All articles by: Elliott Jackson

Brighton vs Newcastle United – Match Preview

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Brighton vs Newcastle United – Match Preview – After securing their first win of the season in their last home game, Brighton will be hoping to grab another three points. For Newcastle, a win would be their fourth on the bounce!

Brighton need to make the Amex Stadium a fortress if they’re to survive their first ever Premier League campaign. After beating West Brom 3-1 last time, there is cause for optimism, but they need to be winning games like this one. Last time out, they were unfortunate to come unstuck against Bournemouth. After taking the lead through Solly March, goals from Andrew Surman and Jermain Defoe gave the Cherries the win. Despite another good performance, Chris Hughton’s men came away pointless, a scenario they need to stop.

Can Knockaert find his form from last season? Photo Credit: skysports.com

Whilst they have only kept one clean sheet so far this season, the Seagulls have defended manfully, with Dunk and Duffy continuing to prove tough opponents. Where they need to improve is offensively. Anthony Knockaert missed the beginning of the season through injury, and it is imperative that the diminutive winger regains his form from last season. The Frenchman grabbed 15 goals and ten assists as Brighton secured automatic promotion, and the Amex faithful will be hoping to see him step up to the plate again this term.

For Newcastle, a win could be their fourth on the spin in the league. After a disappointing start, the Magpies have found some form, and now look like a side capable of avoiding an immediate return to the Championship. After scoring none and conceding three in their opening two games, they’ve now scored six and conceded one in their last four. Whilst there is no clear conclusion to this upturn in form, Rafa Benitez will be thrilled to see his team succeeding on the pitch. Another three points for the Toon Army could even see them finish the day as high as third.

Atsu has been in fine form for Newcastle so far this season Photo Credit: skysports.com

Last season, Newcastle did the double over Brighton as they pipped them to the Championship title. A 2-0 win at St James’ Park in August was then followed up with a 2-1 win at the Amex in February. Those two games last year were the clubs first league meetings since 1992, although there have been two FA Cup ties since, with Brighton winning on both occasions.

I think Sunday will be a tight game. With both sides not wanting to give much away, I can see a draw on the cards. With the current defensive form of both sides, chances will be at a premium. With both sides lacking a natural goal scorer, I can see this fizzling out in to a well contested 0-0 draw.

Prediction: Brighton 0-0 Newcastle

 

SKYBET: CORRECT SCORE 0-0- 13/2

SKYBET: BTTS AND UNDER 2.5 GOALS- 5/2

SKYBET: JOSELU TO SCORE FIRST AND NEWCASTLE TO WIN 1-0- 22/1

SKYBET: BRIGHTON TO WIN 1-0, 2-0 OR 2-1- 9/4

SKYBET: KNOCKAERT AND ATSU TO BOTH SCORE- 14/1

SKYBET: HEMED TO SCORE A BRACE- 14/1

Forest Green vs Swindon Town – Match Preview

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Forest Green vs Swindon Town – Match Preview – Friday night football sees Forest Green host Swindon Town at The New Lawn. The home side have made a shaky start on their return to the Football League, but will be hoping to secure a second win of the season.

Since their return to League Two, Forest Green have found life tough. Their opening eight fixtures have yielded five points, and only one win. That win came back on the 19th of August, which leaves Rovers without a win in their last five league games. Tough fixtures against promotion hopefuls Lincoln City, Colchester United and Wycombe Wanderers have meant only goal difference separates them from the bottom two.

Doidge has scored four goals this season Phot Credit: EFL.com

Christian Doidge has proved to be a shining light in an otherwise dull season. The striker has managed four goals and one assist this season, but is without any in his last three. So far this season, Rovers have leaked 20 league goals, the joint highest in the division. With ten goals scored, the problem is evidently keeping the ball out of their own goal, and they will have to learn quickly if they’re to secure a second season at this level.

By contrast, Swindon appear to be a side on the up. The Robins now sit in eighth place, only three points behind third placed Accrington Stanley. If Swindon are to make an immediate return to League One, beating the teams around them will be key. A resounding 3-0 win away at Luton will give them some confidence, despite suffering a narrow 1-0 defeat at Notts County.

