Hello and welcome to another edition of ‘Weekend Football Tips and Bets: *insert date here*’ – I really need to come up with a better, catchier title, don’t I? It’s been quite hectic this week and I haven’t left myself much time at all to write this, so you have my apologies. I’m going to get straight down to business, though, giving my top tips and best bets as usual, but leaving out the big Premier League preview I usually do. Normality will resume next week. I don’t think you’ll be missing much anyway, as there’s not an awful lot I fancy this weekend.
That’s especially the case in the Premier League on Saturday, where any of the eight games could go either way. I kind of fancy Portsmouth to do the business at home to Spurs, but even then I’m nowhere near confident enough to place any money on them, as Spurs are an extremely funny, yo-yo team. You never know what you’re going to get with them. I fancy Villa a little too, but they were pretty poor in front of goal last time out and Sunderland aren’t too bad at home. You have to think that Roy Keane’s going to get a good result out of them sooner or later. You’d also think Man City, with their good home form, will brush aside Bolton – but they’ve been a different side under Gary Megson, their display at Anfield aside. They’re almost looking like the Bolton of old, so I wouldn’t be too confident of a home win.
Like I said, any of the games can either way – especially the likes of Derby/Boro, Fulham/Newcastle and West Ham/Everton – so it’s safe to say I’ll be avoiding the entire set of Saturday’s Premier League fixtures this weekend. It’s not worth it.
I know I said I’ll be keeping the Championship at arms length for the next couple of weeks, given the fact that it’s a bit of a minefield, but there are two teams that I actually fancy to do the business this weekend.
One of them is Ipswich, who have let me down once at home this season already (the only blip on their home record!), but I feel they’ll make amends here as they host Scunthorpe. I’ve talked about it here a few times in the past, but Ipswich really are phenomenal at home. They’re a totally different team at home, as they barely score away from home, nor do they win. Like I said, their only blip at home came a couple of weeks ago when they were held to a 0-0 draw with Barnsley. From my understanding of that game, it was a case of Ipswich hammering them with Barnsley parking the bus in front of goal, looking to break on the counter every now and then. I can’t see Scunthorpe doing that, as I’ve seen them a number of times this season and they’re quite an attacking team. I don’t think they’ll sit back and defend like Barnsley did, which will really suit Ipswich’s style of play. Get on them at a best priced 8/13 with BetDirect, Coral and Paddy Power.
The other team I fancy is Watford, who have been a little out of sorts over the past couple of weeks. They’ve bounced back a little recently, though, taking a point at Stoke and beating Colchester. I think they should have too much class for Plymouth, who themselves have gone a little wayward recently. Also, with Watford’s two biggest and nearest rivals, West Brom and Charlton, slugging it out between themselves this weekend, Watford will see this as the perfect opportunity to regain their considerable gap at the top of the league. They’re a best priced 8/11 with Bet365 and BlueSq.
I’m honestly, hand on heart, not saying this because I’m short of time, but there’s only Nottingham Forest who I fancy in League One this weekend. Take a look at the fixtures and the table and you’ll see why. It’s practically full of games between teams who are almost side by side in the league. It’s top versus top, middle versus middle, bottom versus bottom, etc. You get this every now and then and it’s annoying to us punters, as there’s too much risk involved. The only two games where it’s not like that are Forest versus Northampton and Port Vale versus Tranmere. I fancy Forest, but I’m not touching the latter game, because Tranmere have gone off the boil recently whereas Port Vale picked up an impressive victory last time out. Why do I fancy Forest? For a start, they have a really good home record. Their opponents, Northampton, are dreadful away from home. Over the past couple of seasons, their away form has been terrific. I know because I used to love the fact that the Bookmakers never picked up on that fact and over-priced them. It’s the opposite now, though, as they really struggle. They’re going to find it even harder without top scorer Andy Kirk, who sits this game out through injury. Get on Forest at 1/2 with most firms.
It’s the same case in League Two but even worse, as there’s not a single team I fancy. Not even one. Again, take a look at the fixtures and the table to see why. I’m laughing here, because I know it sounds like I’m in a real rush due to not having a lot of time this week, but that’s not the case at all. I could have all the time in the World and I’d still struggle to see any value in this league. Let me give you some examples of what I’m talking about. Peterborough versus MK Dons being the main one. Wrexham/Brentford, Macclesfield/Stockport, Grimsby/Mansfield, Darlington/Chester, etc. Rotherham had a bit of appeal, but Bradford aren’t too bad at home and Rotherham’s best form is at home, too.
Nothing interests me in the SPL either, so I’m moving on to the Scottish Leagues, Division One in particular, where I fancy Partick Thistle to do the business at home to Dunfermline. Partick have been in terrific form recently, near enough unstoppable, with Liam Buchanan scoring goals for fun. Dunfermline, on the other hand, haven’t been having such a great time – they’re managerless and they haven’t won in seven. I expect Partick to continue their fine form and pick up three points here. Back them at 1/1 with SkyBet. I’m really surprised at that price, in all honesty. That’s incredible value.
In Division Three, East Fife, who lead the way by an astonishing nine points, should most definitely see off Dumbarton at the weekend. East Fife have won all seven of their home games, scoring twenty six and conceding only two. Dumbarton, however, have lost five of their seven away games already. It’s going to take a lot – an awful lot – to get anything away to East Fife. I can’t see it happening here. Back East Fife at 1/3 with BetDirect and Ladbrokes.
Just scanned over all the football fixtures once again to see if I’ve missed anything, as I can’t remember the last time I fancied so little on a Saturday… I don’t think I’ve missed anything, though.
Recap:
Ipswich (8/13 with BetDirect, Coral and Paddy Power)
Watford ( 8/11 with Bet365 and BlueSq)
Nottingham Forest (1/2 with most firms)
Partick Thistle (1/1 with SkyBet)
East Fife (1/3 with BetDirect and Ladbrokes)
Five teams! On a Saturday! Seriously, though, it’s very dodgy this weekend, or at least I think it is. I really do fancy the five above, but I’ve really struggled to find any good value elsewhere.
To smack those five in an accumulator would fetch you odds of a little over 10/1 with BetDirect, which isn’t too bad at all.
My Top Tip this weekend is Partick Thistle, who are fantastic value at evens with SkyBet.
My Best Bet is the five teams above in an accumulator with BetDirect, giving you odds of 10.31/1.
My Wacky Wager (well, not that wacky, to be honest!) this weekend is chucking Arsenal and Manchester United into the five team accumulator above, making it a seven team accumulator, giving you odds of over 74/1 with BetDirect. I’ll be having a few quid on that.
Like I said earlier, apologies for a quicker, less detailed review this week. It’s been hectic. There wasn’t much to cover anyway, as you can see. Whatever and whoever you bet this weekend, I wish you the very best of luck. I’ll be back next week to give you a preview of all the UEFA Cup and Carling Cup action.
Until then, take care and don’t leave your Christmas shopping too late!
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