Derek Bilton
Midweek tips: European qualifiers and EFL action
There's plenty of football to look forward to in midweek as Championship clubs are in action and Rangers and West Ham head into their European qualifiers.
The Nap
Huge game at Ibrox on Tuesday as Rangers face off against Dutch giants PSV Eindhoven in the first leg of their Champions League qualifying playoff round tie.
The Gers landed a monster 20/1 winner for this column last week after we correctly predicted a 3-0 win over Royale Union Saint Gilloise, a score line that came to fruition and kept their European dream alive in the process after overturning a 2-0 first leg deficit. Goals from James Tavernier, Malik Tillman and Antonio Colak turned the tie on its head at a rocking Ibrox, and it all means they are closing in on the group stages of the Champions League for the first time since the 2010/11 campaign.
The Scottish giants will be in bullish mood after following up that win against the Belgians by seeing off St Johnstone 4-0 at the weekend, and they could be worth a punt at 8/5 here.
The ‘Rood-witten’ are no mugs of course, having sent Monaco packing in the previous round. To be fair on the French though PSV were far from convincing over the two legs and it took an extra-winner to help the Eredivisie outfit advance to the next round.
Home advantage could be crucial for Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s team, when you factor in that none of RB Leipzig, Borussia Dortmund, Red Star Belgrade or Braga could get the better of Rangers at Ibrox in the Europa League last term.
The atmosphere should again be bouncing, and a raucous Scottish crowd can drive Rangers to another famous European win under the lights.
The Nap – Rangers to win at 8/5 (BetVictor/Hills)
Value Tip
Oscar Estupinan scored twice for Hull, once in either half, as they beat Norwich City on Saturday to extend the Tigers’ unbeaten start to their Championship campaign.
On Tuesday they travel to Burnley and look live underdogs at 5/1. The Clarets succumbed to their first defeat under Vincent Kompany against Watford on Friday evening, and a return of just four points from three matches suggests promotion back to the Premier League is likely to be anything but straightforward. There are concerns about the club’s financial structure after relegation but in Kompany they have an ambitious boss who knows all about success.
Colombian Estupinan looks like a real find, and if he can settle in the East Riding of Yorkshire he could be worth his weight in gold for the Tigers this season. They also have Jean Michael Seri, a midfielder who was close to joining Barcelona in 2017. It looks like their cosmopolitan arrivals have gelled already, and with this in mind they are worth a go at 5’s to win at Turf Moor.
Value Tip – Hull City to beat Burnley at 5/1 (Betfred/Betfair/Boylesports/Coral)
First Goal Flutter
Chris Wilder was pretty matter of fact in the summer when he said that Chuba Akpom didn’t feature in his long term plans and it looked like Chuba’s time on Teesside might be coming to an end. However, Akpom was the hero on Sunday as he scored twice at the Riverside against Sheffield United in a 2-2 draw.
Boro travel to Stoke City on Wednesday night and all things considered Akpom looks a decent price at 13/2 to score first.
Not only did the former Arsenal man score both Boro goals at the weekend - with the second an instinctive header - his overall link up play was once again excellent. He grafted all afternoon and has shown real hunger since returning to the fold this summer.
Middlesbrough have arguably the best manager in the Championship in Wilder, and Akpom should again get plenty of service from Isaiah Jones on the wing.
First Goal Flutter – Akpom to score first at 13/2 (betway/Skybet)
The Euro Banker
West Ham United face Danish side Viborg FF in the UEFA Europa Conference League play-off round on Thursday. The Hammers captured the imagination with their run to the Europa League semi-finals last season, and their latest continental adventure begins this week.
The arrival of Gianluca Scamacca from Sassuolo gives West Ham's attack a fresh look. A powerful and direct forward, Scamacca scored 16 goals in Serie A last season and has broken into the Italy squad.
However, the Hammers have started poorly domestically, and they have yet to pick up a point after two matches. Boss David Moyes has performed wonders since returning to the London Stadium, transforming a struggling team into top-six contenders. However, such is the fickle nature of modern football he will be more aware than most that his team need to start winning.
Viborg defeated B36 Torshavn, of the Faroe Islands, 5-1 on aggregate in their third qualifying round tie. However the Danish side should be no match for the Hammers, who are a top price 1/4 for victory and as short as 1/6 with some firms.
A 3-0 home win is not beyond the realms of fantasy given Viborg’s limitations and you can get 13/2 that Moyes’ men deliver said result at the London Stadium.
The Euro Banker – West Ham to beat Viborg FF 3-0 at 13/2 (bet365)