In-form Bolton terrific value to beat Leicester

There's a full programme of Championship fixtures tonight and our man Mike Norman has a spring in his step knowing that he'll finish the season in profit. So what are his recommended bets this evening?

 

 

Two out of three winners on Saturday took this column to 16.31 points profit; the significant aspect of that total is, with just four rounds of fixtures to go, we are now guaranteed to finish the season in profit.

 

It's widely recognised that the Championship has been the most unpredictable league in the country this past nine months; you only have to look at how bunched the table is - particularly the bottom half - to know that literally anyone can beat anyone on their day.

 

So to finish the season in profit is very satisfying, though this doesn't mean we'll be treating the last few weeks like a mid-table club with nothing to play for. We'll be going all out for more winners, starting with tonight's three recommended wagers from a full programme of fixtures.

 

 

Ipswich 2.8 v Crystal Palace 2.8; The Draw 3.5

 

The Match Odds market is finding it difficult to split these two, but with home advantage I'm of the opinion that Ipswich should be favourites, especially as they are the club in better form currently.

 

True, the Tractor Boys lost on home soil on Saturday, but there's no disgrace in losing by the odd goal to promotion-chasing Hull. And by all accounts Mick McCarthy's men played very well in that game. Prior to Saturday Ipswich had lost just one game in eight and had won their last three games at Portman Road without conceding a goal against decent outfits Bolton, Leeds, and Leicester.

 

In contrast Palace aren't in good form and have gone from real contenders for automatic promotion to a sitting-duck as a club to overtake in the play-off places.

 

Ian Holloway's men have failed to score a single goal in their last four games, losing heavily to Brighton and Birmingham, losing to an out-of-form Blackpool side, and failing to beat Barnsley on home soil. Perhaps just as worrying as their current form is the fact that the Eagles have won just one away game in the last four months. Ipswich have to be the call.

 

Recommended Bet: Back Ipswich to win @ 2.8

 

 

Leicester 2.12 v Bolton 3.85; The Draw 3.65

 

Madness! That's the only way I can describe the Match Odds here; I just don't understand why Leicester are clear favourites to win this game. In fact I would have priced this game up exactly as the above game is, 2.8 each side. So to see Bolton available to back at 3.85 appears to be incredible value. Allow me to paint the picture.

 

The Foxes have failed to win any of their last nine league games, and their only victory in 14 league and cup games was at home to a Blackburn side who were in dire form at the time. Nigel Pearson's men have lost to bottom-half clubs Millwall and Sheffield Wednesday in two of their last three home games, and yet now they are strong favourites to beat the division's most in-form club.

 

Bolton are in superb form at present, winning eight of their last 10 league games, and they aren't conceding many goals either. True, the best of their form has been on home soil which probably goes some way to explaining their huge odds tonight, but purely and simply on current form - one of the division's most out of form clubs against the division's most in-form club - the Trotters have to be backed.

 

Recommended Bet: Back Bolton to win @ 3.85 (best bet)

 

 

Middlesbrough 2.98 v Nottm Forest 2.62; The Draw 3.45

 

Forest have gone off the boil lately, Middlesbrough have capitulated. I considered backing-to-lay the 0-0 Correct Score at 11.5, but given I expected the Under 2.5 Goals option to be around the 1.7 mark I'm more than happy to take 1.92.

 

Middlesbrough have won just two of their last 17 games so it's safe to say their confidence is shattered. This is reflecting in the amount of goals they are scoring... or should that be not scoring? Boro have failed to find the net in five of their last six encounters, and they haven't scored at the Riverside Stadium for three consecutive games now.

 

Forest's 10-game unbeaten run came to an end at Cardiff on Saturday but the signs were there that a defeat was coming. Billy Davies' side had failed to win any of their previous three matches, and it's just four goals scored in four games now.

 

I envisage this game to be very tight and low-scoring and wouldn't put anyone off backing Under 1.5 Goals at 3.5 but for the recommended bet we'll have the safety net of having an extra goal on our side.

 

Recommended Bet: Back Under 2.5 Goals @ 1.92

 

Bet HERE

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