All articles by: Thomas Mcgrath

Newcastle United vs Brighton and Hove Albion – Match Preview

September 21, 2019 by Thomas Mcgrath·Comments Off

Newcastle United vs Brighton and Hove Albion
Saturday 21st September 2019
FA Premier League, St James Park

Sky Sports Premier League – Kick Off: 17:30 BST

Newcastle United return to St James’s Park as they face Brighton and Hove Albion in the Premier League on Saturday tea time.

The Magpies come into this fixture off the back of defeat to league leaders Liverpool and will be looking to put things right on home soil. Their opponents Brighton drew 1-1 with Burnley last time round, following Jeff Hendrick’s last-minute equaliser. Brighton began the season with victory against Watford but are without a win in their last four Premier League fixtures.

Newcastle are without a win in their last four meetings with Saturday’s opponents, with their last victory coming in 2017 when this was a Championship fixture. Brighton were 1-0 winners at St James’ Park last season thanks to Beram Kayal’s first half strike. A repeat scoreline is priced at 13/2 on SkyBet.

Neil Maupay has enjoyed a promising start to his Brighton career after signing from Brentford in the summer. The Frenchman has scored twice in five games, including in last weekends stalemate with Burnley. Maupay to score anytime is at a price of 9/5 on SkyBet.

Newcastle have struggled at home so far this season and are yet to win with their only home point coming in the 1-1 draw with Watford. Newcastle have also scored in every PL match they have played this season bar one, and I’m expecting them to find the back of the net this weekend. Newcastle to score 2+ goals is priced at 7/4 on SkyBet.

I am expecting a tight affair when these two meet on Saturday evening, but feel that Newcastle will edge it and claim their first home win this season. Despite losing 3-1, Newcastle can take a lot of positives from their performance against Liverpool, particularly in the first half an hour where they were threatening on the counter attack. It will be interesting to see whether Steve Bruce encourages his side to play with more attacking impetus, especially as they are at home.

The referee for this fixture is Martin Atkinson. The 48-year-old has appeared in all five PL matchdays so far and has accumulated a total of 19 yellow cards. With this considered, I would recommend a minimum of 30+ booking points for this fixture.

This match will be shown live on Sky Sports Premier League with kick off scheduled for 17:30 BST.

Prediction – Newcastle United 2-1 Brighton and Hove Albion.

Suggested tips – Newcastle United vs Brighton and Hove Albion – (BET365)

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

Suggested tips – Newcastle United vs Brighton and Hove Albion – (SKYBET)

Joelinton and Neil Maupay both to score – 8/1.
Newcastle to win and BTTS – YES – 9/2.
Newcastle to win 1-0, 2-0, or 2-1 – 9/4.
Brighton to win from behind – 16/1.
Scorecast – Joelinton, 2-1 Newcastle – 30/1.

Markets Updated at 14:22 BST on Friday 20th September 2019.

Leeds United vs Derby County – Match Preview

September 21, 2019 by Thomas Mcgrath·Comments Off

Leeds United vs Derby County
Saturday 21^th September 2019
Sky Bet Championship, Elland Road Stadium

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

Leeds United return to Elland Road this weekend as they host Derby County in the SkyBet Championship on Saturday lunchtime.

Marcelo Bielsa’s side currently sit top of the pile in the Championship following their 2-0 defeat of Barnsley last Sunday. Derby County on the other hand are without a win since their opening day victory over Huddersfield Town.

If last seasons exploits between these two sides are anything to go by, then we are in for more drama this weekend. Lampard vs Bielsa, Spygate, ‘that’ play-off semi-final. This fixture was the pick of the bunch in the Championship last season. But it was the Rams who had the last laugh as they shattered Leeds United’s promotion hopes in dramatic fashion. Much has changed since the last time these sides met. Philip Cocu is now in the Derby County hot seat but has struggled to hit the ground running. A win on Saturday would be the perfect way to do so.

Leeds United’s Patrick Bamford has already found the back of the net four times this season, registering three assists in the process with an average of 141 minutes per goal. Bamford to score, and Leeds United to win is at odds of 13/10 on SkyBet.

Before their victory over Leeds in May, Derby County had gone four games against Leeds where they had failed to win, losing three and drawing one. Derby come into Saturday’s match as heavy underdogs, with an away win priced at 13/2 on SkyBet.

In the last 14 meetings between these two sides BTTS has landed eight times, and SkyBet are offering odds of 5/6 for another meeting where both teams score. Leeds United to win and BTTS is at boosted odds of 2/1 on SkyBet also.

