NEW TEAMtalks Numbers Game

Last updated : 14 October 2011 By Team Talk

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.

STEAMER

Finally a return to top flight action this weekend but its been quiet on the Premier League betting front as yet, Man Utd continue to be solid favourites at around the 7/5 mark v Liverpool

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.

BANKER

Short prices are few and far between this weekend, but Middlesbrough (5/6) to beat 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.

WHO'S HOT

Southend (10/11) have won their last five in League Two and should see off Morecambe (11/4).

AFC Wimbledon, Crawley and Sheffield Wednesday have all won four games on the spin. Wimbledon are 10/11 v Crewe, Crawley are 8/11 v Shrewsbury and the Owls are 5/2 v Sheffield United on Monday.

WHO'S NOT

Bolton (9/4) have lost their last six Premier League games and travel to Wigan (5/4).

Barnet have lost four on the bounce in League Two and their opponents Aldershot can be backed at 13/8 at Underhill.

TRADERS' VIEW

Sky Bet are expecting Tottenham (7/5) to struggle at Newcastle 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".

Arsenal look a weak 2/5 shot against an under-pressure Sunderland side and we are hoping that this is our coupon buster this week.

And Sky Bet feel "Cardiff are short enough at even money and see Ipswich continuing their recent revival".

BOGEY TEAMS

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).

Bristol City (6/4) have won 10 of the last 12 matches v Peterborough (7/4).

Ipswich (13/5) have won their last five v Cardiff (evens) and have won last three 2-0.

Huddersfield (4/5) have lost just one of their last seven v Exeter (7/2)

VALUE BET

With Derby and Ipswich both obliging in recent weeks, Hull (12/5) look good value to win at struggling Brighton (11/10). Brighton have conceded nine goals in their last three games and are four games without a league win, Hull on the otherhand are in form and are six games unbeaten.

HOT-SHOTS

Jordan Rhodes is bang in form - netting seven goals in 10 days (two for Huddersfield & five for Scotland's U21s) - and he is 5/4 to score anytime v Exeter.

Wayne Rooney has blasted nine goals in 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.

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.

Sheffield Wednesday hot-shot Gary Madine is 7/4 to net against derby rivals United after scoring seven goals in last six league games.

Jack Midson has scored in last four league games for AFC Wimbledon and he is 11/8 to bag against Crewe.

TREATMENT ROOM

Coventry's Gary McSheffrey, Roy O'Donovan, Joe Murphy, Martin Cranie (ribs) and Sammy Clingan (back) are all doubts v Nottingham Forest.

James McPake is still short of match fitness along with striker Cody McDonald and struggling Forest (6/4) might just fancy their chances.

FAMOUS LAST WORDS

Aldershot, who have won half of their away games, are 13/8 away at Barnet.

"I'm still in shock after the result," said Dean Holdsworth after last week's 2-1 reverse by Macclesfield.

"When I see the opposition manager yet again telling me we should be out of sight, it's upsetting.

"When I look at the stats now, they tell me we've had 19 shots to their three."

Crewe are 11/4 at AFC Wimbledon.

"They didn't win easily and I actually thought we were the better side," said Dario Gradi after last week's defeat by high-flying Southend.

"We created more chances than them but we didn't punish their mistakes while they they punished us for ours."

MK Dons are 8/11 at home to Bournemouth.

"I am devastated by what happened. We didn't turn up and the performance was not good enough," said Karl Robinson after defeat at Oldham.

"We are back at home on Saturday, back at our fortress, so let's get the rocket launchers out."

Let us know your views on the weekend's football betting action by posting a comment below.

You can follow Matty on Twitter at @mattpbriggs.

Source: Team Talk

Source: Team Talk