Eng. Championship
2011-10-22 - Blackpool vs Nottingham Forest
A Sports Betting Pick by ArmchairPunter
Football – England – Championship
Saturday 22nd October 2011 – Kickoff: 1500hrs
Blackpool will bid for a top six place when they entertain struggling Nottingham Forest at Bloomfield Road on Saturday with both teams coming off recent wins.
Blackpool
Blackpool beat Doncaster Rovers 2-1 in midweek to put them within touching distance of the play-off zone, and that is now four matches unbeaten in their own backyard, winning three of those four matches with victories over Ipswich Town, Bristol City 5-0 and Doncaster.
The Seasiders’ home record stands at a solid 4-1-1 12/4, with only Hull City (3 goals conceded) boasting a meaner defence at home.
With this kind of home form behind them, Blackpool look in good shape to reach at least the play-offs and the previous experience of manager Ian Holloway at this level may well prove invaluable as the season unfolds.
Veteran striker Kevin Phillips (5 goals) proves he is still a menace for any side at any level, and alongside him Gary Taylor-Fletcher (4 goals, 3 assists), Brett Ormerod (2 assists), Thomas Ince (2 goals, 1 assist) and on-loan Jonjo Shelvey (1 goal, 1 assist) has made an impact since joining from Liverpool.
Nottingham Forest
Visitors Nottingham Forest celebrated new manager Steve Cotterill’s appointment with a 2-0 midweek win over Middlesbrough which surprised a few people, but kept immediate relegation worries at bay whilst cheering up the beleaguered Forest fans.
That win halted a losing skid of three matches, although away from home Forest have lost back-to-back with losses at Burnley 1-5 and 0-1 at Coventry City. Their away record stands at 2-0-4 5/11, with wins at Doncaster Rovers and Watford, but they too have been in the bottom quarter of the division.
Striker Ishmael Miller (3 goals) is their leading scorer, but there isn’t too much else in terms of goals and creativity and the likes of Lewis McGugan, Chris Cohen and Jonathan Greening need to start standing up.
The Betting Verdict :
Blackpool have lost to Forest just once in their last five meetings at Bloomfield Road and I can’t go past them here against the visitors, Cotterill or no Cotterill – Blackpool to win 2-1.
The Pick :
Blackpool 2-1 Nottingham Forest
BEST BETTING TIP :
Main Pick :Take Blackpool to win at 2.10 at Pinnacle which is great value
Gooner’s Statistical Value Bet
