Something For The Weekend?

I managed to work through some numbers for a few promising looking games on Saturday and all being well I'll be able to post some thoughts on the games featuring Liverpool and Manchester United on Sunday. The following games are the pick of the bunch. All games are 3:00pm kick offs unless stated; Strategy With No Name applies unless mentioned in the preview.


Barclays Premiership
Wigan v Bolton
Looks like a low scoring game and as there's only been a decisive result in six of the last ten games between these two at Wigan and the last two games were goalless draws, then a draw is highly likely.
Recommendation: under 2.5 goals

nPower Championship
Coventry v Barnsley
Slightly trappy look to it as Barnsley haven't won at Coventry since August 1923, but the Sky Blues have won eight of the last ten league meetings between the two when they've been at home. A Coventry is win good value, but the goals market should be avoided.

Preston v Crystal Palace
Tight looking game between two sides at the wrong end of the table, which could go either way. I think this is a percentage call, so only using the strategy with no name for this game might be the way forward. Just over 70% of the games in the Championship this season have been either home wins or draws.

Norwich v Middlesbrough
Second half to have most goals - not difficult to see why either. Norwich have scored nine of the eleven goals at home after half time and one of the reasons Middlesbrough have the worst away record in the Championship is that they collapse defensively in the second half. Seven of the twelve goals they've let in away from home have come in after the break. Could be worth investigating a draw/Norwich double result but I've got to run some errands and I haven't got the time.


nPower League 2
Rotherham United v Wycombe Wanderers
Interesting game from League 2 - Rotherham are unbeaten at home and Wycombe haven't lost away yet, but the visitors have never beaten Rotherham in the league and have trouble scoring there - only two goals in six games in South Yorkshire. A tight, low scoring game looks likely but although Rotherham look the better bet to win the game, there's a far better than average chance of a draw as well, so I'm going to play it safe and recommend under 2.5 goals.