Match Result & Both Teams To Score, Saturday, March 26

The international break provides us with an opportunity to delve a little further down the Football League for our selections and, with plenty of League 1 and League 2 action over the Easter period, we’ve tried to find some value in the Match Result & Both Teams To Score Markets.

In fact, the three League 1 fixtures that take place on Saturday, March 26 could provide the basis for a profitable wager. The fixtures in question are Burton Albion versus Oldham Athletic (10/3 with Coral), Bradford City versus Millwall (6/1 with Coral) and Chesterfield (4/1 with Coral) versus Fleetwood Town.

Top of the table Burton Albion versus Oldham Athletic, 22^nd in the table, appeals as a home banker and probably rightly so, but the Latics have scored in 11 of their 18 away matches this season and have a goal difference of just -1 on their travels, compared with -13 at Boundary Park.

Bradford City have failed to score in just three of their 18 home fixtures this season, accumulating a total of 23 goals, while Millwall have the best goal-scoring record away from home in the division, failing to score just once in 18 games and accumulating a total of 33 goals. The Lions have an enviable away record an can just shade what is likely to be a tight encounter.

Despite being in 18^th place, Chesterfield rank second in the division for goals scored and have scored in 13 of their home fixtures this season. Fleetwood Town have been less impressive away from home, scoring just 15 goals scored in 18 away fixtures and failing to score seven times, but only lost by the odd goal in the reverse fixture in November. They should be capable of bagging a goal against a Chesterfield defence that’s conceded more than a goal a game at home this season.

Selections: Burton Albion, Millwall, Chesterfield, Match Result & Both Teams To Score, 1-point Win Treble (150.55/1 with Coral)

Everton versus Arsenal, Saturday, March 19

Having lost three successive home games in all competitions for the first time in over 13 years, Arsenal face Barcelona at the Camp Nou in the UEFA Champions League in midweek before travelling to Goodison Park for their next Premier League fixture on Saturday. Of course, all things are possible, but the Gunners are 25/1 to turn around their 2-0 deficit with Barca, so the chances are that Arsene Wenger’s side will hardly be oozing confidence by the time Saturday lunchtime rolls around.

Romelu Lukaku scored twice in a feisty F.A. Cup tie against his old club Chelsea at Goodison Park last Saturday to take his total for the season to 25 and, in current mood, the Arsenal back four will do well to contain the Belgian striker. The absence of Wales midfielder Aaron Ramsey is a definite disadvantage for the men in red-and-white and, with their season in danger of petering out to nothing, the Toffees may be playing them at just the right time. If confidence counts for anything, Everton and Lukaku look the way to go here, so let’s try the Belgian to score the opening goal at 9/2 with William Hill.

Selection: Romelu Lukaku to score first goal (9/2 with William Hill)

Manchester United Versus West Ham United, Sunday, March 13

West Ham United forced a no-score draw at Old Trafford in the Premier League in December and, while their recent away record in unenviable, they might just represent a shade of value for their return visit, in the sixth round of the FA Cup, on Sunday. The Red Devils’ latest 1-0 defeat to West Bromwich Albion at the Hawthorns owed much to the dismissal of Juan Mata after 26 minutes but, even so, Baggies’ keeper Ben Foster didn’t need to make a single save. Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal has said that winning the Europa League – in which United face Liverpool at Anfield on Thursday – is his priority this season so, with squad rotation likely, his opposite number Slaven Bilic must be fancying his chances of causing an upset.

Summer signings Dimitri Payet and Michail Antonio have contributed 19 goals between them in all competitions and, while Bilic has said that qualification for the UEFA Champions League is ‘not realistic’ for his side this season, he presumably wouldn’t say no to some silverware to take to the former Olympic stadium next season. Antonio scored for his third consecutive game against Everton last weekend, so let’s hope he finds his shooting boots again at 9/2 with Bet365.

Selection: Michail Antonio Anytime Scorer (9/2 with Bet365)

Arsenal versus Swansea City, Wednesday, March 2

After a 0-0 draw with Hull City in the F.A. Cup, a 2-0 defeat by Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League and a 3-2 defeat by Manchester United in the Premier League, Arsenal are hardly on the crest of a wave for the visit of Swansea City on Wednesday. However, only West Ham United and Chelsea have beaten the Gunners at the Emirates Stadium in the Premier League this season, so Arsene Wenger must be hoping his side can rekindle their title aspirations. They currently trail leaders Leicester City by five points.

Dogged though they were in their latest 2-1 defeat by Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane, Swansea City lie 16^th in the Premier League table just three points above the relegation zone. Swans’ coach Alan Curtis believes that subsequent fixtures against Norwich, Bournemouth and Aston Villa will prove decisive and midfielder Jack Cork said, prior to last week’s defeat, that there was ‘no pressure’ on the Welsh outfit for their successive visits to London.

