Montenegro have been beaten just once at home in their previous 12 matches and England face no easy task on Tuesday night.
While the Three Lions were dispatching San Marino 8-0 on Friday, their upcoming hosts’ narrow win in Moldova could prove crucial.
Montenegro had Milorad Pekovic dismissed midway through the second half with the match still goalless but a late Mirko Vucinic strike gave the visitors all three points and the Juventus forward is a class act.
That victory maintained Montenegro’s two-point lead over England at the top of Group H and this pair have it between them at the halfway stage of qualifying for World Cup 2014.
Should Montenegro triumph in Podgorica then an automatic route to Brazil will be in their own hands with just four matches remaining and England could rue dropped points at home to Ukraine at Wembley and versus Poland in Warsaw.
We learnt little about Roy Hodgson’s team in thrashing the world’s lowest ranked side last time out, 5-0 up at half-time in an absolute stroll against the minnows, but their qualifying record in recent years is superb.
However, whether they deserve to be no bigger than 1.80 to get the three points that would put them in pole position is debatable and I am taking them on at that price.
This pair were drawn together in qualifying for Euro 2012 and following a goalless stalemate in London shared four goals in the return.
Wayne Rooney was dismissed that night, as England squandered a 2-0 lead, and I think it will prove an entertaining clash with the away team perhaps better suited on their travels.
Alongside Vucinic, fellow Serie A star Stevan Jovetic, of Fiorentina, also carries a significant goal threat and England’s makeshift defence will need to be at their best to keep a clean sheet.
It’s not beyond them, of course, but Montenegro are more than just a well-organised outfit and must be sided with at the prices.
2pts Lay England (vs. Montenegro) @ 1.80 (Betfair)