IT'S a disjointed weekend card with more English games being played on Friday than Saturday because it's Easter weekend.
So for that reason I'm putting up a Friday Super Single shortlist with a full card of League 1 and League 2 plus some Championship and Conference matches.
In Scotland the only game is St Mirren v Celtic while there are games in top European leagues including Monaco v St Etienne and Eibar v Rayo Vallecano as well as our old favourite games in the Jupiler League.
So here is my Friday shortlist from my first look at the card taking into account form and stats but not team news. Any thoughts on these or about your own selections let us know.
Super Single shortlist
BIRMINGHAM v Rotherham
Brighton v NORWICH
Millwall v CHARLTON
CREWE v Crawley
DONCASTER v Bradford
Oldham v BRISTOL CITY
Luton v EXETER
St Mirren v CELTIC -2
Eibar v RAYO
Helmond v De Graafschap over 3.5 goals
In December 2020 we sadly 
Ill be hoping you put up a super single list for Saturday and ill be expecting you to have CRUSADERS included on that list.
Why? Crusaders who sit top of the Irish lg table play in what at first looks a tricky away game at second placed Linfield but ill be all over them like a hens @ss on an egg.They have won 12/13 lg games losing none,only lost 1/20 lg games and are enbeaten in last 13 aways winning 7/8 aways.
Linfield lost last lg game 1-0 away to Glenavon whilst Crusaders won 5-1 away Coleraine.
Crusaders have scored in every away game this season
{16 games} scoring 42 times averaging 2.63 goals in those away games and have scored an amazing 18 times in last 5 aways.
Lets take a look at latest meetings this season Crusaders have won last 2 by a scoreline of 2-1 other being a 2-2 draw and have scored 2 in each of last 4 meetings.
There is no price available yet for them to score 2+ goals which is my favoured market in this one but i shall check again come friday.
I fancy Crusaders to win this one which may not be popular with a contribtor called ‘only one team in ulster’ who is a huge blues fan and i shall be asking his opinion.
Back: Crusaders to win @ a too good to be true 8/5
Crusaders draw no bet @ 5/6 generally {add to doubles/trebles etc}
Crusaders to win and Btts @ 11/4
Crusaders to score over 1.5 TG’s @ whatever the price.
Good Luck.
My championship picks. Posted these a few days back.
DERBY VS WATFORD
First game I like the look of is Derby vs Watford…..this one screams goals.
H2H reads as: 1-2, 4-2,2-3,2-1,5-1,1-2.
Derby sit 6th in the championship after a run of games which have not seen them win since February, losing 3 and drawing 2 of their last 5 games.
Watford on the other hand have been in fine form bar a some what surprising loss at home to Ipswich and sit 2nd hot on the heels of Bournemouth for top spot.
Key stats here are the H2H’s which point to goals in this fixture. Derby have won the last 3 h2hs 1-2,4-2,2-3 and are bookies favourites to nick a win at home. I don’t think they should be favourites here despite a good h2h record, yes they will want to win at home and to try and gain some ground for playoffs and will need to pick up max points. However I would be more inclined on a Watford win based on the momentum they have and the added boost that they have firepower and motivation to go for top spot of the championship. Add the fact that Watford have scored in all of their last 5 away games and have scored at least 2 goals in each.
If Derby play how they did against Wolves last Friday they will not stand a chance. I can’t remember the name of the Derby fan on here who is usually quite good at providing a prospective but it would be good to hear his views on this one.
My main bets are:
BTTS & 2.5 MATCH GOALS @ 6/5 B365 – this bet would have landed in the last 6 H2Hs
WATFORD OVER 1.5 TEAM GOALS
7/4 B365
– excellent price in my opinion, as stated Watford have scored at least 2 goals in their last 5 away games so this stands a chance and at this price I’m happy to take a chance given that this fixture has a tendency for goals.
IPSWICH VS BOURNEMOUTH
Ipswich have been strong at home this season with 63% of their wins coming on home turf.Now they have to contend with Bournemouth who sit top of the championship.
I like Ipswich to score against Bournemouth, we all know Bournemouth can score goals but they also lack the ability to defend and therefore concede quite regularly – proven by Bournemouths last 6 away games which have seen btts come in.
Also looking at the H2Hs the last 3 H2Hs read as follows (2-2, 2-2, 1-1) the reverse fixture finishing this season finishing 2-2. Ipswich are a tough team to beat at home any day, and I actually fancy them to get at least another point or even the win at home buoyed by their away win against Watford the previous week.
PICK: BTTS YES 4/5 B365
FULHAM VS BRENTFORD
Fulham welcome Brentford park at Craven Cottage in 20th vs 6th place.
Key stats are the fact that Brentfords last 5 have seen BTTS land. Fulham have scored in 5 of the last 6 home games, with a blank at home against Leeds.
