Football betting analyst Mark O’Haire returns to share his favourite fancies from the weekend with a pair of plays proposed from England and the Netherlands.
Tranmere have enjoyed a remarkable revival since Nigel Adkins stepped-in to the vacant managerial post.
Rovers had lost six of their opening seven League Two games and appeared to be heading for a season of struggle.
Adkins initially took charge on an interim basis in early September, but such was his impact, Mr Positive was appointed permanently two months later.
Fast forward to February and the Wirral-based club are only three points shy of the top-half having tabled eight league wins in their most recent 13, scoring twice or more on nine occasions.
Tranmere have scored in 11 of those 13 and appear to be embracing Adkins’ positivity in their play.
Yet for all Rovers’ impressive forays in forward areas, the Prenton Park outfit have been struggling to keep their sheets clean, managing only four shutouts across the whole League Two campaign, leading to a glut of high-scoring encounters.
Tranmere’s Prenton Park outings have been especially entertaining. Rovers have scored in 13 of 14 in front of their own supporters, recording just three clean sheets – that’s led to 10 of 14 matches paying-out for Both Teams To Score backers, but more importantly for our proposed play, Over 2.5 Goals has banked in 12 of those 14 tussles.
On Saturday, Tranmere welcome Crewe to the Wirral.
The Alex don’t normally need an extra invitation to engage in an entertaining clash, with Crewe scoring in 26//29 fourth-tier fixtures, silencing only six of their opponents despite sitting in a lofty fifth-placed position.
Ten of 14 away days saw BTTS oblige with half of those games featuring four goals or more.
I expect both teams to contribute to what should be a fun and goal-filled affair – Over 2.5 Goals is offered at a generous 1.8.
The Netherlands’ second-tier – the Eerste Divisie – is renowned for its goal-heavy nature.
A chunky 61% of this season’s fixtures have featured winning Both Teams To Score selections with the same hit-rate occurring for Over 2.5 Goals; the division is averaging 3.02 goals per-game and Friday night’s clash between Willem II and Cambuur promises entertainment.
Title-chasing Willem II are six points clear of the pack, largely due to their eye-catching home record (W9-D1-L1).
The hosts are averaging 2.45 goals per-game in front of their own supporters, striking at least twice in nine of 11 dates.
But the league leaders have also delivered successful BTTS wagers on eight occasions with 9/11 outings going Over 2.5.
However, the real stars of the show are Cambuur.
The visitors have seen an unbelievable 21 of their 22 Eerste Divisie dates oblige in the BTTS column with 19 of those showdowns featuring three goals or more.
When on their travels, Cambuur have seen 9/10 tussles pay-out for Over 2.5 and BTTS backers with half of those games clearing the Over 4.5 Goals line.
I’m therefore happy to support Over 2.5 Goals and Both Teams To Score at a very appetising 1.80 ahead of Friday night’s fixture.
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