All articles by: Elliott Jackson

Millwall vs Birmingham City – Match Preview

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Millwall vs Birmingham City – Match Preview – Steve Cotterill will be hoping to continue his 100% start as Birmingham manager when they face Millwall at the New Den.

Coming into the game, the Blues sit one point and place above the bottom three, after another turbulent start to the season. Since sacking Harry Redknapp, the club have picked up seven points from their last four games. The 6-1 defeat to Hull aside, things appear to be on the up for Birmingham.

Cotterill’s appointment has been met with optimism from the Blues’ fans. The former Bristol City manager was assistant under Redknapp, and has signed a two-and-a-half-year contract at St Andrew’s and takes his first away game this Saturday. Cotterill has been boosted by the return of key man Che Adams.

Che Adams scored in the win over Cardiff Photo Credit: skysports.com

The former Sheffield United striker marked his return to fitness with the winning goal last weekend against Cardiff. Birmingham will also be hoping to welcome Jota into their team, following their record signings recent injury problems. Since signing from Brentford for £6million, Jota has managed two appearances. If Birmingham can get Jota and Adams firing, there’s no way they’ll be down the wrong end of the table come May.

Millwall have made a positive return to Championship football, following their promotion from League One last season. Neil Harris’ side have won three of their last four games, with many feeling if they are to stay up, their home form will be key. At home this season they have already dispatched of Reading, Leeds and Norwich conceding just one goal in the process.

The problem for both these sides has been consistency. Birmingham have beaten teams such as Cardiff and Sheffield Wednesday in recent weeks but have struggled to maintain that form over a number of games. The same can be said for Millwall, who have been impressive at home but struggled on their travels. Millwall have managed 11 goals at home this season, whilst Birmingham have only managed two goals away from home all campaign.

Millwall have won only one of their last 16 meetings with the Blues, and haven’t beaten them at home since 1996. Birmingham’s last win at the New Den came in 2014, and have won on three of their last four visits. In their last eight games, the two sides have managed 31 goals, an average of almost four goals a game.

With those stats in mind, I’m going to plump for a Millwall win. Given the Blues’ lack of consistency and lack of goals on the road, I think the home side will edge this one.

 

Prediction: Millwall 2-1 Birmingham City

 

SKYBET: CORRECT SCORE MILLWALL 2-1- 17/2

SKYBET: ADAMS AND JOTA TO BOTH SCORE- 10/1

SKYBET: MILWALL TO WIN 1-0, 2-0 OR 2-1- 21/10

SKYBET: BTTS AND DRAW- 100/30

SKYBET: MILLWALL TO WIN AND OVER 2.5 GOALS- 5/2

SKYBET: GREGORY TO SCORE FIRST AND DRAW 2-2- 60/1

SKYBET: BTTS TO IN BOTH HALVES- 18/1

Southampton vs West Brom – Match Preview

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Southampton vs West Brom – Match Preview – Southampton will be hoping to get a much-needed win when they host West Brom. Their opponents sit just one point and a place above them, with Tony Pulis’ team looking for their second away win of the season.

It’s been a slow start to the season for Mauricio Pellegrino, despite the club being sat in 11th place. The Saints are just three points above the relegation zone, with only two wins from their first eight games. Last time out they twice came from behind to grab a point against Newcastle, with Manolo Gabbiadini scoring twice. The Italian striker scored his first goals in almost two months, with Southampton struggling for goals this season. Gabbiadini’s brace was only the second time they had scored more than one goal in a match this season.

Gabbiadini scored twice in the draw to Newcastle Photo Credit: skysports.com

 

It’s hard to really gauge what Southampton’s ambitions are for the season. Claude Puel was sacked last season after finishing eighth and reaching a League Cup final. The main criticism aimed at the Frenchman was his side’s lack of attacking intent, with the Saints managing just 17 league goal at home all season. Yet after a relatively successful season, he was sacked. This season, I find it hard to see how Southampton will progress. In the summer, there was no major investment to improve the playing staff, to allow Pellegrino to take them further. They did however, keep hold of Virgil van Dijk who made his first start of the season last time out, which may have been a statement of intent from the owners.

West Brom’s 1-1 draw at Leicester signalled the end of Craig Shakespeare’s reign as Foxes’ manager. That result however, left West Brom in tenth with ten points from their opening eight games. In those matches, the Baggies have drawn four times, which shows fine margins could separate them being a top or bottom half team this season. Like Southampton, West Brom don’t specialise in goals. The club are the lowest scorers in the top half of the table, netting just seven goals so far.

