Preston North End vs Barnsley
FreeToday’s featured game is the English Championship game between Preston North End and Barnsley. Hosts Preston North End are still in their “honeymoon period” with new manager Darren Ferguson and thus are playing with confidence at the moment. Visitors Barnsley are a good side but haven’t been playing well of late so look a tad susceptible at the present time.
Preston have won five out of twelve home games this season. This record isn’t especially flattering but you can tell that they’re strong at home by the simple fact that they’ve only been beaten twice at Deepdale this season. They generally play good football but their problem this season has been scoring goals, something they’ve just not done enough of, particularly at home. Preston are one of the lowest conceding sides at home in the whole of the Championship so they’re generally sound defensively which leads into the idea that it’s really not going to take a lot to propel the northerners into play-off material. Preston have won their last two games consecutively and have kept two clean sheets in the process. They’ve beaten two very battling sides in their last two games so I’m impressed with Preston’s resilience, something that will again be tested today. They’ve yet to face what I would call real opponents but frankly at the moment that doesn’t interest me.
Boss Darren Ferguson moved swiftly to scure the loan signing of Manchester United’s young prodigy Danny Welbeck. The youngster has shown glimpses of brilliance for Manchester United but has been criminally short of playing time and thus looks rusty on the field. However, he showed just what he can do by scoring on his debut for Preston as indicated below:
This kind of clinical finishing is what Preston need and if he can continue this trait then Preston can be considered as a very dangerous opponent. I’m very serious about the actual ability of Preston – it’s only their management and/or fortune that has robbed them of their usual placing so far this season.
Visitors Barnsley are a tough side to beat. They’re not a great side; they’re simply hard-workers and have a good understanding, thus leading to a good level of efficiency. However, the form guide shows a lack of team spirit and confidence at the moment with four defeats and just one win in their last five games in all competitions. They’ve lost some poor games too – away to Coventry City, at home to Sheffield Wednesday – games they shouldn’t be losing, basically. A defeat at Reading is marginally acceptable but nonetheless, Barnsley are looking susceptible at the moment. Barnsley have already lost six out of twelve away games and tend to struggle scoring on the road. Barnsley’s biggest problem is conceding goals on the road, something they’ve done nearly twice per away game in the Championship. Barnsley have lost their last three away games consecutively in all competitions and generally don’t have enough in their favour to take something from Deepdale tonight.
Ultimately, Preston are looking back to their best again. They’re keeping clean sheets, they’re fighting for every ball, and they’re scoring goals. With this in mind and a strong home advantage, it’s hard to see them not beating an out-of-form Barnsley side tonight.
Verdict: Preston North End to win at 10/11.
Tuesday’s Picks
My tips:
As ever, below are my recommended value tips for today in no particular order:
Arsenal de Sarandi vs Velez Sarsfeld – away win at 8/5.
The mere fact that Arsenal de Sarandi lost 3-0 away to Racing Club Avellaneda on the opening day of this campaign tells you that Arsenal are just as bad as they were in the previous campaign. Racing are a decent side but they’re not good enough to do that to anyone else in this division currently so Arsenal are looking like cannon fodder yet again. They generally do quite well at home with just two defeats at home in all of the Clausura but they’re simply not a good side, unfortunately for them. Although it’s still early season and Arsenal have only played one game, not giving us much to go off, you still have to feel that they’re looking susceptible at the moment.
Visitors Velez Sarsfeld are one of the best sides in Argentina at the moment and have been for some time. They play efficiently and are generally solid defensively, which are unusual traits for an Argentinian side but they work well, surprisingly. Although they drew 1-1 at home to a good but under-strength Colon de Santa Fe in their opening Apertura game, Velez remain a potent threat and a class above Arsenal de Sarandi ahead of this game so I fail to see why they can’t win it. No side won more away games in the Apertura this year with five wins in ten games for Velez and no side conceded less goals so you have to feel that they’re fair game to take three points on the road. Velez have won their last two meetings with Arsenal without conceding a goal but haven’t won either of their last two trips to Arsenal, drawing both occasions, although it’s worth mentioning that Velez threw a 3-0 goal lead away on their last visit to Arsenal so you get the impression that they are capable of beating Arsenal with a tad more composure.
Overall, there’s a mis-match in quality between these two sides so I have to see the value in the away win at 8/5. Velez are an extremely capable side and I expect them to illustrate that tonight with the hope that early season nerves don’t get the better of them.
Verdict: Velez Sarsfeld to win at 8/5.
Recommended bet – Chelsea, Celtic, Llanelli, and Preston North End at 5/1
As ever, if there are any questions/explanations required then feel free to post a comment! For the complete picks listing, see below!
Copa Libertadores:
Libertad Asuncion vs Deportivo Tachira (7) 2-0
Argentinian Primera Division:
Rosario Central vs Tigre (7) 2-0
Arsenal de Sarandi vs Velez Sarsfeld (7) 0-1
Colon de Santa Fe vs Racing Club Avellaneda (7) 2-1
Australian A-League:
North Queensland Fury vs Newcastle Jets (6) 1-1
Belgian Eerste Klasse:
Mechelen vs Germinal Beerschot (6) 2-1
Belgian Tweede Klasse:
Brussels vs Tubize (6)
English Premier League:
Hull City vs Chelsea (9) 0-2
English Championship:
Preston North End vs Barnsley (7)
Watford vs Sheffield United (6)
English League One:
Colchester United vs Carlisle United (7)
Walsall vs Charlton Athletic (6)
Leyton Orient vs Bristol Rovers (4)
Stockport County vs Oldham Athletic (5)
English League Two:
Accrington Stanley vs Barnet (8)
Crewe Alexandra vs Torquay United (6)
Hereford United vs Lincoln City (6)
Rotherham United vs Bournemouth (7)
English FA Cup:
Wigan Athletic vs Notts County (8) over 2.5 goals
Crystal Palace vs Wolverhampton Wanderers (5)
International Friendly:
Japan vs Venezuela (8) 2-0
Dutch Eredivisie:
VVV Venlo vs Heerenveen (6) 2-1
Groningen vs ADO Den Haag (7) 1-0
NEC Nijmegen vs Willem II (7) 1-0
NAC Breda vs AZ Alkmaar (5) 0-0
Scottish Premier League:
Kilmarnock vs Celtic (7) 0-1
Aberdeen vs Falkirk (7) 2-1
Singaporean S-League:
Sengkang Punggol vs Balestier Khalsa (6) 1-0
Welsh Premier League:
Bangor City vs Airbus (7) 2-1
Llanelli vs Carmarthen Town (8) over 2.5 goals
Enjoy your free betting tips!