The Goalscorer Gamble: Some sentimentality for Sir Alex

11May 2013

Betfair

Jaymes Monte takes over the Goalscorer Gamble column for this week, looking to continue the column's recent betting success...

With regular Goalscorer Gamble scribe Dan Fitch otherwise engaged I've been asked to step into his size 11s (apparently they really are that big) for this week - big shoes to fill in every sense of the word, I'm sure you'd agree.

Having backed Leigh Griffiths to net anytime at odds of 2.5 and Falcao to score last at 4.5 at the weekend, there was a handy profit returned from last week's bets.

Moving on, we'll start with Saturday's FA Cup final between Man City and Wigan. Inevitably most neutrals will be supporting the Latics, after all everyone loves a good cup upset, but the realists will concur that there's only really one winner here. With City at such short odds there'll be plenty of interest in the other markets surrounding the game, particularly those relating to goals.

And so I'll begin with a punt on Carlos Tevez to score anytime at odds of 2.1. The Argentine has netted seven goals in 12 appearances against Wigan, including their most recent meeting just last month, and has also scored five FA Cup goals already this season.

On Sunday and all eyes will be on the other half of Manchester when Sir Alex 'Knight of the Realm, King of Kings, Keeper of the Gate' Ferguson takes charge of his final home fixture as Manchester United manager.

The laws of the solar system will not allow anything other than a Manchester United victory, and you can have little doubt that there will be some sort of sentimental sub plot to the game. And I'm betting that it will come in the form of a goal for Fergie's original stalwart, Ryan Giggs.

Hopefully SAF will allow himself the luxury of naming Giggs in his starting XI, and I wouldn't be surprised to see him being offered the opportunity to take any penalties that United might win. At odds of 4.0 to score anytime in the game, he's worth a few quid. For old time's sake, if nothing else.

Moving north of the border and Inverness Caley Thistle remain in pole position for a top three finish ahead of their game with Dundee United. Billy McKay ended a four-game barren spell with a hat-trick against Motherwell at the weekend, taking his tally for the season to 23 SPL goals.

The 24-year-old has already scored three against United this season and can add to his tally, with the Terrors keen to see the back of this season having won only one of their last eight. Back him at odds of 2.25 to score this weekend.

Moving away from these shores and to the continent. Everyone's favourite dart-throwing, homeless-helping, fire technician is back in goal scoring form for Milan. Having gone a couple of games without finding the back of the net Mario Balotelli has now scored four in his last three games, to maintain his record of either scoring or being booked in every game that he has played for the Rossoneri.

The former Man City forward is a short 2.0 to net anytime against Roma this weekend, but the better bet is the 4.7 on him scoring the last goal of the game. In each of the eight games he has scored for Milan he's scored the last goal of the game.

Finally, over in La Liga as Barcelona's season draws to an anticlimactic conclusion, Alexis Sanchez is starting to find a bit of form. The little Chilean has now scored in each of the last two domestic fixtures and has four in his last five in La Liga. With all eyes understandably on Lionel Messi and Falcao this weekend there's some value in betting on Sanchez to continue his rich vein of form at odds of 2.9.

Recommended Bets

Back Tevez to score anytime @ 2.1

Back Giggs to score anytime @ 4.0

Back Balotelli to score last @ 4.7

Back Sanchez to score anytime @ 2.9