All articles by: Jools Jordan-Probert

Crystal Palace vs Manchester United – Match Preview

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Crystal Palace vs Manchester United
Monday 5th Match, 2018
FA Premier League, Selhurt Park

Sky Sports – Kick-Off 20:00 GMT

Jose Mourinho says that the “attitude must be special” for Manchester United to beat Crystal Palace in a match that means plenty to both ends of the league.

He was speaking in the pre-match press conference, telling his that victory over a ‘big team’ like Chelsea (they came from behind to brilliantly win 2-1 on Sunday) meant nothing without following it up with victory over Palace.

The race for the top four is at boiling point. Only 11 matches remain and just six points separates second (United) from fifth (Chelsea). United currently have a two and four-point advantage over Liverpool and Spurs respectively, but it could change so quickly.

Manchester City are steamrollering their way to the title, but second place seemed a formality for Mourinho’s team. That is no longer the case, and amongst the pressure a battle for the highest remaining positions ensues.

Liverpool and Spurs have both hit form at this crucial stage of the season with United in their crosshairs. It’s vital the 13-time Premier League Champions remained focused as anything less than second would be seen as failure.

The last time I previewed Palace, they were one point outside the relegation zone on an eight-match unbeaten run. Now after a poor run, that optimism has drained, and The Eagles are outside the bottom three on goal difference.

Roy Hodgson’s side are without a win in five, devastatingly conceding late to lose 1-0 to Spurs last time out. Despite having their wings clipped, The Eagles need to find their spark again or face the prospect of relegation.

The battle for the drop is an intense as ever. With West Brom cut adrift, 18th place Swansea are just six points away from top-half Watford. The Swans are revitalised under Carlos Carvalhal. Huddersfield have remerged with victories. Brighton have won two from their last three. Newcastle are unbeaten in four, with a victory over Manchester United to boot. It is too hard to call.

Either way, Palace need to somehow find an upturn in results themselves or face plunging deeper into the mire.

This will be a massive test to do so. United have the best defence in the league, conceding just 20 goals and keeping 15 clean sheets in 28 games. Stark contrast to Palace, only Stoke have conceded in more games (24) than The Eagles’ 23.

This is a massive worry. Despite the grumblings about Mourinho’s defensiveness, only Liverpool and City have found the net more than his team this year too.  In fact, United have scored two or more goals in 16 of their fixtures. It doesn’t bode well for Roy Hodgson and his men.

Neil Swarbrick will be the man in the middle for this one. Of the 19 referees to officiate a Premier League game this season, he has the fourth most lenient disciplinary record. Swarbrick has not yet dished out a red card, and on average gives only 2.5 yellow per match. This means his average booking points per fixture is just 25.0.

This is ideal for teams like Palace and United. Who, although only have the one red between them (United) rack up the yellow cards. 49 of them each in fact.

Prediction Crystal Palace 0-2 Manchester United

It is hard to look beyond Manchester United imposing their dominance and keeping a customary clean sheet at struggling Crystal Palace. Which will inevitably please Mourinho.

Crystal Palace vs Manchester United will be televised live in the UK on Sky Sports Football with kick-off at 20:00 GMT.

Suggested tips – Crystal Palace vs Manchester United – (BET365):

  • Correct score, Manchester United to win 2-0 – (link no longer available).
  • Clean Sheet – Manchester United – Yes – (link no longer available).

Suggested tips – Crystal Palace vs Manchester United – (SKYBET):

  • Price Boost – Luka Milivojevic and Ashley Young both to be carded – 16/1.
  • Popular RequestABets – Crystal Palace vs Manchester United – Lukaku and Benteke to score a header – 100/1.

