All articles by: Elliott Jackson

Hull City vs Sheffield United – Match Preview

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Hull City vs Sheffield United
Friday 23rd February
Sky Bet Championship

Sky Sports 1, Kick-Off: 19:45 GMT

Hull City vs Sheffield United – Sheffield United travel to KCOM Stadium to face relegation-threatened Hull City in an all Yorkshire affair.

The Tigers moved out of the relegation zone last week following their 2-0 victory at Nottingham Forest. Defeat to Middlesbrough, however, in midweek halted any momentum as they lost 3-1. That league win was the clubs first in nine games, a run stretching over two and a half months. Nigel Adkins’ side currently sit one place above the drop zone as they bid to avoid successive relegations. The Hull boss will be hoping that the win can be the catalyst to spark them into life ahead of a run of crucial fixtures. With only two points separating 23rd and 20th, the relegation battle looks to be heading down to the wire.

Hull have the best goal difference of anyone in the bottom eight, which indicates that fine margins have dictated their campaign so far. Goals haven’t been hard to come by, it’s keeping them out that is the problem. Nobody in the bottom half of the table has scored as many goals the Adkins’ men, but only four have conceded more.  Hull have drawn their last four home games, with their last victory coming against Brentford almost three months ago.

Sheffield United got back to winning ways last week with their victory over Leeds United. They followed that result up in midweek with a win against QPR as they came out 2-1 victors. Back to back league wins has seen the Blades move up to seventh in the table, one point off the play-offs. A favourable run of fixtures could see the Blades move back into the top six. Chris Wilder seems to have got his side doing the basics well again, which has coincided with their upturn in form.

Hull have won only one of the clubs last 15 league meetings, with United winning nine. Their last victory at the KCOM came back in 2010, the last season these two teams were in the same division. Simon Hooper is the referee for Friday night’s Yorkshire clash. He has an average booking points total of 41.4 this season and is one of the division’s most experienced referees. He has shown an average of 3.7 yellow cards a game, and 0.2 red cards across 22 games.

I think that United will win this game. It should be a tight affair, with both teams needing the points for very different reasons. My safest bet would be United or draw, with BTTS and United to win a good bet at longer odds.

Hull City vs Sheffield United will be televised live on Sky Sports Football tonight with kick off at 7:45PM GMT.

Prediction: Hull 1-2 Sheffield United

Suggested tips – Hull vs Sheffield United (BET365):

  • Correct score, United to win 2-1 – (link no longer available)
  • Billy Sharp to score first – (link no longer available)

Suggested tips – Hull vs Sheffield United (SKYBET):

  • BTTS and United to win – 4/1.
  • Clarke and Bowen to both score – 5/1.
  • Double chance, Sheffield United or draw – 4/9.

RequestABet tips – Hull vs Sheffield United (SKYBET):

  • @FootyAccums RequestABets – Hull City vs Sheffield Utd – Sharp to score, 4+ corners each team and 20+ booking points each team – 12/1
  • RequestABet Specials 80/1 and above – Hull City vs Sheffield United – Sharp to score 2+ goals, 5+ corners each team and 30+ Hull booking pts – 125/1

  • Popular RequestABets – Hull City vs Sheffield United – BTTS, 2+ corners each team in each half and 10+ booking points each team – 10/1

Odds and markets last updated on February 23 February 2018 @19:05 GMT.

More markets will be added later today prior to the game kicking off on tonight. Keep visiting the tips and preview area for further updates and previews for the remainder of this weekends fixtures.

Sevilla vs Manchester United – Match Preview

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Sevilla vs Manchester United
Wednesday 21st February, Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán Stadium
Champions League – Second Round – First Leg

BT Sport – 7:45pm

 

Sevilla vs Manchester United – Manchester United take a trip to Spain to face Sevilla in the first leg of their Champions League knockout tie.

A routine 2-0 victory against Huddersfield means Manchester United are still competing on three fronts this campaign. Whilst the league title is out of reach, Jose Mourinho’s side could still end up with two pieces of silverware come the end of the season. United have, however, won two and lost two of their last four games, with both defeats coming on the road. United have won once against a top-six side away from home this season, losing to both Chelsea and Tottenham.

A trademark of previous Mourinho title-winning sides was their ability to get results in the biggest games; something he has yet to achieve since moving to Manchester. With four transfer windows now behind him, Mourinho can no longer argue this isn’t his squad. With the amount of money they have spent, they should be doing better in those big games. These are the matches that separate a good team from the best teams and Mourinho must find a way of tipping these games in his side’s favour.

Romelu Lukaku appears to be re-discovering his form from earlier in the season, with six goals from his last eight matches. The main criticism that has been aired at the Belgian striker is his inability to be the difference in the big games. Away from home against top six sides, Lukaku hasn’t scored, which underlines United’s away woes. There is no doubting he is one of the league’s best strikers; it’s shown by his goal tally, but there is an air of ‘flat track bully’ around him.

Sevilla have won their last three games, which has left them sitting in fifth place in La Liga. At home, Los Nervionenses have lost just once but they have only won one of their last four home games. In the Champions League, they are unbeaten at home, after famously drawing 3-3 with Liverpool from 3-0 down earlier in the competition. Wissam Ben Yedder is the club’s top score(6), whilst Luis Muriel is also a threat up front(7). The club bost a number of former Premier League players, with Steven N’Zonzi, Nolito and Jesus Navas all likely to feature.

Clement Turpin is the referee for this game. The French official plies his trade in Ligue 1 and has an average card total of 4.18 this season. This is quite an average score for a referee from this league, so don’t expect masses of booking points on Wednesday.

