All articles by: Elliott Jackson

Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Fulham – Match Preview

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Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Fulham – Match Preview – League leaders Wolves will be hoping to extend the gap at the summit of the Championship table with a win on Friday night against Fulham.

Wolves returned to the top of the table on Tuesday night following their win away at Norwich. With Sheffield United losing at QPR, Wanderers now sit one point clear of second-placed Cardiff City. After heavily investing in the summer, Wolves are reaping the benefits. The summer acquisitions of Diogo Jota, Ruben Neves and Leo Bonatini have in particular stood out. Bonatini is currently the joint top-scorer in the division grabbing nine goals in his first 15 games, with six goals of those strikes coming in his last five league games.

Bonatini has 9 goals so far for Wolves Photo Credit: skysports.com

With attacking options like Bonatini, Jota, Helder Costa and Ivan Cavaleiro, it’s no surprise they’re the top scorers in the division. Wolves also hold an impressive defensive record, conceding just 15 goals so far this season. This has been largely down to summer signing Willy Boly, who returned from injury with a goal at Carrow Road in midweek. If Wolves are to finish in the top two this season, it’s vital they keep their key players fit.

Fulham have fallen below expectations so far this season. Last year’s league top-scorers have struggled to hit the heights of their sixth placed finish last term and sit in 16th place. With all three sides from last year’s play-offs struggling to recapture their form, the pressure is starting to build on their managers. Slavisa Jokanovic can take some solace in the fact that his team are only six points adrift of the top six. If they can muster a run of form similar to last season, then there’s no reason why they can’t still be in the mix for promotion come the end of the year. If they are to make the top six, they need to improve sooner rather than later or face another year of disappointment.

Fulham captain Tom Cairney has found it difficult so far this season Photo Credit: skysports.com

Last season these two cooked up one of the best games in Championship, with the match finishing in a 4-4 draw. Wolves have won four of their last five games against Fulham and haven’t lost to them in the league since 2012. That run stretches over six matches and form would suggest that run will only continue. Fulham’s last win at Molineux came back in 1985 which underlines how poor their recent record is against them.

With Wolves going from strength to strength at the moment, I can only see one winner. With Fulham having only won three games on the road this season, I think it could be a comfortable night for the home team. My bet would be for Wolves to win by 2+goals, given the attacking and defensive abilities of both teams.

 

Prediction: Wolves 2-0 Fulham

 

SKYBET: CORRECT SCORE WOLVES 2-0- 17/2

SKYBET: WOLVES TO WIN BY EXACTLY 2 GOALS- 4/1

SKYBET: WOLVES TO WIN TO NIL- 9/4

SKYBET: BONATINI TO SCORE FIRST AND WOLVES TO WIN 3-1- 45/1

SKYBET: JOTA AND COSTA TO BOTH SCORE- 11/2

SKYBET: FONTE TO SCORE FIRST AND DRAW 1-1- 40/1

SKYBET: CAIRNEY TO SCORE FROM OUTSIDE THE AREA- 14/1

Stoke City vs Leicester City – Match Preview

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Stoke City vs Leicester City – Match Preview – Both of these teams will be looking for back to back wins as they meet at the Bet365 Stadium. Claude Puel will be hoping to continue his 100% start as manager of Leicester with another win against Stoke.

With pressure beginning to grow on Mark Hughes, Stoke’s 1-0 win at Watford last weekend was timely. The Potters’ boss had begun to draw criticism from supporters following Stoke’s stuttering start to the new campaign. Darren Fletcher’s first goal for the club secured three points and they will be hoping to back that up with a win in front of their own crowd on Saturday. If they could get that victory it would be the first time they have secured back to back league wins all season. It would also be the club’s third home win of the campaign.

Darren Fletcher scored his first goal for Stoke in the 1-0 win over Watford Photo Credit: skysports.com

Leicester got off to the perfect start under Puel last time out with a 2-0 win over Everton. Jamie Vardy scored the first goal of the Frenchman’s reign, just as he did under his predecessors Claudio Ranieri and Craig Shakespeare. The Englishman looked back to his electric best as he terrorised the ageing Everton backline and secured his team all three points. Puel elected to play winger Riyad Mahrez just in the number ten role, which worked a treat. The Algerian’s close control and eye for a goal was clear to see as he and Vardy linked up well.

