All articles by: Jools Jordan-Probert

Derby County vs Blackburn Rovers – Match Preview

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Derby County vs Blackburn Rovers
Tuesday 18th September 2018
SkyBet Championship, Pride Park

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

Derby County vs Blackburn Rovers – both sides hoping to quickly turnaround huge disappointments from both their respective last matches.

Last time out Derby left Rotherham empty-handed after suffering a 1-0 defeat. Rams manager Frank Lampard was sent off in the 77th minute after arguing with officials about a stream of decisions. Tom Lawrence was given a straight red card for a reckless challenge. Then, Rotherham were later awarded a penalty which ultimately won the match. Lampard then was given his marching orders after protesting a handball.

After being humbled at home by Leeds United and losing to Millwall in August, three consecutive wins followed. Derby catapulted themselves into the top six. The Rotherham result will be somewhat of a reality check and surely inspire Derby to prove themselves against Blackburn.

Rovers themselves can feel hard done by the previous fixture, a 1-1 draw against Aston Villa, too. Star player Bradley Dack had a goal ruled out before eventually scoring, but Conor Hourihane scored a sublime free-kick deep into stoppage time to steal a point and break Blackburn hearts. Prior to the international break, Bristol City had shattered Blackburn 4-1, so the three points would have been crucial.

This leaves Derby in 7th on 12 points, with Blackburn six places afield yet only two points away. An away win would inevitably cause Rovers to leapfrog their opponents, such as the tightness at this stage.

Tony Mowbray’s side have only won two of their first seven. However, the loss against Bristol City is Rovers’ sole defeat, a solid return for a newly promoted side. Additionally, Blackburn have handed high-flyers Brentford their only loss too. It is safe to say a natural acclimatisation back to life in the Championship has occurred.

On the flipside, the prestige that comes from someone like Frank Lampard managing a club inevitably raises expectations. Derby possess a squad full of quality to match those expectations too. The Championship’s perennial nearly-men are almost certain to give it another good crack this term. Beating a newly promoted side at home must become routine to realise those ambitions.

Darren England will be the match referee, his sixth fixture of the league season so far. In the previous five, England has given 19 yellow cards and one red, an average of four per game. After Lawrence’s red last time out, Derby now have the second worst disciplinary record in the league, something to watch.

Derby have scored in their last three home matches, and fixture with the Rams more often include over 2.5 goals per game so there should be more goals to come here. A potential backlash incited by Lampard into his squad for the creative inability against Rotherham.

Derby County vs Blackburn Rovers will be televised live in the UK on Sky Sports Football with kick off at 19:45 GMT.

Prediction – Derby County 2-1 Blackburn Rovers.

Suggested Tips – Derby Country vs Blackburn Rovers – (BET365)

  • Correct Score: Derby County win 2-1 – (link no longer available).

Suggested Tips – Stoke City vs Swansea City – (SKYBET)

  • Win and BTTS – Derby and BTTS Yes – 9/2.
  • First Goalscorer – Mason Mount – 8/1
  • Win and BTTS – Blackburn and BTTS Yes – 7/1. (Cover).

Odds and markets last updated on Tuesday 18th September @17:42 GMT. Keep checking back to see if there’s any updates to markets – the time stamp in the previous sentence for when we update tips on this page will be updated.

Remember to keep visiting the tips and preview area for further updates and betting previews around this weeks other domestic and European games.

Millwall vs Swansea City – Match Preview

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Millwall vs Swansea City
Saturday 1st September 2018
FA Premier League, The Den

Live on Sky Sports Football – Kick-Off: 17:30 GMT

Millwall vs Swansea City – both sides will be looking to rectify recent poor form and look back up the table.

After a seven-year stay in the Premier League came to an end, it has been turmoil at the Liberty Stadium. In recent years, both manager and player turnover has been far higher than wanted. Ex-Ostersunds boss Graham Potter is not at the helm but perhaps not in the circumstances he was originally promised.

Key players such as the Ayew brothers, Alfie Mawson, Lukasz Fabianski and Federico Fernandez have all left. Relegation deems squad depletion as inevitable, but the manner of the transfer window left fans with an incredulously bitter taste. Adequate reinforcements did not arrive, as the board repeatedly stated, ‘the money is not available’.

So, complete restructuring took precedent. Potter has brought in young and hungry players for the new challenge. Swansea’s start to the season gave plenty of promise, winning two and drawing two of the first four matches. That included a positive performance in a 2-2 draw with early Championship front-runners Leeds United. Losses at home to Bristol City and then to Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup however mean the Swans are winless in four.

The Swans are now 10th on eight points but are still just a point away from the coveted play-off places. Millwall are further back in 16th, however a win will put the two sides level.

The Lions also had a relatively decent start, drawing against Middlesbrough and beating Derby County within the first three fixtures. Losses to relegation favourites Rotherham and winless-at-the-time Sheffield Wednesday have, however, since quelled early optimism.

