believe it was the Wrexham game on Tuesday night that defeated us. For Saturday we are going six games deep rather than five and my old friend the National League is once more a key section to the strategy…

One game from the Championship for Saturday’s BTTS Accumulator and that comes from the John Smith’s Stadium (it will always be the Alfred McAlpine to me) where Neil Warnock’s side welcome in one of the pre-season favourites. Both teams were involved in BTTS games on the opening weekend of the season with the home side losing 3-1 at Plymouth whilst the visitors beat Coventry 2-1. The Foxes have the most striking options out of anyone in the league, so you have to fancy them to score more weeks than not whilst Huddersfield at home have looked far more potent in front of goal since the veteran gaffer has taken over.

Next we go to AFC Wimbledon where I’m still given Wrexham a bit of side-eye for their goalless draw with Wigan in the week. Despite that result however, I’m continuing with the thought-process that Phil Parkinson’s side will continue with their recent record of scoring and conceding. An opening day 3-5 scoreline might not be the norm but we’ve seen for months they are defensively fragile whilst being potent in front of goal. AFC Wimbledon have also been involved in a 0-0 draw so far this season having taken a point from their opener at Grimsby. They did however beat Coventry 2-1 in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night. This selection however is more about my thoughts on Wrexham than the home side.

Now we get to four straight games in the National League. The home of goals. Seriously last season was crazy with most sides being involved in BTTS more weeks than they weren’t. Only five clubs had a less than 50% record for both teams scoring over the course of the season with nine being over the 60% mark.

Going in alphabetical order, AFC Flyde scored twice on the road at Maidenhead on opening day including a late equaliser when down to ten-men. Chesterfield won their opener 4-3 with a goal in the 100th minute against Dorking. That is also another factor we have to consider, the vast amounts of added time we are currently seeing. If both teams scored multiple goals in their first games then no reason not to put them in this sixfold.

The only game where BTTS is odds-against for us comes from London where Boreham Wood welcome in Halifax Town. Both sides were under that 50% mark a year ago with the visitors down at a paltry 39%. Both sides scored twice on opening weekend and like AFC Flyde in the previous paragraph, Boreham Wood equalised in added time when down to ten-men. Halifax had a comfortable 2-0 home win to open their season and are the only National League side not to concede from the eight selected. I can see why this is odds-against but I still like goals.

Dorking were a BTTS star last term at 65% and they opened with a 4-3 defeat on the road. Maidenhead as we’ve already covered drew 2-2 at home in their opening game. So between them they scored five and let in six in their only league game so far. I think it is fairly obvious why they’ve made the sixfold.

Last up we travel up to Hartlepool who were a successful leg of this column last weekend in their 3-2 reversal at Barnet. Gateshead were also part of this column last week and they too came good in their 2-2 draw at home to Boreham Wood. Recent history dictates BTTS is a good play up in the North East for this one.