Wow, now that was an intense Christmas schedule and it doesn’t stop there as we welcome the Third Round of the FA Cup. A huge weekend, full of history and we hope we have a treble where BTTS brings us some early 2014 dough.
It’s a little bit harder to judge how these games are going to pan out, given that the stats don’t tally for teams that don’t play each other regularly, but the FA Cup normally brings goals and these are the games I think might attract them!
Everton v QPR – 3.00pm Saturday
BTTS odds – 11/10 – Betfred
Twelve months ago this was part of the Premier League calendar however Harry Redknapp and his Rangers side exited the league after finishing in the bottom three. Everton are high flying and seem to have squad depth to be able to make several changes and put out a strong eleven here. Both sides have plenty to play for and I can see goals on the horizon.
Everton are certainly comfortable enough in the league to give a Cup run a good go and Roberto Martinez is the best man for the job after winning the competition with Wigan last May. Martinez will almost feel like he is defending the title and getting into the fourth round is going to be taken very seriously. Goodison Park is a fortress so expect a home win.
Harry Redknapp believes him and his team should be in the top flight and will look to prove a point this weekend as we see if the side has improved from the drab outfit we saw competing last season. The Hoops certainly have players to cause Everton problems, Charlie Austin will look to find the net once more and with good back up in Matty Phillips and Junior Hoilett, I can see QPR scoring.
Barnsley v Coventry – 3.00pm Saturday
BTTS odds – 8/15 – Betfred
Championship bottom dwellers Barnsley, host League One form side Coventry City in this FA Cup Third Round tie. A tricky one to call the result for, but I don’t see why both teams won’t score.
Barnsley are bottom of the Championship and have only won three of their 24 league ties this season- It may be the year they go down, although two of those three victories occurred at Oakwell, and some cup success may prove a welcome distraction. I believe Barnsley have the better side here and will score, but whether they win or not will be down to how seriously they take the competition.
Coventry are in third place in the League One form table and have lost just once in their previous six matches as well as scoring a huge 14 goals along the way. A fantastic record for our bet is each of their last eight ties have seen both teams score and on their travels the Sky Blue have found the back of the net in every away game. Get on BTTS.
Cheltenham v Chesterfield 3.00pm Saturday
BTTS odds – 8/11 – Betfred
We finish off our coupon away from the Cup and down into League Two. Cheltenham are at home against one of the favourites for promotion this season- Chesterfield. Third place is where they currently reside and are on track for a return to League One. Cheltenham though, have aspirations themselves and will give the visitors a very good game.
Cheltenham currently sit mid table but have ambitions for a Play off place this season. The hosts have found the back of the bet in their last six ties which has seen them lose just once while winning three games, which has left them third in the division’s form table. A terrific match up which in my view could go either way but it looks like goals could be on the menu.
Chesterfield have failed to score away from home just once this season which is a great looking stat for us here at Goals Galore. It is a match they’re expected to win if they’re going to be one of the three sides up for automatic promotion and they have plenty of goals in their armoury. Combined these two have score 64 goals in their 24 games and I can see those tallies increasing over the weekend.