Neil Harris has done well to keep the key players and core of his squad. Testament to Harris’ team-building, recent acquisition Tom Bradshaw from Barnsley is The Lions’ first ever £1m signing. In comparison to some of the money lavishly spent in England’s second tier that is some achievement. Last season’s eighth place finish succeeded expectations, so this year consolidation as a solid Championship team is the aim.

This match offers a good opportunity for both clubs to get back to winning ways. Millwall are a difficult team to beat, especially at The Den, so Swansea will have a real test at hand. Goals have been the difficulty for the two sides, scoring just five apiece so far. To put that into perspective, only the league’s bottom-five teams have managed less.

This will be referee Graham Scott’s first Championship match of the season. Scott’s previous three games this campaign have seen a total of just six yellow cards given, showing leniency.

Both are expected to finish midtable, but with such an unpredictable and tightly-fought division, you never know what the catalyst could be. We all know what the prize is.

Millwall vs Swansea City will be televised live in the UK on Sky Sports Football from the Den with kick off at 17:30 GMT.

Prediction – Millwall 1-1 Swansea City 

Suggested Tips – Millwall vs Swansea City (BET365)

  • Correct Score – 1-1 Draw – (link no longer available).

Suggested Tips – Millwall vs Swansea City (SKYBET)

  • Scorecast – Oli McBurnie 1st goalscorer and 1-1 draw – 28/1.
  • Both teams to score and under 2.5 goals in match – 9/2.
  • Under 15 booking points – 7/2.

Odds and markets last updated on Friday 31st August 2018 @10:32 GMT. Keep checking back to see if there’s any updates to markets – the time stamp in the previous sentence for when we update tips on this page will be updated.

Remember to keep visiting the tips and preview area for further updates and betting previews around this week-ends other Premier League and Championship games.

Leicester City vs Liverpool – Match Preview

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Leicester City vs Liverpool
Saturday 1st September 2018
FA Premier League, King Power Stadium

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

Leicester City vs Liverpool – A tricky test at Leicester faces Liverpool as they look to continue their perfect start to the season.

Whilst trouble blooms across the M62 for a certain Manchester club, Liverpool seem to be going from strength to strength. The now infamous defeat against Brighton for United has delightful symmetry for Liverpool fans, swatting away the same opponents despite also not being at the usual best.

Jurgen Klopp’s side took a fair share of stick for defensive frailties last season, but are yet to concede a goal this term. Much of that has been down to the much-discussed impact of defensive colossus Virgil van Dijk. In fact, no side has kept more clean sheets or conceded less goals since his arrival at Anfield in January.

That puts into perspective the potentially frightening team that Klopp is in the process of building. The fearsome attacking trio of Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Mohammed Salah smashed a total of 91 goals last season. Mane (3) and Salah (2) are already both off to a flying start too.

Liverpool currently sit in first and are serious title contenders, make no bones about it. Additions in key areas such as Alisson in goal and Naby Keita and Fabinho in the middle are essential. 2017/18 runaway Champions Manchester City have already dropped points against Wolves, so the impetus is on Liverpool to keep winning. Thus, proving their genuine credentials.

Leicester will be no easy foes, however. Claude Puel’s side came 9th last season after a rocky start, and will be looking to improve on that finish. There is no reason The Foxes cannot be the ‘best of the rest’ after the big six.

A solid start, whilst being unfortunate to lose the opener 2-1 to United, puts Leicester in good stead this campaign. Victories over Wolves and Southampton, via a last-minute 25-yard winner from Harry Maguire, have fanned the flames of optimism. Missing talisman Jamie Vardy through suspension will be a big blow though. A win would put these two sides level on points, a big coup.

Paul Tierney is the man in the middle for a third Premier League fixture this season. Tierney has given three and four yellows in the Burnley vs Watford and Newcastle vs Chelsea games respectively so far. A consistent and middling total. Should Liverpool’s attack run The Foxes defence ragged, cards could be induced, such as for Aaron Wan Bissaka against Palace.

Come the end of the season, Leicester are seeking a foray into Europe. Liverpool are desperately gunning to end the 29-year title drought. This should prove to be a Premier League match of the highest order, with quality throughout.

Leicester City vs Liverpool will be televised live in the UK on Sky Sports Premier League with kick-off at 12:30 GMT.

Prediction – Leicester City 1-3 Liverpool

Suggested Tips – Leicester City vs Liverpool – (BET365)

  • Correct Score Liverpool win 3-1 – (link no longer available).

Suggested Tips – Leicester City vs Liverpool – (SKYBET)

  • Liverpool to win, BTTS, 12+ match corners and 40+ match booking points – 14/1.
  • Scorecast – Sadio Mane first goalscorer, correct score 3-1 – 40/1.
  • Correct Score Group Betting – Liverpool to win 3-0, 3-1 or 3-2 – 7/2.
  • Over 3.5 goals and 7+ corners each team – 40/1.

Odds and markets last updated on Friday 31st August 2018 @10:32 GMT. Keep checking back to see if there’s any updates to markets – the time stamp in the previous sentence for when we update tips on this page will be updated.

Remember to keep visiting the tips and preview area for further updates and betting previews around this weeks other Premier League and Championship games.