Solid Seagulls can heap more misery on Langusihing Lions

We're avoiding the Premier League this weekend with value seemingly a little thin on the ground from the prices we can see although there are various money back offers on Sunday's derby games fro those wanting a punt so keep your eyes & ear open for them. We're instead looking to get a double up in the Championship where the season is already into it's 5th round of games.

The NFL season starts next week too & we should have a preview (maybe split in two parts for the AFC & NFC) up early in the week - it's a great competition to bet on with an edge to be found on plenty of markets & a great sport with a real cerebral side to add to the physicality. Be sure to check back for bets right through the season to add to the football bets already underway.

Brighton vs Millwall

In our first game we see Brighton host Millwall in a game that looks like it could be a good opportunity for the home side to make it three league wins in a row as their silky style of football could undo their less cultured opponents.

(Leonardo Ulloa is on fire up front for Brighton & could strike again here)

Brighton started off their season a little sluggishly with defeats away at Leeds & then more disappointingly at home to Derby but they scored in both games through their star Argentinian striker Leonardo Ulloa & they've since beaten Birmingham & Burnley to get their campaign rolling. After last season's histrionics at the end with their acrimonious split with manager Gus Poyet, plus their playoff loss to chief rivals Crystal Palace, it was understandable that they may have suffered a slight hangover (they also lost to Newport in the League Cup) but they now seem to got going under new coach Oscar Garcia. It's fortunate for the Seagulls that Ulloa is playing so well & scoring so frequently because due to a smallish selection of players & injuries he looks likely to be their only fit out & out striker here as Ashley Barnes looks doubtful for selection.

Brighton play some nice football right throughout their side with plenty of Latin influence meaning they pass the ball well, certainly amongst the best in the Championship, & build from the back - usually they have the fullbacks Inigo Calderon & Bruno as key cogs in the plan but Bruno's out with a hamstring injury meaning it won't be quite so straightforward. We like the permanent signing of Matthew Upson in central defence & he's added a real solidity at the back in his time at the club plus Tomasz Kusczak has a great deal of quality in goal & is proving his worth after spending too much time as a back up in Manchester. They've a bit of quality in midfield, both in the centre & out wide & Kemy Augustien looks like a potentially great signing from Swansea - they should be able to get service into Ulloa who's good on the ground & in the air.

(Shaun Derry on loan - as far as Millwall's resources stretch...)

Millwall have unfortunately started this season, much as they finished the last, in dire form meaning they are now on a streak of 7 losses & 2 draws in 9 games & they've only scored 3 goals over the period. That lack of forward threat doesn't look likely to change with Steve Morison out with a hernia op & they've been failing to fire ever since Chris Wood finished his loan spell after Christmas. They always have a bit of fight in them but the quality looks to be lacking & with no money to go around they've not been able to make significant improvements in the off-season, Shaun Derry's on loan from QPR but he's 35 & has always relied on work rate rather than class to succeed. This looks to be a long season for the Lions & we don't see any outcome other than relegation, they could be in a whole heap of trouble even by the end of September.

Brighton only lost 3 times at home in the league in 2012-13 & with Millwall failing to score in 3 of their first 4 games this year they'll feel confident that they can keep the visitors at bay whilst netting at the other end, only SkyBet go as big as 4/5 for the Brighton win & that should be taken.

Doncaster Rovers vs Bournemouth

This selection seems a rather simple one but we can't understand why BetVictor have gone a standout Evens about there being over 2.5 goals in the Doncaster vs Bournemouth game in the Championship.

(Lewis Grabban is finding the environs of the Championship to his liking)

Bournemouth have tended to be fairly open so far & seem to need to learn to defend at a higher level after conceding 5 to Watford then 6 to Huddersfield so far on their travels & Doncaster have scored in all 3 of their games so far including twice away to fancied Wigan & there were 4 goals in their League Cup game here with Leeds. There was only the one goal here when they met last season with Bournemouth taking the win but their other game saw the over 2.5 land & both teams have strikers who are in the goals with Lewis Grabban with 4 for Bournemouth & Doncaster's new signing Theo Robinson bagging in consecutive games against Blackburn & Wigan. We thought the price would be around the 4/6 mark so think this looks a great value bet & it's unlikely you'll see these sort of odds too often for a game that seems to promise goals.

Selections:
Brighton to beat Millwall at 4/5 (SkyBet)
Doncaster vs Bournemouth Over 2.5 goals at Evens (Bet365 & BetVictor)

Addicks & Terriers in a tricky tie but home wins elsewhere

We're back with more football picks as we look for another successful weekend, there are plenty of juicy ties to get your wagers on but we think that value is very thin on the ground in the Premier League so we've gone to the Championship & League One for our bets this Saturday. If you aren't doing so already make sure to follow us on Twitter @LikeBuyingMoney by clicking the Follow button above or finding us on there & keep yourself notified of our fancies.

