This Saturday’s football schedule serves up an array of intriguing prospects across the top leagues, as well as a number of great games from the FA Cup. We’ll be hoping to capitalise on the excitement with our BTTS treble, which pays out at over 4/1.
Six teams, and hopefully six goals (or more). You know the drill and here are our Saturday picks.
Crystal Palace v Southampton
Last weekend’s incredible 5-4 loss at Swansea sums up everything about Crystal Palace right now. They score goals but they cannot defend, and those frailties have cost them dearly. Frankly, there’s a good chance that a similar story will develop as they take on the Saints at Selhurst Park.
Southampton have struggled on the road, winning just one of six matches. Having said that, Claude Puel’s men do boast six goals in that period. More importantly, the visitors are returning to form after a few weeks of poor results. If they can unleash Charlie Austin in the box, scoring should not be an issue as the Saints look to go marching on.
Palace may have conceded 26 goals this term, including 10 at home, but they do also boast eight. The attacking qualities of Wilfried Zaha, Christian Benteke and Andros Townsend will always give them a good chance going forward while they will be desperate to make amends for last weekend’s late collapse.
Each of Palace’s last five have been BTTS winners. Even if they do end their losing streak here, another game of goals looks likely.
BTTS Yes @ 4/5
Sunderland v Leicester City
The champions may have secured a late win at home to Middlesbrough last weekend, but it’s impossible to overlook the difficulties that Claudio Ranieri’s men have faced on their travels. Even against rock bottom Sunderland, they shouldn’t expect to have things all their own way here.
Leicester are still without a win on their travels in the league. They can be optimistic about ending that run at the Stadium of Light, where they claimed an important 2-0 victory en route to last year’s title win, and will be hoping to see Jamie Vardy, Riyad Mahrez and Islam Silmani take advantage of a poor home defence.
Nonetheless, Sunderland are improving under David Moyes and should fancy their chances of scoring against a Foxes side that has leaked 16 in just six away games. The Black Cats hit three past Hull in their last home game too. Moreover, with Jermain Defoe in attack, they’ll always have a chance of finding the target.
Both teams have their defensive frailties, and we think that’ll show. Back both teams to score.
BTTS Yes @ 3/4
Carlisle United v Rochdale
Keith Curle’s Carlisle have been absolutely brilliant in League Two and nobody would be overly surprised if they cause an FA Cup upset against Rochdale. Either way, it’s a game that promises ample entertainment for the neutral.
The League Two leaders are unbeaten at home, winning seven of 10 matches and scoring 22 times in the process. Although Rochdale are performing well in League One, the visitors have shipped 19 on the road. With this in mind, the Cumbrians will at least be expected to score.
Dale are fifth in League One, though, and Keith Hill will want Steve Davies and co. to show their quality against supposedly inferior opposition. While it’s hard to see them keeping a shutout, especially if they play like they did against Gillingham last weekend, the visitors will be confident about securing a replay or better.
With a place on offer in round three on offer to the winners, both sets of players will be well up for this one. Expect goals from them both.
BTTS Yes @ 4/6
A £10 treble returns £52.60
