Life, and football betting for that matter, is all about taking heed of the lessons you learn. One such lesson we learned last week was not to back goals in German Bundesliga matches immediately after the winter break….
Borussia Dortmund succumbed to only their second 0-0 draw of the campaign to ensure that our BTTS pick did not land, and for added context 13/18 of their league matches this term have gone over the 2.5 goal line. It’s clear they and opponents Wolfsburg are still shaking off the dust off their festive hibernation.
We did at least land a handful of other winners from our both teams to score betting tips last week, and so we have some cash in our pocket to take into this week’s fixtures.
- Leicester City vs Watford: Both Teams to Score – Yes
- Stoke City vs Huddersfield Town: Both Teams to Score – No
- Leeds United vs Millwall: Both Teams to Score – No
- Bristol Rovers vs Bradford City: Both Teams to Score – Yes
- Schalke vs Hannover: Both Teams to Score – Yes
Leicester City vs Watford – Yes (4/6)
It is a mark of Chelsea’s lack of confidence in attack at the moment that Leicester City were able to keep just their sixth clean sheet of the campaign at Stamford Bridge last time out.
The Foxes are without captain Wes Morgan and Danny Simpson at the moment through injury, and that has led to a rather shaky looking backline that features the manic Daniel Amartey at right back. This week, they will also be without the suspended Ben Chilwell, so this will be a makeshift Leicester defence that’s for sure.
That will be news to the ears of Watford fans, who have witnessed their side net in each of their last four games. They look so much more of a force with Troy Deeney leading the line.
But a number of defensive injuries makes the Hornets vulnerable – they haven’t kept a clean sheet since November. The likes of Chalobah, Kaboul, Cathcart and Britos are all missing, and that has led to seven goals conceded in just three outings of late.
Stoke City vs Huddersfield Town – No (3/4)
Paul Lambert has been appointed as the new Stoke City boss, and the first move that the conservative Scot will make is to batten down the hatches at the Britannia Stadium and introduce a ‘back to basics’ approach.
We hear it a lot from old-school managers, who remember the days when keeping a clean sheet, first and foremost, was the priority.
So punters can expect a sea-change in how the Potteries outfit, currently boasting the worst defensive record in the division, goes about their business. The fact that Lambert can call upon fit again Ryan Shawcross and Erik Pieters will help.
Huddersfield have scored just one goal in 270 minutes of football against Leicester, West Ham and Burnley, and that is perhaps indicative of their woes. Judging by their away form, the Terriers would be happy with a point here….so don’t expect a classic.
Leeds United vs Millwall – No (4/5)
A Leeds United side not exactly blessed with goals has been hampered further by the loss of playmaker Samuel Saiz.
The Spaniard will miss six matches through suspension after being found guilty of spitting in the FA Cup tie against Newport, and he will join Eunan O’Kane – another player red carded – on the sidelines.
The Yorkshire outfit have failed to score in each of their last three league outings, and their tally of 38 goals this term is the lowest in the Championship’s top eight.
Nobody has scored fewer goals than Millwall on the road, meanwhile. The Lions have bagged just six in thirteen away dates, and have drawn blanks in three of their last four.
Bristol Rovers vs Bradford City – Yes (4/6)
We are mindful that these sorts of runs can come to an end at any time, but BTTS (and Over 2.5 Goals for that matter) has landed in nine of Bradford’s last ten matches, and so we simply have to follow them in at this time.
Pleasingly, they boast the best away record in League 1, and so we don’t have to worry about them holding up their end of the bargain.
What a thrilling and unpredictable thing it must be to be a Bristol Rovers fan. From the start of the season up until Christmas, 18 of their 24 matches witnessed three or more goals, and they didn’t draw a single one!
Their outlook has changed somewhat since Chrimbo, but we should mention that three of their last four games have been away from home. Back at the Memorial Stadium, we expect the goals to flow.
Schalke vs Hannover – Yes (4/5)
A lovely price is available here for a game with goals written all over it!
Schalke sit third in the Bundesliga despite a phenomenal record of conceding two goals or more in five of their last six matches; in that run, they have only lost once, which gives a hint to their own goal power.
Hannover are a great side to watch in that they deploy a wholly ‘front foot’ strategy: the fact they have scored in 16 of their 18 league games this term tells us that, as well as the notion that they have notched ten in their last four!
One more fun fact: since the start of October, BTTS has landed in 9/11 Hannover matches.