Charlton Athletic vs Huddersfield Town

We see an interesting game in the Championship with a resurgent Charlton coming up against fellow League One promotees Huddersfield who've performed with credit all season & currently sit in 8th place just outside the playoff places.

(Oliver Norwood is beginning to flourish under Simon Grayson's tutelage)

Three games ago Charlton were in 21st place & had only managed 3 wins from their first 14 games but they came up with a stupefying 5-4 victory over Cardiff after being two goals down & they've since won & kept clean sheets in the progress against Bristol City & Burnley with even their less than prolific striker Danny Haynes scoring in those games. Johnnie Jackson remains the key player in Chris Powell's team & he looks set to be joined in midfield by loanee from Arsenal Emmanuel Frimpong, the youngster is outspoken & rather reckless but has talent & could be just what Charlton need to toughen themselves up. Before their last 3 games Charlton had just lacked a bit of resiliance & bite, not being able to turn draws into wins & close losses into draws (5 of their 6 losses were by a single goal) - they still lack the goalscorer needed to push themselves right up the table unless Bradley Wright-Phillips can get himself going again.

Huddersfield have coped well after the sale of their young goal machine Jordan Rhodes to Blackburn, they've pretty much won the games you'd give them every chance in but fallen to stronger opposition which is helpful from a betting perspective as you can peg their form pretty accurately. The Terriers brought in a couple of Premier League youngsters in the summer in Oliver Norwood (Man Utd) & James Vaughan (Everton) & both have something to prove after not quite making it at their respective clubs & have performed well so far for manager Simon Grayson. They've also got proven Championship striker Jermaine Beckford on loan from Leicester & he's knocked in 3 in 6 games & Adam Clayton has rejoined his former Leeds manager & has added additional quality in midfield. Huddersfield are still a work in progress but they've room for improvement & they'll fancy their chances of taking something against Charlton with the improved squad they have at their disposal.

There is something alluring about both these teams' records with exactly 23 goals conceded & scored by each team & Charlton even have 23 points too, the Addicks look a little too short on the prices to back here but are on a roll so we can't take Huddersfield either & the best bet looks to be the draw at 9/4 with Boylesports. Neither side are high scorers (Charlton scored more than 2 in a game just once & Huddersfield only twice) & that increases the chances of a draw even more, look for this to be a terse affair.

Doncaster Rovers vs Scunthorpe United

In League One, Doncaster Rovers entertain Scunthorpe United at the Keepmoat Stadium. Doncaster are in 4th place & only five points behind current leaders Tranmere Rovers with a game in hand whilst Scunthorpe are second from bottom.

(Doncaster winger David Cotterill has been in storming form this year)

Doncaster under the management of Dean Saunders have recorded ten victories from their 18 league games & have won their last two against Portsmouth & Carlisle United. Their 3-1 win Tuesday night was described by Saunders 'best we have played all season' & Welshman David Cotterill scored one & assisted two. He has been in fine form this season with six league goals & also provides the ammunition to striking duo Iain Hume & Billy Painter.

Scunthorpe lost at home to fellow strugglers Bury the other night & that put pay to a run of seven points from three league games. It was their best run of the season where they have amassed ten defeats & only four victories (against teams in 15th or lower) in their 19 league games. They heavily rely on Leon Clarke's goals (11 so far) but his efforts are usually undone by a leaky defence. They have only kept two clean sheets & have conceded one or more goals in their last 11 league matches.

Relegated from the Championship last year Doncaster should be too strong for their League One compatriots Scunthorpe & are available at evens with Stan James & Coral.

Blackburn Rovers vs Millwall

Elsewhere we like the look of Blackburn to end Millwall's unbeaten run of 10 games since the end of September (5 wins & 5 draws) when Rovers host the Lions at Ewood Park.

(Dickson Etuhu will help Blackburn win the midfield battle against Millwall)

Blackburn got their first win under new boss Henning Berg last week when running all over Peterborough with star striker Jordan Rhodes bagging himself a hat-trick, that could really light the fuse with Rhodes & the £8m man has to be feared by opposing defences. Blackburn have kept a remarkably strong squad together considering the unconventional way they are run so the players must feel they are being treated (or at least compensated) reasonably well. Millwall have their own impressive young striker in Chris Wood who joined from West Brom in the summer & he's scored 7 in 11 games. Millwall have looked pretty tough in recent weeks & gained an outstanding 4-1 win away to Nottingham Forest but we have a feeling that Blackburn are about to open up & show their class to the rest of the league from now on so odds of 11/10 for a home win look too big to leave alone - get on!