Suggested RequestABets – Crystal Palace vs Manchester United – (SKYBET):

  • @FootyAccums Specials – Crystal Palace vs Manchester United – Lukaku to score, Manchester Utd to score 2+ goals, 3+ corners each team and 30+ match booking pts – 9/2
  • RequestABet Specials up to 10/1 – Crystal Palace vs Manchester Utd – Lukaku to score, Man Utd to win, 3+ Crystal Palace corners, 5+ Man Utd corners and 20+ Crystal Palace booking pts – 7/1
  • Pundits RequestABet – Matt Le Tissier’s RAB – Lukaku & Sanchez to score and Manchester Utd to win to nil – 11/1
  • RequestABet Specials 80/1 and above – Crystal Palace vs Manchester Utd – Benteke, Lukaku & Sanchez to score and Manchester Utd 2-1 – 125/1
  • RequestABet Specials up to 10/1 – Crystal Palace vs Manchester Utd – Over 1.5 goals, 1+ corners each team in each half and 10+ booking points each team – 6/4

Odds and markets last updated on 5 March 2018 @19:20 GMT.

More markets will be added over the weekend prior to the game kicking off on Monday night.

Keep visiting the tips and preview area for further updates and betting previews for the  upcoming midweek Champions League fixtures and Europa League fixtures as well as the weekend Premier League & Championship televised fixtures.

Fulham vs Wolves – Match Preview

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Fulham vs Wolves
Saturday 24th February,
Sky Bet Championship, Craven Cottage

Sky Sports 1 – Kick-Off 17:30 GMT

The Championship clash of the weekend sees league leaders Wolves travel to on-fire promotion hopefuls Fulham.

In Championship terms, it is the immovable object versus the unstoppable force here. Fulham are undefeated in their last eight home games, and ten in total. Wolves are also unbeaten in their previous nine away matches, so excitingly, something has got to give.

After a late surge at the end of last season, Slavisa Jokanovic’s side forced their way into the play-off positions. This year has been similar, as Fulham are one of the form sides in the league heading into the run-in.

The form of players such as teenage sensation Ryan Sessengnon has been key. The 17-year-old (yes 17) has scored 12 league goals and consistently produced quality down the left-hand side. Aleksandar Mitrovic getting off the mark in the 1-1 draw with Bristol City last time out will be pleasing too. The Serbian international – on loan from Newcastle – could be a real asset up front if he finds his form.

Wolves have been runaway leaders in the Championship for most of the season and seem destined for the Premier League. Their signings, including manager Nuno Santo Esprito, have just had too much quality and blown the opposition away.

Despite drawing their last two games, Wolves are still nine points clear with the end of the road coming closer. There are now just 13 matches left for the 13-point gap between themselves and third place (Villa) to be breached.

Seemingly like a foregone conclusion, now we can start enjoying the prospect of players such as Ruben Neves and Ivan Cavaleiro in the Premier League. One can be sure they will spend even more money to attempt to not just survive but thrive.

This fixture sees the two best attacking sides in the league go head-to-head. Wolves have (surprisingly) scored the most with 59, but Fulham have just four less (55) themselves. In fact, Wolves have scored 2+ in 18/33 games, with The Cottagers once again just four behind on that count.

What makes Wolves a superior side on top of their fearsome attack, is their defensive capabilities. No Championship team has more than the 18 clean sheets secured by Nuno’s side this year. By comparison, Fulham, despite their lofty league position, only have more league clean sheets than eight sides, with eight.

Craven Cottage will surely be rapturous in what is a fantastic opportunity for Fulham to showcase their promotion credentials. Cardiff have taken a foothold with recent form but the race for second place is still very much alive. Jokanovic’s side are eight points adrift of The Bluebirds so a victory here is vital to not lose touch.

Peter Bankes has been chosen to take charge of this vital match. The Englishman has given 70 yellow cards and two reds in his 20 Championship matches so far this term. This results in Bankes dishing out 41.8 average booking points per game.
However, both Fulham and Wolves haven’t drawn too much action from referees this season. The two clubs are 15th and 20th (18.9 and 16.9 respectively) in terms of average booking points received per game.

Surely this means the real action will be happening on the pitch and what a fire-cracker of a game is in store for Saturday evening. One that means so much to the top of the Championship in the race for the Premier League.

Prediction – Fulham 2-1 Wolves

Fulham’s home form will help them capitalise on recent stutters by Wolves and be enough to claim a huge win.

