For those of you flummoxed by the subject heading we are at the time of the season where sides that want to win or progress should begin or continue their charge. The proverbial saying of getting your ducks lined up point at teams that are experiencing a wobble as well as late charge sides! The best way to achieve this is by netting some goals, so this week we concentrate on sides we believe should be or are lining their ducks for a closing season finale.
Nottingham Forest Vs Huddersfield
Are Dougie Freedman’s men quietly making a charge for the play offs? Having gone thirteen games without defeat there is a credible argument to suggest so. I have a contact who is a huge tricky trees fan and can confirm they are playing somewhere towards their best again. Forest has not conceded in the last four and treats their home ground like the ultimate fortress.
David Wagner’s Huddersfield on the road has had some fair form, in the lower half of the away table. The tricky trees have not been as effective as they would have wanted at home, but still the eighth best home record in the league. With this home form has delivered a few more draws than desired. Forest have remained unbeaten at home for the last ten and a staggering seven in every ten games have landed fewer than three goals.
Huddersfield in general have been effective in finding the net with a goal or more in all of the last dozen and nine on the road, which is a terrific record. With Forest’s recent record versus a Huddersfield side that have lost three on the bounce, firmly edges the home side not to lose this. I have been informed that Forest enjoys parking the bus, which plays for and against them, hence the draws.
With seven of the last eight Forest games all landing under three goals and two of the last four Huddersfield games on under, Dougie Freedman is likely to employ the same tactic as history suggests and will look to keep a fifth successive clean sheet. Only one of the last eight forest games have they netted for than one, and it is likely that if they do concede early their priority will be to keep it tight at the back and at minimum look to draw level. I anticipate with both sides needing the points this could be a civil affair, and that goals will be at a premium. Especially that Wagner’s men need to overturn their recent blip.
Recommendation – Under 2.5 goals – 1.82 888sport
Gillingham Vs Barnsley
It was not long ago where Paul Heckingbottom and Tommy Wright’s Barnsley were staring at the wrong end of the table. Paul and Tommy’s leadership has turned around the Yorkshire side, who powered through the football league northern section finals to make Wembley who will face Oxford on April 3rd in what can be considered a prestigious trophy between Leagues’s one and two.
The Tykes travel to the Medway where they face the Gills with the best home form in the league, five points off table toppers Burton. The way Barnsley has headed could well be charging for a playoff spot with their terrific form.
The last four from both teams have practically been flawless with the visitors winning all four and the home side winning three from the last four with the spoils occurring in a stalemate to Swindon last weekend.
Some stats that are worth noting, which edges towards goals; that sixty-one percent of Gillingham’s is conceded goals has occurred in the first half. The Tykes have won their last seven games and scored at least one goal in each of their last seven games. Barnsley scored at least one goal in eighty-six percent their away games.
The way this game could go, is the Medway Kent side need to re-establish their title hopes and versus a Barnsley side who have scored at least one goal in each of their last seven away games will find it difficult to keep the Tykes from netting.
With Barnsley not conceding in their last three away games will find it difficult to keep the Kentish side out with their outstanding home form. With both sides looking for the win, I see this far from a stalemate and believe if both sides do net that one side will hunt for the winner and think at nearly evens is a punt which should be edged out in price more so than the implied price suggests
Recommendation – Over 2.5 goals – 9/10 888sport
Dagenham Vs Barnet
A London derby where the eastern side of the smoke welcome Barnet where the worse home side in the league battles the worse side on the road in this League Two clash.
The hosts are a place off the foot of the football league and they welcome Barnet who themselves are teetering near the edge themselves five places above. Looking at this game we have one side that have played some fluid football versus a side that have pulled the brakes on goals in more recent games. If you had not guessed, this is Barnet.
It has been documented that the current management at Dagenham has been vocal in the style of play to maintain their offence, but it does not pay them dividends at the other end in defence. Okay Barnet have kept things tight, but the gameplay of Dagenham will cause the visitors to react to the situation, which is likely for them to break their duck and get a goal on the scoresheet.
With the hosts posing an attacking style this game will be won on the basis of who scores most wins, and the home side need to turn their season around now, or look at their fete towards the pyramid of the non-league arena!
With evens for more than two goals on the basis that Dagenham conceding at least one goal in each of their last eleven games and all but one this season at home. Barnet have also conceding at least one goal in all but one of their away games which firmly pitches our bet at the over’s on this one.
Recommendation – Over 2.5 goals – 1/1
Summary
Under 2.5 goals at Nottingham Forest
Over 2.5 goals at Gillingham
Over 2.5 goals at Dagenham
Best priced treble – 6.71 888sport (Perm three doubles only)
