Norwich City vs Huddersfield Town
FreeAs we near Christmas there isn’t quite as much value as I’d like! That said, there is still some listed below as ever so take your pick and we’ll keep our fingers crossed for you all!
Today’s featured game is the League One encounter between high-flying Norwich City and free-scoring Huddersfield Town. Hosts Norwich City have been playing some excellent football this season and thoroughly deserve their lofty perch of third in the table. Huddersfield Town have also had a very good season but tend to look a little stretched at times with the role of being a “bigger club” sometimes causing them more pressure than normal.
Norwich City have already won seven in ten of their home games this season, losing just once, and amassing an impressive average of nearly three goals scored per home game. They’ve won three out of their last four games and haven’t tasted defeat in their last eight League One games. Interestingly enough, only today’s visitors Huddersfield Town have scored as many goals as Norwich City have this season so we should witness a high-scoring game here today.
Visitors Huddersfield Town have a poor away record despite their league placing of fifth in the League One table. They’ve already lost six out of ten away games this season, winning just twice along the way. Huddersfield’s shaky defence tends to be the main reason that today’s visitors struggle as often as they do because they’re certainly not short when it comes to scoring goals. Huddersfield’s patchy form of late won’t be assisting their momentum drive and a nightmarish away trip to Norwich City won’t be something they relish either. With just one win in their last four games, it’s hard to see Huddersfield producing the kind of performance that they need to overcome a very talented Norwich City today.
Verdict: Norwich City to win at evens.
Saturday’s Picks
My tips:
As ever, below are my recommended value tips for today in no particular order:
Beveren vs KVSK United – away win at 11/10.
Hosts Beveren still haven’t got out of first gear this season and will be staring down the barrel of relegation if they don’t find their feet soon. They’ve won just two out of seventeen games this season in the Tweede Klasse and haven’t managed any of those two wins in their last four games, drawing twice and losing twice. They’re not conceding masses more than most sides in this division but they’re scoring a lot less than the vast majority with only bottom club Liege having scored less goals than they have this season. Beveren tend to draw more than they lose at home so KVSK United do have their work cut out tonight but I can’t see Beveren winning this game so the visitors have the opportune moment to claim three points here.
Visitors KVSK United are on a tremendous run of form with five consecutive wins under their belts. KVSK United have already won four away games this season and their strong momentum will ensure that KVSK enter this game with high hopes of leaving with three points. KVSK’s biggest boast is that they’re the lowest conceding side in the division, yet another factor that will undoubtedly unsettle a goal-shy Beveren side today.
With the above in mind, you have to feel that there’s value in the win for KVSK United, particularly as it looks increasingly unlikely that Beveren will score in this game.
Verdict: KVSK United to win at 11/10.
Blackburn Rovers vs Tottenham Hotspur – away win at 5/4.
Hosts Blackburn Rovers have struggled considerably of late with no Premier League wins in their last five games. They’re not playing particularly badly per se but they’re simply not scoring goals, something perfectly illustrated by the fact that they’ve mustered just one goal in their last five games. Blackburn tend to rely heavily on their home form but seem unable to do so currently as they’re simply not finding the net whatsoever. There’s no way on earth that Blackburn will make this game easy for Tottenham but you have to be aware that the chances of Blackburn scoring in this game are very slim indeed at the present time.
Visitors Tottenham Hotspur are a difficult side to back in a bet as you never know which Tottenham Hotspur will turn up! Will it be the one that managed to lose at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers or will it be the one that swept Manchester City aside without leaving first gear lately? It’s virtually impossible to predict such a thing! However, one thing you can almost always rely upon with Tottenham Hotspur is that they’ll score. They’ve got a wealth of attacking options available to them and they almost always make that aspect of their game count. Only Arsenal and Chelsea have scored more goals than Tottenham have in the Premier League this season so it’s a pretty safe bet to suggest that Tottenham will score in this game.
When you consider that it’s very unlikely for Blackburn to score and it’s very likely for Tottenham to score, you do have to feel that the away win is on the cards here today, particularly as Tottenham are considerably better than Blackburn are quality-wise too.
Verdict: Tottenham Hotspur to win at 5/4.
Cardiff City vs Leicester City – home win at 10/11.
Cardiff City have emerged from a recent poor patch of form by winning their last three games consecutively and convincingly. Cardiff have already won five times at home in ten games this season, scoring nearly two goals per game on average. Few sides take the trip to Wales lightly as Cardiff are a very potent side that will punish you for anything other than 100% concentration in the their games as they’ve proven on countless occasions this season. Few sides have conceded as few goals at home as Cardiff have this season so the Welsh hosts have a good deal in their favour ahead of their tricky game with Leicester today.
