Blue Square’s Jon Sykes is back to give us his insight into this weekend’s Football League action.
Now the farcical January transfer window has been firmly closed shut for another few months it’s time to concentrate on who’ll be in the frame come the end of the season. More active than most were Championship leaders Newcastle United. After a long, tortuous two minutes (seems like it) in the depths of the Championship Mike Ashley has appeared to dip deep into his discounted tracksuit bottom pockets. Leon Best and Wayne Routledge are amongst those brought in to ensure the squad is good enough to continue their workmanlike progression towards the Premier League even though they may be surplus to requirements later in the year.
Avid readers of this blog (of which I’m not sure there’s many) will know my scepticism surrounding the Magpies ability to fly away from the rest. Tonight they face Cardiff City in another game which could help them prove their title credentials. Now, Newcastle’s home record is the strongest in the league with the Geordies yet to taste defeat in front of the Geordie faithful. Don’t discount the Bluebirds from performing well in this one though. Thirty goals away from home suggest Dave Jones doesn’t exactly like to settle for a point. In fact, no team has won more away games in the Championship than Cardiff. To continue that form at St James’ wouldn’t be as surprising as many may think.
There will be goals in this one, that’s for sure. Look at markets like over 2.5 goals at 10/11 and both teams to score at 4/5. It’s also 6/1 that old boy Michael Chopra adds to his already sizeable season tally. That could certainly be worth a pop, with the each-way bet in mind if you go with my logic that this will be a bit of a goalfest.
Elsewhere, West Brom have moved back into the promotion places after taking advantage of Forest’s slip up in their local Derby with erm, Derby. Now, sharp-eyed readers of the blog (still not convinced there’s many) will know where my loyalties lie in the tussle just below Newcastle. For those that don’t let’s just say I wasn’t pleased our usually superb PR man Alan Alger tipped Forest so strongly. Thanks for putting the mockers on us Al! It was a bit of a kick in the teeth, or perhaps leg if Nigel Clough’s in your nearest melee.
West Brom travel to Plymouth and should be strongly backed to dispose of Paul Mariner’s troubled Pilgrims. Roman Bednar seems to be becoming a very effective weapon and with Ismael Miller coming back to fitness quickly they look stronger than when Forest humiliated them a few weeks ago. They also seem to be getting a huge slice of luck with four penalties in their last four games being converted by Graham Dorrans. He’s 15/2 to score first and with luck going the Baggies way at the moment he could be a good option.
Along with West Brom, fellow promotion hopefuls Forest and Swansea complete this week’s enhanced treble. Its 9/2 they all win their respective games. The Swans should see off Darren Ferguson’s Preston. My only inkling is that Forest will find their home game with Wednesday that bit tougher than recent games. Alan Irvine has boosted the Owls and will be looking to make a statement at the City Ground. Billy Davies knows this game is of vital importance though. Forest’s acquisition committee were unsuccessful in the transfer market and the wee Scot will be disappointed. That said, he’ll have his current players well up for this. The Reds will want to get out of the blocks quickly and I think a goal before the 29th minute at 5/6 is an unusual bet but more than likely.
Quickly over to League’s One and Two and this could be the week that Norwich’s promotion push takes a bit of a hit. Away at Millwall, they’ll have to defeat a side that are strong at home with only one loss at the New Den all season. I fancy the 7/4 about a Millwall win here.
Promotion hopefuls Bournemouth are 4/6 to beat relegation threatened Cheltenham in League Two. If you were to put both sides relative positions into a Premier League game the difference would be far greater so you’ve got to back the Cherries here. By the way, it appears I was right after all about the Notts County investment (or lack of it) – keep avoiding the Magpies to thrive.