It’s the final day of the football season for league football and many scores have now been settled in terms of relegation and promotion. For others however, everything hangs on the final game meaning there are quite a few pressure matches out there. I’ve been having a look over all of the English leagues this weekend and have picked out a little 4-fold that I hope can end the season in style.
Aston Villa v Newcastle
I’m really going to have to apologise to any Villa fans I know (again) but I just can’t turn down backing against them (again) this weekend.
Everyone knows how dire Villa have been and they just continue to lose games so I continue to back them to do so. It’s 11 consecutive losses now in the league and last weekend and the weekend before that, they’ve proven that even though they can score goals, having bagged 2 goals in each of those 2 games, they are completely and utterly unable to defend, having conceded 7 in those 2.
Newcastle are the visitors this weekend and they are currently sitting outside of the drop zone, albeit having played a game more than neighbours Sunderland. A win here could be absolutely vital given that they have Spurs in their final game of the season and with no defeat in 4 games they could well be on course for a great escape thanks to Rafa.
The Magpies have won on two of their three previous visits to Villa Park and in their final game of the season I’m expecting Villa to go out with a whimper in front of an already disgruntled home crowd.
Newcastle to win at 13/20 with BetVictor
Charlton v Burnley
Burnley may have already booked their place in the Premier League this season, but I don’t expect them to let up on their incredible run as they travel to The Valley this weekend.
Charlton are already relegated and have one of the worst home records in The Championship. A win away at Leeds last weekend did little to make up for a shocking season and in front of their home fans this term they’ve collected only 23 points from a possible 66 with only 5 wins. The 5th worst home defence in the league has certainly played a factor in their demise and this weekend they welcome the best away side in The Championship.
Burnley are undefeated in 22 league games now following their promotion winning victory over QPR last weekend and away from home have been beaten on only 3 occasions. It’s been nearly 5 months since they were beaten on the road, winning 5 of their last 6 away.
Burnley demolished Charlton 4-0 in their previous meeting this season and have won their last 2 visits to The Valley by an aggregate 0-4 scoreline as well. I’d expect another win here for the Champions to top off a fantastic season.
Burnley to win at 8/15 with BetVictor
Sheffield United v Scunthorpe
It’s still all to play for if you’re a Scunthorpe fan this weekend. They sit level on points with Barnsley are hunting down the final playoff spot, sitting 7th only on goal difference.
Scunny will need a few things to go their way if they are to achieve a spot in the playoffs on Saturday, but they are arguably the form side coming into this weekend. 5 wins on the bounce conceding only 3 goals have given Graham Alexander’s men a real shot at achieving this, and I think they can do so at Brammal Lane.
Sheffield United have had a disappointing season by all accounts and would pay to be in their position of their opponents coming into the final game of the season. Instead they sit 10th and can achieve nothing and a 3-1 loss away at Coventry last weekend put the final nail in that coffin.
I’m going to be slightly cautious here and take the Draw No Bet option which will be a void if the game ends all square. I do expect Scunny to do the business their end, but the win feels slightly dangerous.
Scunthorpe Draw No Bet at 8/13 with BetVictor
Bristol Rovers v Dagenham & Redbridge
There’s still 2 spots up for grabs in the promotion race from League Two and there are 3 sides who can achieve it. One of those is Bristol Rovers and they don’t only need a win, they also need other results to go their way, but I think they can keep up their end of the bargain on home soil.
Rovers have been incredible here at The Memorial Stadium this year and come into this game on a run of 8 straight home wins and 12 wins in their last 13 home games. It’s a run which deserves promotion in my eyes and they normally win pretty convincingly in front of a their own crowd.
The visitors are a relegated Dagenham side who have been revelling under the lack of pressure in recent weeks with back to back wins, but I expect that run to come to and end here. They’ve collected only 4 points from their last 7 away games and having been beaten 0-3 by Rovers earlier this season at home, I’m expecting another convincing and needed victory for the hosts today.
Bristol Rovers -1 Handicap at 7/10 with BetVictor
The 4-fold pays 6/1 with BetVictor
