All articles by: Thomas Mcgrath

Reading vs QPR – Match Preview

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Reading vs QPR
Thursday 26th December 2019
The Championship, Madejski Stadium

Live on Sky Sports Football HD – Kick Off: 19:30 GMT

Reading return to the Madejski for the second time in a week when they welcome QPR for some Boxing Day Championship action.

The Royals will be hoping for another positive result to extend their unbeaten run in the Championship. Reading are unbeaten in their last three and have lost once in their last five league encounters.

QPR on the other hand were pegged back late on by Charlton Athletic in their last Championship affair. QPR led twice but had to settle for a share of the spoils thanks to Mouhamadou Sarr’s 95th minute leveller. Mark Warbuton’s side are without a win in their last two matches and will be hoping to put that right on Boxing Day.

Since Mark Bowen’s arrival at Reading, it’s no secret that their form has improved. Since Bowen’s introduction, the Royals have lost four, drawn three and won five. Before his arrival, Reading had only managed two wins in their opening eleven matches of the season.

These sides last locked horns at the end of October and played out an entertaining 2-2 draw. Sam Baldock struck a late equaliser for Reading to ensure a share of the spoils at Loftus Road. It’s QPR who have the superior recent record in this fixture and have lost once in the last nine. Reading’s last win came in this fixture came in March 2018.

The referee for this encounter is James Linington. The Englishman has taken charge of eleven Championship matches so far this season and has awarded thirty-eight yellow cards and three red cards in these fixtures. This considered, I would recommend a minimum of 30+ booking points for this clash. Linington took charge of Reading’s 3-1 defeat to Sheffield Wednesday in August, where he awarded three yellow cards and a red card to Wednesday’s Kieron Westwood. Linington has also been in charge of a game involving QPR too; their 2-1 defeat to Fulham in November where one yellow card was brandished.

This match will be shown live on Sky Sports Football, with kick-off scheduled to take place at 19:30 GMT on Boxing Day.

Prediction: Reading 1-1 QPR

Suggested Tips – Reading vs QPR – (BET 365)

  • Correct Score – Draw – 1-1 – (link no longer available).
  • First Goalscorer – George Puscas – (link no longer available).
  • Half-time/Full-time – QPR/Draw – (link no longer available).
  • Player to be booked – Andy Rinomhota to be carded – (link no longer available).

Suggested Tips – Reading vs QPR – (SKYBET)

  • Correct Score Group Betting – Draw – 1-1, 2-2 or 3-3 – 9/4.
  • Price Boost – Jordan Hugill to score a header – 11/1.

Bournemouth vs Arsenal – Match Preview

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Bournemouth vs Arsenal
Thursday 26th December 2019
FA Premier League, Vitality Stadium

Live on Amazon Prime – Kick Off: 15:00 GMT

Bournemouth return to the Vitality for the second time in a week when they welcome Arsenal in the Premier League for some Boxing Day action.

Thursday’s game will start a new era for the Gunners, following Mikel Arteta’s appointment as manager. Arteta succeeded fellow Spaniard Unai Emery who was sacked in November following a poor run of form.

New boss Arteta will be hoping to become the man to fill the managerial void left by Arsene Wenger, who left the club in 2018 after a 22-year stint.

Bournemouth will be keen to bounce back from their disappointing defeat to Burnley in their last Premier League encounter. Inconsistency has been Eddie Howe’s sides Achilles heel this season. Before last weekend’s defeat, Bournemouth beat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, a win which was expected to begin an upturn in form on the south-coast.

Arsenal too have suffered inconsistencies of their own this season, and Mikel Arteta’s primary objective will be to get the Gunners as high up the table as possible. Freddie Ljungberg’s final match in interim charge was a dull 0-0 draw to Everton.

The last time these two sides met Arsenal ran out 1-0 winners at the Emirates thanks to David Luiz’s 9th minute header. In fact, in the nine meetings between these two sides in their club’s history, Arsenal have won seven, and drawn once. Bournemouth’s only win in this fixture came in January 2018 where they won 2-1 at the Vitality. Eddie Howe’s side will be hoping or a similar outcome on Thursday.