Visitors Leicester are one of the harder sides in the Championship to beat which is indicated by the fact that they’ve only lost five times in the twenty-one Championship games that they’ve played since earning promotion from League One last season. Leicester don’t tend to score many goals but they do tend to prevent other sides from scoring, which is why they’ve only been beaten twice away from home this season. However, Leicester have naturally started to look somewhat human of late with just one win in their last four games, losing twice consecutively along the way. Leicester’s impressive run was shattered by a rampant Nottingham Forest who ran out 5-1 winners before Leicester then succumbed to a 3-1 home defeat inflicted by Bristol City. Gaps are now beginning to appear in Leicester’s defence and Cardiff is not the place to go if you’re not solid in defence.
With the above in mind, you have to feel that the value is with the hosts who already boast the better squad and better momentum, let alone now being likely to be gifted chances by a shaky Leicester defence today!
Verdict: Cardiff City to win at 10/11.
Rochdale vs Shrewsbury Town – home win at 3/4.
Rochdale are on an outstanding run of form currently with five consecutive wins under their belt in League Two. Only Notts County can match the large number of goals that they’ve notched up this season and Rochdale appear to be simply going from strength to strength. Rochdale have already won seven out of their ten home games this season and average scoring two goals per game too. Few sides look able to compete with Rochdale currently and a poor-travelling Shrewsbury Town look even less likely than some to pose problems for the league leaders currently.
Shrewsbury Town are enduring their usual patchy form due to their inability to remain consistent away from home, something that has become a solid part of their reputation in League Two in recent years. Shrewsbury have long been a recognised force at home but away from home they tend to rarely turn up. Shrewsbury have only lost four out of ten away games this season but do tend to concede rather a lot of goals too. With Shrewsbury lacking any kind of consistency or strong momentum, it’s very difficult for me to see the visitors taking anything from this game other than a defeat.
Verdict: Rochdale to win at 3/4.
Saint-Etienne vs Olympique de Marseille – away win at 10/11.
Hosts Saint-Etienne are really struggling in Ligue 1 this season and have recently sacked manager Alain Perrin due to their problems. Saint-Etienne are without a win in their last five games, losing three times and drawing twice whilst scoring a miserly one goal along the way. Saint-Etienne’s big problem is scoring goals, something they’ve done less than any other side in Ligue 1 at home this season, which is largely why they’ve lost five out of nine home games and won just twice.
Unfortunately for the hosts, they’re facing an Olympique de Marseille side that are joint-top goalscorers in Ligue 1 this season with LOSC Lille, averaging nearly two goals scored per game. Marseille are the proud owners of the best away record in the division with five wins, two draws, and just two defeats in nine away games this season. They average scoring over two goals per away game, which is another record that no side can get near to in Ligue 1, which makes Marseille one of the worst sides that Saint-Etienne could have been handed today! With four wins in their last five games, Marseille’s momentum is strong, their potency is unquestionable, and their ability to win this game is very clear.
With the above in mind, there appears to be a good level of value in the away win today!
Verdict: Olympique de Marseille to win at 10/11.
Hercules Alicante vs Recreativo de Huelva – home win at 4/5.
Second-placed Hercules Alicante currently possess a bizarre record of being fantastic at home and poor away from home in the Segunda Liga this season. They’ve won just once away from home in eight attempts this season and yet have managed to win seven out of eight home games this season, drawing the other game and averaging scoring over two goals per home game. Hercules Alicante are a very good side indeed, the side I rate highest in this division currently if I’m honest with you! No side has conceded as few goals as Hercules Alicante this season with the hosts averaging just over a goal conceded every two games. Hercules are an extremely reliable home side and I expect more of the same from them today.
Visitors Recreativo de Huelva have struggled to adapt to life in the Segunda Liga following relegation from the Primera Liga last season and currently occupy thirteenth place in the table. Having already lost four out of eight away games this season, Recreativo won’t be entering this game with too much hope, particularly as they are amongst the lower goalscoring sides in the division away from home. Recreativo are without a win in their last four games so their momentum is well and truly dried up. Recreativo tend to employ tactics that make them hard to beat and that does work well for them sometimes so I’ve no doubt they’ll employ those tactics today against a formidable Hercules Alicante too because Recreativo aren’t playing well enough to attempt an alternative tactical approach.
Although these two sides are capable of stopping each other from playing football, the momentum and strong home advantage of Hercules Alicante should be the deciding factor here.
Verdict: Hercules Alicante to win at 4/5.
Numancia vs Real Union Club de Irun – home win at 4/5.
Recently-relegated Numancia are currently eight in the Segunda Liga and have endured some patchy form of late with two wins, one draw, and two defeats in their last five games. Numancia are one of those frustrating sides that are as good away from home as they are at home. However, one thing that Numancia always seem to be able to do is score goals, something illustrated by the fact that they average nearly two goals scored per home game so far this season despite winning just four out of their eight home games this season. Numancia are unfortunately amongst the bigger conceders at home in the division which is why they struggle. However, their prayers should be answered today against local rivals Real Union Club de Irun as they struggle to score goals and keep clean sheets!
