Four of our five selections landed last week, and the one that didn’t….well, it was a surprise to say the least.
When you give a team a two-goal headstart at home, you expect them to come up with the goods. Perhaps it explains just how bad Macclesfield are that they were unable to even cover that handsome handicap in front of their own supporters.
It’s been a case of close but no cigar for this column for a couple of weeks, so let’s see if this is the outing that finally gets us over the winning line with this week’s football accumulator betting tips.
| Match | Recommended Bet | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Newcastle United vs AFC Bournemouth | Bournemouth/Draw Double Chance | 12/25 |
| Aldershot Town vs Bradford City | Aldershot/Draw Double Chance | 4/6 |
| Tranmere Rovers vs Oxford City | Tranmere to Win | 1/3 |
| Angers vs Montpellier | Montpellier/Draw Double Chance | 2/5 |
| Vitoria vs Bahia | Vitoria/Draw Double Chance | 1/2 |
| Five-Fold Acca Odds | 5.90/1 | |
Newcastle United vs AFC Bournemouth: Bournemouth/Draw Double Chance
There is a real attacking spark to Bournemouth, and their enterprising play could have brought them three goals in the first half against Manchester United on Saturday.
It was not to be, and the Cherries went on to lose the match. Eddie Howe would have been frustrated for sure, but he would have recognised that his players were on top for the first period.
If they show similar levels this week they will surely prove too strong for Newcastle, whose 1-0 victory over Watford was their first of the campaign.
But it only really serves to paper over the cracks for the Magpies, who have scored just three times in their last six games and only two or more in one of their eleven outings this term.
To make matters worse it appears as if Jonjo Shelvey and Yoshinori Muto have picked up injuries, and they are in a race against time to be fit.
Aldershot Town vs Bradford City: Aldershot/Draw Double Chance
It’s the first round of the FA Cup this week, and of all the ties it is this one which might offer the best hope of an upset.
The National League’s Aldershot are a decent side at home (W6 D2 L2), and their form anywhere of W3 D2 L1 suggests they are in good spirits right now.
There are all sorts of off-field problems at Bradford, and these have manifested in numerous managerial changes in the past couple of years and some hapless performances on the field.
The Bantams sit bottom of the League One table having suffered 11 defeats in their last 13 games, and they’ve shipped 16 goals in their last half-dozen outings.
Quite frankly, they won’t fancy this gig, while Aldershot will be sensing an upset.
Tranmere Rovers vs Oxford City: Tranmere to Win
Some teams make changes to their normal starting eleven for the cup competitions, but often there’s a case to be made for keeping the momentum going.
That must be a consideration for Tranmere, who are up into the play-off places in League Two after a fine run of four wins in six, which have included them putting four past Morecambe, five by Crawley and beating a decent Exeter side 2-0 last time out.
It’s hard to see Oxford City putting up much of a fight to an in-form outfit that sits two divisions above them. They have won just 1/7 on the road in National League South this term, and occupy 17th place in the division.
Angers vs Montpellier: Montpellier/Draw Double Chance
We actually backed Montpellier in the Double Chance market last week, and they did the business with a comprehensive 3-0 victory over Marseille.
That was their fourth win ‘to nil’ in five Ligue 1 matches, at a goal difference of +11. They are up to second place in the division, and fully deserving of such lofty heights.
Angers are without a win in five (W0 D2 L3), and have won just once on home soil all season.
Vitoria vs Bahia: Vitoria/Draw Double Chance
This appears to be one of those matches where the bookies haven’t quite seen the bigger picture.
At 17/10 and 13/8 respectively, the bookies are hinting that this is a 50/50 contest; surprising, really, given that Bahia have won just two of their seventeen away games this season!
Vitoria are no great shakes, but they have only lost 6/16 on home soil, and avoided defeat in three of their last four. With relegation matters on their mind – and Bahia safe in mid-table – the hosts are fancied to get a result.