Friday night football
Coral view on the big kick-off
Domestic football is back – and not a moment too soon. With the new Premier League season now just a week away, we are served a delicious starter – a weekend of matches from the Championship and below in England, as well as all major Scottish divisions.
We kick off on Friday with a pair of fixtures from the English second-flight in Sunderland vs Derby and Nottingham Forest vs Millwall. The former has been chosen for live TV treatment. The return of Friday night football, it gives you a warm, fuzzy feeling inside. Click here to place your bets.
Keep it simple – stick with the stats
Following a dismal season in the Premier League, Sunderland are now playing Championship football. Everyone at the Stadium of Light will be eager to bounce back at the first time of asking, but there’s no free pass at this level, and they’ll find that out in week one when butting heads with The Rams.
This will be the first time these sides have met in competitive action since 2008, when fighting out a goalless draw in the Premier League. December 2007 Sunderland last hosted, and nicked a 1-0, thanks to a last-minute Anthony Stokes winner. Manager Simon Grayson would surely welcome something similar on Friday, and the 1-0 home cheer trades at a tempting 13/2, while the win to nil gives a bit of a cushion at 16/5.
If you’d prefer to keep things simple, Coral traders have the locals marked up as 31/20 favourites, but we’d suggest sticking with the trends and backing no in the both teams to score coupon. That would’ve landed you a profit in four of the last six matches involving Sunderland and Derby – this falling into line is 19/20. One for your Friday night accas, perhaps.
Lions to get their share
Switching to matters at the City Ground, where Mark Warburton’s Nottingham Forest roll out the red carpet for newly-promoted Millwall. The hosts underperformed last season, and took their time over appointing former Rangers gaffer Warbs, but club bosses will now be hoping the Englishman has what it takes to guide them back up through the ranks, and towards the Premier League over the next few years.
It’ll be all change for The Tricky Trees, who could field up to six new faces, following a summer recruitment drive. Jason Cummings, Barry McKay and Tendayi Darikwa are amongst the newbies, while Millwall hand out a few debuts themselves, including Jed Wallace, Ryan Tunnicliffe and James Meredith. Fancy a debutant to mark the day with a goal? Try attacker Barry McKay anytime at 10/3.
Nottingham Forest have been scratched up as betting favourites with Coral, currently trading at even money, against the Londoners at 29/10. Millwall, who finished sixth in League One, but came up through the play-offs, ended level 13 times last season, and that was the second highest number of draws in the top-12. They’d certainly accept a point on Friday, and you can try the share at 23/10.
Follow all this weekend’s previews and betting tips here
