Blackpool vs Preston North End
FreeToday’s featured game is a North-West England derby in the Championship between Blackpool and Preston North End. Hosts Blackpool have had a fantastic start to this season and currently occupy eighth place in the table, defying pre-season expectations. Visitors Preston North End are having their usual bizarre season, littered with results that they should and shouldn’t be able to have obtained for varying reasons, leaving the club in thirteenth place.
League leaders West Bromwich Albion are the only side in the Championship to currently possess a better home record than Blackpool this year as tonight’s hosts have won six out of eight games, drawing the other two. Blackpool have already claimed the scalps of Newcastle United and Sheffield United here to name a couple so a derby shouldn’t alter their outlook nor performance drastically. Only a handful of sides have scored more goals at home than Blackpool have as they score over two goals per game on average. However, nobody in the division can better their goals conceded ratio at home, which works out at just over one goal conceded per three home games. Blackpool tasted defeat for the first time in a long time at Reading last match but will look emulate their form prior to that game which saw them win three and draw two.
Visitors Preston North End are a very difficult side to bet for or against due to their unpredictable nature. However, their recent form has persuaded me enough that they’re capable of losing this game as they’re winless in four games, losing their last two games consecutively. More concerningly for the visitors must be the fact that they’ve not scored in any of their last two games. As they’re facing a very potent and reliable Blackpool side, Preston North End simply must amend their ways before this game or they’ll lose the game, simply.
Although this is a derby, I’m really rather confident that Blackpool have far more guile and confidence ahead of this game and thus should win this game. Preston North End are looking poor on all fronts currently so it’d have to be some kind of divine footballing intervention to prevent a home win from occurring tonight.
Verdict: Blackpool to win at 11/10.
Monday’s Picks
My tips:
As ever, below are my recommended value tips for today in no particular order:
Arsenal de Sarandi vs Lanus – away win at 6/4.
Hosts Arsenal de Sarandi aren’t a particularly good side but they’re certainly a resilient side, particularly at home. Arsenal de Sarandi ironically don’t play Argentinian football as they prefer sides to be stopped in their tracks rather than outscoring them. Due to their style of football, Arsenal de Sarandi have only lost at home once in eight games and have conceded just four goals at home all season, which is less than any other side barring league leaders Banfield. As a result, Arsenal de Sarandi’s goalscoring has also suffered with every side in the Primera Division able to say that they have scored more goals than Arsenal de Sarandi have. Arsenal de Sarandi are unbeaten in four games and this will give them the confidence to make this game very hard for their more illustrious opponents.
Visitors Lanus are the better side in this game without a shadow of a doubt. However, they’re facing a very tough Arsenal de Sarandi side and it’ll take all of their creativity to break through. However, what sways me towards taking this bet is that Lanus have an awful lot of tenacity and grit themselves as they’re the only side in the division (barring league leaders Banfield) that are yet to lose an away game. Whereas it’s accurate to say that Lanus have only won two of their seven away games, they’re nonetheless a very difficult side to beat themselves. Lanus have won three of their last five games and have scored eight goals on that run, averaging nearly two goals scored per game. An emphatic 3-0 win last match against Colon de Santa Fe will have given the visitors a lot of belief and momentum as they enter this game so I feel they’re going to have enough to get the goal that they need.
Lanus have won here twice in four visits, which is a decent record when you consider the difficulties of facing Arsenal de Sarandi. I think Lanus have enough momentum and belief to get a goal and given Arsenal de Sarandi’s goal-shy home displays, I can see Lanus sneaking the away win at 6/4 in what should be a very low-scoring affair.
Verdict: Lanus to win at 6/4.
Colon de Santa Fe vs Newell’s Old Boys – draw at 21/10.
These two sides are very evenly matched in terms of ability and form. If I had to choose then I’d probably rate Colon de Santa Fe as the better side marginally but there’s not much in it at all. Colon de Santa Fe have been superb at home this season with six wins in eight home games, losing once and drawing once. Newell’s Old Boys have been just as good away from home, however, with five wins in eight games, drawing twice, and losing just once. To put it bluntly – both of these sides will be working hard in this game and both have the ability to make their opponents struggle. However, I just can’t see either side managing to win it as the draw would most likely be taken by both sides with neither being able to afford a defeat. Lastly, the most remarkable statistc ahead of this game is that nine out of the last ten encounters between these two sides at either ground have ended in a draw, seven of which have ended 1-1. With that in mind, the draw looks a good bet, as does taking a 1-1 draw at 5/1.
