IT'S been the year of the underdog. First Leicester then Brexit and finally Donald Trump.
Bookies reported a £5 wager on that treble would have returned up to £12million … but could Scotland beating England at Wembley tonight Trump them all?
A best price of 10-1 with McBookie is bigger than Brexit was in the closing weeks and higher than Trump was as votes started to be counted.
England, no bigger than 2-5 at William Hill, are nothing special but we're nothing to be afraid of and it's a tall order for Gordon Strachan's men. The draw pays 4-1 at Ladbrokes.
The head says England are stick-ons, the heart says Scotland could nick a result if every player is at their best and rises to the occasion.
But we have to stop giving away cheap goals like we did against Lithuania and Slovakia. Scotland are scoring more than the English but we can't buy a clean sheet. Not away from home, not against Malta, not even against Gibraltar.
England average 1.6 goals a game in their last 10 compared to our 1.8 but concede 0.6 while we let in 1.4.
Scotland are without Andy Robertson, Kieran Tierney and Alan Hutton but it's in central defence where we could be exposed. Grant Hanley and Russell Martin were expected to start but it's Hanley and Christophe Berra and Ikechi Anya is brought in at right-back with Lee Wallace on the left.
Strachan's named a surprise team and while it has pace it looks lightweight and if the gamble comes off I'll be first to congratulate but Scotland fans have to be worried.
Gareth Southgate's matches in charge have been underwhelming with a 2-0 home win against Malta followed by a 0-0 draw away to Slovenia but his strikers will punish our defence if we don't improve tenfold.
I can't back England for obvious reasons but they could score 2+ goals and that pays 6-10 at Coral.
Scotland are as big as 23-20 just to score while over 2.5 match goals pays 42-41 at Marathonbet. A draw would be a good result without doing Scotland's chances of qualifying much good.
As for a first scorer skipper Wayne Rooney is worth a look at 5-1 with bet365 and remember he'll be on penalties.
Strachan has gone with Leigh Griffiths up top but best bet for a goal could be Hull's Robert Snodgrass who is 5-1 at McBookie to net.
It should be fiery and returning midfielder Scott Brown will be in the thick of the action. The Celtic skipper is 2-1 at Unibet to be carded and Broonie's bound to mark his presence with at least one “big hit”.
For first booking I'd consider left-back Lee Wallace who is 12-1 with McBookie or how about Hanley who is joint 8-1 favourite.
If I was choosing an Englishman in this market I'd look at John Stones at 18-1 with betfair.
188BET’s moneyback offer is a refund up to £50 as a free bet on the usual markets if there is a red card. It's highly possible and pays a best 3-1 at bet365.
Scotland are 20-1 at McBookie to repeat their 1-0 win at Wembley in 1999 and that result would keep Strachan in his job. McBookie make this 1-2 to be his last game – let's hope they're wrong.
Bets to Consider
England to score 2+
Over 2.5 match goals
Rooney to score first
Brown to be carded
In December 2020 we sadly 
Scotland haven’t been behind at half-time in past 3 meetings at Wembley and with neither side playing at their best recently and with Strachan having to avoid defeat at all costs im expecting Scotland to try to keep it tight in first half and it may take England until the 2nd half to break through.See some value in the HT/FT markets of Draw/England @ 3/1 skybet.
I am sensing a fiery encounter, its a toss up on whether to go for an England win and overs cards double, or an over 1.5 England goals / over cards double. with a bit of luck the bookies might put their line in the sand at 3.5 cards.
Scottish winger Johnny Russell has started to hit form and get regular match time in the league. Not sure if he’ll play a part tonight but if he does, he could/should give Scotland some fire in their bellies down that right wing. He does like running past left-backs with the ball. He could be the key to England racking up a few cards.
Russell unlikely to get on – won’t start for sure.
Had my Friday fiver bet on England 0 Scotland 1 correct score at 18-1.
This is gut feeling as on form it has the look of a 0-0 draw.
Scotland have no top class strikers and England have more choice of strikers, but with a timid coach like Southgate [joke appointment if he gets the job], they will play in their usual scared way, worrying more about losing rather than playing to win and the crowd will get on their backs and the away jock fans will inspire a dog’s of war performance and a late winner from Snodgrass. Well, that’s the plan anyway.
As for brown I’m glad he is back as Scotland stand a better chance with him playing and will help my bet, but he shouldn’t be lauded for his return as he has turned his back on the rest of the squad by quitting, but fancied a last shot at a glorious finale v the auld enemy before deserting his team mates again, probably after today’s game.
And well done both Fa of Scotland and England for defying the fifa poppy ban. These fallen warrior’s gave their lives to allow the likes of those twa@s in fifa to live their lavish lifestyle. Never forget !!!!!!!
Don’t rate brown out off position for Poland and German goal internationally naive ps I am not biased it’s fact