All articles by: Thomas Mcgrath

Middlesbrough vs Nottingham Forest – Match Preview

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Middlesbrough vs Nottingham Forest
Monday 2nd March 2020.
SkyBet Championship. The Riverside.

Live on Sky Sports Football. Kick-off: 19:45 GMT

Middlesbrough host Nottingham Forest in the latest instalment of Monday night football in the SkyBet Championship.

Both sides are battling at both ends of the table, and a positive result on Monday evening will enhance either sides bid to achieve their targets between now and the end of the season.

Middlesbrough find themselves stuck in a relegation battle. Johnathan Woodgate’s side sit just above the relegation zone on goal difference alone. The eleven matches between now and the end of the season are huge, and could have a say on his future, as well as Middlesbrough’s.

Nottingham Forest still have faint hopes of sealing their spot in the automatic promotion places- which they currently trail by six points. Sabri Lamouchi’s side are 4th in the division and securing a play-off spot will be their primary aim.

Middlesbrough have failed to win in their last eleven matches in all competitions and have won only once this year. Boro have lost four of their last five and have a tremendous amount of work to do if they are to avoid the drop.

Forest on the other hand are unbeaten in their last three, but if they are to grab 2nd spot, they need to start winning games again. Their win over Cardiff on Monday night was their first in the last three following their blip at the beginning of the month, where they lost two in three.

Forest have won four of the last six meetings between these two. The last meeting in this fixture produces a 1-1 draw at the City Ground in December.

Thiago Silva has scores in two of Forest’s last three away matches, and is priced at 6/1 to score anytime in this fixture on SkyBet.

The referee for this clash is Darren England. England has averaged just over three yellow cards per fixture in his eighteen Championship fixtures this season. This considered, I would recommend a minimum of 20+ booking points for this clash.

Middlesbrough vs Nottingham Forest will be televised live in the UK on Sky Sports Football HD with kick-off 19:45.

Prediction: Middlesbrough 1-2 Nottingham Forest

Suggested Tips – Middlesbrough vs Nottingham Forest – (BET 365)

  • Correct Score – Nottingham Forest to win 2-1 – (link no longer available).
  • First Goalscorer – Joe Lolley – (link no longer available).

Suggested Tips – Middlesbrough vs Nottingham Forest – (SKYBET)

  • Correct Score Group Betting – Nottingham Forest to win 1-0, 2-0 or 2-1 – 5/2.

Aston Villa vs Manchester City – Match Preview

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Aston Villa vs Manchester City
Sunday 1st March 2020.
Carabao Cup Final – Wembley Stadium

Live on Sky Sports Football – Kick-Off: 16:30 GMT.

Aston Villa and Manchester City battle it out for this year’s Carabao Cup at Wembley on Sunday afternoon.

Many predict this as a ‘David v Goliath’ clash considering these two sides’ league form and ranking, but 90 minutes is the only thing separating the sides from cup glory. Manchester City are 2nd in this seasons Premier League table, meanwhile Villa fin themselves struggling in 17th, one place and one point above the relegation zone.

Pep Guardiola’s side are looking to make it four final fins out of the last five following their previous triumphs in 2016, 2018 and 2019. A win on Sunday would see them secure the Carabao Cup for the third time in a row.

Aston Villa are the fourth most decorated club in this cup competition with five wins, one behind Manchester City. Villa’s last win came in 1996 when they defeated Leeds United 3-0 at Wembley. Villa featured in the first ever final of this competition in 1961, where finals were played over two legs, home and away. They were 3-2 winners over Rotherham over the two legs, thanks to their 3-0 win at Villa Park which secured the cup.

Manchester City have won both meetings between these two sides in the Premier League this season by an aggregate scoreline of 9-1. City were 3-0 winners at the Etihad in March, and most recently dismantled Villa 6-1 at Villa Park in January. Even the most optimistic of Villa fans could predict their side getting their hands on the trophy this year… could they?

Pep Guardiola’s side have won seven of the last eight meetings in this fixture and are unbeaten against Villa since September 2013.

The referee for this final is Lee Mason. The 48-year old is taking charge of his first final, and his fourth match of this seasons Carabao Cup. Sunday will be the second time Mason has taken charge of City in this years competition, and the fourth time he has overseen Villa in this year’s cup.

In the three Carabao cup matches Mason has taken charge of, to say he has been lenient is an understatement. Three yellow cards have been awarded in his three matches. For this fixture, I would recommend a minimum of 20+ booking points.

Aston Villa vs Manchester City will be televised live in the UK on Sky Sports Main Event HD with kick off at 16:30 GMT.

Suggested Tips – Aston Villa vs Manchester City – (SKYBET)

  • Correct Score Group Betting – Manchester City to win 3-0, 3-1 or 3-2 – 11/4.
  • Correct Score – Manchester City 3-1 – 10/1.
  • Anytime Goalscorer – Kevin De Bruyne – 13/8.

Markets prices correct as of 12:50 PM GMT on Sunday 1st March 2020.

Watford vs Liverpool – Match Preview

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Watford vs Liverpool
Saturday 29th February 2020
FA Premier League, Vicarage Road.

Live on Sky Sports Premier League – Kick-Off: 17:30 GMT.

Watford return to Vicarage road this weekend as they host Liverpool in the Premier League on Saturday evening.

Both sides are competing for different reasons at different ends of the table, and a win for either would send them on their way to achieve their respective goals.

Liverpool need only four more wins from their remaining eleven league matches to be crowned champions – it would be their first league title in thirty years. Watford on the other hand are in the thick of a battle for survival and find themselves 19th in the league, a point from safety.

Liverpool are on course for a record breaking season, and have won twenty-six of their twenty-seven Premier League fixtures. A win on Saturday evening could see Jurgen Klopp’s side break the record for the number of consecutive Premier League wins. The 3-2 win over West Ham on Monday evening took Liverpool level with Manchester City on eighteen consecutive wins.

Watford on the other hand were defeated 3-0 against Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon, their sixth match without a win. The Hornets have hit poor form in recent weeks, which will frustrate manager Nigel Pearson after his bright start in charge. Watford went seven unbeaten in all competitions following his arrival, but have dropped points in recent weeks, which has seen them slump back down the table.

Liverpool won the earlier meeting in the season 2-0 thanks to a brace from Mo Salah. Jurgen Klopp’s side have won seven of the last eight meetings between the two sides. Watford’s last win in this fixture came in December 2015, a 3-0 win at Vicarage road.

Mo Salah has scored fifteen Premier League goals this season, and is joint-third in the race for the golden boot- an award he has won for the past two seasons. Salah has scored seven goals in his last four appearances against Watford in the Premier League, and is priced at 5/6 to find the back of the net on Saturday evening.

The referee for Saturday nights clash is Michael Oliver. The 35-year old has been one of the fairer officials in the league this season, averaging just over three yellow cards in the Premier League this season. I would recommend a minimum of 30+ booking points for this fixture.

Watford vs Liverpool will be televised live in the UK on Sky Sports Premier League HD with kick off at 17:30 GMT.

Prediction: Watford 1-2 Liverpool

Suggested Tips – Watford vs Liverpool – (BET 365)

  • Correct Score – Liverpool to win 2-1 – (link no longer available).
  • First Goalscorer – Roberto Firmino – (link no longer available).

Suggested Tips – Watford vs Liverpool – (SKYBET)

  • Correct Score Group Betting – Liverpool to win 1-0, 2-0 or 2-1 – 15/2.