The Not The Top 20 podcast team pick a trio of bets for the weekend and you can back the treble at 22/1
“When backing a player to score, you want to bank on a certain amount of shots, and McKirdy doesn’t need a second invitation. He’s taken eight, three, five and seven shots in his last four games.”
A Royal Three Points For Terriers?
Reading FC are in a state of turmoil. Off the field, the fans have turned against the owners after years of poor management and wasteful spending, leading to a six point deduction. Since the deduction, the team have suffered – with one win, three draws and five defeats, including the current run of five in a row.
Winless in eight games at home (3D 5L), the home fans are understandably finding it hard to get behind their team, creating a fractious atmosphere.
Manager Veljko Paunovic has also had to deal with one of the worst injury crises in memory. Coupled with AFCON absences, it meant that Reading only had ten senior players for Tuesday night 0-2 defeat vs Luton. Andy Carroll – a rare ray of positivity for Reading recently – missed that game after his short term contract expired and seems to be considering other options.
This will be their fifth game in 15 days. Having lost the last four, looking physically and mentally exhausted, it’s hard to imagine a triumphant return to form.
Huddersfield should have enough to get past them. They’ve been outperforming expectations all season, and Carlos Corberan is getting a lot out of a group of highly motivated players.
Conversely to Reading, Corberan has a fit squad, with good depth and competition for places. Unbeaten in seven in the league (3W 4D) and with a win against Premier League Burnley in that time, this is a mismatch in terms of confidence and cohesion.
Complete Cobblers To Get Back On Track
It’s third vs fourth in League Two this weekend, and Northampton Town are the team we want to side with.
They’ve shown a really consistent performance level in the division all season long. Generally winning the physical battle, Cobblers pose a constant threat from set plays, and have quality attacking players in Mitch Pinnock and Sam Hoskins.
You can say the same about Sutton United, who have continued the momentum gained from winning the National League title to find themselves in the automatic places. Recently, their games have been quite dramatic. Coming from behind to win 3-2 at Colchester in midweek with last minute winner, a 3-3 at Stevenage last weekend with an injury time equaliser, and a 89th minute winner against Exeter. Their character and resolve is admirable, but they are not controlling games.
They may be winless in three, but it was a good performance and deserved point against league leaders Forest Green last week, they battered Crawley but lost 0-1, and were thrashed by Swindon 2-5, coping poorly with their first game back from a three week break.
There’s not a huge gap between these two teams, but Northampton are a better side with more consistency. 2/1 feels a generous price.
Box Office McKirdy To Cook On Gas
You cannot take your eyes off Harry McKirdy on the football pitch. Only four players have scored more goals that McKirdy in League Two. Only one player has received more yellow cards. And no-one has wound up opposition fans as much as the attacker. He is a menace and a nuisance, in every way.
With Joey Barton’s Bristol Rovers coming to Swindon this weekend, you can expect a tasty atmosphere, and for McKirdy to be at the heart of whatever happens.
The former Aston Villa youth player also happens to be an excellent attacker in top form. In his last four games, he’s scored six goals and picked up an assist. When backing a player to score, you want to bank on a certain amount of shots, and McKirdy doesn’t need a second invitation. He’s taken eight, three, five and seven shots in his last four games.
Source: Betfair UK English Championship
