THIS might be slightly controversial but I'm starting the weekend's line with Wigan v Liverpool.
I'm aware Wigan's record against the Reds isn't great but they put on their best display of the season at Reading last week and things are looking up for Roberto Martinez's men.
The 3-0 win followed a 4-1 romp at Hudderfield to reach the FA Cup quarter-finals and Wigan have netted 12 goals in their last five games.
So no problem putting the ball in the net and now facing a side struggling to keep clean sheets. Take away the 5-0 romp against weakened Swansea and Liverpool have conceded exactly two goals in their last three Premier League outings.
With Luis Suarez, Daniel Sturridge (doubtful) and Steven Gerrard threatening at the other end they're always likely to score but so should Wigan.
Add the Premier League clash between Swansea and Newcastle. There should be a party atmosphere at the Liberty Stadium after Swansea's 5-0 win against Bradford in the Capital One Cup Final at Wembley.
Swansea have smashed nine in two games – if you ignore their weakened side's loss at Liverpool – while Newcastle have scored 10 in their last four league games – with both netting in each of them.
Next up it's Barnsley v Bolton. Barnsley's unbeaten run ended last week when they went down 5-3 at Bristol City but they've scored 17 in six games and the last five matches have seen both on target.
Bolton have won three out of five under Dougie Freedman and four of them have seen both score. They will want to extend their unbeaten run to six at Oakwell and this should be a decent game.
Bristol Rovers v Burton is a League Two game between two sides bang in form. Rovers had netted in seven successive games before losing at Northampton in midweek.
And they'll have great memories of last season's home meeting with Burton when they won 7-1. A repeat of that is extremely unlucky as Burton are flying having won four in a row and netted 13 goals in four games.
Complete the line with Doncaster v Hartlepool in League One. Doncaster have steadied the ship after the loss of Dean Saunders are unbeaten in three with both scoring in all of them.
They welcome a resurgent Hartlepool who took some time to get going under John Hughes but who are now six points clear of the foot of the table and just six points adrift of safety. Pool have scored seven goals in their last three games and should bag at least one here.
Wigan v Liverpool
Swansea v Newcastle
Barnsley v Bolton
Bristol Rovers v Burton
Doncaster v Hartlepool
Perm any 4 and all 5 (6 bets)
Pays a biggest £157.10 to a £10 stake at Stan James
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Sunderland-Fulham
Everton-Reading
Coventry-Swindon
Aldershot-Gillingham
Cambridge-ForestGreen
Sheffield Wednesday v Nottingham Forest
Saturday 2 March, 17:20 GMT
Live on Sky Sports 2
An intriguing contest is in prospect in the early evening televised clash at Hillsborough with Dave Jones’ much improved side up against a Forest team full of self-belief since the return of Billy Davies.
Wednesday
The home side are now unbeaten in their last six league games, a run which has lifted them five points clear of the relegation zone. Jones’ men are solid at the back; they have conceded fewer goals then any side in the bottom half of the table, and while their direct style is not pretty to watch, confidence must be high. Recent home wins over Brighton and Crystal Palace were among their best performances of the season, while Leroy Lita has scored in each of the last three home games making his signing on loan from Swansea look like an inspired move.
Forest
Davies’ return to the City Ground has reignited Forest’s play-off hopes, with a 6-1 demolition of Huddersfield followed by an impressive 2-0 victory at Charlton last Saturday – their first win on the road since November. With the home form remaining solid, a few more decent results on the road and they will have a great chance of a late run for a top six spot. Currently they can be backed at 12.0 for promotion if you fancy their chances.
Radoslaw Majewski responded to Davies’ call for more goals from midfield with a hat-trick against the Terriers and another goal at the Valley, while Andy Reid remains a class apart on the ball in this division-only his portly make-up has prevented him from enjoying a successful career in the Premiership.
Under/Over 2.5 Goals
Forest are on a roll and first thoughts were to back them at the 2.82 available to keep the pressure on the sides above them. However, Wednesday’s recent impressive form can’t be ignored, especially at home and with Lita giving them a real threat up front, this game is hard to call. The home side’s strong defensive record is probably the reason that Over 2.5 Goals can be backed at 2.12 but I’m expecting an open game with the visitors sure to come looking for the win.
To Score
Lita certainly has the bit between his teeth. He is a proven operator at this level and with Forest’s strength in attack rather than at the back, there’s every chance he’ll find the net for a fourth home game in a row.
Back Over 2.5 Goals at 2.12
Back Leroy Lita to score at 2.88
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Swansea 2.22 v Newcastle 3.5; The Draw 3.65
The big question here is will Swansea suffer a League Cup hangover? The last two teams to win the League Cup (Liverpool and Birmingham) lost their first league games after lifting the trophy, and Michael Laudrup’s side could well extend that stat against an improving and attacking Newcastle side.
Alan Pardew’s men have conceded exactly two goals in each of their last three games but have won two of those matches, while they have taken nine points from their last four matches after taking only seven from the previous 13.
Back Over 2.5 goals @ 1.88
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Milesey
Southampton 1.91 v QPR 4.6; The Draw 3.75
Queens Park Rangers head into this weekend’s game with just two wins on the board. Only one of the three previous teams to win two or fewer of their opening 27 games in the top-flight have avoided relegation (West Brom in 2004-05) and only two of the last 11 sides to win three or fewer have ultimately survived.
However, the Rs do have a decent record against Southampton, with the Saints only managing five wins in the last 17 league encounters between the teams.
QPR have scored only four goals in their last 10 Premier League games, and that is obviously something that must improve if they are to have any chance of surviving. It’s time for Harry Redknapp to throw caution to the wind and go for the jugular in these games.
Back Over 2.5 goals @ 1.95
Milesey ( BETFAIR )
Milesey, you have just backed up my Bonkers Bet in a way.
Stoke v West Ham
These might not be two of the most pure footballing sides in the Premier League, but nonetheless I expect them to serve-up a goal-scoring treat for us this weekend.
Stoke have been on a poor run of late, having won just two of their last 13. But the Potters have been there and got the t-shirt when it comes to Premier League survival, and I expect them to put in a strong finish to the season, starting this Saturday. And even though they might not have been racking up the points lately, it certainly hasn’t stemmed the flow of goals. Stoke’s last five home matches were all high-scoring, producing on average more than four goals per game.
And it’s a similar story for West Ham. They too are in poor form and arrive without a point from their last five away games. Four of those five matches were high-scoring, with the Hammers conceding 13 goals in the process. That clearly isn’t the kind of form you want to take to the Britannia Stadium, and for me goals look absolutely inescapable in this one.
Back Over 2.5 goals @ 2.30
Milesey ( BETFAIR )
3 fold
Barnsley v Bolton
Middlesborough v Cardiff
Notts county v Carlisle
What do you mean perm any 4 and all 5 (6 bets)?
I like oxford u vs. port vale as a BTTS and over 3.5 today
Matt it basically means 5 fourfolds and 1 fivefold…so if you get 1 wrong you still get a return
Thanks John, I understand now however in a little confused how to place that bet?
BTS treble
Barnsley vs Bolton
Cheltenham vs Afc Wimbledon
Notts C vs Carlisle
Super Single
Sundeland
Good luck to you all
Oxford BTTS already