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Moldova v England, Friday 19:45, ITV1

This Friday night, England head over to the dark side - of Europe at least - to face Moldova in the first of their World Cup 2014 qualifiers. This will be manager Roy Hodgson's debut preliminary contest since taking over the national job and, as a result, he will not be taking the challenge lightly.

The England boss is without the defensive experience of Ashley Cole, so Leighton Baines fills in at left-back. Midfielder Adam Johnson withdrew with a thigh problem, while striker Andy Carroll is sidelined following the hamstring injury picked up in his debut for West Ham at the weekend.

Match Odds

England are unbeaten in seven contests over 90 minutes since Hodgson took the reins back in May. Yet, their qualification record is equally as impressive with 14 wins from 18 matches after failing to reach Euro 2008. Since the turn of the century, England have suffered only four losses in competitive away fixtures - Ukraine (2009), Russia (2007), Croatia (2006) and Northern Ireland (2005).

Moldova, meanwhile, lost seven times during qualification for Euro 2012 and failed to win a single game in their 2010 World Cup qualifiers. At home, Fifa's 141st ranked nation have lost six of their last 10 competitive matches, only managing victories against Finland (96th) and San Marino (206th).

England have previously met Moldova twice during their 1998 World Cup qualification campaign. In September 1996, Glenn Hoddle's men were 3-0 victors in Chisinau - to mark David Beckham's first cap for England - and the Three Lions earned a facile 4-0 win a year later at Wembley.

Despite key absentees in the squad, England should deliver comfortably in the Match Odds market at 1.35, though there is far greater value to be had in the Asian handicap market where Roy Hodgson's side are 2.04 to win with a -1.5 goal disadvantage. A 0-3 Correct Score is 9.4.

Over/Under 2.5 Goals

England have failed to score in just one match under the new boss - that blot coming against Italy in their European Championship quarter-final, which was eventually lost on penalties. Under his guidance, the side has kept four clean sheets and only once conceded more than a single goal.

Seven of the last 10 competitive England away fixtures have resulted in three goals or more, with at least four scored on five occasions. England have fired blanks only once in this period, netting an average of 2.4 per game. However, despite their poor record, Moldova have managed to score in six of their last ten qualifiers at home - though could not score in their four friendlies played in 2012.
Over 2.5 Goals is available at 1.95 with Over 3.5 Goals on offer at 3.4.

In the Match Odds and Over/Under 2.5 Goals market, England/Over 2.5 Goals can be taken at 2.1. An England clean sheet trades at 1.74, while Both Teams to Score can be backed at around 2.5.

First Goalscorer

Without the injured Wayne Rooney, Andy Carroll and Ashley Young, attacking duties will rest upon the diminutive shoulders of Jermain Defoe, who scored the winner in August's friendly with Italy. The Spurs frontman is 5.0 to be First Goalscorer.

Yet, with the only other forward options lying at the feet of the inexperienced Danny Welbeck and Daniel Sturridge, Hodgson may look to his midfield old guard for a supplementary goal threat.

Much has been made of the longstanding inability of captain Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard to gel on the international stage and flourish as they so often do for their clubs. However, with the fledgling Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and the erratic Theo Walcott as the only other creative options from midfield, it may pay to back Gerrard 2.5 or Lampard 3.0 To Score at any time.

Half Time

England have led at half-time in five of their last six competitive away fixtures and scored more than twice before the break in four of those. The visitors are 1.8 to be leading after 45 minutes while a 0-1 and 0-2 Half Time Score can be backed at around 3.4 and 6.4. England to Score in Both Halves may also tempt at 2.06, with England/England around 1.95 in the Half Time/Full Time market.

Recommended Bets:
Back England -1.5 Asian handicap @ 2.04
Back England/Over 2.5 Goals @ 2.1
Back Frank Lampard To Score @ 3.0
Back 0-1 and 0-2 Half Time Score @ 3.4 and 6.4

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