Visitors Real Union Club de Irun have an atrocious away record in this division so far with six defeats in eight games. They average conceding just under two goals per away game and are the joint-lowest goalscoring side in the division along with Huesca and Gimnastic de Tarragona. Real Union’s form is naturally patchy as the Basque outfit tend to take the majority of their points in their home games and simply play for damage limitation in their away games. That said, like all Basque sides, Real Union are a resilient side and will take something here if Numancia don’t exhibition their ability to score goals. However, I can’t see the visitors doing enough to take a point from this game because Numancia are simply too good and too potent for the little Basque outfit to stop so we should see a fairly comfortable home win today.
With the above in mind, it’s hard to look beyond a Numancia win in this game today!
Verdict: Numancia to win at 4/5.
Accumulator fodder i.e. sides with poor odds but will earn you extra money in accumulators – Aston Villa, Arsenal, Charlton Athletic, Colchester United, Gillingham, Girondins de Bordeaux, Bayern Munich, BV09 Borussia Dortmund, Panathinaikos, Sassuolo, Feyenoord Rotterdam, Rangers, Real Madrid, Kayserispor, Port Talbot Town.
As ever, if there are any questions/explanations required then feel free to post a comment! For the complete picks listing, see below!
FIFA World Club Club:
Pohang Steelers vs Atlante (7) 1-2
Estudiantes De La Plata vs Barcelona (8) 0-2
Australian A-League:
Central Coast Mariners vs Brisbane Roar (6) 1-1
Melbourne Victory vs Sydney FC (7) 2-1
Belgian Eerste Klasse:
Kortrijk vs Westerlo (7) 1-1
Roeselare vs Sint-Truiden (7) 1-1
Lokeren vs AA Gent (6) 0-1
Cercle Brugge vs Excelsior Mouscron (6) 1-2
Racing Genk vs Zulte-Waregem (7) 1-1
Belgian Tweede Klasse:
Brussels vs Tubize (6)
Tournai vs Boussu Dour Borinage (6)
Mons vs Eupen (7)
Beveren vs KVSK United (7)
Antwerp vs Dender (6)
Tienen vs OH Leuven (7)
Cypriot Division 1:
APEP vs Aris (6) 0-0
Ethnikos Achnas vs Nea Salamis (7) under 2.5 goals
Doxa vs AEL Limassol (7) 0-1
A.E.Paphos vs Omonia Nicosia (4) 1-1
English Premier League:
Portsmouth vs Liverpool (4) 1-1
Aston Villa vs Stoke City (9) 3-1
Blackburn Rovers vs Tottenham Hotspur (7) 1-2
Fulham vs Manchester United (7) 1-2
Manchester City vs Sunderland (8) 2-0
Arsenal vs Hull City (9) -1.75 handicap
English Championship:
Blackpool vs West Bromwich Albion (6)
Bristol City vs Reading (7)
Cardiff City vs Leicester City (7)
Crystal Palace vs Barnsley (6)
Derby County vs Doncaster Rovers (6)
Peterborough United vs Watford (6)
Plymouth Argyle vs Coventry City (5)
Queens Park Rangers vs Sheffield United (6)
Scunthorpe United vs Ipswich Town (7)
Sheffield Wednesday vs Swansea City (6)
Nottingham Forest vs Preston North End (7)
English League One:
Charlton Athletic vs Millwall (8)
Colchester United vs Carlisle United (8)
Exeter City vs Southend United (6)
Gillingham vs Stockport County (8)
Hartlepool United vs Yeovil Town (6)
Leeds United vs Southampton (7)
Milton Keynes Dons vs Brentford (7)
Norwich City vs Huddersfield Town (7) over 2.5 goals
Swindon Town vs Brighton & Hove Albion (8)
Tranmere Rovers vs Bristol Rovers (5)
Walsall vs Leyton Orient (6)
Wycombe Wanderers vs Oldham Athletic (5)
English League Two:
Accrington Stanley vs Barnet (8)
Aldershot Town vs Bradford City (6)
Bury vs Macclesfield Town (8)
