Welcome to 2016, we have found three games where we expect some goals to flow. It is the turn of the year where teams that really need to get going must start, as games will soon begin to run out.
Sunderland Vs Aston Villa
Starting at the Stadium of light, Sunderland entertain Aston Villa and is a relegation six pointer where both sides are rooted to the bottom of the Premier League. Really what both sides require is to begin netting goals and both sides have registered some of the fewest goal tallies in the league.
Looking at the home and away form, both sides are still rooted at the bottom of the league, where Villa have posted the second lowest points tally on the road. Sunderland have the second worse form at home, with only their opponents with a lower total. Looking to avert their away record Remi Garde’s men will be looking to secure their first win in ten on the road.
Sam Allardyce’s Sunderland can register a home win here, and with Big Sam’s reputation of getting sides out of scraps is the perfect opportunity to pocket the points. Sunderland are capable of scoring, but tend to keep this tight. The way I see this game going is that both sides need to exploit the respective leaky defences and look to strike early on. This will cause a reaction for the other side to fight or flight. Garde’s Villa in the last two on the road have generated back-to-back draws, although this was halted by Norwich.
The last two meetings has seen goals, and although this season’s trends suggest the under goal line. However, both sides have a great need for the points and cannot rely on holding out for a draw. This is no good to other team. This could go either one way, or a score draw. Both managers will send their side out not to lose but the view to win. This game could fly out the blocks and see this as a coin toss for goals. Compilers think otherwise and are as big as 13/10 for three or more goals, which was seen in the last two meetings.
Recommendation
Over 2.5 goals – 13/10 Coral
Charlton Vs Nottingham Forest
The valley will host the tricky trees from the Championship as Dougie Freedman’s Nottingham Forest are favourites to take the points in East London this Saturday. This game is interesting as both the head to head and this seasons results favours a low scorer. Five of the last six meetings has resulted in two or fewer goals.
The Addicks managed by interim manager Karel Fraeye has seen high scoring games at home, with two thirds of home games with three or more goals. The way I see this game going is on PRO Forest stats and knowledge that they often park the bus playing away from home. With two from twelve with three goals, forest have not had away match results exceeding this. With a third of their away results in the balance at a goal apiece, they will keep the game tight I cannot overlook that Charlton’s leaky defence does pose an opportunity for Freedman’s men.
With hotshots Oliveira and O’Grady for Forests attack, they will trouble the Addick’s defence, but wouldn’t put it past Fraeye’s men to sneak a goal. Forest’s travels have seen half their games see both sides to score, so over two goals has a fair chance of landing.
Recommendation
Over 2.5 goals 43/40
Exeter Vs Dagenham and Redbridge
Dagenham and Redbridge will be looking to ride the wave as they look to extend on their impressive away win to Stevenage on Boxing day. Caretaker managers Darren Currie and Warren Hackett took out Teddy Sheringham’s side and adopted a tactic we have not seen from the East London side too often this season.
Overlooking highlights of the game, it was clear the Daggers were playing more open football with aggressive attacks, which saw them net three goals in the game. Paul Tisdale’s Exeter will be looking to overturn a recent blip as they host Dagenham to St James’s Park this weekend. Off the back of three straight defeats and no win in the last four, Tisdale’s men may be running short of confidence. It appeared clear by Dagenham’s performance that they may be looking to turn a corner as their win lifted them off the foot of the football league.
With two of the last four Exeter games heading over two goals, all of the last four Redbridge games have seen over’s. With a side on the up versus a side lacking in confidence, our quarter is confident that however the direction of this game, both will have a case to win this, but also a strong-ish selection to see goals in this. Both home and away form for both sides are sound. With half of Exeter and three quarters of Dagenham games resulting in both teams to net, there is a fair chance both sides will land, and importantly at minimum look for the winner.
Recommendation:
Over 2.5 goals – 5/6 SkyBet
