After what felt like a mammoth break from top flight action due to those pesky internationals, we welcome back the Championship and the Premier League to our coupons.
We are leaving the big boys alone this week as teams are still picking up more clean sheets than we anticipated but we have found two great ties in the Championship where goals are a given and we are also dipping into League One for our final fix.
Ipswich v Burnley – 3.00pm Saturday
Both teams to score odds – 4/6 Betfred
League leaders Burnley have a tough trip on Saturday to the ever determined Ipswich Town. One of the stand out fixtures of the weekend will see if Burnley can carry on their run of games which has seen them come out on top in their last six. Ipswich who lie in 11th place are very strong at home and have lost just the single fixture at Portman Road this season and have won the rest. Game on!
Burnley have been the early surprise package this season picking up victories against the stronger teams including, Nottingham Forest, Leeds United and most recently Reading in their most recent league tie. What is key for us here is that in all three of those encounters, the Clarets may have scored more than the opposition but they also conceded in each game. In their existing run which has seen them win six in a row, Danny Ings has found the net six times, I wouldn’t bet against him totting up a few more this weekend.
Ipswich may be mid table but would be in sixth spot if the table was down to home fixtures alone, with the Tractor Boys playing confidently in front of their own fans. Three of their last four home fixtures have all seen both teams score and I just cannot see one side finding the back of the net without the other replying. Just over two weeks ago Ipswich drew 4-4 with Derby County- fingers crossed we get a similar scoreline this weekend.
Barnsley v Middlesbrough – 3.00pm Saturday
Both teams to score odds – 4/7 Betfred
Rock bottom of the Championship are Barnsley who will be desperate for three points at home against a very capable Middlesbrough side. Every point gained will be significant come the end of the season for Barnsley and they will be targeting this match as a must-win, however they are up against a ‘Boro side that have a knack of getting goals regardless of the result.
Barnsley are amongst the usual relegation candidates each year but this season demotion appears to be a very real danger. Struggling for points, the Tykes have won just the single game this season and have lost eight of their eleven games thus far. This fixture is a real coup in our coupon as Barnsley at home have seen the both teams to score market fulfilled in their last six games, and i cannot see that changing on Saturday.
Middlesbrough have never been close to returning to the top flight since their relegation in 2009 after eleven years playing Premier League football. Once again they have yet to set the division alight, as they lie in 16th and haven’t won on their travels since the start of August, however they have found the back of the net at least once in every away game this season apart from their last trip which was at high flying QPR in a 2-0 defeat. Barnsley are no QPR and it will only be a matter of time until the North East club score in this one.
Crewe v Bristol City – 3.00pm Saturday – Saturday
Both teams to score odds – 8/13 Betfred
League One is our final stop off in our treble, we have a tough game to call the outcome of, as Crewe welcome Bristol City. Amazingly after 10 games, Bristol City have still yet to register a victory which has left the club second from bottom in the division- Only Sheffield United can confess to less points. Crewe whose record isn’t much better are several places higher in 17th.
Crewe are aiming for survival and will look to this tie as one to get some points on the board. They had been on a dreadful run which had seen them score just one goal in four games while conceded a shocking 15! We can clearly rely on them to concede but what makes us think they will score? Well last time out they managed a 2-0 win away from home against a strong Preston North End. Confidence shouldn’t be an issue after that and i can see Crewe finding the back of the net on Saturday.
Bristol City as already mentioned cannot find a win for love nor money, however our main concern is goals and in their previous four league games they have both scored and conceded. Quite impressively and in spite of they’re awful record City have found the back of the net in every single away game this season and I can see them extending that against Crewe.
