The up coming period is a time of unremitting fixtures where a bad run of form over this short time can destroy your season. Along with presents, this time of year also brings goals and below we hope we have a gift for you, and a nightmare for the bookies ! A treble of match results where we reckon both teams will score.
Let’s hope for a massive return just in time for Christmas!
Fulham v Manchester City
3.00pm Saturday
Man City to win & BTTS is 37/20 with Ladbrokes
Fulham are desperate for points as they sit where no one else wants to be…. the relegation zone. This weekend they come up against one of the most attacking sides in the country, so do they have a chance? Almost certainly not but we are banking on them scoring as they have done in every single home tie this season, including finding the back of the net against Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United and Arsenal. The home side have shown signs of improvements going forward recently which will only help them in what will likely to be their biggest test. Rene Meulensteen’s outfit have lost five of their eight league ties at Craven Cottage and it looks like it may be six from nine after Saturday.
Manchester City roll up to the Cottage, on the back of a terrific run of games in both league and cup. On Wednesday night Eden Dzeko earned a brace as City booked a place in the League Cup Semi Final, beating Leicester City at the King Power Stadium and one week ago we all know the scoreline at The Etihad, where Pellegrini’s side thrashed the league leaders Arsenal 6-3. In the Champions League, the Sky Blues went to Germany and beat Bayern 3-2 in a tie many thought City would be on the losing end. City are on a crest of a wave at the moment after three fantastic wins and you cannot imagine a struggling Fulham side will put an end to it here
Brighton v Huddersfield Town
3.00pm Saturday
Brighton to win & BTTS is 16/5 with Ladbrokes
Brighton & Hove Albion certainly have the Play Offs as a minimum expectation with many eager for promotion this season. In touching distance of their target, currently in 8th, games at home against sides like Huddersfield are ties they ought to be winning. The Seagulls have picked up important wins in recent weeks including a 1-0 away victory seven days ago against Middlesbrough and a 3-1 home result against league leaders at the time, Leicester City. This season at the Ammex, ten games have been played and eight of them have seen both teams score which looks a tasty stat for us. Brighton have found the back of the net in every home game and in a tie they should be winning I can see our market being fulfilled.
Huddersfield are having a much improved campaign after struggling throughout 2012/13, 12th spot is there place of residence at present and they will be optimistic that another relegation battle will be avoided. The Terriers have found the back of the net in each of their last six away ties which has include three, 2-1 defeats at Ipswich, Wigan and Leicester, and that is the exact result I am predicting here. Huddersfield certainly know how to find the back of the net but with Brighton coming in to the tie after a good run of games, I believe they will have too much for the Yorkshire outfit.
MK Dons v Port Vale
3.00pm Saturday
MK Dons to win & BTTS is 11/4 with Ladbrokes
MK Dons are always there or thereabouts when it comes to the Play offs in League One and it should be no different this year. The Dons will have to improve on their effort so far though which has left them mid-table in 12th after winning just seven of their first 19 ties and a victory at home to Port Vale will be expected by fans and management. Five of those seven matches won, were achieved at home and poor form away from Stadium MK is where their problems lie. I think another league victory will be picked up on Saturday but they will certainly have to work for it, having conceded in eight of their ten home games
Port Vale gained promotion from League Two last season, and have had a great start to life in League One, currently overachieving in 10th place. On their travels they have gone in with an all or nothing attitude having failed to draw a single game this season. Five wins and five defeats is their current record with 15 goals scored and 15 conceded along the way including at least a goal in their previous nine. I believe the Valiant’s will once again give it a good go on Saturday with Tom Pope likely to find the back of the net but their open style of play may end up costly.
A £10 stake on the treble will return a gigantic £448.90 with Ladbrokes
