It’s been a pretty insane week in Europe with so much excitement and so many last minute goals but it’s time to return to domestic football now and this weekend I’ve had a look over the fixtures to create a little Team Goals Treble that should get those senses tingling again this Saturday afternoon.
Bournemouth vs Man United
I’m using Man United’s performance in the week here rather than historical form to stick with Van Gaal’s men as I believe that even though they were defeated in Wolfsburg on Tuesday evening, they put on a pretty decent attacking performance and were unlucky to come away with only 2 goals.
United’s lack of goals has been well documented in recent weeks but they travelled to Germany full of confidence and although their attacking left far too many gaps at the back which a good side in Wolfsburg were able to capitalise on, against a Bournemouth defence that has been rocky at home this season, I expect United to take advantage.
Bournemouth of course registered a historic 0-1 win at Stamford Bridge in their last outing, but it was more Chelsea inability to score than Bournemouth’s rock solid defence which earned them a clean sheet.
Chelsea registered 16 shots against Bournemouth last Saturday evening and should have converted at least a few of those. The Cherries have conceded 8 goals in their last 2 games against top half sides here at home though, and against a side who have seemingly found their shooting boots, I would not expect another clean sheet this weekend.
The injury list for United may well be growing by the day, but against Wolfsburg there were some decent youth prospects on show and at times they looked pretty dangerous going forward.
Yes, goals have been few and far between prior to Saturday and missing names like Rooney, Smalling, Rojo, Shaw and Scheiderlin to name but a few is a blow, but United have scored in 6 of their 8 away league games this season and their display in Germany on Wednesday has convinced me that they have what it takes to stick a couple past Bournemouth this Saturday evening.
Man United Over 1.5 Team Goals at 5/4
Colchester vs Barnsley
Barnsley may well be rock bottom of League One but I’ve been keeping an eye on them as of late and I do feel that their fortunes are about to change. In their last 5 games in all competitions they have put in some decent performances and have been finding the net.
In a 1-2 loss against Port Vale they were by far the better side and undeservedly lost, they narrowly lost 3-2 to a Peterborough side who are on fire and in their last league outing they held a strong Sheffield United outfit to a 1-1 draw. It’s small margins that have kept the Tykes rooted to the foot of the table, but that could change this week.
Colchester are the hosts this weekend and they come into this game bottom of the League One form table and just 2 points ahead of their opponents. In their last 6 games they have collected just 1 point, conceding more goals than any other side (21) and by some distance.
Last weekend they narrowly scraped past non-league Altrincham in the FA Cup and still managed to concede 2 goals in the process and they have now conceded 2 or more goals in their last 8 consecutive games in all competitions (2 of which have been against non-league sides).
Barnsley can leapfrog their opponents today with a win, but given their luck I’m not predicting them to go and back 3 points. But given their poor run of form as far as points go, they have scored in each of their last 5 games despite only picking up 4 points, and having scored 2 or more goals in 4 of those against some tough opposition, I’m backing them to do it again.
Barnsley Over 1.5 Team Goals at 11/10
Bristol Rovers vs York
York are playing, get your umbrella’s out because it’s about to rain goals folks! Eagle eyed readers may remember I tipped Accrington to score 2+ goals against York a few weeks back when they scored 5 and in all honesty, a similar result here wouldn’t surprise me in the slightest.
Just as Leicester’s bubble may inevitably pop in the Premier League, I do expect York to do me over one of these days and record a historic win, but until that time comes I’ll just keep putting money on them to concede loads of goals I think!
York travel to Bristol Rovers this weekend on the back of 8 consecutive losses in all competitions and 10 consecutive games in which they have conceded 2 or more goals.
That record seems to be worsening if anything though, as in their last 3 league games they have been beaten by an aggregate score-line of 14-3. In their last 2 league games they’ve been beaten 6-0 by Postsmouth away from home and 1-5 against Accrington in front of their own fans and just like the rain in December so far, I expect the misery to keep piling on York this weekend.
Bristol Rovers are the hosts and they currently sit a respectable 10th which is impressive given that they were only promoted from the Conference last season. Results have been hit and miss but a 3-0 win against a highly fancied Wycombe in their last outing is one of the highlights of their season and they come into this fixture full of confidence.
They’ve scored in each of their last 7 league games and have also scored 3 goals in each of their last 2 meetings with York at the Memorial Stadium. I just have to fancy them to make that 3 in a row this Saturday afternoon.
Bristol Rovers Over 1.5 Team Goals at 4/7
A £20 bet on the treble returns £148.40
