All articles by: Elliott Jackson

Napoli vs Man City – Champions League Group F Preview

October 31, 2017 by Elliott Jackson·Comments Off

Napoli vs Man City – Champions League Preview – Manchester City take a trip to Naples as they face Serie A leaders Napoli. The home side will be looking to avenge their defeat at the Etihad just two weeks previous.

Despite playing Tony Pulis’ side off the field on the weekend, they only managed to come away with a 3-2 win. In this game, City showed their first signs of vulnerability at the back, gifting West Brom two routes back into the game. Defensively Pep Guardiola’s team have been much better this season, conceding just eight goals and earning nine clean sheets. If City are to get a result tomorrow, it’s imperative they keep their concentration levels. No offence to West Brom but dealing with Dries Mertens and Lorenzo Insigne could be more challenging than Salomon Rondon and James McLean.

Sane has scored 8 goals this season for Man City Photo Credit: skysports.com

Leroy Sane is in the form of his life at the moment. The winger has scored eight goals this season, with three of those coming in his last five. The pacey German has adapted to English football following his big-money move last summer and City are now reaping the rewards of his undoubted potential. With him and Sterling flanking either side, City have an abundance of pace and the two wide men have now added goals to their games this season, making them the complete packages.

Mertens has scored 12 goals this season for Napoli Photo Credit: skysports.com

Since their defeat at the Etihad, Napoli have collected seven points from three games in the league. After a 0-0 draw with Inter Milan, back to back wins have helped cement their lead at the top of the division. In those two games, Dries Mertens has managed three goals, taking his tally for the season to 12. Mertens is particularly potent at home, scoring seven goals in six home games and scoring in every game but one.

This game should be another cracker, with both teams holding plenty of attacking talent on display. Both teams are good defensively, meaning it will be a game of high quality as well as goals. I think BTTS and over 2.5 goals are a good bet, with the amount of attacking quality on display for both teams.

Whilst I don’t think Manchester City should fear Napoli, they are a different animal at home. If City could come out of this game unbeaten, it would set them up nicely to top the group. For Napoli, it’s more imperative they win this game, which could leave them vulnerable on the counter-attack.

Prediction: Napoli 2-2 Manchester City

SKYBET: CORRECT SCORE 2-2 DRAW- 9/1

SKYBET: MERTENS TO SCORE AND WIN- 9/4

SKYBET: SANE AND INSIGNE TO BOTH SCORE- 7/1

SKYBET: AGUERO TO SCORE FIRST AND CITY TO WIN 2-1- 25/1

SKYBET: BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE IN BOTH HALVES- 8/1

SKYBET: BTTS AND OVER 2.5 GOALS- 4/6

SKYBET: NAPOLI TO WIN AND BTTS- 3/1

Roma vs Chelsea – Champions League Group C Preview

October 30, 2017 by Elliott Jackson·Comments Off

Roma vs Chelsea – Champions League Preview – Chelsea will look to continue their unbeaten start to the Champions League in Rome on Tuesday. After surrendering a two-goal lead in their 3-3 draw two weeks ago, Antonio Conte will be hoping for three points this time around.

Chelsea secured back to back league wins at the weekend with a 1-0 victory at Bournemouth. Eden Hazard’s solitary goal gave the Champions the spoils, with things at Stamford Bridge now seeming a lot calmer than two weeks ago. Whilst Chelsea may have won their last two games, there is a different feel to this side from last year. The runaway Champions of last year have a different air about them this time around, with speculation continuing to circle around Conte’s future at the club.

It appears that before a ball had even been kicked the club had accepted they wouldn’t be retaining their Premier League trophy. With the league title seemingly heading to Manchester, the Champions League could offer Chelsea’s best hope at some major silverware. In a tough group, they have performed well so far, winning away at Atletico Madrid and remaining unbeaten.

Since scoring in Madrid, the goals have dried up a little for Alvaro Morata. After smashing in eight goals in his first nine games the Spaniard hasn’t scored in his last five matches. Granted his injury sustained against Manchester City has been a main key factor but Chelsea will be hoping their new number nine can return to goal-scoring form in Rome.

