Football Bet of the Day: Phil Brown faces play-off test

On Sunday, we have a whole host of Premier League games taking place, but with the title and relegation confirmed already, I’m not all that interested.

There’s also games taking place across the continent, but for Sunday’s Football Bet of the Day, I’m taking a trip down to the National League North - where we have a play-off semi-final to look forward to.

This semi-final between Kidderminster Harriers and Chester (15:00) feels absolutely gargantuan. Kidderminster Harriers blew promotion and the title on the final day, and when a win over Southport would have been enough to see them back into the National League - they were beaten 2-1. 

The old league leaders saw the title slip through their fingers in heartbreaking fashion, as Brackley Town took advantage to secure an unlikely promotion. Harriers were also leapfrogged by Scunthorpe United who took second, leaving them with a tough semi-final test against either Chester or Buxton. 

Chester finished just two points behind Kidderminster in the regular league season and managed to edge past Buxton after extra time on Wednesday night. Having scored early, Calum McIntyre’s side were pegged back in the first half, forcing extra time after 90 minutes. In the end it was Harrison Burke who fired them into the semi-final with a close-range finish after 108 minutes, and I think Chester have a real chance to make it to the play-off final. 

Football Odds

They are away from home this time, but they are in cracking form. Chester won their last four games on the bounce in the regular season to end on 87 points, while they also beat Southport away during that run - something Kidderminster couldn’t do on the final day. They only lost one of their last nine (to Scunthorpe away), in the final run-in and seem to have really built up momentum to gatecrash the play-offs. 

I also think they will fancy their chances against Harriers. Both regular season matches finished 1-1 and that scoreline does catch my eye at 6/1, but I’m going to back Double Chance: Draw or Chester after 90 minutes. 

Kidderminster Harriers vs Chester Odds

I think we have to assess the psychological damage that has been done to Phil Brown’s men. The experienced manager will have been left extremely frustrated that his side put in such a tepid performance on the final day against an outfit with nothing to play for in Southport. They had gone on an unbeaten run lasting 14 games to put them in pole position for the title on the final day, but they have now got a massive test to try and refocus and win two more to secure promotion.

Chester are full of confidence right now, and I think an early goal could send the nerves jangling amongst their hosts. I think they can certainly bag at least a draw after 90 minutes on Sunday.

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