All articles by: Jools Jordan-Probert

Turkey vs Republic of Ireland – Match Preview

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Turkey vs Republic of Ireland
Friday 23rd March 2018
International Friendly, Antalya Stadium 

Kick-Off: 17:30 GMT

Turkey vs Republic of Ireland – The international break is in full swing and The Republic of Ireland travel to Turkey looking to steady the ship after narrowly missing out on the 2018 World Cup.

Ireland’s side heroic victory over Wales in Cardiff propelled them into the World Cup play-offs. However, that ended in dismay after a Christian Eriksen-inspired Denmark dismantled Martin O’Neill’s side 5-1 in the crucial match.

O’Neill kept his job, and the planning for the 2020 European Championships has begun. With just 37 international goals in the entire squad for this match (17 coming just from Shane Long), the future is very much at the forefront here. Especially considering call-ups for players like West Ham’s Declan Rice and Aston Villa’s Scott Hogan.

Turkey had a World Cup qualifying campaign to forget, finishing fourth in Group I behind Iceland, Croatia and Ukraine. They have also lost their last two friendlies 2-0 to Romania and perhaps more worrying 3-2 at home to Albania.

Now under the leadership of Shakhtar Donestsk legend Mircea Lucescu a change in fortunes will be expected. Quality players such as Borussia Dortmund’s Omer Toprak and AC Milan’s Hakan Calhanoglu can lead the way to doing so.

With just seven places in the FIFA World Rankings separating these two teams (Ireland 31st, Turkey 38th) a close game should be in store. O’Neill has The Green Army renowned for their solidity, whilst Turkey usually play a more expansive game. This clash of styles could lead to a very interesting exchange. A moment of magic from a player like Calhanoglu or Celta Vigo’s on-loan wonderkid Emre Mor could make the difference.

Slavko Vincic will be the man in charge for this one. The Slovenian officiates in his native country but has also refereed in European competition this season. In eight Prva Liga games he has given 38 yellows cards, one red and two penalties. In the four Champions League and Europa League matches at the helm, he has dished out 19 yellow cards. Vincic’s average cards per game is therefore a very high 4.75. Those European matches include Tottenham Hotspur’s 3-0 victory against Apoel Nicosa and Borussia Dortmund’s 2-1 defeat to RB Salzburg.

Prediction: Turkey 1-1 Republic of Ireland

With Turkey finding their feet under Lucescu, Ireland should have enough stability to resist Turkey’s attacking forces. Typically, it would be somewhat surprising if they found enough of their own to secure the win.

Suggested tips – Turkey vs Republic of Ireland – (SKYBET):

  • Correct score, 1-1 Draw – 5/1.
  • Popular RequestABet – Suarez to score and Uruguay 2-0 – 11/1.
  • RequestABet Specials 80/1 and above – BTTS, 2+ corners each team in each half and 20+ booking points each team – 80/1.
  • Price Boost – Luis Suarez and Gareth Bale both to score – 7/1.
  • RequestABet Specials 80/1 and above – Suarez and Cavani to score, Vokes and Allen to be carded – 200/1.
  • Both Players to Score – Edison Cavani and Luis Suarez – 3/1.

Odds and markets last updated on 26 March 2018 @11:50 GMT.

Keep visiting the tips and preview area for further updates and betting previews for more previews from the International break this week. We also have domestic fixtures returning at the end of the week so keep an eye on those previews in the tips and preview area.

Wigan Athletic vs Southampton – Match Preview

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Wigan Athletic vs Southampton
Sunday 18th March 2018
FA Cup Quarter-Final, DW Stadium

Live on BBC 1 – Kick-Off: 13:30

Wigan Athletic vs Southampton – Mark Hughes’ first test as Southampton manager is to beat League One underdogs Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup Quarter-Final.

Hughes was named as Mauricio Pellegrino’s successor after Southampton’s 3-0 defeat to Newcastle last time out. The Argentine endured a difficult first season as a manager in English football, taking Southampton dangerously close to the relegation zone.

Hughes himself lost his job at Stoke for doing the same thing, but the Welshman seems the right fit to take The Saints out of trouble. He even played there for two years between 1998-2000, so has an ‘affinity’ in his own words.

Southampton have had a turbulent season, with just five wins only West Brom (three) have won less games in the Premier League. However, the FA Cup represents a wonderful opportunity for Southampton to win their first major trophy since winning this competition in 1976.

Wigan are the opposition, who already are writing their own script in this season’s FA Cup. Toppling Pep Guardiola’s all-conquering Manchester City side in the last round sent shockwaves through football.

Paul Cook’s side are having an excellent campaign in general, sitting in 2nd place, five points from Blackburn Rovers. The Latics do, however, have three games in hand in their quest to return to the Championship.

Goals decide games, and that’s exactly where Southampton have struggled this season. They have only scored 29 in the league, and only scored two or more six times. Only Swansea and West Brom have failed to reach that feat in fewer games (five). Wigan have scored two+ on 18 occasions, so it is just a case of whether they can replicate that against higher quality opposition.

This match will represent everything that the FA Cup is about. Two teams, generally unfancied, where one of them will make it to a Wembley semi-final. Where dreams are made.

Michael Oliver has been chosen to referee this one. No one has taken charge of more Premier League games than Oliver this year (25), and he has the second highest average booking points per game in the division with 39.8.

