Wigan are flying. They’ve been playing slick, attractive football for several weeks now, and it’s a style that’s been producing goals.
With Wigan playing with aplomb and Fulham prepared to entertain, there should be goals at Craven Cottage, says the Inside Man. Meanwhile, with their manager's job on the line, Liverpool will be determined to score some goals at Anfield.
Saturday
Fulham v Wigan
My banker bet of the weekend goes to two sides that are bang in form and full of goals.
Fulham sit tenth in the league and have nothing to play for but pride, yet they are adventurous enough to keep providing good entertainment. Win or lose, seven of Fulham's last nine games at Craven Cottage have been high-scoring.
Wigan, meanwhile, are flying. They've been playing slick, attractive football for several weeks now, and it's a style that's been producing goals. Incredibly, 11 of the Latics' last 12 away games have had more than two goals, as they've have hit their opponents hard and fast on the break through the likes of Jean Beausejour and Victor Moses.
With Fulham's home fixtures averaging above three goals per game all season, and with Clint Dempsey on a goalscoring roll, Fulham look sure to contribute to an open game. As do Wigan who with that five point margin over the drop- zone should now be able to play with more freedom and confidence than at any point on the season.
Recommended Bet
Back Over 2.5 goals @ 1.8910/11
Ipswich v Millwall
In this fixture lies a warning about what can happen when two teams find themselves with little to play for. It's happened a thousand times before. Two mid-table sides close to the end of the season who just turn-up, pocket their pay, and go through the motions. In this type of fixture, 0-0 is always a serious runner.
That's not to say that will happen here, but it has to be a consideration given recent form. At the end of what's been a fairly high-scoring season for 15th place Ipswich, it seems like the wheels have suddenly fallen off the Tractor Boys, who've had five of their last six games go under two-and-a-half goals.
And it's a similar story for 17th placed Millwall who, following a run of eight consecutive goal-packed games, suddenly hit a brick wall, with five of their last six matches producing under two-and-a-half goals.
With both teams league campaign's grinding to a halt, low on goals looks the inevitable call here.
Recommended Bet
Back Under 2.5 goals @ 1.9420/21
Sunday
Liverpool v West Brom
It looks like there's value to be had in backing goals at Anfield this Sunday. To start with, West Brom look ideal opponents to produce a game filled with goals. Already safe from relegation, the Baggies have been consistently good value on their travels, with 10 of their 17 away games having produced three or more goals.
Liverpool, for their part, have been quite conservative, with 10 of their 16 home matches having gone under the goals mark. So, an apparent stand-off. Well, perhaps, if it weren't for a recent loosening of the shackles that is. With Kenny Dalglish's job on the line, and Liverpool needing not only to win, but to do so in style to placate increasingly restless fans and board members, things have taken a recent up-turn in terms of goals.
A Keystone-Cops style win at Blackburn last week made it 16 goals in just Liverpool's last six games. And with the Reds still desperate to put on a show, goals look a certainty come Sunday, it's just a case of how many.
Recommended Bet
Back Over 2.5 goals @ 1.738/11
Valencia v Real Betis
This could be a much more difficult game for the home side than at first appears. While they may have thumped Rayo Vallecano 4-1 a fortnight ago, the fact is that most sides thump Vallecano at home, and some by even bigger margins. The reality for Valencia is, that game aside, they've scored just three goals in their last five matches.
The goals drying up will be of serious concern to a team that sits in a coveted Champions League spot by a margin of just one point. This lack of firepower has already proved costly, with Valencia recording just one win from the last six games. For them the rot has to stop here.
To do that will be far from easy. Next up, they face Real Betis, a side who've conceded, on average, just 1.5 goals per game away from home all season. Moreover, five of Real's last six matches have been under the goals mark. Unbeaten in those last six, Real should prove a tough obstacle for a faltering Valencia.
Recommended Bet
Back Under 2.5 goals @ 2.285/4
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