Whilst this wasn’t the hardest tie United could have had, it certainly isn’t the easiest. There is definitely a Premier League resurgence in Europe and I think Mourinho’s side will go through over two legs. For this one though, I’d say double chance United or draw would be my bet.

Sevilla vs Manchester United will be televised in the UK on BT Sport with kick off at 19:45 GMT.

Prediction: Sevilla 1-2 Manchester United.

Suggested tips – Sevilla vs Mancheser United (BET365):

  • Correct score, United to win 2-1 – (link no longer available)
  • BTTS and over 2.5 goals – (link no longer available)

Suggested tips – Sevilla vs Manchester United (Skybet):

  • Lukaku to score a brace – 10/1.
  • Muriel and Sanchez to both score – 8/1.
  • Ben Yedder to score and draw – 11/1.
  • Double chance, United or draw – 2/5.

RequestABets tips – Sevilla vs Manchester United (Skybet):

  • Popular RequestABets – Sanchez to score, 1+ corners each team in each half and 30+ Sevilla booking pts – 14/1
  • Pundits RequestABet – Phil Thompson’s RAB: Ben Yedder to score first, Sevilla to win and BTTS – 22/1
  • RequestABet 80/1 and above – Draw 2-2 and Navas & Rojo to be carded – 100/1
  • RequestABet 11/1 to 28/1 – Lukaku to score and Draw 1-1 – 16/1
  • RequestABet 80/1 and above – Lukaku to score a hat trick and Manchester Utd 4-0 – 500/1
  • RequestABet 11/1 to 28/1 – Sanchez to score and Draw 2-1 – 16/1
  • RequestABet 80/1 and above – Lukaku to score, Sevilla 4-3 and Mercado to be carded – 500/1
  • Popular RequestABets – BTTS, 4+ Sevilla Corners, 3+ Manchester United Corners & 30 Match Booking Points – 11/4 (NAP)

Odds and markets last updated on February 21 February 2018 @18:25 GMT.

More markets will be added over the weekend prior to the game kicking off on tonight. Keep visiting the tips and preview area for further updates and previews for the remainder of this weeks fixtures.

Leeds United vs Bristol City – Match Preview

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Leeds United vs Bristol City
Sunday 18th February, Elland Road
Skybet Championship

Sky Sports – 4:30 PM

 

Leeds United vs Bristol City – Leeds United boss Paul Heckingbottom will be looking for his first win in charge as they play hosts to play-off rivals Bristol City.

The former Barnsley boss suffered defeat in his first game in charge, as they lost 2-1 to Sheffield United. It was, however, a much-improved performance from the Whites, who will now be looking to build some momentum ahead of next season. I stressed this last week and I will reiterate it again if Leeds are to be successful under Heckingbottom he needs time. Leeds are now eight points behind their visitors this weekend, so three points are absolutely imperative if they’re to hope of making the top six this season. Even if they don’t reach that target this time around, the remainder of this campaign can be used to assess the squad and work out where he needs to strengthen in the summer.

Bristol City currently sit in eighth, three points clear of seventh. Having been in the play-offs for the majority of the season, there is big pressure on Lee Johnson’s men to see through their great season to the end. A run of just one win in their last ten games has put that in jeopardy, with the Robins surrendering a three-goal lead in their last game to draw 3-3 with Sunderland. Results like that can only bread nerves and if they want to secure their place in the top six they need to rediscover their form from earlier in the season. Having lost four of their last five games away from home, that improvement needs to start on Sunday. The return to form and fitness of record signing Famara Diedhiou. The French striker grabbed a brace in their last game and will provide much-needed support for top scorer Bobby Reid.

Simon Hooper has been appointed as the referee for this game, fresh from refereeing Brentford vs Preston last weekend. Hooper has an average booking points total of 41, although he did show five yellow cards and one red in his last match. That was the officials fourth red card of the season, which is one of the lowest in the league. Leeds have won nine of their last 11 meetings, losing just once. The visitor’s last win at Elland Road came back in 1979 and they have lost every visit since.

I expect a tightly contested game on Sunday, with both teams desperate for a vital three points. I think this one will be a draw, which would suit neither side.

Leeds United vs Bristol City will be televised in the UK on Sky Sports with kick-off at 4:30 PM.

Prediction: Leeds 1-1 Bristol City

Suggested tips – Leeds United vs Bristol City – (SKYBET):

  • Correct score, draw 1-1 – 11/2
  • BTTS and Leeds to win – 7/2.
  • Lasogga and Reid to both score – 11/2.
  • Diedhiou to score first and B City to win 2-1 – 30/1.
  • Roofe to score in 90 minutes – 7/4.
  • Scorecast Boost – Leeds United vs Bristol City- Ezgjan Alioski to score first and Leeds to win 2-1 – 60/1

Suggested RequestABets – Leeds United vs Bristol City – (SKYBET):

  • Skybet RequestABet – 11/1 to 28/1 – Leeds United vs Bristol City – Leeds to win, BTTS, 4+ corners each team and 20+ booking points each team – 18/1
  • Skybet RequestABet – 33/1 to 66/1 – Leeds United vs Bristol City – Jansson & Flint each to score a header – 80/1
  • Skybet RequestABet – up to 10/1 – Leeds United vs Bristol City – BTTS, 4+ corners each team and 20+ booking points each team – 11/2

Odds and markets last updated on Sunday 18 February 2018 @16:00GMT.

More markets will be added over the weekend prior to the game kicking off Sunday lunchtime. Keep visiting the tips and preview area for further updates and previews for this weekends FA Cup and Championship action.