NEW! TEAMtalk's Numbers Game

14 October 2011 11:45
TEAMtalk's Numbers Game is back with a goalscorer who has scored seven times in 10 days and the value bet bids to maintain its 100% record.[LNB] TEAMtalk's Matty Briggs brings you statistical pointers, views from Sky Bet's trading room, steamers, hot-shots, banker bets, bogey teams, value punts, news from the treatment room and famous last words ahead of all the crucial weekend matches in the Premier League and Football League.[LNB]STEAMER[LNB]Finally, a return to top-flight action this weekend. It's been quiet on the Premier League betting front as yet, with Man Utd continuing to be solid favourites at around the 7/5 mark v Liverpool at Anfield.[LNB]There have been nibbles of support for Fulham at Stoke who are 11/4 into 5/2. Bolton (9/4) have also been backed to get back to winning ways at fellow strugglers Wigan.[LNB]BANKER[LNB]Short prices are few and far between this weekend, but Middlesbrough (5/6) to win at home to Millwall (100/30) is our banker. Boro are the only unbeaten team in the Championship and despite drawing their last three games 0-0, we fancy them to get back on track against a Millwall side who are eight league games without a win.[LNB]WHO'S HOT[LNB]Southend (10/11) have won their last five in League Two and should see off Morecambe (11/4) at Roots Hall.[LNB]AFC Wimbledon, Crawley and Sheffield Wednesday have all won four games on the spin. Wimbledon are 10/11 v Crewe at Gresty Road, Crawley are 8/11 at home to Shrewsbury and the Owls are 5/2 v Sheffield United at Bramall Lane on Sunday.[LNB]WHO'S NOT[LNB]Bolton (9/4) have lost their last six Premier League games and travel to Wigan (5/4).[LNB]Barnet have lost four on the bounce in League Two and their opponents Aldershot can be backed at 13/8 at Underhill.[LNB]TRADERS' VIEW[LNB]Sky Bet are expecting Tottenham (7/5) to struggle at Newcastle on Sunday, with doubts over two key goal threats in Emmanuel Adebayor and Rafael van der Vaart and "are happy to take them on at this price". [LNB]Arsenal look a weak 2/5 shot against an under-pressure Sunderland side at the Emirates on Sunday and we are hoping that this is our coupon buster this week.[LNB]And Sky Bet feel "Cardiff are short enough at even money and see visitors Ipswich continuing their recent revival".[LNB]BOGEY TEAMS [LNB]Norwich (6/5) have won nine and lost just one of their last 10 matches in all competitions at Carrow Road against Swansea (9/4).[LNB]Bristol City (6/4) have won 10 of the last 12 matches v Peterborough (7/4) ahead of Saturday's Ashton Gate tussle.[LNB]Ipswich (13/5) have won their last five v Cardiff (evens) and have won the last three 2-0.[LNB]Huddersfield (4/5) have lost just one of their last seven v Exeter (7/2). They meet at St James Park in League One.[LNB]VALUE BET [LNB]With Derby and Ipswich both obliging in recent weeks, Hull (12/5) look good value to win at struggling Brighton (11/10) on Saturday evening.[LNB]Brighton have conceded nine goals in their last three games and are four games without a league win. Hull, on the other hand, are in form and are six games unbeaten.[LNB]HOT-SHOTS [LNB]Jordan Rhodes is bang in form - netting seven goals in 10 days (two for Huddersfield and five for Scotland's Under-21s) - and he is 5/4 to score anytime v Exeter.[LNB]Wayne Rooney has blasted nine goals in his last six Premier League games and fresh from his red-card disgrace for England, he is 5/4 in the football betting to score anytime v Liverpool.[LNB]Birmingham's on-loan Chris Wood has scored seven goals in last five league games and he is priced at 7/4 to score v Leicester at St Andrews on Sunday.[LNB]Sheffield Wednesday hot-shot Gary Madine is 7/4 to net against derby rivals United after scoring seven goals in last six league games.[LNB]Jack Midson has scored in his last four league games for AFC Wimbledon and he is 11/8 to bag against Crewe.[LNB]TREATMENT ROOM [LNB]Coventry's Gary McSheffrey, Roy O'Donovan, Joe Murphy, Martin Cranie (ribs) and Sammy Clingan (back) are all doubts v Nottingham Forest at the Ricoh.[LNB]James McPake is still short of match fitness along with striker Cody McDonald and struggling Forest (6/4) might just fancy their chances.[LNB]FAMOUS LAST WORDS [LNB]Aldershot, who have won half of their away games, are 13/8 away at Barnet.[LNB]"I'm still in shock after the result," said Shots manager Dean Holdsworth after last week's 2-1 reverse by Macclesfield.[LNB]"When I see the opposition manager yet again telling me we should be out of sight, it's upsetting. [LNB]"When I look at the stats now, they tell me we've had 19 shots to their three."[LNB]Crewe are 11/4 at AFC Wimbledon.[LNB]"They didn't win easily and I actually thought we were the better side," said Alex boss Dario Gradi after last week's defeat by high-flying Southend.[LNB]"We created more chances than them but we didn't punish their mistakes while they they punished us for ours."[LNB]MK Dons are 8/11 at home to Bournemouth.[LNB]"I am devastated by what happened. We didn't turn up and the performance was not good enough," said Dons manager Karl Robinson after the defeat at Oldham.[LNB]"We are back at home on Saturday, back at our fortress, so let's get the rocket launchers out."[LNB]Let us know your views on the weekend's football betting action by posting a comment below.[LNB]You can follow Matty on Twitter at @mattpbriggs.

Source: Team_Talk