Home and Away: Mackay looking to ground Seagulls tonight

 

Jonno Turner aims to build on a Dutch winner yesterday with two domestic picks today.

 

We're off to South Wales for our first pick of the day - as Cardiff City welcome Brighton to the Cardiff City Stadium, looking to extend their 11 point lead over the rest of the Championship.

 

Malky Mackay's side are unbeaten in their last four, and continued their positive form with a hard fought 2-1 win over Bristol City at the weekend.

 

One factor which has made a difference to the Bluebirds this campaign is how well they've come through games unscathed, and Mackay has another full squad to pick from this evening - welcoming back Ben Turner into the centre of defence for this clash.

 

And two clean sheets from their last three on their own patch suggests that the Cardiff rearguard will be high in confidence ahead of the visit from Brighton.

 

The Seagulls travel to Wales sitting seventh in the division, but Gus Poyet's side have won just one of their last half a dozen, and will be keen to correct that slide in order to avoid slipping too far out of the play-off positions.

 

Only one clean sheet from their last 10 on the road indicates that the visitors backline could be susceptible to the Cardiff threat this evening, and the likes of Fraizer Campbell, Heidur Helguson and Craig Bellamy will be looking to add to their goalscoring totals here.

 

And Poyet has some selection headaches ahead of this trip to the top of the table side. Skipper Gordon Greer has missed the last three outings, and faces a late fitness test for this one - but the game has come too soon for Andy Crofts, Will Hoskins and Ashley Barnes, who miss out through injury and suspension respectively.

 

Brighton will be eyeing a solid return in the next couple of weeks in order to pile the pressure on the top six, but with back to back home games coming up, I think their focus might be on those.

 

The hosts have been relentless on their own patch this season, and I think they're cracking value at over evens here.

 

Bet 1: Cardiff City (HOME) @ 2.02

 

 

Dropping down to the fourth tier now, as in-form Northampton Town travel to AFC Wimbledon, looking to secure their third win on the bounce.

 

Aidy Boothroyd's Cobblers side go into this one in seventh place in League Two, and will be keen to secure three points here in order to put some breathing space between themselves and the likes of Fleetwood, who are eyeing that final play-off place.

 

Victories over Rochdale and Southend in their last two outings will have confidence high in the away camp, and six goals scored in their last three clashes suggests that the visitors are more than likely to notch a goal or two here.

 

AFC Wimbledon sit bottom of the league having struggled to adjust to life in professional football, and Neal Ardley's side have won just one of their last six.

 

And the Wombles have failed to get on the scoresheet in two of their last three, which suggests that their lack of firepower is costing them dearly this campaign.

 

Just one win from nine at Kingsmeadow tells its own story - and 17 conceded in their last 10 points to issues in the home defence.

 

Ardley's side have the worst goal difference in League Two, and I think that could be telling in this tie, against a Northampton side full of momentum.

 

Bet 2: Northampton Town (AWAY) @ 2.4

 

Bet HERE

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