Hegazy has begun life well at WBA Photo Credit: skysports.com

Last season, both sides took three points off the other, away from home. West Brom recorded a 2-1 win at St Mary’s back in December 2016, whilst Southampton won 1-0 at the Hawthorns last April. Over the last eight games between the two teams, West Brom have only won twice, with the Saints winning on four occasions. In those eight games, there have only been ten goals, which underlines the attacking problems these two sides are struggling with.

With both teams finding goals at a premium, I can see this being yet another draw. Not the result either manager will want, but it seems the most likely conclusion. Under 2.5 match goals would be a good bet, as these two sides look for a result to kick-start their seasons.

 

Prediction: Southampton 1-1 West Brom

 

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

SKYBET: WBA TO WIN 1-0- 9/1

SKYBET: RODRIGUEZ AND GABBIADINI TO BOTH SCORE- 9/1

SKYBET: REDMOND TO SCORE AND SOUTHAMPTON TO WIN- 7/2

SKYBET: SOUTHAMPTON TO WIN FROM BEHIND- 12/1

SKYBET: BTTS AND UNDER 2.5 GOALS- 5/1

West Ham vs Brighton – Match Preview

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West Ham vs Brighton – Match Preview – West Ham host Brighton searching for their third home win of the season in four games. Brighton take the trip to the London Stadium looking for their first away win in the Premier League.

After a disappointing start to the season, West Ham appear to have turned a corner. After no wins in their first four league and cup games, the Hammers now find themselves with just one loss in six games. Slaven Bilic’s side have started picking up points away from home, and have won two of their three home games so far this season. Last time out, it took a late Chris Wood equaliser to deny them all three points against Burnley, despite playing most of that game with ten men following Andy Carroll’s dismissal.

Hernandez will be the main target for West Ham with Andy Carroll’s suspension Photo Credit: skysports.com

With that red card, Carroll will be missing for Friday night’s game. His absence opens the door for Javier Hernandez to start in a more central role. The Mexican has managed just three goals since his move from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer but has been restricted to a more unnatural wide role. Without Carroll, Hernandez will get his chance down the middle and if West Ham can give him the service, there are few better finishers in the Premier League.

Brighton were denied a third league win of the season by a 90th minute Wayne Rooney penalty at the weekend, leaving them in 14th place. The Seagulls have picked up one point away from home this season and need to improve if they are to secure a second consecutive season in the top flight. They currently find themselves in a bundle of five teams all sat on eight points, meaning a win could catapult them up to ninth place.

Knockeart scored in the 1-1 draw to Everton in the last game Photo Credit: skysports.com

Whilst it’s been a solid start for Chris Hughton’s men, there is scope for improvement. Defensively they have performed well, conceding only ten goals so far but offensively they need to improve. Brighton have only managed six league goals and have only scored more than one goal in a game once this campaign. Winger Anthony Knockeart scored in the 1-1 draw to Everton but needs to contribute more to the Seagulls.

The last time these two teams met was back in the Championship in 2012. That season the Hammers did the double over Brighton including winning 6-0 at home. The Seagulls last win against West Ham was in 2004, where they secured a 1-0 win at Upton Park. Given West Ham’s recent form at home, I fancy them to get the win. Even without Andy Carroll, they should have enough in reserve to beat a Brighton team that don’t travel well.

 

Prediction: West Ham 2-0 Brighton

 

SKYBET: WEST HAM TO WIN 2-0- 13/2

SKYBET: HERNANDEZ AND ANTONIO TO BOTH SCORE- 13/2

SKYBET: CORRECT GROUP SCORE, DRAW 1-1, 2-2 OR 3-3- 7/2

SKYBET: WEST HAM TO WIN TO NIL- 7/4

SKYBET: BTTS AND BRIGHTON TO WIN- 9/1

SKYBET: WEST HAM TO SCORE 2+ IN FIRST HALF- 5/1

SKYBET: MANUEL LANZINI TO SCORE FROM OUTSIDE THE AREA – 18/1

SKYBET SCORECAST BOOST – MARKO ARNAUTOVIC TO SCORE FIRST AND WEST HAM TO WIN 3-1 – 125/1

SKYBET SCORECAST BOOST (DOUBLE CHANCE) – SOLOMON MARCH TO SCORE FIRST AND EITHER BRIGHTON TO WIN 2-0 OR WIN 3-1 – 150/1