Finally the international break is over and real football returns. This Saturday the Premier League and Championship are back, along with all of the other wonderful lower league games to get our hearts racing. I’ve been looking through the fixtures for this weekend to dig out another Team Goals Treble.
Southampton vs Leicester
I’m starting in the Premier League as Southampton take on Leicester in one of the many 3PM kick offs. You can’t really deny the fact that Leicester’s form this season has been pretty incredible under Ranieri.
Sitting pretty in 5th and with Jamie Vardy absolutely flying at the moment, Leicester are scoring goals for fun and it’s pretty hard to back against them scoring again this weekend at St Mary’s. But as well as Leicester’s incredible scoring record so far this season which only Man City have bettered, they have also conceded 15 goals in their 8 games, more than all but 3 sides in the top flight and by some distance the most goals of any top half side.
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The Foxes have played 10 games in all competitions this season and have conceded in every single one of those. Away from home they’ve played 5 games, scoring and conceding in all 5 but when you consider that the majority of their opposition have been on the weaker end of the league or even lower league teams, Southampton could really be the first class side that Ranieri has had to cope with on his sides’ travels this season.
The Saints have been in incredible scoring form as of late too. 14 goals in their last 4 games, 2 of which were against Man United and Chelsea show that Koeman has his side firing on all cylinders recently and with Pelle having scored 3 in his last 3 in the league and also finding the winning goal for Italy against Norway in the week, he will almost definitely be a threat to a somewhat shaky Leicester defence.
In the league, Southampton have scored 2 or more goals in their last 3 games in front of a home crowd with Pelle contributing 3 goals. The Saints stuck 2 past Leicester here last season in a 2-0 win, and though with the confidence running through Leicester’s camp I would expect them to find the net this time around, I really can’t see their defence stopping Southampton finding a few goals.
BET: Southampton Over 1.5 Team Goals at 4/5 with SkyBet
Wigan vs Colchester
Two sides lingering around mid-table meet at the DW Stadium this weekend and I’m backing the hosts to find the net a couple of times against a Colchester side who have really struggled defensively so far this season.
The visitors have conceded more goals than any other side in League One this season, shipping 22 goals in 12 games and away from home they’ve conceded a whopping 16 in 6. They’re yet to keep a clean sheet on their travels this season in any competition and have conceded 2 or more goals in 6 of 7 away games in league and cup.
This Saturday they travel to Wigan who will be looking to build on an unbeaten home record in League One, something which could be vital if they are to secure life back in The Championship come may. They’ve been finding the net regularly as of late on the road since a 0-0 draw in their last outing here against top of the league Walsall and I believe they can carry that form back to their home fans.
Here at The DW they’ve scored in 4 of their 6 games, scoring 2 or more in 3 of those, which is hardly a stunning record I know, but the games where they failed to score were against Walsall who boast the best defensive record in the league and Doncaster who have the 7th best defense. The only real comparable result against a similar defense as Colchester was a 2-2 home draw against Millwall who have conceded 21 goals in their 11 games versus Colchester’s 22 in 12.
The two sides haven’t met in 12 years, but maybe an omen worth noting is that Wigan have scored 2 or more goals in their last 3 home meetings with Colchester.
BET: Wigan Over 1.5 Team Goals at Evens with SkyBet
Middlesbrough vs Fulham
For my final selection I’m heading to The Championship as high flying Middlesbrough aim to move top of the pile with a win against Fulham this weekend. The hosts have been pretty convincing at home this season with 12 points from a possible 15. The only blemish on that record was a shock 0-1 loss to Bristol City, but that result aside, they have scored 2 or more goals in all 4 of their other home games and have also scored 2 or more in 5 of their last 6 home and away.
Their forwards have all been chipping in as well with Kike, Fabbrini, Stuani and Nugent all finding the net 3 times each, a bonus for us at it means we’re not just relying on 1 player having a good game this weekend.
This weekend they welcome Fulham to the Riverside Stadium and with the 3rd worst away defence of any team in the league and having failed to keep a clean sheet in any of their 5 away games this season, it’s pretty easy to see why this selection makes my treble.
Another bonus for us is that Fulham have also scored in all 5 of their away league games this term, meaning Middlesbrough are likely to need 2 goals if they are to win this one. Boro scored 5 goals in 2 games against Fulham last season and it wouldn’t surprise me if they were to score at least 2 today.
BET: Middlesbrough Over 1.5 Team Goals at 8/13 with SkyBet
A £20 Bet on the treble returns £116 with SkyBet
