Newcastle United vs West Bromwich Albion
FreeToday’s featured game is the English Championship game between league leaders Newcastle United and promotion hopefuls West Bromwich Albion. Both sides were relegated from the Premier League last season but both are looking to make an immediate return there. Both sides have played some good football this season so we should see a good game of football tonight.
Hosts Newcastle United have won nine out of twelve home games this season, drawing the other three and have averaged scoring just under two goals per home game. Newcastle haven’t been flambuoyant since relegation from the Premier League – they’ve adapted in the correct way to what is a very difficult decision by fighting for everything and taking their chances when they come. You cannot simply drop into this division and assume you’re the best side in it – it really has to be proven on a completely different level. Newcastle have the best defensive record in the league when playing at home with just four goals conceded all season, an average of a goal conceded every three home games. Newcastle haven’t conceded a goal in six out of their last eight Championship games and are unbeaten in eleven games, granting them tremendous momentum ahead of this tough game.
Visitors West Bromwich Albion are a more flambuoyant side than Newcastle but that can often be their undoing. A 3-1 defeat at home to surprise package Nottingham Forest last match will have really knocked the wind out of their sails as it was such a comprehensive win. West Bromwich Albion now have yet another tough game but this one’s away from home. Although West Bromwich Albion have only lost one away game in the Championship all season, they’re facing their biggest away game yet on their trip north-east. Only Cardiff City have scored more away goals than West Bromwich Albion this season so the visitors today do know how to find the net. West Bromwich Albion have won one out of their last two away games and have generally started to stutter of late. Their Arsenal-esque style works well against sides they’re better than but they tend to struggle against more physical and tactically astute sides, which is what Newcastle United are.
With the above in mind, I can only feel that Newcastle United will grind out a win here today. I’m undecided as to whether we’re going to see a lot of goals or a narrow home win but it should be an interesting and profitable game nonetheless.
Verdict: Newcastle United to win at evens.
Monday’s Picks
My tips:
As ever, below are my recommended value tips for today in no particular order:
Mali vs Malawi – Mali to win at 5/6.
In the final group stage game for both sides, Mali need a win to have any chance of qualification whereas Malawi will qualify as long as they at least match Algeria’s result. Mali have surprised me as they’re still without a win despite being one of the better sides in the group. By contrast, Malawi have really surprised me because they’re simply not a good side! However, we can only work with what is in front of us so here we are!
Mali have already scored four goals in this tournament and are clearly a potent side when they feel inclined. They’ve got some great players in their team and the fact that they must win this game will serve as great motivation for them. Mali know that they’re better than Malawi so I fully expect them to attack from the outset and take three points.
I simply cannot see Malawi commanding yet another surprise in this group. They’ve had their time to shine and now they’re down to the bare bones with the knowledge that they’re taking on a side that is better than them. Malawi will work hard, as all underdog sides do, but they really shouldn’t have the quality to match Mali today.
At any other time of year, odds of 5/6 for Mali to beat Malawi would be snatched up instantaneously and I fail to see how the same philosophy isn’t employed for this game too, particularly as it actually matters now!
Verdict: Mali to win at 5/6.
RBC Roosendaal vs Dordrecht ’90 – away win at 5/4.
Hosts RBC Roosendaal have been on a good run of late with just one defeat in their past five games, winning twice, and drawing twice. However, RBC still boast the unfortunate record of no side having lost more games at home than they have barring bottom club Haarlem. RBC have lost six out of eleven home games and have only won two, which is pretty poor if you ask me! They’re the lowest goalscorers in the Eerste Divisie when playing at home with an average of just one goal scored per home game. When you consider that they average conceding nearly two goals per home game, it’s easy to see why they’ve lost so many home games already – a little thing called “logic”! Although RBC have some good momentum at the moment, their actual level of ability is still virtually non-existent, something perfectly indicated by their loss at home to Omniworld in their last home game.
Visitors Dordrecht ’90 are also on a good run of form with four wins in their past five games. Interestingly, Dordrecht ’90 are one of the division’s best away sides with six wins in eleven games, losing just three times. Nobody else in the division comes close to scoring as many goals as Dordrecht ’90 have on the road this season with an average of nearly three goals per game scored. Amazingly, Dodrecht ’90 still manage to keep their goals conceded relatively low whilst playing away from home, thus indicating why they tend to do so well. They’ve won two out of their last three away games and have strong enough momentum to make it a third win in four away games tonight.
With RBC being so poor at home and Dordrecht ’90 being so good and potent on the road, it’s really rather amazing just how good the odds on the away win in this game actually are.
Verdict: Dordrecht ’90 to win at 5/4.
As ever, if there are any questions/explanations required then feel free to post a comment! For the complete picks listing, see below!
Angola vs Algeria (6) 1-2
Mali vs Malawi (7) over 2.5 goals
Cypriot Division 1:
Ermis vs Enosis Neon Paralimni (5) 2-1
English Championship:
Newcastle United vs West Bromwich Albion (7)
French Ligue 2:
Le Havre vs Tours (7)
German Bundesliga 2:
Hansa Rostock vs Arminia Bielefeld (6)
Greek B Ethniki:
Pierikos Katerini vs Kerkyra (7)
International Friendly:
Finland vs South Korea (6) 1-1
Italian Serie B:
Crotone vs Sassuolo (7)
Dutch Eerste Divisie:
Den Bosch vs Omniworld (7)
Emmen vs MVV Maastricht (5)
Go Ahead Eagles vs Excelsior (6)
Helmond Sport vs Veendam (5)
RBC Roosendaal vs Dordrecht ’90 (7)
Volendam vs Stormvogels Telstar (6)
Enjoy your free betting tips!