Wigan Athletic vs Southampton will be televised live in the UK on BBC One with kick-off at 13:30 GMT.

Prediction: Wigan 1-3 Southampton

Suggested tips – Wigan Athletic vs Southampton – (BET365):

  • Correct score, 3-1 Southampton win – (link no longer available).
  • Southampton/Southampton HT/FT betting – (link no longer available).

Suggested tips – Wigan Athletic vs Southampton – (SKYBET):

  • RequestABet Up To 10/1 Specials – Over 1.5 goals, 3+ corners each team and 30+ match booking pts – 13/8.
  • Scorecast Boost (Double Chance) – Manolo Gabbiadini to score first and either Southampton to win 2-0 or Southampton to win 3-0 – 25/1.
  • RequestABet Up To 10/1 Specials – Southampton to score 2+ Goals, 5+ Corners and Wigan 20+ Booking Points – 5/1.
  • Price Boosts – Wigan v Southampton – Manolo Gabbiadini and Dusan Tadic both to score in 90 mins – 10/1.
  • RequestABet Specials 80/1 and above – Wigan vs Southampton – Gabbiadini to score, 7+ Wigan corners, Lemina to be carded and Under 50 match booking points – 80/1.
  • RequestABet Specials Up to 10/1 – Wigan v Southampton – Wigan to score 2+ goals, 5+ Wigan corners and 20+ Southampton booking pts – 11/1.

Odds and markets last updated on 18 March 2018 @09:45 GMT.

Keep visiting the tips and preview area for further updates and betting previews for more previews from this weekends FA Cup and SkyBet Championship action.

Arsenal vs Milan – Match Preview

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Arsenal vs Milan
Thursday 15th March 2018
UEFA Europa League Last 16 2nd Leg, Emirates Stadium

Live on BT Sport – Kick-Off: 20:05

Arsenal vs Milan – After a professional 2-0 win at the San Siro, Arsenal will look to finish the job against Milan in the 2nd leg of the Europa League last 16 at the Emirates.

Simply put, the Europa League is now everything to Arsenal and Arsene Wenger. Should The Gunners want to get back into the Champions League next season this is the only available path. Failure to do so will surely see Wenger sacked (what many see as already overdue).

The North-London side are 6th in the Premier League, 12 points away from Liverpool in 4th. Once again it has been an increasingly poor season and the fans are making sure it is known.

Woeful away from has hampered Arsenal, which makes the 2-0 win in the 1st leg in Milan even more surprising. Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Aaron Ramsey scored the goals to hold the commanding lead, and now they should see it through. That, and a serious challenge for the Europa League title is still far below the required standard, one feels.

The 1st leg was the first time Milan had conceded a goal in seven matches. Genaro Gattuso’s men also won with a clean sheet on the weekend, beating Genoa 1-0. Arsenal (and Petr Cech) finally kept a clean sheet too (Cech’s 200th in the Premier League). Their 3-0 victory against Watford doesn’t dispel any of the negativity at Arsenal but is a good start.

After the weekend, both sides now have ten clean sheets in their domestic leagues and are in 6th place. Setting up even further the importance of this tie. Milan, despite their good form, are big underdogs and have it all to do. The last match Arsenal played at home in the Europa League they lost 2-1 to Ostersunds, so it isn’t beyond the realms of possibility whatsoever. Needless to say, Milan know all about fight-backs in European competition (circa Istanbul 2005).

Taking charge of this match will be Jonas Eriksson. The Swedish referee plies his trade in the Allvenskan and has amassed a career record of 24 red cards and 512 yellows, at an average of 0.17 and 3.68 per game respectively in his 139 matches. Fun fact, Eriksson is a multi-millionaire by virtue of selling his 15% stake in a Swedish media company for £6m. He referees through sheer enjoyment. Now that is unique !

Arsenal vs Milan will be televised live in the UK on BT Sport with kick off at 20:05 GMT.

Prediction: Arsenal 2-2 Milan (Arsenal to progress)

Suggested tips – Arsenal vs Milan  – (BET365):

  • Correct Score – 2-2 Draw – (link no longer available).
  • Half Time / Full Time – AC Milan / Draw – (link no longer available).

Suggested tips – Arsenal vs Milan  – (SKYBET):

  • Popular RequestABet – BTTS, 2+ corners each team in each half and 10+ booking points each team – 7/1.
  • Scorecast Boost (Double Chance) – Hakan Calhanoglu to score first and either AC Milan to win 2-1 or Draw 1-1 – 40/1.
  • Popular RequestABet – AC Milan to score 1+ goals and 6+ Arsenal corners – 9/4.
  • RequestABet Specials Up to 10/1 – Arsenal vs AC Milan – BTTS, 5+ Arsenal corners, 3+ AC Milan corners and 10+ booking points each team – 3/1.
  • Popular RequestABet – Calhanoglu to score from outside the area and Arsenal to score a penalty – 80/1.

More markets will be added prior to kick-off at 20:05GMT tonight so keep revisiting this page closer to kick-off!

Odds and markets last updated on 15 March 2018 @19:40 GMT.

Keep visiting the tips and preview area for further updates and betting previews for more previews from this weeks domestic cup action and remainder European fixtures.