We go in search of back-to-back winners on the acca after our success last weekend, which saw a bet of just under 5/1 pay off.
South Shields v Hereford
Saturday, 3pm
One common factor surrounding South Shields this season in that they possess a 100% winning record across all their home matches this season. They has helped them greatly in maintaining second spot in the league, with only goal difference denying them the number one position for now. It did also help them progress in the FA Cup, but defeat to lower league Leek last weekend ended their somewhat slim hopes of making Wembley in May. That was away from home however, and they will be suitably motivated to resume winning ways here.
They take on a Hereford side that have been enjoying some home comforts of their own in recent times. They are on a three-match winning streak, all being home fixtures. They are a little less reliable at home, and whilst they did get a great 2-1 victory at Chester last month, they’ve shipped at least two goals in all of their other away assignments. Hereford to South Shields is roughly a 5 hour journey, and for clubs at this level that is no easy thing to do.
It isn’t a wise thing to stand in the way of South Shields at the moment when playing at their 1st Cloud Arena home. When you also consider they are playing at this level after winning promotion last season, it just goes to show they’ve taken to life at this higher level like duck to water. They last lost here in March, and I fancy them to react strongly after a shock cup loss last time out. South Shields is an obvious selection to kick off our weekend acca.
Brighton v Liverpool
Sunday, 2pm
From National League North we head to the slightly higher profile Premier League to locate the second leg of our weekend acca. Brighton and Liverpool took in European action on Thursday, but both teams will be eager to enter the international break with three points against a strong opponent. The Brighton story continues, but the 6-1 setback to Aston Villa, along with other recent losses, has raised some doubts over their ability to juggle league and cup competitions. It could be argued Liverpool are one of the last teams they want to be facing right now.
On the other hand, arguably Brighton are the last side Liverpool wants to be playing at this moment! When Brighton click, they are more than a match for any Premier League side. Let us not forget that The Reds have lost on their last two visits to The Amex Stadium, although they have managed to pinch Alexis Mac Allister to aid their own cause. There were obvious excuses for their narrow defeat to Tottenham last weekend, but the manner of their performance despite the red cards pleased Jurgen Klopp. They had won seven in succession before that, so there won’t be too much panic.
I do worry about Brighton at the moment and their inability to keep clean sheets just cannot be ignored. For all they’re normally good for a goal, they are facing a Liverpool side that has been scoring for fun this season. Tactically, this could be a game that doesn’t suit them in that respect, especially on the back of a tough trip to Marseille on Tuesday. Over 1.5 Liverpool Goals is the second part of our acca, with the opening day draw at Chelsea and that Tottenham episode being the only times in league action that hasn’t paid out this season.
Young Boys v Basel
Sunday, 3:30pm
Ask any individual with a footballing influence and the two teams that naturally come to mind when thinking of Swiss football are Young Boys and Basel. It remains the biggest game on paper that this league has to offer, but in recent times it hasn’t been the top of the table clash that it had usually been before. Young Boys remain the dominant side in terms of winning recent league titles, but Zurich are two points ahead of them at the top of the table for now, therefore it is key them claim three points over their rivals on Sunday.
As for Basel, they have seemingly fallen off a cliff in recent times as they are a shadow of the team they once was. You may think finishing 5th as they did last season isn’t so much of a disaster, but this is a 12-team league remember. It was their first time since 2008/09 when not finishing in the top-two. They’re certainly going through a transitional period, and a series youngsters signing means it could be short-term pain for long-term gain over the next year or two. Still, they’ll be up for this game, and will look to catch a Young Boys side out that had to travel to Belgrade in midweek, where they conceded late to draw 2-2 with Crvena Zvezda.
The problem is only goal difference is keeping Basel off the bottom of the table, and have one league win to their name this season. They last won an away league match in April, whilst 2016 was the last time they went away to Young Boys and won. Even during their spell of dominance in this league they had troubles winning here. Since the start of the year, only RB Leipzig have left Wankdorf Stadium with three points, so Basel have little hope here you’d think. Over 1.5 Young Boys Goals forms the third selection in our acca and only twice have they failed to claim this in domestic action in 2023.
Sarpsborg v Rosenborg
Sunday, 4pm
Finally, we take in Sarpsborg against Rosenborg in the Norwegian Eliteserien on Sunday afternoon and it is a match that instantly jumped off the page for our weekend acca. There is not a lot to separate these two clubs in the table, and realistically neither are going to finish anywhere else besides their current mid-table berth. That may be more to the expectations of Sarpsborg, but Rosenborg are still the biggest club in the league in terms of stature, but they last won the league title in 2018.
We have seven rounds of games remaining in the league and with neither side really having anything to play for in terms of top-three or avoiding relegation, there isn’t any need for of their games to be too tight and cagey. To be fair, that hasn’t really been the case for Sarpsborg anyway, with 16 of their 23 league assignments this season featuring a minimum of three goals. Also, just one of Rosenborg’s last 11 overall has not involved at least three goals. Goals just has to be on the agenda here.
You won’t get rich backing Over 2.5 Goals in this game, but for acca purposes it is a perfect little number to throw in to boost our overall odds. Sarpsborg are actually ranked second in the league for xG, which may surprise many considering they’re in mid-table. They do play an open style, so that will help Rosenborg in being able to contribute to the goal count, too.
Tips
South Shields
Liverpool Over 1.5 Goals
Young Boys Over 1.5 Goals
Sarpsborg v Rosenborg Over 2.5 Goals
4/1 (Betway)
In December 2020 we sadly 