Verdict: Draw at 21/10.
AEL Limassol vs APOEL Nicosia – lay APOEL Nicosia at 11/10.
Hosts AEL Limassol have had a good start to their campaign, currently sat sixth in the table. AEL Limassol have won four out of their five home games, drawing the other game, and conceding just one goal during those games. AEL Limassol don’t score many goals at home but they do enjoy their tight home wins in a very efficient manner. The only side to take a point from this ground was bitter rivals Apollon Limassol in a 0-0 draw. Effectively, AEL Limassol are a very solid home side and simply loathe conceding goals. They’d rather draw 0-0 than take the chance to win the game, basically. Against their more illustrious opponents today, it’s hard to see their tactics changing as APOEL Nicosia are a superior side in every area of the pitch.
Visitors APOEL Nicosia are in scintillating form with five consecutive wins. They’ve already won three away games this season, drawing once and losing once. APOEL Nicosia are one of the top three sides in the country along with Anorthosis Famagusta and bitter rivals Omonia Nicosia. APOEL Nicosia boast the better squad between these two sides but I’m hoping that it will misfire against a defensively brilliant AEL Limassol. Unfortunately, history goes against my selection with APOEL Nicosia having an excellent record of winning here. Nonetheless, all records come to an end at somepoint and today could very well be that day.
This should be a very tight game indeed with very few goals as AEL Limassol would be more than happy with a draw and I daresay APOEL Nicosia would take the draw too. For me, the bookies have overpriced APOEL Nicosia at 4/7 in what should be a very compact game so laying APOEL Nicosia could boast some value today.
Verdict: Lay APOEL Nicosia at 11/10.
Banik Ostrava vs Sigma Olomouc – home win at 19/20.
Hosts Banik Ostrava are one of the better home sides in the Gambrinus Liga with only Pribram able to match their record of six wins in eight home games. That said, Pribram can’t claim that they’re unbeaten, unlike today’s hosts Banik Ostrava. Banik Ostrava are a compact and defensive side in general so the fact that they’ve only conceded five goals in eight home games comes as no great surprise. What does surprise me is that Banik Ostrava have managed to score thirteen goals during these games, which is unusual for a defensive side such as themselves. Banik Ostrava have won three out of their last five games, tasting defeat just once, and ultimately earning their fourth place spot with some good displays.
Visitors Sigma Olomouc are on a tremendous run of form that has seen them drastically climb the table in recent weeks. They’ve now won five consecutive games and look capable of troubling the majority of their Gambrinus Liga opponents with such strong momentum. However, they face a stern test at a resilient Banik Ostrava today and I can’t see Sigma Olomouc’s run lasting forever. The hosts will give them a very thorough examination today and although Sigma are playing well at the moment, I think there’s only one winner in this game.
Banik Ostrava haven’t won this game for two years now; I think it’s time for them to make amends with their strong home advantage and good momentum.
Verdict: Banik Ostrava to win at 19/20.
OB Odense vs HB Koge – under 2.5 goals at 6/4.
There’s no great secret to this game, really. OB Odense are the league leaders in the Superligaen but have got there by being efficient, not fluent. OB Odense much prefer to grind out wins rather than to dazzle their fans with scintillating football so I’m expecting more of the same in this game tonight. HB Koge are one of the worst sides in the Superligaen, which is only to be expected as they are newcomers to this division. No side has conceded more away goals than HB Koge have this season, which does concern me a little ahead of this call. Nonetheless, I can’t see OB Odense unnecessarily bursting a blood vessl to hammer goals past their hapless opponents but I can see HB Koge attempting damage limitation tactics. With all that in mind, taking under 2.5 goals could be a very nice earner tonight.
Verdict: Under 2.5 goals at 6/4.
Mantova vs Cittadella – home win at evens.
