SATURDAY’S 3PM KICK-OFF ACCA
Nottingham Forest v Wolves – Wolves and the Draw
Brentford v Sheffield United – Brentford to Win
Burnley v Brighton – Brighton to Win
Man City v Luton – Under 2.5 Goals
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
We’re currently in the middle of peak football.
The relegation battle is live, the title race is active, the Champions League is causing teams to split their priorities and nobody has a bloody clue which players are bothered and which players see an opportunity at a sun holiday in roughly five weeks.
Yes, five weeks. That’s how far away all of this is from being decided. Great, isn’t it?
Now, while the broadcasters that be are flexing their muscles around which games belong where and how many times Jurgen Klopp complains about early kickoffs, we’ve been given a reprieve to be able to focus on multiple games of genuine substance at 3pm on a Saturday.
You want me to back Nottingham Forest to win a game of football at that price? I understand that Wolves might be slightly better at home, but they’ve picked up wins against Chelsea and Spurs away from home.
Now, I might hear you suggest that it’s because they’re able to play on the break and that’s why they’re so effective.
But this is now a time where Forest have to attack teams if they stand a chance of staying up. This can play into Wolves’ hands, or should that be paws?
There’s definitely a level of risk that comes with this selection, I admit.
Sheffield United’s only positive away results this season have come with some caveats though, and even on the face of it, they’re few and far between.
The draw at lowly Bournemouth was spurred on by a missed Solanke penalty, that 3-1 win over Luton was against a fellow relegation struggler, the away point at Villa Park saw them fail to hang on despite taking the lead in the 87th minute and the point at Brighton was courtesy of an own goal.
Brentford are the only side left against whom The Blades can pick up a league double against. I just can’t see that happening.
I think the final straw for me when it comes to backing Burnley was seeing them lose to Everton last week.
A club mired in controversy, in a ground where everyone kind of hates them, under severe pressure and tonnes of distractions, still managed to beat them and keep a clean sheet.
I’m fairly confident Burnley are gone and even if they did try and go more direct now to salvage results, I’m not sure they’re capable of it thanks to the grand blueprint that Guardiola Light has deployed. Away win.
Order of the day for City: Win and don’t give Luton a sniff on the break.
Man City have to face Real Madrid four days after this fixture which means we’re about to see peak Julian Alvarez time instead of the high-rollers.
Without Erling Haaland, Phil Foden, and Bernardo Silva, their movement is just a half-step slower, and knowing full well that they can win this game without exerting themselves once they keep it tight, there’s no way they’ll concede, nor hammer Luton.
SATURDAY’S 3PM KICK-OFF ACCA
Nottingham Forest v Wolves – Wolves and the Draw
Brentford v Sheffield United – Brentford to Win
Burnley v Brighton – Brighton to Win
Man City v Luton – Under 2.5 Goals
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