All articles by: Thomas Mcgrath

Cardiff City vs Bristol City – Match Preview

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Cardiff City vs Bristol City
Sunday 10th November 2019
The Championship, Cardiff City Stadium

Live on Sky Sports Football HD – Kick Off: 12:00 GMT

Cardiff City return to The Cardiff City stadium this weekend as they welcome the arrival of Bristol City in the Championship on Sunday.

The Bluebirds will be eager to secure back to back wins following their thrilling 4-2 win over Birmingham City last time round. Joe Ralls struck a hat-trick in the win, which included two penalties. Cardiff however will be without forward Danny Ward, who missed out following his red card in the win over Birmingham.

Bristol City were involved in an entertaining clash last time round. They were held 2-2 as Ashton Gate, and had thought they had done enough for the three points, but for Cauley Woodrow to strike deep into injury time for a share of the spoils, 2-2.

Neil Warnock’s side needed that win over Birmingham, having gone four games without a win prior. Their last win came on the 2nd of October, over a month ago. The Bluebirds however do boast an impressive home record thus far, and are unbeaten on home soil, winning five and drawing two.

Lee Johnson’s Bristol City side find themselves yet again in the play-off mix, and only three points off the automatic places. City are unbeaten in their last three and have lost once in their last fourteen championship matches, a defeat which came away to Luton, losing 3-0. That defeat to Luton is City’s only away defeat of the campaign, and Johnson’s side have shown tremendous consistency and resilience both home and away this season.

Sunday’s clash is the first meeting between the two since 2018 following Cardiff’s relegation from the Premier League in May. It is in fact the Bluebirds who have the better recent record between the two and have won five of the last seven meetings. Bristol; City are without a win against Sunday’s opponents since 2012. Bogey team.

The man in the middle for this clash is Tony Harrington. Harrington has overseen nine Championship matches so far this season, awarding twenty yellow cards, which is just over two per game. this considered, I would recommend a minimum of 20+ booking points for this encounter. Harrington is yet to take charge of a game including Cardiff this season, but did oversee Bristol City’s 0-0 draw with Swansea, where he awarded two yellow cards.

This match will be shown live on Sky Sports Football, with kick off scheduled to take place at 12:00 GMT on Sunday Lunchtime.

Prediction: Cardiff City 1-2 Bristol City

Suggested Tips – Cardiff City vs Bristol City – (BET 365)

  • Correct score – Bristol City to win 2-1 – (link no longer available).
  • First Goalscorer – Marley Watkins – (link no longer available).
  • Bristol City to Win – (link no longer available)

Suggested Tips – Cardiff City vs Bristol City – (SKYBET)

  • Correct Score Group Betting – Bristol City 1-0, 2-0, or 2-1 – 7/2.
  • West Brom Price Boost – Bristol City to win and BTTS – 6/1.
  • To Score and Win – Andreas Weimann – 4/1.

Markets last updated on Saturday 9th November at 18:24 GMT.

Nottingham Forest vs Derby County – Match Preview

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Nottingham Forest vs Derby County
Saturday 9th November 2019
The Championship, City Ground

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

Nottingham Forest return to the City Ground this weekend as they host Derby County in the SkyBet Championship.

It’s the first East Midlands clash of the season in the Championship this season between the two, with so much more than just three points on the line.

Forest enter Saturday’s clash in a mixed run of form following their bright start to the season. Sabri Lamouchi’s side have lost twice in their last three, which has seen them vacate top spot and slide down to 5th place. Forest did last time round however, they defeated Luton 2-1 at Kenilworth Road, which was a welcomed three points following back to back defeats for the first time this season.

The visitors Derby have seemed to have weathered their early season storm, with off field antics threatening to spiral out of control and impact their season. Philip Cocu’s side won 2-0 at home to Middlesbrough last time round, thanks to a double from Tom Lawrence. If Cocu’s Derby County are to gain any success this season, then they need to work and work hard on fixing their away form. The Rams have won once away from Pride Park this season, and that victory came on the opening day in the 2-1 win at Huddersfield. Since then, Derby have picked up six out of a possible twenty-one points on the road- a statistic which makes grim viewing for any Derby fan.

The only saving grace so far this season for Derby has been their home form. The Rams are unbeaten in their last six at home, drawing two and winning their last four consecutive home outings.

Forest are currently 5th in the division, meanwhile Derby find themselves down in 15th. Despite ten places between the two Midland’s rivals, there is only four points separating the two, meaning that a win for Derby would likely propel them up the table, and only one point behind Forest. This season’s Championship has followed the mould of the majority which have come before, extremely tight and competitive for places; which is always the case.

