All articles by: Thomas Mcgrath

Brighton vs Tottenham Hotspur – Match Preview

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Brighton vs Tottenham Hotspur
Saturday 5th October 2019
FA Premier League, Amex Stadium

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

Tottenham Hotspur return to Premier League action this weekend as they travel to Brighton and Hove Albion on Saturday lunchtime.

Mauricio Pochettino’s side will be hoping there will be no lasting damage from their Champions League midweek mauling at the hands of Bayern Munich. Tottenham were defeated 7-2 on home soil on Matchday two of the Champions’ League group stage, the biggest ever margin of defeat by an English team at home in any European competition.

Graham Potter’s Brighton side are yet to taste victory since their opening day triumph over Watford. The Seagulls are without a league win in their last six league matches, and in that time have also been knocked out of the Carabao Cup, at the hands of Aston Villa.

Spurs currently sit 6th in the Premier League standings and claimed a much-needed win in the last round of fixtures, where they defeated Southampton 2-1. Inconsistency has been Spurs’ Achilles heel so far this season. They followed up the gritty, spirited 2-2 draw away to last seasons Champions Manchester city with a home defeat to Newcastle, and have failed to win any of their two CL group games.

Despite Spurs’ inconsistencies there has been one constant throughout, and that has been Harry Kane’s goalscoring return. Kane’s goal on Tuesday night means that the Englishman has scored eleven goals in his last eleven matches for club and country, which is quite the return. Kane has netted three times already this season and is priced at 14/5 on SkyBet to score first. Additionally, Harry Kane netted in this fixture last season.

Recent form between these two sides suggests Tottenham are heavy favourites to grab all three points. Spurs are unbeaten in their last six matches against Brighton, and the unbeaten run stretches way back to April 1983.

The referee for Saturday lunchtime’s encounter is Jonathan Moss. The 48-year old had taken charge of five Premier League matches already this season and has awarded 21 yellow cards and two red cards; an average of just over four yellow card per match. This considered, I would recommend a minimum of 30+ booking points for this fixture. Moss has yet to take charge of Spurs this season but did officiate Brighton’s 4-0 away defeat to Manchester City, where he awarded two yellow cards.

This match will be shown live on BT Sport 1 with kick off scheduled to take place at 12:30 BST on Saturday lunchtime.

Prediction: Brighton 0-2 Tottenham Hotspur.

Suggested tips – Brighton vs Tottenham Hotspur (BET365):

  • First Goalscorer – Son Heung-Min  – (link no longer available).
  • Correct score – Tottenham 2-0 – (link no longer available).

Suggested tips – Brighton vs Tottenham Hotspur (SKYBET):

  • Price Boosts – Son Heung-Min to score and Tottenham to win in 90 minutes – 7/2.
  • Correct Score Group Betting -Tottenham to win 1-0, 2-0, or 2-1 – 21/10.
  • 1st half player shots on target – Neal Maupay and Son Heung-Min to have 1+ shots on target in the first half – 9/2.
  • Scorecast Boost (Double Chance) – Christian Eriksen to score first and Tottenham to win 3-1 – 150/1.

Fulham vs Charlton Athletic – Match Preview

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Fulham vs Charlton Athletic
Saturday 5th October 2019
Sky Bet Championship, Craven Cottage

Live on Sky Sports Main Event – Kick Off: 12:30 BST

Fulham return to Craven Cottage this weekend as they face Charlton Athletic in the SkyBet Championship on Saturday lunchtime.

Both sides come into this weekend’s clash following contrasting midweek results in the Championship. Fulham were victorious away at Reading, winning 4-1, meanwhile Charlton were defeated 1-0 by league leaders Swansea City at the Valley.

As it’s always the case in the Championship, it is so very tight at both ends of the table already, but it’s the top half which these two sides will be most concerned about. Only four points separate Swansea City who sit top of the pile, and Charlton who find themselves in 8th, with the margin for error as minimal as ever.

Fulham have regained their focus following their slow start to this Championship campaign. Since the opening day defeat to Barnsley, Scott Parkers side are unbeaten in the league, and currently sit 5th, firmly in the thick of a constantly developing play-off battle, with a hatful sides believing this could be their year.

The last time these two sides faced each other was in November 2017, and it was Charlton who were victorious on the day, winning 3-2 in the Football League trophy. However, in the meetings beforehand it was the Cottagers who had the lions share of success, with a ten-match unbeaten run which stretched from 2005-2016. In three of the last four meetings between the two, BTTS has landed therefore this is a market I would recommend for this one.