Although Mantova have only won once at home in Serie B this season, they’ve only been beaten twice on their own turf. I think it’s fair to say that little Mantova have been somewhat unfortunate at home with their four draws. Mantova don’t concede many goals at home but their problem lies in not scoring enough goals. Mantova may be second from bottom in the division but they’ve only lost once in their last five games, even managing a win along the way. I think the league placing of Mantova is somewhat misleading currently as they’re capable of better and are starting to show it too.
Visitors Cittadella are the perfect kind of side for Mantova to be facing at the moment as the visitors have already lost five out of eight away games this season. They’ve won just once on their travels and are one of the bigger sides on the road when it comes to conceding goals, which means Mantova should have plenty of chances to ease their goalscoring problems in this game. Cittadella are still capable of giving Mantova a tough game but their lack of momentum created by three defeats and two draws in their last five games gives them a very hard job to recuperate their momentum and even belief.
Although this should be a tight and low-scoring affair, the value tonight surely has to be in the home win!
Verdict: Mantova to win at evens.
Haarlem vs Zwolle – away win at 10/11.
Hosts Haarlem have now lost four consecutive games. That kind of form is what has earned them their place at the bottom of the Eerste Divisie and it doesn’t look like changing anytime soon. Nobody has lost as many games at home as Haarlem have this season with six defeats in nine games. Haarlem’s problem isn’t scoring goals – they’ve managed to do that aspect their games well by scoring in all of their last four defeats – but the fact that they’ve conceded fourteen goals along the way has to be a concern as that’s an average of four goals conceded per game, particularly as they host a side that are a considerable amount better than they are.
Visitors Zwolle have taken time to enter their stride but when they do get into their mode, they’re difficult to break up. Zwolle are unbeaten in five games, winning four times and drawing once. Given that Zwolle enjoy scoring goals, something they’ve done in all of their last five games, it seems reasonable to expect them to enjoy playing against a leaky Haarlem defence. Zwolle have only won three away games this season but I expect that given their poor start to this season. Nonetheless, they remain the better side and have tremendous momentum currently so the away win looks fairly straightforward.
Verdict: Zwolle to win at 10/11.
As ever, if there are any questions/explanations required then feel free to post a comment! For the complete picks listing, see below!
Argentinian Primera Division:
Arsenal de Sarandi vs Lanus (7) under 2.5 goals
Colon de Santa Fe vs Newell’s Old Boys (8) 1-1
Gimnasia De La Plata vs Argentinos Juniors (5) 0-1
Bulgarian A PFG:
Lokomotiv Plovdiv vs Slavia Sofia (5) 1-0
Cypriot Division 1:
AEL Limassol vs APOEL Nicosia (6) under 2.5 goals
Czech Republic Gambrinus Liga:
Banik Ostrava vs Sigma Olomouc (6) 1-0
Danish Superligaen:
OB Odense vs HB Koge (9) under 2.5 goals
English Championship:
Blackpool vs Preston North End (7)
French Ligue 2:
Stade Malherbe de Caen vs Le Havre (7)
German Bundesliga 2:
Kaiserslautern vs Arminia Bielefeld (6) over 2.5 goals
Greek B Ethniki:
Diagoras Rodos vs Pierikos Katerini (6) draw no bet
Italian Serie B:
Mantova vs Cittadella (7)
Dutch Eerste Divisie:
AGOVV Appeldoorn vs Den Bosch (6) draw no bet
Veendam vs Emmen (7)
Excelsior vs Dordrecht ’90 (7) over 2.5 goals
Eindhoven vs RBC Roosendaal (6)
Top Oss vs Omniworld (5)
Volendam vs De Graafschap (7)
Fortuna Sittard vs MVV Maastricht (5)
Go Ahead Eagles vs Helmond Sport (7)
Haarlem vs Zwolle (7)
Cambuur Leeuwarden vs Stormvogels Telstar (8)
Portuguese Liga Sagres:
Sporting Braga vs Uniao de Leiria (7) under 2.5 goals
Romanian Liga:
Brasov vs Politehnica Iasi (8) 2-0
Unirea Urziceni vs Gloria Bistrita (8) 2-1
Swiss Challenge League:
Wohlen vs Thun (7)
Enjoy your free betting tips!