With the current contrasting form of these two sides this season, I expect the sequence to continue and see nothing other than a victory for Leeds United. Derby are winless in their last six Championship fixtures and face an inform Leeds side away from home. United lost only five times at home in the Championship last season, with home form so crucial to Leeds’s promotion dreams.

The man in charge for Saturdays encounter is Oliver Langford. Langford has officiated four Championship fixtures this season, awarding 22 yellow cards and one red card. Given the recent controversy and bad blood between these two sides, I would recommend a minimum of 50+ booking points. I’m expecting this one to be a fiery clash.

This match will be shown live on Sky Sports Football with kick off scheduled for 12:30 BST.

Prediction – Leeds United 2-0 Derby County

Suggested tips – Leeds United vs Derby County – (SKYBET)

Correct Score – Leeds United 2-0 Derby County – (link no longer available).

Suggested tips – Leeds United vs Derby County – (SKYBET)

To score and win – Pablo Hernandez – 9/5.
Scorecast – Mateusz Klich, 2-0 Leeds United – 35/1.
Leeds United to win 1-0, 2-0 or 2-1 – 7/4.
Leeds United clean sheet – 1/1.
Martyn Waghorn to score anytime – 7/2.

Markets Updated at 17:10 BST on Friday 20th September 2019.

Leicester City vs Tottenham Hotspur – Match Preview

September 21, 2019 by Thomas Mcgrath·Comments Off

Leicester City vs Tottenham Hotspur
Saturday 21st September 2019
FA Premier League, King Power Stadium

BT Sport 1 – Kick-Off: 12:30 BST

Leicester City return to the King Power stadium this weekend as they host Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League on Saturday lunchtime.

The Foxes come into this weekends fixture following the disappointing defeat last weekend away to Manchester United, a match where they could quite easily have come away with a point. Their opponents Tottenham Hotspur ended their three-game winless run as they fired four past Crystal Palace last time round.

Both Harry Kane and Jamie Vardy have netted three times already this season and have begun the season as they mean to go on in the goalscoring charts. The pair to each score this weekend is priced at 9/2 on SkyBet.

Spurs’ have won the last three meetings between these two sides, and their very own Son Heung-Min has scored in each of the last two. The south Korean netted a brace in Tottenham’s 4-0 thumping of Crystal Palace last weekend and is priced at 2/1 to open the scoring on Saturday lunchtime.

Many are predicting this to be Leicester City’s breakthrough year into the top six, and with that secure European football for the 2020/21 season. Brendan Rodgers has assembled a youthful side who play with a freedom and fearlessness which is sure to propel them to the next level. Players such as James Maddison, Youri Tielemens, Ben Chilwell, Wilfred N’Didi and Hamza Choudhury are yet to see their 23^rd Birthday and are already an integral part of this Leicester City side. Brendan Rodgers is a manager prepared to use his younger players, and its refreshing to see.

The referee for this match is Paul Tierney. The 38-year old has taken charge of three matches in the Premier League this season, issuing 13 yellow cards in the process. With this considered, I would recommend a minimum of 30+ match booking points.

This encounter is a real tough one to call, and it could quite easily go either way. Both sides have enjoyed positive starts to the campaign and will be hoping to carry this on with a win this Saturday. I can certainly see both sides scoring, but after the disappointment of defeat last weekend I fancy Leicester to claim all three points. With Tottenham, its hard to judge how they will perform one week to the next. Their impressive display in the 1-1 draw away to Manchester City was followed by a 1-0 home defeat to Newcastle, so their form is hard to predict.

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

Prediction – Leicester City 2-1 Tottenham Hotspur

Suggested Tips – Leicester City vs Tottenham Hotspur – (BET365)

First Goal Scorer – James Maddison – (link no longer available).
Correct Score – Leicester City 2-1 Tottenham Hotspur –(link no longer available).

Suggested Tips – Leicester City vs Tottenham Hotspur – (SKYBET)

Leicester to win, and BTTS – YES – 4/1
Scorecast (SkyBet): Leicester City 2-1 Tottenham Hotspur, James Maddison to score first – 50/1
Leicester to win and over 2.5 goals in the match – 7/2
BTTS in the first half – YES – 10/3
Leicester to score 2+ goals – 6/4
Harry Kane and Jamie Vardy both to score – 9/2
Leicester to win 1-0, 2-0 or 2-1 – 10/3

Markets Updated at 14:30 BST on Friday 20th September 2019.