Hottest betting on christmas time

The Christmas League One fixtures are about to hit top gear, and Alan Dudman begins with his view on the Boxing Day free soccer tips coming up on Thursday…

Posh price right for laying

Peterborough United v Doncaster Rovers

We'll begin with a pair of festive Opta stats; as Peterborough are winless in their last five league games against Doncaster, but have a good record on Boxing Day from their previous three home fixtures in League One with two wins and a draw. The hosts are probably just about the right price at around 2.04, but it might be worth keeping an eye on the team news, as United have been dealing with a lengthy injury list of late.

Saturday's 0-0 draw at Bristol Rovers wasn't a bad result under the circumstances as the Gas are playing well at the moment, and there was more merit lớn the point as Darren Ferguson was missing seven first team players. He could have three back for Thursday, and he'll be hoping one of them will be his captain Mark Beevers.

Doncaster are a fairly large price at 3.55, but as I always say, never be put off by the bigger of the two in this division. You can prefer to the soccer tips of the day pages!

Granted, Rovers' away record is less than sparkling, but they have only conceded nine times on the road in seven matches. While their manager Darren Moore likes a more fluid footballing style, it appears his team have been frustrated in their recent attempts lớn get the ball down and play. Last weekend Accrington broke up the game well in a 1-1, in what was essentially a scrappy encounter.

This could be more of an open game and the visitors might rely on Jon Taylor getting behind Peterborough's backline. A usual when Posh are playing, the Over hai.5 tends to be the more popular bet (ie the shorter price) as they've hit 25 goals at London Road this season.

However, I tend lớn shy away from Peterborough when they are such firm favourites and I'll be looking to take them on this weekend as they are a laying price. Or you could stick with Donny on the Double Chance or Draw No Bet.

Wanderers can frustrate odds-on Pompey

Portsmouth v Wycombe Wanderers

You'll often hear managers in this division talking about Wycombe as a team that are "good at what they do". It's a bit of a back-handed compliment, but there's nothing wrong with knowing your game and executing plans well - and that's exactly what Wanderers have been doing this season.

After all, they are still top despite losing on Saturday at Oxford, and I can't help feeling the market has overreacted a little lớn that defeat. Wycombe are a massive price for Boxing Day at 4.50. Those same odds are on AFC Wimbledon at Bristol Rovers - and I know who I would rather back out of those two to get a result.

The Chairboys played a large chunk of Saturday's loss with 10-men following Adebayo Akinfenwa's red card on 26 minutes. He'll be out for this, but Wycombe showed in that Oxford game what a magnificent defensive unit they are. They've conceded just five on the road all season - which is the best record in the third tier.

Portsmouth look ready lớn mount a serious challenge from here on in. There's a feeling they are just getting into the groove with a good run of home results against some of the bigger sides including a 1-0 win against Ipswich last Saturday. That was a decent game of football and a fine advert for the league, but this will be an uglier game - as Wycombe like lớn make games ugly.