The Gunners strolled to a 3-0 victory in the reverse fixture at the Liberty Stadium on Halloween and, while there was no doubting the Swans’ commitment against Tottenham, another horror story may well be on the cards. Swansea have hardly been prolific scorers away from home this season, but found the net at White Hart Lane, Old Trafford and the Etihad Stadium on their travels, so let’s try a correct score of 3-1 at 13/1 with BetVictor.

Selection: Arsenal to win 3-1 (13/1 with BetVictor)

Both Teams to Score, Saturday, February 27

Our last foray into the BTTS market, two weeks ago, produced two 0-0 draws, which left a rather bitter taste in our mouth, so we’ve picked three more Championship ties in an effort to redeem ourselves.

Wolverhampton Wanderers versus Derby County (4/5)

Wolves currently lie 11^th in the Championship table after a run of five games without a win, but have managed to score at least once in their last seven home games. The Rams ended their own eight-game winless run in the Championship with a dramatic 3-1 at Brentford last Saturday and, with striker Chris Martin rediscovering his goal-scoring touch, they should be good for a goal at Molineux.

Bolton Wanderers versus Burnley (5/6)

The Trotters are firmly embroiled in a relegation battle, but have scored in all three home matches in the Championship and both F.A. Cup ties since the 2-0 home defeat by Huddersfield early in the New Year. Title chasing Burnley, on the other hand, have scored in five of the their last six away games, including against Arsenal in the F.A. Cup.

Fulham versus Middlesbrough (5/6)

Fulham have scored in all bar three of their Championship home games this season, including three goal from corners against struggling Charlton last week, while third-placed Middlesbrough haven’t exactly been prolific away from of late, but will be keen to maintain their push for automatic promotion after missing the chance to go top at Leeds last week. Former Blackburn striker Jordan Rhodes looks a decent acquisition for the Smoggies.

Both teams to score treble (5.05/1 with Bet365)

Both Teams To Score, Saturday, February 13

From time to time, we like to look beyond the heady heights of the Premier League to see if there’s any value to be found in the Both Teams To Score (BTTS) markets in the Football League. This week, we’ve come up with three Championship fixtures that we believe will produce a few goals and, hopefully, a nice little profit to boot.

Blackburn Rovers versus Hull City (6/5)

Rovers needed an injury time equaliser to force a 1-1 draw in the reverse fixture at the KC Stadium in September and, despite being separated by 15 places in the Championship, there may not be much between the teams once again. Paul Lambert’s side had the best of the chances during their 1-1 draw away to Middlesbrough last week and, while the Tigers are a strong defensive side, they have conceded in 7 of their last 10 away games in the Championship.

Charlton Athletic versus Cardiff City (5/6)

The Addicks remain rock bottom of the Championship, four points from safety, and although winless at home since November, score draws against Bolton Wanderers, Nottingham Forest and Blackburn Rovers provide cause for encouragement. The Bluebirds recorded back-to-back away wins at Wolves and Huddersfield last month, scoring three on each occasion, so should be capable of breaching the Addicks’ defence.

Reading versus Burnley (10/11)

The Clarets currently lie third in the Championship table, just 2 points behind leaders Middlesbrough and, having scored 9 goals in their last three fixtures away from Turf Moor, are sure to provide stiff opposition for Royals. That said, the Clarets’ defence is far from impenetrable, especially against a Reading side that’smade a habit of scoring at home in the Championship this season.

A BTTS treble on the above three fixtures with Bet365 works out at cumulative odds of 6.7/1, or a return of £77 for a £10 stake.

Newcastle United versus West Bromwich Albion, Saturday, February 6

Newcastle United have invested a total of £28.5 million to bring Jonjo Shelvey, Andros Townsend and Bordeaux midfielder Henri Saivet to St. James’ Park during the January transfer window, not to mention Roma forward Seydou Doumbia, who joins the Magpies on a season-long loan.

However, at the time of writing, the Toon remain in the bottom three in the Premier League, two points from safety, so manager Steve McClaren will be hoping that the recent acquisitions will make more of an impact than summer signings Aleksandar Mitrovic, who has scored just four goals in all competitions, and Florian Thauvin, who has proved equally disappointing.

Newcastle lost 2-1 to Watford at Vicarage Road on their last Premier League outing, a performance that McClaren oddly described as “terrific”, apart from the two goals, so it’ll be interesting to see if the former England manager can draw any more positives from the visit of West Bromwich Albion to St. James’ Park on Saturday.

Tony Pulis’ side has hardly set the world on fire, failing to register a shot on target during their goalless draw with Aston Villa at Villa Park two weeks ago. Nevertheless, the return of Victor Anichebe has increased the Baggies’ attacking threat while, at the other end of the pitch, the return of Ben Foster has bolstered confidence defensively.

If West Brom once again take a direct approach, as they did in the reverse fixture at the Hawthorns over Christmas, which they won just 1-0, despite having 22 shots on goal, they could make the 16/5 available from William Hill look exceptional value by teatime on Saturday.

Selection: West Bromwich Albion to win (16/5 with William Hill)