If recent form between the two is a contributing factor heading into this clash, then it’s exciting reading for all Forest fans. Lamouchi’s side already have one over Derby this season, following their 3-0 League cup triumph earlier this season. Forest have won the last two meetings. For Derby, well they’re without a win in over two years against Forest in over two years and haven’t taken all three points from the City ground since 2012.

The referee for this weekend’s clash is Darren England. England has taken charge of seven championship matches so far this season, accumulating a total of twenty-three yellow cards. This considered, as well as the fierce rivalry between the two, I would recommend a minimum of 30+ booking points. England took charge of Forest’s opening day defeat to West Brom where he awarded one yellow card and oversaw Derby’s 1-1 home draw with Cardiff where he gave out four yellows.

Nottingham Forest vs Derby County will be shown live on Sky Sports Football, with kick off scheduled to take place at 12:30 GMT Saturday lunchtime.

Prediction: Nottingham Forest 2-1 Derby County

Suggested Tips – Nottingham Forest vs Derby County – (BET 365)

  • Correct score – Nottingham Forest to win 2-1 – (link no longer available).
  • First Goalscorer – Joe Lolly – (link no longer available).
  • Player to be booked – Scott Malone – (link no longer available).

Suggested Tips – Nottingham Forest vs Derby County  – (SKYBET)

  • Correct Score Group Betting – Nottingham Forest to win 1-0, 2-0 or 2-1 – 5/2.
  • Nottingham Forest Price Boost – Nottingham Forest to win and BTTS – Yes – 7/2.
  • RequestABet Specials 11/1 to 28/1 – Lolley and Grabban to score, Nottingham Forest to win and over 2.5 goals – 12/1.
  • RequestABet Specials up to 10/1 – BTTS + 20+ booking points each team – 2/1.

Markets last updated at 19:47 GMT on Friday 8th November 2019.

Norwich City vs Watford – Match Preview

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Norwich City vs Watford
Friday 8th November 2019
FA Premier League, Carrow Road

Live on Sky Sports Main Event – Kick Off: 20:00 GMT

Norwich City host Watford at Carrow Road in the latest instalment of Friday night Football in the Premier League.

The Canaries are without a win in their last six, with their last victory coming in the second week in September over last season’s Champions Manchester City. Daniel Farke’s side are experiencing somewhat of a Premier League reality check following the high of promotion, after their relatively positive opening to the season.

Their opponents Watford, to put it bluntly, haven’t really started this season what so ever- and are the only team in the Premier League, and the Football League yet to register a win so far this season. There has already been a change in the dugout at Vicarage Road this season which came less than a month into the season. Javi Gracia was axed after three consecutive league defeats, only four months after their FA Cup final defeat to Manchester City; their first final since the 1983/84 season.

Both sides come into this clash occupying 19th and 20th position in the League. Watford are at the foot of the table, unsurprisingly after their dismal start. Meanwhile Norwich have picked up only one point out of a possible 15.

Both sides have proved they have been no strangers to shipping goals, with a combined 49 goals conceded in 22 matches so far this season. Between the two they have kept a combination of three clean sheets in the 22 matches combined. (Watford 2, Norwich 1). This considered, BTTS is certainly a market worth exploring for this fixture.

Friday nights encounter is the first between the two sine the 2015/16 Premier League season. The Canaries will be hoping for a repeat result, as they ran out 4-2 winners at Carrow Road. In fact, it’s Norwich who have the far superior recent record between the two, and have won four of the last five against Watford.

The referee for this fixture is Andre Marriner. The 48-year old has overseen seven matches in the league this season, awarding fourteen yellow cards, and one card in these fixtures. This considered, I would recommend a minimum of 20+ booking points for this clash. Marriner is yet to take charge of a match concerning Norwich, but was the man in the middle for Watford 0-0 draw with Sheffield United at Vicarage Road.

Norwich City vs Watford will be televised live in the UK on Sky Sports Football with kick off at 20:00 GMT.

Prediction: Norwich City 2-2 Watford

First Goalscorer (SkyBet): Gerard Deulofeu – 11/2 

Suggested Tips – Norwich City vs Watford – (BET 365)

  • Correct score – Draw 2-2 – (link no longer available).
  • First Goalscorer – Gerard Deulofeu – (link no longer available).
  • Player to be carded – Tom Trybull – (link no longer available).

Suggested Tips – Norwich City vs Watford – (SKYBET)

  • Correct Score Group Betting- Draw 1-1, 2-2 or 3-3 – 2/1.
  • Scorecast Boost – Emiliano Buendia to score first and Norwich to win 2-1 – 100/1.
  • Price Boost – Teemu Pukki to score a brace – 13/2.
  • Player to score a header – Teemu Pukki – 16/1.

Markets updated at 03:05 AM on Friday 8th November 2019.