All articles by: Thomas Mcgrath

Swansea City vs QPR – Match Preview

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Swansea City vs QPR
Tuesday 11th February 2020
SkyBet Championship, The Liberty Stadium

Live on Sky Sports Main Event – Kick-off: 19:45 GMT.

Swansea City host QPR for the latest instalment of midweek SkyBet Championship action.

Both sides will be grateful for another game in such quick succession following defeats in their last Championship affairs. Swansea were defeated 3-2 on home soil to Derby County, a result made even more disappointing considering it was only the Rams’ second away win of the season. QPR were defeated 2-0 away to Huddersfield; a result which enhanced the Terriers’ chances of survival.

Steve Cooper’s sides’ inconsistency has been present in recent weeks, and his side have failed to win in their last four outings. The Swans’ disappointing form has seen them drop out of the play-off places, and in turn have been replaced by rivals Cardiff City. Swansea sit 9th, behind the Bluebirds on goal difference.

QPR’s form since the turn of the year has been abysmal to say the least, and it’s seen them plummet down the table where they now sit 17th. Mark Warbuton’s side haven’t won since New Years Day, and have lost their last five consecutive matches in the Championship.

QPR’s last win incidentally came against this weeks’ opponents in the FA Cup. Swansea were dismantled that night and shipped five goals at Loftus Road in a 5-1 defeat.

Liverpool loanee Rhian Brewster has enjoyed a relatively good start to his Swansea career, and has scored twice in four matches. SkyBet are offering odds of 6/4 for the England youngster to find the back of the net on Tuesday evening.

Andy Woolmer is the referee for this encounter, and he has been a very lenient official this season, averaging under three yellow cards per match. This considered, I would recommend a maximum of 40+ booking points for this encounter.

Woolmer has taken charge of matches involving these two sides this season (one each) and has awarded a total of nine yellow cards in these two respective games.

Swansea City vs QPR will be televised live in the UK on Sky Sports Football with kick-off at 19:45 GMT.

Prediction: Swansea City 1-0 QPR

Suggested Tips – Swansea City vs QPR – (BET 365)

  • Correct Score – Swansea City to Win 1-0 – (link no longer available).
  • First Goalscorer – Rhian Brewster – (link no longer available).

Suggested Tips – Swansea City vs QPR – (SKYBET)

  • Correct Score Group Betting – Swansea City 1-0, 2-0 or 2-1 – 9/4.

Markets last updated at 18:45 on Tuesday 11th February 2020.

Sheffield United vs Bournemouth – Match Preview

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Sheffield United vs Bournemouth
Sunday 9th February 2020
FA Premier League, Bramall Lane

Live on BT Sport 1 – Kick-off: 14:00 GMT.

Sheffield United return to home soil this weekend as they welcome Bournemouth to Bramall Lane on Sunday afternoon.

Both sides will be keen to build on victories in their last league encounters. Bournemouth picked up a crucial win over fellow strugglers Aston Villa, meanwhile Sheffield United defeated Crystal Palace 1-0 at Selhurst Park.

Eddie Howe’s saw his side claim back-to-back wins for only the second time this season. Before their wins, the Cherries had lost four in a row, conceding ten and scoring none. Their most recent win moved them out of the relegation zone and up to 16th, two points clear of the drop zone.

Sheffield United on the other hand are flourishing in their first season back in the top flight following a nine-year absence. The Blades are sitting pretty in 6th place, and a win this weekend would see them leapfrog Spurs into 5th position. Chris Wilder’s side have lost one of their last six in all competitions, and in that time secured a place in the fifth round of the FA Cup. Had it not been for Liverpool’s and Manager Jurgen Klopp’s brilliance this season, Chris Wilder would surely be in pole position to scoop the manager of the season award.

These two sides met on the opening day and played out a 1-1 draw at the Vitality stadium. Billy Sharp’s last-minute equaliser sent the travelling Blades into ecstasy on that day, and kick-started their dream return to life in England’s top-flight.

