Football- Mon 06.10.08

[welshie1]

Over 2.5 goals in the match between Mainz and Wehen @ 1.5

FSV Mainz have looked a fantastic team going forward this season, in their four home matches this season theyve scored 12 goals and you can see why because they have a talented group of players. They are a team who like to get forward and their best form of defence is attack. Wehen conceded five goals in their last away match and that showed they are not a very solid team at the back. They lack the quality Mainz have but they might have a go here because they are in poor form and they will want some points and in my opinion that will only help achieve the over 2.5 goals I want to see.

Under 2.5 goals in the match between Guimaraes and Braga @ 1.56

This will be a tough game for both sides tonight in my opinion, coming off UEFA Cup ties on Thursday, I dont think the extra day of rest will benefit them. I watched Guimaraes play Portsmouth on Thursday and despite playing very well in the first half, they faded very badly in the second, by extra time they looked like a very tired team and it was their best possible team I think. As I said they did look a decent side but they have inconsistent at home and they are yet to win a home match, all four of their matches that have been played over 90 minutes have finished in under 2.5 goals this season. Braga are coming off a good win in Slovakia against Artmedia Bratislava but a trip to a tough place will have been difficult for them and to go on the road again, its not going to be easy. All five of their away matches this season have been under 2.5 and interestingly all 2-0, four in their favour and one 2-0 defeat. The last seven matches between these two sides have finished in under 2.5 goals and after matches in Europe it will be tough for both.

Draw between Ebbsfleet United and Histon @ 3.5

Tough one to call tonight because these two have been tough to beat this season and they might cancel each other out and this one will finish a draw. Ebbsfleet are yet to lose at home this season, but they have drawn a lot of matches, four draws, two wins. They have been a real mixed bag outfit this season and are coming off a loss to Altrincham on the road. Histon have been pretty solid away from home, two wins, two draws and two losses. They are a pretty solid and stable outfit, manager Steve Fallon has been at the club since 1999 and he deserves a lot of plaudits for what he has done with this club. They have two decent strikers in Damien Reeves and Jack Midson, who have scored eight goals between them this season and they will be confident of coming away with something tonight having lost just one of their last seven.

Empoli to beat Livorno @ 2.2

Empoli are playing well at the moment, four straight wins inclduing a 2-0 victory over Serie A side Siena away from home in the Cup and three clean sheets in those four wins. They look like a dangerous side going forward, they have some very pacy wide players and they will be looking forward to playing at home after claiming their first home win of the season in their last home match 3-1 against Modena. Ive watched highlights of their last two matches, they look a very clinical side in front of goal and they dont give much away at the back either. Livorno have failed to score in their last two league matches, they played well in their last match against Grosetto but they had big problems hitting the target. Theyve been held on their last two away trips to much weaker opposition and you can see they are suffering from finishing bottom of the pile in Serie A last year. Empoli are unbeaten in three home matches against Livorno and have won two of those three including last season and with them being the side in form, I say back them tonight.

Benfica -0.75 v Leixoes @ 1.92

Benfica did play in the UEFA Cup on Thursday but if your a side in form then it doesnt really matter and they come in to this match tonight playing some wonderful stuff. Benfica have a lot of good players but they are a squad of players who are out to prove people wrong and they are doing just that at the moment. Theyve won their last three matches and that has included a 2-0 win over local rivals Sporting last weekend and another 2-0 win on Thursday night against a pretty decent Napoli side. Leixoes won at Beleneneses last week through an absolute cracker from Braga but they didnt threaten much and two losses from their first three home matches doesnt give them a big chance against an in form Benfica team. For me this Benfica team just looks a little too dangerous and they should be able to bat Leixoes tonight.
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[onaed]

Ebbsfleet United v Histon
Ebbsfleet United @ 11/10

Quite an even matched game this but i feel Ebbsfleet are just in the better form thus give them the edge in this game, Histon sit 5th compared to Ebbsfleets 9th but at home Ebbsfleet have been good all season, and are yet to lose at home, maybe a few too many draws thus why they havent pushed up the table further wiyh such a good record at home Histon come into this game with just 1 loss in their last 7 and that includes 4 wins, Ebbsfleet have just won 2 of 7 but as mentioned at home havent lost yet. Expect Ebbsfleet to maintain their unbeaten home record with a win in this, a win will push them as high as 3rs in the table. They have 5 clean sheet and an unbeatn home record this season, a single goal may be enough to see them to the win.

[Chief]

Derry City v Linfield - Under 2.5 goals @ 4/6 on Paddy Power

The last time these two teams met in last years competition it ended 0-0. I believe that at the Brandywell tonight it will be a close game with neither side wanting to give away that vital goal. Linfield have to win to ensure their progression is not in other teams hands, but the rivalry between the two clubs ensures there will be no lying down by Derry.

Edit : Linfield were SHOCKING tonight. Derry fully deserved to win and were unlucky to score only three. Disastrous for the Blues.
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WE'RE NOT BRAZIL, WE'RE NORN IRON!

[madbobmagee]

The last time Derry played Linfield they were trying a different formation and a lot of Players were making their Setanta Cup debuts. Derry are a stronger team now and are in great form. I wouldn't pay any heed to their recent draw with Sligo either as they were resting players. I'd say Derry has the edge going in to this and Linfield have 3 players out but seeing as they have never beaten Linfield in this competition I'm giving it a miss.
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“When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don't adjust the goals, adjust the action steps.”

Confucius

[Bestsuperstar]

Can't believe Benifica blew that tonight. Not a good start to the week for me.