All articles by: Thomas Mcgrath

Leicester City vs Newcastle United – Match Preview

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Leicester City vs Newcastle United
Sunday 29th September 2019
FA Premier League, King Power Stadium

Live on Sky Sports Main Event – Kick Off: 16:30 BST

Leicester City return to Premier League action this weekend as they host Newcastle United at the King Power stadium on Sunday afternoon.

The Foxes are head into this weekends fixture following back to back wins. They followed up their impressive 2-1 victory against Tottenham Hotspur last weekend with a midweek win against Luton Town. Brendan Rodgers will be additionally pleased with the midweek win, as a number of first team regulars were absent, meaning they will return to action this weekend rested and reenergised for their latest test.

Newcastle United currently sit 17th in the Premier League and are without a win in their last four fixtures. Leicester City have already got one up on this weekend’s opponents. The Foxes defeated United on penalties in the second round of the Carabao Cup, following a 1-1 draw at St James Park. James Maddison opened the scoring for Leicester than night, and SkyBet are offering odds of 6/1 for Maddison to do so again this weekend.

There was an air of optimism amongst Leicester City supporters following the arrival of Ayoze Perez from this weekend’s opponents, Newcastle United. The Spaniard signed a 4-year deal worth £30 Million pounds to join Brendan Rogers’ side, and City fans are hoping he can replicate his positive performances which we were so used to seeing at Newcastle United. If Perez is to earn more minutes, he may have to adapt and show his versatility in a wider attacking role, which in turn would certainly bolster City’s attacking capabilities. Patience may well be the key however, from fans, players and most importantly Perez himself.

The referee for this weekends fixture is Craig Pawson. The 40-year old has appeared five times this season and has awarded a total of 29 yellow cards, which is an average of just below six yellow cards per match. Because of this, I would recommend a minimum of 30+ booking points.

Considering the contrasting recent form of these two sides, I can see nothing other than a home win. If Leicester are to breakthrough into the top 6 this season, then these are the matches which they will be expected to win, not just against the top teams. The biggest disappointment for those involved with Leicester City would be for them to drop points this weekend, following their huge win against Tottenham Hotspur.

This match will be shown live on Sky Sports Main Event, with kick off scheduled to take place at 16:30 BST.

Prediction: Leicester City 2-0 Newcastle.

Suggested tips – Leicester City vs Newcastle United – (BET365)

Correct score – Leicester to win 2-1 – (link no longer available).

Suggested tips – Leicester City vs Newcastle United – (SKYBET)

  • Jamie Vardy to score a brace – 15/2
  • Leicester to win 1-0, 2-0, or 2-1 – 11/8
  • Miguel Almiron to have 1+ shots on target in the first half – 11/4
  • Wilfried N’Didi and Jonjo Shelvey to make 10+ tackles between them – 11/1
  • Youri Tielemens to score first and Leicester City to win 3-1 – 150/1
  • Scorecast (SkyBet): Jamie Vardy to score first, and Leicester to win 2-0 – 11/1

Markets last updated on Friday 27th September 2019 at 14:35 BST.

Barnsley vs Brentford – Match Preview

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Barnsley vs Brentford
Sunday 29th September 2019
Sky Bet Championship, Oakwell Stadium

Live on Sky Sports Football – Kick Off: 13:30 BST

SkyBet Championship action returns to Oakwell this weekend as Barnsley host Brentford on Sunday afternoon.

The hosts come into this weekends fixture in a wretched spell of form, losing five of eight fixtures this season, including their last two on the bounce. The visitors Brentford are in a similar recent vain of form. The Bee’s are without a win in their last two and have lost four of their opening eight fixtures this campaign.

If recent meetings are anything to go by between these two, Brentford will be full of confidence ahead of the fixture. Thomas Frank’s side are unbeaten in the last four meetings against Barnsley, and have not lost to them since 2006, when both sides were competing in League 1. In them last four meetings, BTTS has landed in only 1/4 of the encounters; SkyBet are offering odds of a Brentford win and BTTS at 3/1.

