Happy New Year! We were two legs shy of an acca win last time out: Everton’s defeat at Bournemouth was, arguably, one that could be foreseen, but Leeds failing to achieve a positive result at hapless Birmingham less so.
Still, that’s the gamble of placing a multiple bet, especially during the festive period.
We’ve the FA Cup Third Round to explore this week, plus bits and pieces of lower league football and the return of Serie A and La Liga, so hopefully we can have a good run at success.
Here are this week’s football accumulator betting tips:
- Newcastle United vs Luton Town: Newcastle to Win (4/11)
- Fleetwood Town vs Leicester City: Leicester to Win (3/5)
- Fulham vs Southampton: Fulham/Draw Double Chance (8/13)
- Brentford vs Notts County: Brentford to Win (4/9)
- Doncaster Rovers vs Rochdale: Doncaster Draw No Bet (1/2)
- Acca Odds: 6.63/1
Newcastle United vs Luton Town: Newcastle to Win
Given the plight of Newcastle of late, and the success of Luton, it would be easy to oppose the Magpies in this FA Cup fixture, but quite frankly that would be absurd.
The Geordies play week in, week out at a level of football in a different dimension to that of Luton in League 2, and while their form hasn’t been great anybody who watched their 1-0 win over Stoke on New Year’s Day can’t help but have taken away the notion that Rafa Benitez has gotten his boys playing well again.
Luton top League but the facts speak for themselves: they are unbeaten in 13 on home soil, and yet have won less than 50% of their matches on the road (six of thirteen). This, in many ways, is a bigger game for Newcastle than Luton, and we expect the final scoreline to reflect that.
Fleetwood Town vs Leicester City: Leicester to Win
Fleetwood’s reward for progressing to the third round of the FA Cup is a date with former Premier League champions Leicester, and while their fans may have dreams of a giantkilling in mind the truth is that seems like a longshot worth opposing.
The Cod Army have been poor of late, losing four of their last six league outings, and they have won just two home matches in League 1 since August; a handy indicator of their woes. They will be up for this one-off cup tie, of course, but that doesn’t mean to say a positive result is forthcoming.
Leicester, spearheaded by former Fleetwood man Jamie Vardy, will give the FA Cup a good go this year. They are playing for little in the league – mid-table obscurity beckoning – so a cup run would be welcome; as it was at Southampton when Claude Puel led the Saints to Wembley. He won’t take any chances here.
Fulham vs Southampton: Fulham/Draw Double Chance
This FA Cup fixture has ‘giantkilling’ writ large all over it….we’re just not brave enough to put our money where our mouth is!
That said, we’re confident enough to suggest that a positive result for Fulham is theirs for the taking. The Cottagers are unbeaten in four (W3 D1 L0) and have netted 12 goals in those games – they are a ‘steamer’ right now! Furthermore, they have lost just twice at Craven Cottage all season.
Southampton are one place above the relegation zone in the Premier League, which tells its own story. They are without a win in nine and under-pressure boss Mauricio Pellegrini will be dreading what is a tough trip to the capital on Saturday. With just one clean sheet since October, they are there for the taking.
Brentford vs Notts County: Brentford to Win
Brentford may have lost at Wolves on Tuesday evening but that does not overshadow a clear upturn in form from the Bees.
They had won three on the spin prior to the trip to the West Midlands, and with Lasse Vibe back amongst the goals they are once again a force to be reckoned with – particularly at their Griffin Park home.
Two divisions separates them from Notts County, and while the Magpies are going well in League 2 that has been fired by brilliance on home soil (W9 D4 L0) rather than on their travels (W5 D4 L4). With automatic promotion beckoning, the cups will be low on their list of priorities.
Doncaster Rovers vs Rochdale: Doncaster Draw No Bet
Donny Rovers have won four of their last six at home, with just one defeat, as they assert their authority on their own patch.
It’s been a decent yuletide period for the Yorkshire outfit, with wins over Bristol Rovers and Northampton coming without a single goal being conceded. A home tie here suggests they can make it three in a row.
Rochdale, remarkably, are yet to win on the road in the 2017/18 campaign, and they have lost their last four on their travels while conceding an eyebrow-raising eleven goals. One goal scored in 270 minutes of football also does little to inspire confidence.