Norris has been in good form contributing 5 goals for Swindon Photo Credit: totalswindon.com

Whilst they are only just shy of the automatic promotion places, Swindon have the second leakiest defence in the top half of the table. Only Wycombe in 12th place have conceded more, meaning if they could tighten up at the back, a promotion push could be a real possibility. On a positive note, the Robins have notched 12 league goals, with five of them thanks to Luke Norris. The former Gillingham striker has already equalled his goal tally from last season, showing his best form since joining them in 2016.

These two sides have never met in the league previous to this game. This leaves history ready to be written, as both teams scramble for three points that could affect opposite ends of the table. With both sides struggling to defend, and potent in attack, I think both teams to score would be safe bet. With Swindon in good form, I think they will just edge the game.

 

Prediction: Forest Green Rovers 1-2 Swindon Town

 

SKYBET: CORRECT SCORE SWINDON TO WIN 2-1- 17/2

SKYBET: NORRIS TO SCORE AND SWINDON TO WIN- 11/4

SKYBET: DOIDGE TO SCORE FIRST AND FOREST GREEN TO WIN 1-0- 28/1

SKYBET: DRAW EITHER 1-1, 2-2 OR 3-3- 3/1

SKYBET: BTTS AND OVER 2.5 GOALS- 1/1

Carabao Cup – Leicester vs Liverpool – Match Preview

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Carabao Cup – Leicester vs Liverpool – Match Preview – The fourth round of the Carabao Cup takes place this Tuesday, with Liverpool facing a trip to Leicester in one of three all Premier League ties. A win for either of these sides would take them in to the round of 16.

Liverpool haven’t had the greatest of weeks. A 5-0 hammering at the hands of Manchester City and a 2-2 home draw with Sevilla in the Champions League has put a dampener on the Reds’ start to the season. They followed this up at the weekend with a frustrating 1-1 draw with Burnley at Anfield, to finish off a poor week for Jurgen Klopp’s men. Liverpool will be hoping to return to winning ways at the King Power Stadium and avoid going four games without a win.

Solanke could lead the line for Liverpool at Leicester Photo Credit: skysports.com

One highlight of the Reds’ season so far has been Mohamad Salah. The Egyptian scored Liverpool’s equaliser at the weekend, to take his tally to six for the season in all competitions. The winger has been a constant menace for opposition defences so far this campaign, as he begins to repay the reported 35 million pound fee Liverpool paid to prize him from Roma.

Leicester by contrast have had an indifferent start to the season. A draw at Huddersfield this weekend was the Foxes fourth point of the campaign, which is a disappointing return from five games. In the defence of Craig Shakespeare’s side, they have already faced tricky trips to the Emirates and Old Trafford, as well as hosting last year’s Premier League champions. Even against superior opposition, they have been unlucky to not pick up any points, and I’ve no doubt their form will soon improve.

Iheanacho will be hoping for a starting place Photo Credit: skysports.com

Liverpool haven’t won at the King Power stadium since 2014, when Leicester first returned to the Premier League. Since then, the Reds have lost both of their games there, with the Foxes coming out 2-0 and 3-1 winners. In the last six games between the two clubs they have recorded 20 goals between them, averaging at just over three goals a game.

If, as expected, the two managers make changes to their regular side, I would expect goals to be in large supply. Over 2.5 match goals and both teams to score would be my bet, with both teams notoriously leaky at the back.

Prediction: Leicester City 2-1 Liverpool

SKYBET: CORRECT SCORE LEICESTER 2-1- 12/1
SKYBET: BTTS AND OVER 2.5 MATCH GOALS- 11/10
SKYBET: VARDY TO SCORE FIRST AND 1-1 DRAW- 30/1
SKYBET: SOLANKE AND SALAH TO BOTH SCORE- 6/1
SKYBET: IHEANACHO TO SCORE A BRACE- 14/1
SKYBET: BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE IN BOTH HALVES- 14/1