Ollie Watkins is Brentford’s top scorer so far this season and has netted four times in the league. The 23-year old has extra responsibility this season following the departure of Neil Maupay, who joined Premier League outfit Brighton. Maupay enjoyed a successful final season with the Bee’s on a personal level, he finished joint 2nd with Tammy Abraham and just below Teemu Pukki who scooped the 2018/19 Championship golden boot. The Frenchman notched 25 times for Brentford before his big move to England’s top-flight, and now the expectancy rests partly on Watkins young shoulders to contribute similar numbers this season. SkyBet are offering odds of 7/2 for Watkins to score first.

The referee for this weekends encounter is David Webb. The 41-year old has taken charge of six matches so far this season, administering seventeen yellow cards in the process. This considered, I would recommend a maximum of 40+ booking points for this fixture.

This match will be broadcast live on Sky Sports football and kick off is scheduled to take place at 13:30 BST.

Prediction: Both sides will be desperate to get a win this weekend and pull away from the teams surrounding them in the relegation places. I am expecting a very tight, cagey affair but I fancy Brentford to get a much-needed win.

Suggested picks – Barnsley vs Brentford – (SKYBET)

Correct score – Brentford to win 1-0 – (link no longer available).

Suggested picks – Barnsley vs Brentford – (SKYBET)

  • Brentford to win 1-0, 2-0 or 2-1 – 9/4
  • Cauley Woodrow and Ollie Watkins both to score – 7/1
  • Brentford to win and under 2.5 goals – 4/1
  • Brentford clean sheet – 2/1
  • Barnsley to score in the first 10 mins – 15/2
  • Scorecast (SkyBet): Sergi Canos to score first, Brentford to win 1-0 – 40/1

Queens Park Rangers vs West Bromwich Albion – Match Preview

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Queens Park Rangers vs West Bromwich Albion
Saturday 28th September 2019
Sky Bet Championship, The Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium

Live on Sky Sports Football – Kick Off: 12:30 BST

West Bromwich Albion look to extend their unbeaten Championship run to nine matches as they travel to The Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium to face QPR on Saturday lunchtime.

Slaven Bilic’s side currently sit 4th in the current SkyBet Championship standings but come into this fixture as the most inform side in the division, having not yet been beaten in the league this season.

The Baggies are one of only five teams in the top four tiers of English football who have not been defeated so far this season. Themselves and Liverpool, Ipswich Town, Coventry City and Exeter City are the only remaining sides yet to lose.

Their opponents QPR have themselves enjoyed a strong start to the season and sit only a place below Albion in the league table. Rangers are unbeaten in their last four Championship encounters, winning all of them. Both teams go into this weekends clash level on points, and both only one point off Leeds United at the top.

In the combined total of sixteen league fixtures played by these two teams so far this season (8 each), BTTS has landed in fifteen. The one which didn’t was QPR’s 2-0 away defeat to Bristol City. Despite West Brom’s excellent opening to the campaign, it comes as somewhat of a surprise to learn that they have failed to keep a clean sheet to date, and that will be an area of concern for Slaven Bilic. BTTS in this fixture is priced at odds of ½ on SkyBet, which is no surprise.

The last two meetings between these two sides has produced an incredible thirteen goals. WBA hold the most recent bragging rights between the two, following their league double over QPR last season, defeating them 7-1 at home, before winning 3-2 away in February.

As you would imagine, I am expecting goals this weekend, and certainly expecting BTTS. With both sides strong opening to the season, and aspirations of promotion in May, both teams will be wanting to make a statement by grabbing a win. I don’t see it that way. I’m predicting a draw. And if so, it could be a big point come the end of the season…

This match will be broadcast live on Sky Sports football with kick off scheduled to take place at 12:30 BST.

Prediction: QPR 1-1 West Bromwich Albion

Suggested Tips – Queens Park Rangers vs West Bromwich Albion – (BET365)

  • First Goal Scorer – Charlie Austin – (link no longer available).

Suggested Tips – Queens Park Rangers vs West Bromwich Albion – (SKYBET)

  • Nahki Wells to score a brace – 11/1.
  • Toni Leistner and Semi Ajayi to make 5+ tackles between them – 9/2.
  • BTTS in both halves – 6/1.
  • Matt Philips to have 1+ shots on target in the first half – 4/1.
  • Scorecast (SkyBet): Nahki Wells to score first, 1-1 draw – 28/1.