Playmaker Bryan Ruiz has travelled to the Americas with his Costa Rica side for their double friendlies (Thursday and Tuesday) so could be feeling the impact, so team news is vital. Added to this defender Shaun Hutchinson is sidelined after being red carded in Fulhams away win to Huddersfield for a handball.
Brentford have the 2nd highest BTTS record in the Championship at 62% (27 out of 39 games have seen BTTS) so there is a very strong chance we will see this bet land at Craven Cottage. The reverse fixture finished 2-1 to Brentford and I reckon Brentford could do the double against Fulham but not without conceding.
There is no real value in BTTS at 8/13 so im taking btts and over 2.5 match goals based on the fact Brentford can score and concede in equal measure.
BTTS and over 2.5 match goals @ evens
OVER 1.5 MATCH GOAL TREBLE:
Ipswich vs Bournemouth (74% v 87% where games have gone over 1.5 match goals) preview posted above
Derby vs Watford (85% v 77% where games have gone over 1.5 match goals) separate preview also posted (goals expected)
Fulham vs Brentford (79% V 79% where games have gone over 1.5 match goals)
Treble pays around evens
Championship away double small stake
BRENTFORD
NORWICH
double pays 3.98/1 b365
Mr Fixit I like really like the look of Norwich away to Brighton And Brentford away at Fulham. Will be on the double as above and two singles.
From a quick overview, stand out fixtures to me are:
The mighty boro v Wigan
Millwall v CHARLTON
Oldham v BRISTOL CITY
PRESTON v Rochdale
Yeovil v CHESTERFIELD
Cambridge v BURY
SOUTHEND v Mansfield
STEVENAGE v Tranmere
WYCOMBE v Oxford
BRISTOL ROVERS v Chester
FOREST GREEN v Aldershot
Team news, h2h and other stats will have to be
MFC, I really like Charlton but it’s a derby and Millwall are fighting for their lives. At evens Bristol City have to be the favourites at the moment.
Looked at before a definite decision will be made
Norwich away at Brighton look too strong @ Evs, Derby and Ipswich Games Both teams to score. Decent little treble.
Mr F…..I’m thinking Bury for SS Friday. Form side in league 2 and playing Cambridge who haven’t won in the last 6 games and haven’t won at home in 7
Alex, Bury definitely have a chance.
After looking over the Premiership games on Saturday and thinking I don’t think I’ll bother I then trawled through the football league programme tomorrow and have been left thinking the same…Very tough card.
I’ll be on an over 0.5 goal accumulator and maybe a small stake BTTS accy.
Off to Nottingham to watch Wolves and we’re decent value at 11/5. Think it will be a tight game but I think we can nick this 1-0. A night out in Nottingham to follow on the back of three points would be lovely. May have a small bet for some spending money afterwards ;)
Hi Mr Fix It,
What website do you use to determine your stats for your draw picks? Any advice on how you come to your decision on what makes a good draw bet?
Thanks
James, I tend to pick draws going by form then have a look at previous h2h in the RFO or Soccerway. However, draws aren’t the way to profit – it’s more a fun bet.
Mr F. Before seeing the shortlist thread I looked at the Celtic price to score 3 TG’s. That’s 1011 betfair, which I thought was fair enough.
Then seen you have them on the shortlist -2. That price, with the same firm, is 29/20. Considering the home and away forms of the two teams I think it could be a rough old night for St Mirren. With the firepower Celtic have up front the -2 looks good. At a good price also.
Craigyboy take advantage before our lot come and take 3 on Monday :) M.O.T
No chance Gaz! We’ve upgraded our waste of space match winner at Elland Road Leon Clarke to a superstar in Benik Afobe. ;)
Much better side to the one that beat you earlier on in the season!
Should be a humdinger of a game though…always a good atmosphere against your lot!
James use footstats for form a useful site I’ve used for a while
Nec Nijmegen -1 at 21/20 at home to Sparta Rotterdam
HT/FT is 10/11
Prices are bet365
Just spotted both -1 and HT/FT are 11/10 with Ladbrokes
My Friday shortlist as of now is –
Birmingham Preston Stevenage Shrewsbury F green Celtic-1
Norwich Ipswich Chesterfield games btts
And Derby match over 2.5
Not sure about Doncaster as a super single, against Yorkshire rivals Bradford.
Even though we did beat them midweek, it was still a battle.
I can see plenty of hard tackle,s going in.
Again, a lot depends on team news!
James, a good draw bet, over the years is a side that should win away, say, 5-4, or 11-10, which becomes a draw, or local derbies of course, which are tight matches.
It is the same in Scotland, but a lot of people in England, do not know what are local derbies in Scotland, for eg Falkirk V East Stirling.
I only know, because I worked once with a bloke from Motherwell, he told me all the Scottish lower division local derbies.
wouldn’t trust Birmingham whatsoever,rotherham are fighting for their lives and we aren’t a good side.
to be fair rowett has produced a minor miracle after the shambles clark left behind but we don’t score many and are full of average journeymen imo could be a tight 1-1 draw maybe although anything could happen with blues!