Cheltenham Town vs Burton Albion (5)
Crewe Alexandra vs Torquay United (6)
Darlington vs Northampton Town (5)
Port Vale vs Chesterfield (5)
Rochdale vs Shrewsbury Town (7)
Rotherham United vs Dagenham & Redbridge (5)
French Ligue 1:
Girondins de Bordeaux vs Lorient (8) 2-0
Boulogne vs Sochaux (6) 0-0
Grenoble Foot vs OGC Nice (6) 1-1
Montpellier HSC vs AS Nancy-Lorraine (7) 2-1
Stade Rennais vs Paris Saint-Germain (5) 1-1
Valenciennes vs Racing Club Lens (6) 1-1
Saint-Etienne vs Olympique de Marseille (7) 1-2
German Bundesliga:
Bayern Munich vs Hertha HSC Berlin (8) 2-1
BV09 Borussia Dortmund vs Freiburg (8) 2-0
Bayer 04 Leverkusen vs Borussia Moenchengladbach (7) 2-1
Hannover 96 vs VFL Bochum (6) 1-0
Eintracht Frankfurt vs VFL Wolfsburg (6) 2-2
VFB Stuttgart vs Hoffenheim (6) 1-1
Greek Super League:
Ergotelis vs PAOK Salonika (6) 1-2
Levadiakos vs Larissa (5) 0-0
Panathinaikos vs PAS Giannina (9) 2-0
Greek B Ethniki:
Anagennisi Karditsas vs OFI Crete (6)
Italian Serie A:
Bologna vs Atalanta Bergamo (5) 1-1
Fiorentina vs AC Milan (6) 1-1
Italian Serie B:
Albinoleffe vs Empoli (6)
Brescia vs Modena (5)
Cittadella vs Ancona (7)
Gallipoli vs Reggina (4)
Grosseto vs Frosinone (6)
Mantova vs Crotone (7)
Sassuolo vs Salernitana (8)
Triestina vs Piacenza (7)
Vicenza vs Torino (6)
Dutch Eredivisie:
AZ Alkmaar vs ADO Den Haag (8) 2-0
Feyenoord Rotterdam vs Willem II (9) 3-1
RKC Waalwijk vs Sparta Rotterdam (4) 1-1
Portuguese Liga Sagres:
Vitoria Guimaraes vs Rio Ave (7) 0-0
Naval de Maio vs Sporting Clube de Lisboa (6) 0-0
Portuguese Liga de Honra:
Estoril vs Fatima (8)
Varzim vs Portimonense (7)
Scottish Premier League:
Aberdeen vs Hibernians (6) 1-1
Hamilton Academicals vs Dundee United (6) 1-1
Kilmarnock vs Falkirk (7) 1-0
Rangers vs Motherwell (9) 2-0
St.Johnstone vs St.Mirren (6) 0-0
Spanish Primera Liga:
Athletic Club de Bilbao vs Osasuna (7) 2-1, at least one red card in this game
Sevilla CF vs Getafe (8) 2-1
Real Madrid vs Real Zaragoza (9) -1.75 handicap
Spanish Segunda Liga:
Salamanca vs Rayo Vallecano de Madrid (7)
Hercules Alicante vs Recreativo de Huelva (7)
Cordoba vs Albacete (7)
Levante vs Cartagena (6)
Numancia vs Real Union Club de Irun (8)
Las Palmas vs Celta de Vigo (6)
Spanish Segunda B:
Group 1:
Osasuna II vs Izarra (7)
Lugo vs Athletic Club de Bilbao II (7)
Cultural y Deportiva Leonesa vs Montaneros (6)
Racing Club de Ferrol vs Mirandes (6)
Deportivo Alaves vs Celta de Vigo II (6)
Group 2:
Puertollano vs Real Racing Club Santander II (7)
Group 3:
Espanyol Barcelona II vs Logrones (6)
Mallorca II vs Sporting Mahones (5)
Valencia II vs Barcelona II (8)
Terrassa vs Benidorm (5)
Lleida vs Gava (6)
Group 4:
Real Betis Balompie II vs Real Jaen (6)
Melilla vs Ceuta (7)
Ciudad de Murcia vs Ecija Balompie (6)
Marbella vs Union Estepona (5)
Roquetas vs Real Murcia II (7)
Aguilas vs Lucena (6)
Polideportivo Ejido vs Moratalla (7)
Turkish Super Lig:
Gaziantepspor vs Denizlispor (7) 2-1
Eskisehirspor vs Diyarbakirspor (8) 1-0
Kasimpasa vs Manisaspor (6) 2-1, at least one red card in this game
Kayserispor vs Antalyaspor (9) 2-0
Ankaragucu vs Sivasspor (6) 1-1
Galatasaray vs Genclerbirligi (7) 2-1
Welsh Premier League:
Airbus vs Llanelli (8) 1-2
Carmarthen Town vs Rhyl (5) 1-1
Connah’s Quay Nomads vs Neath Athletic (6) 0-1
Newtown vs Porthmadog (7) 1-0
Port Talbot Town vs Newi Cefn Druids (8) -1.75 handicap
Welshpool Town vs Haverfordwest County (6) 1-2
Enjoy your free betting tips!