The Expert’s Acca Tips and Predictions: Goal-Getters and Managerial Departures

We’ve got another Expert’s Acca tips for you, fresh from a weekend that finished with four out of five winners from our bettingexpert team.

This week, though, it’s off to the Championship for Sam Ingram, before Jack Wright sniffs around a goalscorer selection at The Valley and Tom Winch settles on something in Tranmere vs Swindon. For Danielle Fisichella, it’s a Serie A punt, whilst Nottingham Forest fan Nathan Joyes is left to reminisce on Steve Cooper’s time at the club in the Premier League.

Tom Winch and Steve Wyss finish off the article with a League Two and La Liga goals pick.

The Expert’s Acca Tips and Predictions

• Sam Ingram’s Tip: Plymouth Argyle – BTTS and Over 2.5 Goals
• Jack Wright’s Tip: Alfie May to Score
• Nathan Joyes’ Tip: Bournemouth 0.0 AH
• Daniele Fisichella’s Tip: Goal Before 25 Minutes
• Tom Winch’s Tip: Swindon – Over 2.75 Goals
• Steve Wyss’ Tip: Atleti – BTTS

Expert Tips Acca Odds: 44.45

Expert Tips and Predictions Acca Odds via bet365 as at Wednesday 1st January 00:00. Odds may now differ.

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Plymouth Argyle vs Birmingham: Walking in a Schumacher-less Wonderland

England, Championship, December 23rd, 15:00 (UK)

Plymouth Argyle are playing at Home Park this weekend? Let’s have a look at the goals markets, then.

It’s almost instinctive by now. They’re so good at home but questionable away – full of goals in front of home support, but not so much on the road.

This weekend is different, though. Argyle manager Steven Schumacher has left for Stoke. Home Park is a sell-out, and you can be sure it’ll be the noisiest it has been all season. Expect the Argyle players to want to prove a point – the point being that they’ve played a significant role in getting Argyle to where they are now, something not only masterminded by Stoke’s new scouser. Not only that, but you’d think they’d want to put on a show for a dejected fanbase who are now unsure of where the short-term future lies and whether their club’s Championship status will remain intact come the end of the season.

Following the train of thought that Argyle will go all out for the result and try to hurt Birmingham in the only way they know they can, siding with goals makes sense here. Only Ipswich (10/11) have returned Over 2.5 Goals more often than Plymouth Argyle (9/11) on home soil this season.

In seven of those nine matches, which tipped the scale over 2.5 goals, Home Park was witness to both sides scoring. It’s not something that has happened regularly for Birmingham City (4/11) away from home, though now they have a sparring partner capable in the final third and a little suspect at the back.

Don’t be surprised to see former Exeter man Jay Stansfield find the net as he did on his Blues debut. Something tells me he may prove a thorn in Argyle’s side for as long as he remains in the Championship.

• Expert: Sam Ingram
• Selection: BTTS and Over 2.5 Goals
• Best Odds: 1.95
• Bookmaker: bet365
• Stake: 10/10 (TRACKED BET)

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Charlton Athletic vs Burton Albion: Come what May – Goals is what Alfie is all about

England, League One, Saturday, December 23rd, 15:00 (UK)

Charlton knew they were buying a proven League One-level performer when they snapped up Alfie May from Cheltenham in the summer. The 30-year-old plundered 48 goals in 99 games over his last two seasons with the Robins.

Having scored 20 league goals for a Cheltenham side that (largely down to those goals) finished 16th, it was expected he would provide the cutting edge to fire an Addicks promotion push.

He has certainly lived up to his end of the bargain with 15 goals from his 19 appearances in the third tier this term. This is good news for our pre-season outright bets as that currently places May at the top of the League One goalscorers chart.

Visitors, Burton have proved enjoyable opponents for the best marksmen in the division. Thirteen players have scored seven or more league goals in the campaign so far. Three are yet to play the Brewers, with Charlie Wyke not in the squad and Stephen Humphreys coming on as a late sub when Wigan visited the Pirelli Stadium in October. The remaining eight all got on the scoresheet at least once.

I am taking the odds-against price for Alfie May to continue that trend against an Albion side who recently parted company with manager Dino Maamria. The Brewers sit down in 19th in the table, just four points above the relegation zone, and with only Reading having conceded more than their 19 goals on the road.

Caretaker manager Gary Mills presided over a tepid 3-0 defeat to Oxford United in his sole game in charge so far, with U’s top scorer, Ruben Rodrigues, helping himself to a brace. Not much seems to have changed under the new regime, and our man Alfie can take full advantage.

• Expert: Jack Wright
• Selection: Alfie May to Score
• Best Odds: 1.95
• Bookmaker: bet365
• Stake: 10/10 (TRACKED BET)

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Nottingham Forest vs Bournemouth: Cherries too sweet

England, Premier League, Saturday December 23rd, 15:00 (UK)

Steve Cooper is no more after five defeats in Nottingham Forest’s last six matches. One goal in their previous four games has seen Marinakis finally press the trigger and relieve the Welshman of his duties. Nuno Santos has been lined up to take over, and will be in the Forest dugout on Saturday afternoon.

Although Cherries fans will be worried about the “new manager bounce” at an intimidating venue, their form shouldn’t put them off. With four wins and unbeaten in five, which included a 3-0 win last time out at Old Trafford, Andoni Iraola has his team well and truly settled.

There’s no doubt Forest’s dressing room has been divided about Cooper – and this won’t be fixed overnight. The lack of attacking options hasn’t helped either, with Divock Origi and Chris Wood struggling to produce anything meaningful.

