After a week’s break it’s time for the Team Goals Treble to return this weekend and after a week of unpredictable cup football, I’m hoping that the return of league football will spell winning ways for us. I’ve been having a look over the fixtures this weekend to try and find those teams capable of goals and capable of finding us a winner.
Lincoln vs Torquay
Things are going from bad to worse for Torquay at the moment and their future hangs in the balance following not only the departure of manager Paul Cox who apparently was told he would not be paid, but also the departure of Dean Edwards the director of football.
Get on my total team goals bets at SkyBet today and collect a £20 free bet as well as £5 free every week in the Sky Bet Club
The former league side are now without a win in 9 consecutive games, over which time they have conceded an incredible 22 goals. Back-to-back home losses against Bromley and Boreham Wood, both newly promoted sides, show just how bleak the future is looking for Torquay and they travel to Lincoln this weekend who have been in fine goalscoring form ahead of this fixture.
Lincoln have scored an average of 2 goals per game at home this season, the joint 5th highest average in the National League and though their defence has been far from convincing at times, there’s no doubt that they can score goals.
Matthew Rhead has 8 goals in 12 games this season and seems to be in great form following his free transfer move from Mansfield over the Summer and he could cause this Torquay defence real problems given that they have conceded more goals than any other National League side this season.
I just have to back Lincoln to score a few goals here given the turbulent week at Torquay.
BET: Lincoln to Score 2+ Goals at 5/6 with SkyBet
Birmingham vs Rotherham
Having conceded an average of 2.25 goals per game on their travels this season, the highest in The Championship, Rotherham simply have to be included in my treble this weekend to ship a few goals. Steve Evans’ men lie bottom of The Championship having collected just 5 points from their opening 8 games this season and it looks to be a long road ahead if The Millers are to survive a 3rd season in the 2nd tier of English football.
A 2-1 win at home last weekend was their first win of the season and though that may give the Rotherham camp some confidence, they still conceded for the 7th time in 8 games and away from home their form has been pretty shocking to say the least.
The visitors have collected just 1 point on their travels this season in a 1-1 draw with Charlton, but aside from that they have lost their remaining 3 games, conceded at least 2 goals in every one of them. They travel to St Andrews this weekend to face a Birmingham side who will be looking to bounce back from the mid-week League Cup exit to local rivals Aston Villa.
The Blues have scored an average of 1.75 goals per game at home this season, the joint 3rd highest average of any Championship side and having scored 2 or more goals in all 3 previous meetings with Rotherham here at St Andrews dating back to 1995, I’m confident that Birmingham can bag a few more this Saturday.
BET: Birmingham to Score 2+ Goals at Evens with SkyBet
Carlisle vs Newport County
Carlisle fans will no doubt be gutted following their League Cup exit in the week having taken Premiership side Liverpool all the way to penalties only to be cruelly denied a giant killing, but it was a great attempt from Keith Curle’s men and they should certainly be proud of their efforts.
It’s back to League action now for Carlisle though and they look to build on a 3 game unbeaten streak in the league. Carlisle have been an absolute joy to back for goals this season because their defence has been shockingly bad, but they can also score goals for fun.
Just to give you some idea of just how extreme their attacking football is, they sit 10th in League Two having scored more goals than any other side in the league, but having also conceded more goals than any other side in the league. 34 goals in 8 games means an average of 4.25 goals per game and it’s here at Brunton Park where the fans really have been given a bang for their buck.
In 4 league games here this season, home fans have been treated to 18 goals and despite conceding an average of 2 goals per game here, Carlisle remain undefeated in front of their own fans, by virtue of the fact that they have scored an average of 2.5 goals per game.
This weekend they host a Newport County side who are yet to register a win in any competition this season. In fact, their last win in any competitive fixture was over 5 months ago and though a 0-0 draw at Dagenham last weekend may show a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel, that was their first clean sheet of the season and I don’t expect it to be repeated this weekend.
This fixture last year produced a 5 goal thriller as Newport came away from the game with a 2-3 win. This year I don’t expect the same result, but I do expect just as many goals with the majority of those coming for the home side.
BET: Carlisle to Score 2+ Goals at 8/11 with SkyBet
A £20 bet on the treble returns £126.67 with SkyBet