Suggested tips– Fulham vs Wolves – (BET365):

  • Correct score,  Fulham to win 2-1 – (link no longer available)

Suggested tips – Fulham vs Wolves – (SKYBET):

  • RequestABet Specials upto 10/1 – BTTS, 4+ corners each team and 20+ booking points each team – 8/1

Odds and markets last updated on February 23 February 2018 @17:00 GMT.

More markets will be added over the weekend prior to the game kicking off tomorrow. Keep visiting the tips and preview area for further updates and betting previews for this weekend’s fixtures.

 

Leeds vs Derby – Match Preview

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Leeds vs Derby
Wednesday 21st February, Elland Road
Sky Bet Championship

Sky Sports 1 – 19:45 Kick-Off

 

Leeds vs Derby – new Leeds manager Paul Heckingbottom is searching for his first win against promotion-chasing Derby County at Elland Road.

The Whites’ troubles have taken them completely away from the play-off race. Now in 11th, Leeds are eight points away from their last opponents, Bristol City, in 6th.

A winless run stretching back all the way to Boxing Day (nine games) saw the end of Thomas Christiansen’s spell in charge. Six defeats in those nine games see Leeds needing somewhat of a dramatic turnaround to salvage what was a seemingly promising campaign.

Derby’s fantastic unbeaten streak of 12 games finally came to an end against Sheffield Wednesday last time out. The criticism that can be had is that Gary Rowett’s side pick up way too many draws. They’ve drawn three of the last five and dropped out of the coveted automatic promotion spots. The Rams are now in 4th, one point behind Aston Villa and three points behind Cardiff City.

This leaves the match will plenty to play for, as Leeds are still within an outside chance of making the play-offs. Derby meanwhile will hope to put the disappointment of defeat against Wednesday behind them and make a real charge for the top two in the final stages of the season.

The game is likely to be tense and tight as a result of this. Looking at the two team’s defensive records it would suggest the same. Derby’s 16 clean sheets can only be bettered by league leaders Wolves, whilst Leeds themselves have kept 12.

The Championship’s leading scorer Matej Vydra could once again be the difference. The Czech forward has 17 goals in 28 appearances and has seemed to once again find the form that helped Watford get promoted a couple of seasons ago.

The referee for this one is Keith Stroud and he could have his work cut out for him. Of the 32 officials to take charge of a Championship game this year the Englishman gives out the joint-fifth highest average booking points (with 47.2).

Leeds have picked up an astonishing six red cards so far this term. In addition to their 60 yellow cards this gives Leeds the division’s second-highest average booking points per game with 23.4. By contrast, Derby have the third-best disciplinary record in the league. The Rams have not been awarded a single red card, and with their 50 yellows have an average of just 15.4 booking points per match.

Prediction: Leeds 1-1 Derby County

An expectant atmosphere at Elland Road will be difficult for Derby to manoeuvre but their resilience will see them come away from Yorkshire with a point.

Leeds vs Derby County will be televised live in the UK on Sky Sports from 19:30PM.

Suggested tips – Leeds vs Derby – (BET365):

  • Correct Score 1-1 – (link no longer available)
  • Anytime Goalscorer – Matej Vydra – (link no longer available)
  • BTTS – Yes – (link no longer available)

Suggested tips – Leeds vs Derby – (SKYBET):

  • RequestABets Specials up to 10/1 – Leeds vs Derby – BTTS, 4+ Corners Each Team and 20+ Booking Points Each Team – 15/2
  • Popular RequestABets – Michel Lasogga to score a header and Vydra to score from outside the area – 125/1
  • Both Players to Score – Lasogga and Vydra – 6/1
  • RequestABet 33/1 to 66/1 – Derby to win, BTTS, 12+ match corners and 30+ Derby booking points – 33/1
  • RequestABet 33/1 to 66/1 – Saiz to score, Draw, 8+ match corners, Johnson to be carded and 40+ match booking points – 40/1

Odds and markets last updated on February 21 February 2018 @18:50 GMT.

More markets will be added over the weekend prior to the game kicking off this evening. Keep visiting the tips and preview area for further updates and previews for the remainder of this weeks fixtures.