Vardy and Mahrez have linked up well since the Algerian moved behind the striker Photo Credit: skysports.com

With Stoke’s failing to pull up any trees at home, Leicester will see this as a perfect opportunity for back to back away wins in the Premier League. It would also secure their third win on the bounce, which has shot them away from danger. It would also leave the Foxes’ unbeaten in six league and cup games, with things already beginning to look rosier at the King Power Stadium.

Leicester have lost only one of their last six games against Stoke but haven’t won at the Potters since 2014. Stoke have lost three of those matches, with two ending in a stalemate. Three of the last four games at Stoke have ended as a draw, with the last two meetings both ending 2-2. With both sides vulnerable defensively, I can see goals in this game as well.

Although Stoke got a great win last time out, I don’t think they’ll have enough to take all three points here, with Leicester in good form. My bet would be for Vardy to get himself on the scoresheet again, with the Englishman having recorded six goals in 12 appearances this campaign.

 

Prediction: Stoke 1-1 Leicester City

 

SKYBET: CORRECT SCORE DRAW 1-1- 5/1

SKYBET: VARDY TO SCORE AND LEICESTER TO WIN- 11/4

SKYBET: BTTS AND UNDER 2.5 GOALS- 5/1

SKYBET: CHOUPO MOTING AND MAHREZ TO BOTH SCORE- 8/1

SKYBET: STOKE TO WIN AND BTTS: NO- 7/2

SKYBET: LEICESTER TO WIN FROM BEHIND- 14/1

SKYBET: BTTS IN BOTH HALVES- 16/1

SKYBET STOKE TO WIN BOTH HALVES- 8/1

Lyon vs Everton – Europa League Preview

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Lyon vs Everton – Europa League Preview – David Unsworth will be looking for his first win in temporary charge of Everton as they face Lyon.

The Toffees currently sit bottom of Group E and know a defeat could see them knocked out of the competition. Whilst going out of Europe is hardly ideal, Everton’s main worry is staying in the Premier League. Following the sacking of Ronald Koeman last week, Unsworth’s team were dismantled at the King Power Stadium by Leicester. That result leaves them 18th and in the relegation zone. Having won just two games this season, Everton have massively underperformed. The money invested in the summer hasn’t paid off and they appear to have gone backwards.

Speculation has mounted this week about who will be the next man in charge at Goodison Park. Many fans and bookmakers have pointed to Sean Dyche as Koeman’s replacement. Whilst there hasn’t been an approach from the club for Dyche, Burnley’s win on Monday night will only have raised their interest further. The Clarets are currently sat in seventh place with double the points haul of Everton after just ten games. Another name in the ring is Sam Allardyce. The former England manager has been out of work since leaving Crystal Palace in the summer but could be tempted back into management with a lucrative transfer war-chest on Merseyside.

Everton must perform or else be knocked out of the competition Photo Credit: skysports.com

In Ligue 1, Lyon are currently third, seven points behind leaders PSG. The club have performed well both domestically and in Europe and know a win could take them top of the group. If the French side and Atlanta were both to win then it would knock Everton out after just four games. Lyon will be hoping to secure another win, following their 2-1 reverse at Goodison last month. With in-form players such as Nabil Fekir, it’s no surprise they are doing well. The Frenchman has ten goals this season, with five goals coming in his last three games. He also grabbed the opener when these two met last time.

With Everton in disarray, it is important they produce a performance on Thursday, even if they don’t get a result. The fans need to see signs of recovery and a positive display in France could be the catalyst to reignite their season. Lyon are unbeaten at home all season and given this, I think it’ll be incredibly difficult for Everton to grab a win given their current form. I think Lyon’s class will win them the game but it’s more about how Everton react than the result itself.

 

Prediction: Lyon 2-1 Everton

 

SKYBET: CORRECT SCORE LYON 2-1- 15/2

SKYBET: SIGURDSSON TO SCORE OUTSIDE THE AREA- 12/1

SKYBET: BTTS AND LYON TO WIN- 7/4

SKYBET: ROONEY TO SCORE FIRST AND DRAW 1-1- 60/1

SKYBET: LYON TO WIN TO NIL- 13/8

SKYBET RAB: LYON TO WIN, BTTS, 12 MATCH CORNERS AND 50+ BOOKING POINTS- 18/1

SKYBET: SCHNEIDERLIN AND WILLIAMS TO BOTH BE CARDED- 11/1

SKYBET: DEPAY AND SANDRO TO BOTH SCORE- 12/1