The referee for this encounter is John Moss. The 49-year old has taken charge of 12 Premier League matches this season, accumulating a total of forty-five yellow cards. This considered, I would recommend a minimum of 30+ boking points for this fixture. Moss took charge of Arsenal’s 3-2 win over Aston Villa in September where he awarded eleven yellow cards. Moss is yet to oversee a match involving Bournemouth in the Premier League so far this campaign.

This match will be shown live on Amazon Prime Video, with kick-off scheduled to take place at 15:00 GMT on Boxing Day.

Prediction: Bournemouth 1-3 Arsenal

Suggested Tips – Bournemouth vs Arsenal – (BET 365)

  • Correct Score – Arsenal to win 3-1 – (link no longer available).
  • First Goalscorer – Nicholas Pepe – (link no longer available).
  • Half Time / Full Time – Arsenal / Arsenal – (link no longer available).

Suggested Tips – Bournemouth vs Arsenal – (SKYBET)

  • Correct Score Group Betting – Arsenal to win  3-0, 3-1, or 3-2 – 5/1.
  • Winning Margin – Arsenal to win by exactly two goals – 9/2.
  • Price Boost – Nicolas Pepe and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to score in 90 mins – 7/1.

Markets last updated on Thursday 26th December at 01:10 GMT.

Brentford vs Swansea City – Match Preview

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Brentford vs Swansea City
Thursday 26th December 2019
The Championship, Griffin Park

Live on Sky Sports Football HD – Kick Off: 15:00 GMT

Brentford return to Championship action on Boxing Day when they welcome Swansea City to Griffin Park.

Brentford sit sixth, meanwhile Swansea occupy seventh, with a point separating the two. Both sides will be wanting to land the knockout blow on Boxing Day.

The Bee’s will be hoping to build on their positive point away at leaders West Bromwich Albion last time round, a match in which they dominated for large parts and enjoyed more of the ball.

Thomas Frank’s side are in fine form, losing once in their last five.

Swansea too are on a fine run of form and have lost one in their last four. Andre Ayew’s late winner against Luton extended the Swans’ unbeaten run, and they will be hoping it continues over the Christmas period.

Brentford were 3-0 winners the last time these two met, a win which ended a phenomenal Swansea winning run in this fixture. Before Brentford’s win just over two months ago, Swansea were unbeaten in the last nine meetings, winning eight, a run which stretched back to March 2006.

A win for either side on Thursday will see them reach forty points, and if other results go in their favour, it could see them go as high as third.

Steve Cooper’s side have lost once on the road in the Championship this season, and SkyBet are offering odds of an away win at 17/4.

The referee for this fixture is Andy Woolmer. The 53-year old has taken charge of thirteen Championship matches this season, accumulating a total of thirty-eight yellow cards, and one red card. This considered I would recommend a minimum of 20+ booking points for this fixture. Woolmer has taken charge of Brentford twice so far this season; their 0-0 draw to Stoke in September where he awarded three yellow cards, and in their 1-0 defeat to QPR in October, where he also awarded three yellow cards. Woolmer has overseen a match involving Swansea once, their 1-1 draw with Barnsley, where two yellow cards were awarded.

This match will be shown live on Sky Sports Football, with kick-off scheduled to take place at 15:00 GMT on Boxing Day.

Prediction: Brentford 1-1 Swansea

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

  • Correct Score – Draw 1-1 – (link no longer available).
  • First Goalscorer – Ollie Watkins – (link no longer available).
  • Player to be Booked – Pontus Jansson – (link no longer available).
  • Half-time/Full-time – Draw/Draw – (link no longer available) .

Suggested Tips – Brentford vs Swansea City – (SKYBET)

  • Correct Score Group Betting – Draw 1-1, 2-2, or 3-3 – 4/1.
  • Popular RequestABet – Over 1.5 goals, 5+ Brentford corners, 3+ Swansea corners, and 10+ booking points each team – 9/4.
  • RequestABet Specials 11/1 to 28/1 – 5+ corners each team and 20+ booking points each team – 12/1.

Markets last updated at 00:57 GMT on Thursday 26th December 2019.