In the sixteen meetings on record between these two sides, Sheffield United have lost once, winning ten and drawing five. The stalemate back in August ended a 22-year unbeaten run for the Blades in this fixture. Bournemouth’s only win on record in this fixture came in August 1987.

The referee for this encounter is John Moss. The 49-year old has been one of the more lenient referees this season, averaging just over three yellow cards per match in the Premier League. Moss has however awarded two red cards this season. This considered, I would recommend a maximum of 40+ booking points for this fixture.

Sheffield United vs Bournemouth will be televised live in the UK on BT Sport 1 HD with kick-off at 14:00 GMT.

Prediction: Sheffield United 2-1 Bournemouth

Suggested Tips – Sheffield United vs Bournemouth – (BET 365)

  • Correct Score – Sheffield United 2-1 –(link no longer available).
  • First Goalscorer – Lys Mousset – (link no longer available).
  • Player to be booked – John Fleck – (link no longer available).

Suggested Tips – Sheffield United vs Bournemouth – (SKYBET)

  • Correct Score Group Betting – Sheffield United to win 1-0, 2-0 or 2-1 – 6/4.

Markets last updated at 10:35AM on Saturday 8th February 2020.

Nottingham Forest vs Leeds United – Match Preview

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Nottingham Forest vs Leeds United
Saturday 8th February 2020
SkyBet Championship, The City Ground.

Live on Sky Sports Football – Kick-off: 17:30PM GMT.

Nottingham Forest return the City ground this weekend as they host automatic promotion hopefuls Leeds United on Saturday evening.

Both sides will be keen to return to the field and put things right, following disappointing defeats in their most recent Championship encounters. Forest were defeated 2-1 away to Birmingham City, meanwhile Leeds suffered a surprise defeat at the hands of Wigan Athletic; a result which could heap pressure on their bid to return to the Premier League.

Leeds United are threatening to follow a similar pattern in the seasons previous where they have looked odds on for promotion, by dropping silly points and losing games in quick succession, which has ultimately cost them promotion to the top-flight. Marcelo Bielsa’s side have lost three of their last four league outings, which has seen West Brom leapfrog them and take top spot. United are 2nd, one point behind the Baggies.

Nottingham Forest themselves have promotion aspirations of their own, and currently sit 4th in the league. Boss Sabri Lamouchi picked up the manager of the month award for January, but that achievement won’t compare to a return to the Premier League in his first season at Forest. Focus is firmly on firstly securing their play-off status, but a run of wins could easily see them return to the automatic promotion places, where they featured in at the beginning of the season. Forest’s defeat to Birmingham was their first of 2020, and before that they has strung together a seven-match unbeaten run, which propelled them into the thick of the play-off places. A win on Saturday evening would be the perfect response.

Joe Lolley has scored three goals in his last four matches for Forest, and SkyBet are offering odds of 7/2 for the forward to score anytime on Saturday.

Both sides played out a 1-1 draw in their meeting in August, but it’s Leeds who possess the better recent record in this fixture. United have lost of the last six meetings between the two, winning two and drawing three.

The referee for this encounter is Oliver Langford. The Englishman has been one of the more lenient referees this season, and has averaged under four yellow cards per match. Considering what’s at stake in the race for promotion to the Premier League, I would recommend a minimum of 40+ booking points for this fixture.

Nottingham Forest vs Leeds United will be televised live in the UK on Sky Sports Football with kick-off at 17:30 GMT.

Prediction: Nottingham Forest 2-2 Leeds United

Suggested Tips – Nottingham Forest vs Leeds United – (BET 365)

  • Correct Score – Draw 2-2 – (link no longer available).
  • First Goalscorer – Patrick Bamford – (link no longer available).

Suggested Tips – Nottingham Forest vs Leeds United – (SKYBET)

  • Correct Score Group Betting – Draw 1-1, 2-2 or 3-3 – 10/3.

Markets last updated at 10:45AM on Saturday 8th February 2020.