All articles by: Thomas Mcgrath

Aston Villa vs Leicester City – Match Preview

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Aston Villa vs Leicester City
Sunday 8th December 2019
FA Premier League, Villa Park

Live on Sky Sports Premier League HD – Kick Off: 14:00 GMT

Aston Villa return to Villa Park this weekend as they host high-flyers Leicester City in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon.

Dean Smith’s side suffered midweek defeat to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, but will be hoping for more this time round against the divisions in-form team.

Prior to the loss against Chelsea, Villa had picked up four points from their last two encounters, drawing away to Manchester United before their triumph over Newcastle United at Villa Park. Villa are currently placed 15th in the league.

Leicester picked up another win in midweek, overcoming Watford 2-0 at the King Power on Wednesday night, their seventh consecutive win in the Premier League. Brendan Rodger’s side are currently 2nd, eight points behind leaders Liverpool, but three ahead of Manchester City. The Foxes are daring to dream again.

Leicester’s impressive run has seen an outstanding goal return from frontman Jamie Vardy. Vardy has scored in each of his last seven games and will be hoping to do so again this weekend. The Englishman is on track to reach his own Premier League milestone, which he set back in the 2016/17 season, where he scored in eleven consecutive matches. Could lightning strike twice?

Sunday’s meeting between the two sides is their first since the 2015/16 Premier League season where Leicester were crowned Champions. The last meeting between the two sides was a 1-1 draw at Villa Park, but the Foxes were victorious at the King Power that season, winning 3-2 in a thriller.

The referee for this encounter is Michael Oliver. The 34-year old has overseen thirteen Premier League matches so far this campaign, accumulating a total of forty yellow cards. This considered I would recommend a maximum of 50+ booking points for this fixture. Oliver is yet to take charge of a Premier League game involving Leicester but did oversee Aston Villa’s 2-0 home win over Everton in August, where he awarded five yellow cards.

This match will be shown live on Sky Sports Premier League, with kick-off scheduled for 14:00 GMT on Sunday afternoon.

Prediction: Aston Villa 1-2 Leicester City

Suggested Tips – Aston Villa vs Leicester City – (BET 365)

  • Correct Score – Leicester City to win 2-1 – (link no longer available).
  • First Goalscorer – Ayoze Perez – (link no longer available).
  • Half Time / Full Time – Draw/Leicester – (link no longer available).

Suggested Tips – Aston Villa vs Leicester City – (SKYBET)

  • Correct Score Group Betting – Leicester City to win 1-0, 2-0 or 2-1 – 9/4.
  • Winning Margin – Leicester City to win by exactly 1 goal – 3/1.
  • Goalscorer Treble – Ayoze Perez, Trezeguet and Jamie Vardy all to score – 30/1.

Markets updated at 12:45PM GMT on Sunday 8th December 2019.

Everton vs Chelsea – Match Preview

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Everton vs Chelsea
Saturday 7th December 2019
FA Premier League, Goodison Park

Live on BT Sport 1 – Kick Off: 12:30 GMT

Everton return to Goodison Park on Saturday lunchtime as they host Chelsea in the Premier League.

The Toffee’s will be hoping to bounce back from their midweek Merseyside Derby annihilation at the hands of bitter local rivals Liverpool. Marco Silva’s side were well beaten 5-2 at Anfield, and has left the Portuguese’s job hanging precariously in the balance.

Chelsea meanwhile responded well from their surprise defeat to West Ham last Saturday, with a midweek win over Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea were boosted by the return of forward Tammy Abraham, who added to his tally on Wednesday; the Englishmen is now on eleven goals so far this season.

Marco Silva’s side slipped into the relegation zone following Wednesday night’s defeat, which has made the prospect of his dismissal seem inevitable. Everton have won one of their last six, losing four and drawing two. The defeat to Liverpool was their third on the bounce.

Out of the seven matches have played away from Stamford Bridge this season, Tammy Abraham has scored six goals, including his hat-trick at Molineux in September. SkyBet are offering odds of Abraham to score first this weekend at 3/1.

Everton are unbeaten in their last three meetings against Chelsea, and picked up a 2-0 win at Goodison Park in this fixture last season. Chelsea haven’t beaten the Toffee’s since October 2017, but considering the contrasting form of these two sides, Chelsea will be expecting to claim all three points.

