All articles by: Jools Jordan-Probert

Burton Albion vs Nottingham Forest – Match Preview

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Burton Albion vs Nottingham Forest
Tuesday 30th October 2018
Carabao Cup, Fourth Round, Pirelli Stadium

Live on Sky Sports Football – Kick-Off: 19:45 GMT

The East Midlands do battle as Burton Albion host Nottingham Forest in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup.

Nigel Clough scored 131 goals for Forest, being their second highest goal scorer in history, but he leads his Burton Albion side against the team his father made history with.

The Brewers have already beaten Premier League Burnley and Aston Villa to get to this stage, and the cup run has been exciting the fans. This game will only intensify that excitement. Burton Albion would love to get one over on Notts Forest.

After extending beyond their means in the Championship, where Burton did exceptionally well to survive for one year, League One is proving a difficult task. They are 16th, only winning two of the last seven matches. Perilously close to the relegation zone with just points separating.

Aitor Karanka’s Forest are faring much better. 7th, and just two points away from the play-off places, Forest fans are dreaming of what could be. Forest have only lost one of the last nine games, earning a 1-1 draw at second-placed Leeds last time out.

The Reds have beaten Bury, Premier League Newcastle United and Stoke City to get to this point. A cup run would equally mean a lot to the of-recent deprived fans of the club.

Both sides will be quite desperate to win this one, dreaming of potentially facing a massive team should they progress. As cup ties go, this will be a tasty affair.

Andy Davies is the man in the middle. This will be his 19th game of the season, racking up a rather large 70 yellow cards and two reds this term.

Burton Albion vs Nottingham Forest will be televised on Sky Sports Football HD and will kick off at 19:45.

Prediction – Burton Albion 1-2 Nottingham Forest

Suggested tips – Burton Albion vs Nottingham Forest – (SKYBET):

  • Correct Score – Nottingham Forest win 2-1 – 8/1.
  • First Goalscorer – Lewis Grabban – 5/1.
  • Price Boost – Correct Score – Nottingham Forest win 3-1 – 20/1.

Odds and markets last updated on Tuesday 30th October 2018 @13:02 GMT.

Remember to keep visiting the tips and preview area for further updates and betting previews around this weeks televised Premier league and SkyBet Championship matches.

Middlesbrough vs Derby County – Match Preview

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Middlesbrough vs Derby County
Saturday 27th October 2018
SkyBet Championship, Hillsborough

Live on Sky Sports Football – Kick-Off: 12:30 GMT

Middlesbrough vs Derby County – In attempting to cap off a magnificent week for Derby, Frank Lampard’s side travel to second place Middlesbrough.

This promises to be the most tantalising fixture of the matchday. Also, the third in a line of battling promotion rivals, Derby come into this match off the back of two excellent results. The first of which was a 2-1 home victory against Sheffield United, courtesy of goals from Craig Bryson (after 19 seconds) and Jack Marriott.

Derby’s last result is the real one to shout about though, demolishing West Brom 4-1 at The Hawthorns. Such is the optimism Lampard has brought to the club, the manager still said his team could have done better.

A triumph over Manchester United in the Carabao Cup and a glittering tie against former club Chelsea in the offering in the next round, The Rams have only lost four of the 17 games under Lampard’s guidance. As such, Derby are heavily fancied to be in the mix come the end of the season.

Middlesbrough can better that previous statistic, however, only losing twice all season, and just the one time at home. That was in a 2-0 defeat to Derby’s East Midlands rivals Nottingham Forest at the beginning of the month.

Tony Pulis will probably be somewhat pleased but not overjoyed with his side’s start to the season. Always at the top end of the table, Boro have failed to capitalise on neighbouring team’s incapability to string a run together by being inconsistent themselves. Three wins from the last nine league games does not scream automatic promotion credentials.

That is still where the Teesiders currently reside, though. Level on points with top-of-the-table Leeds and third-placed Sheffield United, Boro are second via goal difference. Derby currently sit in fifth and are one of three teams, alongside West Brom and Norwich City, that are just two points afield.

A clash of styles could be at hand, which will not come as a surprise to anyone familiar with Tony Pulis teams. The Welshman has characteristically set out his side to be organised, boasting the division’s best defence. Only seven goals conceded in 14 matches and eight clean sheets is an outstanding record. With Derby conceding in their last six away matches, a classic Pulis 1-0 performance could be at hand.

A total of just 16 goals (only five teams have scored less), is clearly what has prevented Boro from nailing down top spot. Which is unequivocally the ambition for the season, as Pulis wouldn’t have been recruited for anything else.

Derby harbour their own ambitions to reach the Premier League and have done for some time. Backing Lampard in the transfer market, the board seem in unison with the club and the fans. Optimism rings around Pride Park but this game, at the Riverside, will be the truest of indicators as to whether Derby are one of the division’s best teams.