If Charlton are to get a result this weekend, it looks like they are going to have to do so without their talisman, Lyle Taylor. The 29-year old has been side-lined since the beginning of September with a knee ligament injury and sat out Tuesday night’ defeat to Swansea. It’s a blow for the Addicks, as Taylor made a substantial contribution to their success of last season, scoring 24 goals in 42 appearances, as well as clinching the club’s player of the year award.

The man in charge of this fixture is Keith Stroud. The 50-year old has officiated three Championship matches so far this season, awarding seven yellow cards in the process. This considered, I would recommend a maximum of 40+ booking points for this fixture.

This match will be shown live on Sky Sports Main Event, with kick-off scheduled to take place at 12:30 BST on Saturday lunchtime.

Prediction: Charlton 1-2 Fulham.

Suggested Tips – Fulham vs Charlton Athletic (BET365)

  • First goalscorer – Ivan Cavaleiro – (link no longer available).
  • Correct score – Fulham to win 2-1 –(link no longer available).

Suggested Tips – Fulham vs Charlton Athletic (SKYBET)

  • Fulham price boost – Fulham to win and BTTS – 9/4.
  • Correct score group betting – Fulham to win 1-0, 2-0 or 2-1 – 7/4.
  • Combined player tackle multiples – Tim Ream, Harry Arter and Ben Purrington to make 10+ tackles between them – 8/1.
  • Scorecast boost – Aleksandar Mitrovic to score first, and Fulham to win 3-1 – 33/1.
  • Player to be carded – Dennis Odoi – 10/3.

Markets last updated on Friday 4th October 2019 at 14:30 BST.

Birmingham City vs Middlesbrough – Match Preview

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Birmingham City vs Middlesbrough
Friday 4th October 2019
Sky Bet Championship, St Andrew’s

Live on Sky Sports Football – Kick Off: 19:45 BST

Birmingham City return to St Andrews on Friday night as they host Middlesbrough in the SkyBet Championship.

Both sides come into Friday evening’s fixture following a mixed set of results on Tuesday night, where both failed to win their respective matches. Boro drew 1-1 at home with Preston, whereas Blues were defeated 1-0 away at Wigan. The recent form of these two sides has been poor to say the least. Middlesbrough have won one of their last six matches, and they currently sit 19th in the Championship. Meanwhile Birmingham have lost each of their last three matches, and will want to return to winning ways, beginning with Friday night.

Birmingham’s Lukas Jutkiewicz has started this Championship season with three goals in eight matches. There is an added responsibility on the shoulders this season for the 30-year old, following the departure of last seasons top scorer Che Adams, who joined Southampton in the summer. Jutkiewicz netted fourteen times for Blues last season but failed to score in both encounters with Friday night’s opponents. Jutkiewicz to score anytime is priced at 2/1 on SkyBet.

If the recent head to head form between these two sides is anything to go by, then Middlesbrough will be fancying their chances ahead of this encounter. Boro have completed a league double over Birmingham for the last two seasons and are unbeaten in their last ten matches against them, a run which stretches back to March 2013.

The most recent meeting between the two was in January at St Andrews, where Middlesbrough came away with a 2-1 victory; a result which they will be desperate to repeat on Friday evening. Middlesbrough to win, and BTTS is priced at 7/1 on SkyBet.

The referee for this fixture is Jeremy Simpson. Simpson has taken charge of two Championship matches so far this season, administering six yellow cards in the process. This considered, I would recommend a maximum of 40+ booking points for this fixture.

This game will be broadcast live on Sky Sports football on Friday evening with kick-off scheduled to take place at 19:45 BST.

Despite the uninspiring form of these two sides I am predicting Birmingham to return to winning ways and claim all three points on Friday night. Middlesbrough’s form in general has been poor this season, and they have failed to win away from home this campaign. Under the lights, and on home soil I am expecting Birmingham to grab the win.

Prediction: Birmingham City 2-1 Middlesbrough.

Suggested Tips – Birmingham City vs Middlesbrough – (BET365)

  • First goalscorer – Alvaro Gimenez – (link no longer available).
  • Correct score – Birmingham City 2-1 – (link no longer available).

Suggested Tips – Birmingham City vs Middlesbrough – (SKYBET)

  • Birmingham Price Boost – Birmingham to win and BTTS – 11/2.
  • Correct Score Group Betting – Birmingham to win 1-0, 2-0 or 2-1 – 21/10.
  • Both Players to Score – Britt Assombalonga and Lukas Jutkiewicz both to score – 9/1.
  • To score 2+ goals – Middlesbrough – 21/10.
  • Half Time / Full Time – Birmingham/Birmingham – 11/4.
  • Away Over Corners Taken – 6+ Middlesbrough corners – 11/8.

Markets last updated on Friday 4th October 2019 at 10:00 BST.