Cooper opted for Anthony Elanga to lead the line against Spurs, but he only managed to set a Premier League record with five offsides in one match. There will be a sombre mood in the dressing room on Saturday, and if Bournemouth get the first goal, expect Forest to fold as they draw closer to the relegation zone.

• Expert: Nathan Joyes
• Selection: Bournemouth 0.0 Asian Handicap
• Best Odds: 1.86
• Bookmaker: bet365
• Stake: 8/10 (TRACKED BET)

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Inter Milan vs Lecce: Lautaro eyes new record

Italy, Serie A, Saturday, December 23rd, 17:00 (UK)

Inter numbers have been extraordinary so far and even better than the ones from Napoli’s from last season.

The Neroazzurri are on course to finish the ‘girone d’andata’ (on matchday 19, when all teams would have faced each other once) with 50 points, the same as Luciano Spalletti’s side in 2022/2023. But after 16 games, they managed to score two more goals and concede six less than what the Partenopei did last year.

Inter’s win last Sunday was also their 11th clean sheet of the Serie A campaign, as once again, Simone Inzaghi’s men showed great composure and the killer instinct to take advantage of Lazio’s mistakes.

Lautaro Martinez has scored 29 goals in the calendar year, and he’s only three goals away from Inter record-man Stefano Neyers, who netted 32 in 1951.

Playing Lecce, who haven’t kept a single away clean sheet so far, could be a great opportunity for the Argentine to add to his tally.

The Salentini are in a great position in the table, with eight points more than 18th-placed Empoli. They’re an extremely resilient side (scoring eight times in the last 15 minutes of games) but are slightly overachieving based on xG.

In fact, against Frosinone, Lecce rode their luck. It was only thanks to two big mistakes from goalkeeper Turati that they got the three points after 11 winless games.

League leaders Inter will start the game strongly. At San Siro, they scored three times within the first 15 minutes, and on average, at home this season, they have taken the lead before the half-hour mark.

• Expert: Daniele Fisichella
• Selection: Goal Before 25 Minutes
• Best Odds: 1.83
• Bookmaker: bet365
• Stake: 15/10 (TRACKED BET)

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Tranmere vs Swindon: League Two’s Finest

England, League Two, Saturday, December 23rd, 15:00 (UK)

League Two has been the place to go for goals this season. These two sides have impressive averages and are involved in high-scoring affairs most of the time.

Swindon have seen a whopping 86 goals in their 22 matches this term, averaging just under four per 90. In their 12 away days, they’ve scored 20 and conceded 28, with three or more strikes arriving in 75% of outings.

Tranmere are a different side when they play at Prenton Park. They’ve won six of their 11 matches here and found the back of the net in ten separate clashes, with multiple strikes arriving in eight of those 11. Nigel Adkins’ side have kept just three clean sheets in Birkenhead, with three or more goals landing in 82% of their home matches.

It’s difficult to see anything other than a goal fest; Swindon’s games average the most goals across the division, whilst only five sides have scored more goals at home than Tranmere, not bad for a side sitting in 21st.

All six of Tranmere’s recent home matches have seen three or more goals, and seven of Swindon’s previous eight have gone over. Jake Young is the leading goalscorer in League 2; the Swindon forward has 16 in 22 this term, with six arriving in his last seven appearances. Connor Jennings has scored the most goals for Tranmere in 23/24. He’s bagged in the previous two home games and has a great chance of extending that tally on Saturday.

With these two sides having fantastic goal averages, I’m happy to back over 2.75 goals; if there are at least three strikes on the day, then we’ll walk away with a profit. Four or more, and we’ll have a full winner.

• Expert: Tom Winch
• Selection: Over 2.75 Asian Goal Line
• Best Odds: 1.90
• Bookmaker: bet365
• Stake: 8/10 (TRACKED BET)

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Atletico Madrid vs Sevilla: Goals to flow at Metropolitano

Spain, La Liga, Saturday, December 23rd, 15:15 (UK)

Sevilla have been enduring a miserable season, but things turned for the better in midweek when they beat Granada 3-0 on the road. New boss Quique Sanchez Flores, who is their fifth manager in a 14-month timespan, made an immediate impact. They were facing a struggling side, and they were the favourites to win, but you still have to get the job done. They now travel to the Metropolitano as an underdog, although might fancy their chances vs an Atletico Madrid side who were embroiled in a crazy midweek encounter.

Stefan Savic’s red card after 30 minutes looked to have spoiled their chances vs Getafe, but they worked hard to build a 3-1 lead. However, inexplicably, Diego Simeone’s men blew this advantage with only three minutes remaining and allowed Getafe to snatch a 3-3 draw. This is not the same typical Atletico Madrid side that has forged a defensive and rock-solid reputation in recent years. They are more open and offensively orientated but no doubt give their opponents more chances.

Both Teams to Score – Yes looks big here at 1.85.

Sevilla will be looking to kick on from their midweek win and should be buoyed by netting three goals. Each side has a few absences, with Sevilla especially affected in that capacity. The head-to-head record is favourable for BTTS – Yes, with 11 of the last 14 meetings ending in that fashion. These are two big names in Spanish football, and they like to go toe-to-toe with each other when possible. Atletico Madrid won this game 6-1 last season, and the most likely outcome is probably a home win 2-1 or 3-1.

• Expert: Steve Wyss
• Selection: BTTS – yes
• Best Odds: 1.80
• Bookmaker: bet365
• Stake: 8/10 (TRACKED BET)

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