The referee for this vital clash will be Peter Bankes, who already has some history with Derby this season. The Englishman sent off Tom Lawrence before giving Lampard his marching orders too in a bizarre game. In total Bankes has dished out 61 yellows and two reds already in his fourteen matches this season.

Middlesbrough vs Derby County will be televised live in the UK on Sky Sports Football with kick off at 12:30

Prediction: – Middlesbrough 1-1 Derby County 

Suggested Tips – Middlesbrough vs Derby County – (BET365):

  • Correct score: draw 1-1 – (link no longer available).

Suggested Tips – Middlesbrough vs Derby County – (SKYBET):

  • Price Boost – Harry Wilson to score outside the penalty area – 18/1.
  • Full Time Result and BTTS – Derby to win and BTTS – 8/1.
  • Popular RequestABets – Flint & Ayala to score a header – 125/1.

Odds and markets last updated on Saturday 27th October @10:00 GMT. Keep checking back to see if there’s any updates to markets – the time stamp in the previous sentence for when we update tips on this page will be updated.

Remember to keep visiting the tips and preview area for further updates and betting previews around this weekends other domestic games.

Chelsea vs BATE Borisov – Match Preview

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Chelsea vs BATE Borisov
Thursday 25th October 2018, Stamford Bridge
UEFA Europa League – Group L Qualifier 

BT Sport 2 – 20:00 GMT.

Chelsea vs BATE Borisov – Chelsea continue their search for the Europa League title as they host Belarusian Champions BATE Borisov on matchday three.

With both previous matches in this competition ending 1-0 to Chelsea, they still are yet to overwhelm the inferior opposition. Controlling performances have not yet translated to goals, despite obtaining maximum points and sitting atop Group L. Victory will put Chelsea in a commanding and what will surely be an unassailable position to progress.

Mauricio Sarri’s side have generally been very good this term, remaining undefeated in all competitions and only sit two points away from Liverpool and leaders Manchester City in the Premier League. That unbeaten record was put to the test by Manchester United last time out, salvaging a 2-2 draw with an injury time Ross Barkley equaliser.

That is to take nothing away from the often-scintillating football played under Sarri so far, namely in the form of Eden Hazard. The Belgian superstar tops the league’s scoring charts with seven, but will likely be rested here. An opportunity for another of the attackers, Willian perhaps, to prove his worth.

With the resurgence of Arsenal, who are on a ten-match winning streak, and the renewed consistency of Tottenham Hotspur, both of who are behind Chelsea in the league just on goal difference, any form of complacency could result in The Blues slipping out of the top four. That could seriously elevate the importance of the Europa League’s prize, a place in the Champions League. Such a requirement would represent a failure of Chelsea’s season, however. A European trophy is nothing to be sniffed at though. Just look at the elation of winning this competition in 2013.

BATE Borisov should prove to be easy opposition, especially against the quality of a team like Chelsea. However, it can be troublesome to play a team in the thick of the season, who are up to full speed. BATE have won the last 12, yes 12, Belarusian Premier League’s and look set to make it a lucky 13.

Alyaksey Baha’s side are nine points clear of nearest challengers Shakytor with six games left. Special mention must go to ex-Arsenal and Barcelona playmaker Aliaksandr Hleb, not always a starter these days, returning to London for this clash.

The man in the middle will be Italian referee Paolo Mazzoleni. This will be Mazzoleni’s seventh game of the season and his second in this year’s Europa League. A modest total of just 19 yellow cards precedes him, however seven were given in his only other Europa League match so far, Leverkusen v Ludogrets, which ended 3-2 to the German side.

Chelsea vs BATE Borisov will be televised live in the UK on BT Sport 2 with kick-off at 20:00 GMT.

Prediction – Chelsea 3-0 BATE Borisov 

Suggested Tips – Chelsea vs BATE Borisov – (BET365)

  • Correct score: Chelsea to win 3-0 – (link no longer available).
  • First Goalscorer – Oliver Giroud – (link no longer available).

Suggested Tips – Chelsea vs BATE Borisov – (SKYBET)

  • RequestABet 33/1 to 66/1 – Giroud to score 2+ goals and Chelsea 3-0 – 40/1.
  • RequestABet 33/1 to 66/1 –  Fabregas, Giroud & Willian 2+ shots on target each and Stasevich 1+ shots on target – 66/1.
  • RequestABet – Willian to score in 90 minutes and Chelsea to win 3-0 – To Be Priced by Sky Bet RequestABet Team.

Odds and markets last updated on Thursday 25th October 2018 @17:04 GMT. Keep checking back to see if there’s any updates to markets – the time stamp in the previous sentence for when we update tips on this page will be updated.

Remember to keep visiting the tips and preview area for further updates and betting previews around this weekend domestic action.

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