Dzeko grabbed a brace in the fixture at Stamford Bridge Photo Credit: skysports.com

Since their 3-3 draw, Roma have won three league games, all 1-0. Those victories have moved them to within four points of second-placed Juventus with a game in hand. Roma have lost just one of their last 11 games in all competitions. Three 1-0 victories on the bounce also mean the Serie A side have recorded seven clean sheets this season and have the tightest defence in the league, conceding just five goals.

Morata will be hoping to regain his goalscoring touch against Roma Photo Credit: skysports.com

After their recent 3-3 thriller, I would expect a similar goal fest this time around. With Edin Dzeko in the form of his life, I would back to him to score anytime. The Bosnian struck 43 goals last season in just 55 games and he’s followed that up with 12 goals in 17 so far, in this campaign. I think BTTS would also be a good bet, with Chelsea knocking in 11 goals in their three Group Stage games so far. As for the game itself, I think it’ll be another draw.

Prediction: Roma 2-2 Chelsea

SKYBET: CORRECT SCORE 2-2 DRAW- 11/1

SKYBET: BTTS TO SCORE AND OVER 2.5 GOALS- 10/11

SKYBET: BTTS IN BOTH HALVES- 11/1

SKYBET: DZEKO AND MORATA TO BOTH SCORE- 7/2

SKYBET: HAZARD TO SCORE FIRST AND CHELSEA TO WIN 2-1- 40/1

SKYBET: ROMA TO WIN AND BTTS- 3/1

SKYBET: DZEKO TO SCORE AND ROMA TO WIN- 9/4

Burnley vs Newcastle United – Match Preview

October 30, 2017 by Elliott Jackson·Comments Off

Burnley vs Newcastle United – Match Preview – Burnley will be looking to secure a first home win since early September when they face Newcastle United. A win for either side could catapult them up to sixth place in the league table.

Dyche has been a man in the media this week, with several outlets linking him with the vacant managerial role at Everton. Such attention is a testament to the job he has done at Burnley, solidifying a team with a far inferior budget to most of their rivals. Many would like to see Dyche progress to a bigger club as a reward for his hard work. With the lack of British coaches that occupy England’s finest jobs, it would certainly be a statement from the board at Goodison Park.

Burnley will be hoping to improve their home record this season Photo Credit: skysports.com

After failing to secure an away win until the 29th April last season, Burnley haven’t struggled on the road this year. In fact, it’s been at Turf Moor where they’ve dropped points. The Clarets home has been a fortress in recent years, so it comes as a surprise that they’ve only won there once this season. Burnley’s impressive form this season has been built on a defensive solidarity and clean sheets, with the Clarets conceding more than one goal just three times in the league.

Lascelles has shown his leadership skills for Newcastle this season Photo Credit: skysports.com

Newcastle have lost just one of their last seven games and have learnt how to pick up points on the road. Rafa Benitez’s side have lost just twice away from home this season and picked up an impressive point at Southampton in their last away game. During this run of form, the Toon Army have conceded just five goals and have picked up three clean-sheets. This has been largely down to the improved form of Jamaal Lascelles. The club Captain has risen to the challenge of becoming a Premier League defender after an impressive Championship campaign last season. Not only is Lascelles contributing at the back, he’s also a huge danger from set plays as well.

These two last met in the 14/15 season, where both games ended as a draw. Before those two games, you’d have to go back to 1983 for the last time these two met. This only further underlines the job that Dyche has done at Burnley by propelling them into England’s top division.

Whilst both teams have been good of late, I think Burnley can snatch the win here. If this ended as a draw, I wouldn’t be surprised but I’m going to hedge my bets with a home victory. A safe bet would be under 2.5 match goals, with both sides defensively solid.

Prediction: Burnley 1-0 Newcastle United

SKYBET: CORRECT SCORE BURNLEY TO WIN 1-0- 15/2

SKYBET: UNDER 2.5 MATCH GOALS- 8/13

SKYBET: WOOD TO SCORE FIRST AND BURNLEY TO WIN 2-1- 30/1

SKYBET: RITCHIE AND VOKES TO BOTH SCORE- 9/1

SKYBET: LASCELLES TO SCORE A HEADER- 22/1

SKYBET: BURNLEY TO WIN TO NIL- 7/2

SKYBET: ATSU TO SCORE FIRST AND NEWCASTLE TO WIN 2-1- 70/1