The referee for this fixture is Craig Pawson. The 40-year old has taken charge of eight Premier League matches this season, awarding twenty-nine yellow cards and one red card in these fixtures. This considered I would recommend a minimum of 20+ booking points for this fixture. Pawson is yet to take charge of a Premier League match concerning these two sides.

This match will be shown live on BT Sport, with kick-off scheduled for 12:30 GMT on Saturday lunchtime.

Prediction: Everton 1-3 Chelsea

Suggested Tips – Everton vs Chelsea – (BET 365)

  • Correct Score – Chelsea 3-1 – (link no longer available).
  • Half Time / Full Time – Chelsea / Chelsea – (link no longer available).
  • First Goalscorer – Christian Pulisic – (link no longer available).

Suggested Tips – Everton vs Chelsean- (SKYBET)

  • Correct Score Group Betting – Chelsea to win 3-0, 3-1, or 3-2 – 11/2.
  • To Score in Both Halves – Chelsea – 7/4.
  • @FootyAccums RequestABet – Chelsea to score 2+ Goals, 3+ corners each team and 20 + Everton Booking Pts – 11/4.
  • To Score in both Halves – Chelsea – 13/8.
  • To Score a brace – Tammy Abraham – 9/2.
  • Player Offsides – Dominic Calvert-Lewin 2+ offsides – 9/2.
  • Popular Player Stat RequestABets – Abraham to score a header and Sigurdsson to score from outside the area – 125/1.

Millwall vs Nottingham Forest – Match preview

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Millwall vs Nottingham Forest
Friday 6th December 2019
The Championship,The Den

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

Friday night football returns to the Championship this week as Millwall welcome Nottingham Forest to the Den.

The Lions will be looking to return to winning ways following two consecutive stalemates, most recently the 1-1 draw away to Birmingham.

Since Garry Rowett’s arrival to east London in October, Millwall have established solidarity which has seen them surge up the table. Out of the seven matches Rowett has overseen, Millwall have lost only one; compare that to the twelve matches prior, Millwall had lost four. Millwall have picked up eleven points out of a possible twenty-one on offer since Rowett’s arrival.

Their opponents Nottingham Forest will themselves will be looking to claim a win, after failing to do so in their most recent game at home to Cardiff. Last Saturday’s defeat to the Bluebirds was their fourth defeat of the season, but alarmingly, their third at home. Sabri Lamouchi will be expecting his side to improve their home form if they are to turn their promotion dreams into a reality.

Prior to the defeat to Neil Warnock’s side, Forest were unbeaten in their previous four; winning three and drawing the other.

Millwall will be hoping to continue their strong recent form against Forest with another win on Friday evening. The Lions are unbeaten in their last three against this week’s opponents, winning two.

The reverse fixture last season at the Den saw Millwall claim all three points thanks to Ryan Tunnicliffe’s early winner. SkyBet are offering odds of a repeat scoreline at 6/1.

The referee for this fixture is John Brooks. The 29-year old has taken charge of ten Championship matches this season, accumulating a total of thirty-two yellow cards. This considered, I would recommend a minimum of 20+ booking points. Brooks is yet to oversee a game including Nottingham Forest, but took charge of Millwall’s 1-1 draw with Middlesbrough, where he awarded two yellow cards.

This match will be shown live on Sky Sports Football, with kick-off scheduled to take place at 19:45 GMT.

Prediction: Millwall 1-1 Nottingham Forest

Suggested Tips – Millwall vs Nottingham Forest – (BET 365)

  • Correct Score – 1-1 Draw – (link no longer available).
  • First Goalscorer – Lewis Grabban – (link no longer available).
  • Half Time / Full Time – Nottingham Forest / Draw – (link no longer available).

Suggested Tips – Millwall vs Nottingham Forest – (SKYBET)

  • Correct Score Group Betting – Draw 1-1, 2-2, or 3-3 – 10/3.
  • Player to score a header – Matt Smith – 5/1.
  • Price Boost – Jon Dadi Bodvarsson and Matt Smith both to score – 10/1.
  • Match Specials – Nottingham Forest to score in first 10 minutes – 8/1.

Markets last updated at 10:37 GMT on Friday 6th December 2019.