Selections:
Charlton Athletic vs Huddersfield Town to draw at 9/4 (Boylesports)
Doncaster Rovers to beat Scunthorpe United at evens (Stan James/Coral)
Blackburn Rovers to beat Millwall at 11/10 (BetVictor)

Home Wins on the Horizon - Gills, Tigers & Mackems Ahoy!

We're back with picks for Saturday after being let down by Brentford on Thursday night even as they dominated chances thanks to an offside Leyton Orient goal & Brentford's inability to find the back of the net. Hopefully things will run more smoothly here as we avoid League One altogether & instead preview matches from League Two, the Championship & Saturday's late Premier League kickoff.

Gillingham vs Bristol Rovers


 (Gillingham skipper Danny Kedwell has 5 goals (all competitions) already this season)

Down in League Two, top of the table Gillingham host Bristol Rovers at the Priestfield Stadium. Last weekend we tipped up Gillingham away at Barnet & they didn't let us down with a comfortable 3-1 victory. The Gills have 13 points from a possible 15 so far with their only blip being a 1-1 draw with Chesterfield. Skipper Danny Kedwell & striking partner Deon Burton are in good goalscoring form with six league goals between them & midfielder Myles Weston has also chipped in with a couple. After relegation from League One Bristol Rovers have made a poor start to the season with two defeats & two draws so far & needed an injury time equaliser from substitute Fabian Broghammer to savage a 2-2 draw against Aldershot Town last Saturday. They are yet to keep a clean sheet & have conceded eight goals in the process so free scoring Gillingham look a reasonable price at 13/16 to put a few goals past them & keep up their impressive start.

 Hull City vs Millwall


(Abdoulaye Faye - strong at the back & always a threat at set pieces)


Steve Bruce's Hull City are looking to continue their solid start to the season as they entertain Millwall at the KC Stadium. Bruce has made a number of good signings this summer most notably ex-Rangers striker Sone Aluko, centre half Adboulaye Faye & most recently Irish midfielder Stephen Quinn. All three players starred last weekend as they put Championship pre-season favourites Bolton Wanderers to the sword in a comfortable 3-1 victory. Again this season Hull have looked solid at the back with centre half partnership of Faye & Alex Bruce already registering two clean sheets & should be able to cope with the Millwall strike force of Darius Henderson & Andy Keogh. Millwall have made a reasonable start with two wins & two defeats so far but look vulnerable at the back having conceded nine goals in five games in all competitions. Hull can use their solid base to take advantage of the soft Millwall defence & grab all three points at the best price of 23/20 with Betvictor.

Sunderland v Liverpool

Finally we come to the Premier League & the battle of the Northern Irish managers as Martin O'Neill's well organised Sunderland side play host to Brendan Rodgers' underachieving Liverpool. Until Liverpool prove that they can score goals they are a side to be avoided against whoever they're playing, the signing of Fabio Borini for £10m convinced no one at the time & his composure in front of goal has been lacking, Luis Suarez meanwhile pulled his old trick of hitting the woodwork whilst on international duty for Uruguay & doesn't look like the natural predator he was in Holland.

(Sunderland's James McClean is one of the Premier League's brightest young talents)

Sunderland have only had the two Premier League games thanks to their game with Reading being cancelled but they've gained draws at Arsenal & Swansea & should be much happier at home. The signing of Steven Fletcher from Wolves raised a few eyebrows thanks to the fee paid but he's reached double figures in his past two seasons in the league & that's impressive considering he was playing for basically a poor side, he started off in impressive fashion with a brace against the Swans. We like Stephane Sessegnon a lot & the attacking midfielder brings the best out in the players around him, James McClean could be one to benefit here as he looks to prove a point after his Twitter outburst when left out of the starting lineup for Ireland. We basically agree that it was ludicrous he couldn't secure a starting berth for ROI but he shouldn't have spoken out, at odds of 11/2 to score anytime it's worth backing the young Irishman.

Liverpool certainly do have a solid core & are strong at the back with Agger & Skrtel & although Reina seems to be increasingly susceptible to handling errors he's still one of the league's best. Steven Gerrard remains a first choice pick for Liverpool seemingly regardless of his performance levels though & he'll be more tired than most after (nearly) playing two full games for England. At his best Gerrard is still capable of winning matches single handedly with his Roy of the Rovers style but nondescript performances are becoming more regular & if he has one here the Reds could be in trouble. Sunderland should be fresher than most teams & a high energy performance can see them make their odds look a steal, back the Mackems at 9/4 to get the win.

Selections:
Gillingham to beat Bristol Rovers at 13/16 (Pinnacle)

Hull City to beat Millwall at 23/20 (BetVictor)

Sunderland to beat Liverpool at 9/4 (Various)
James McClean to score anytime at 11/2 (William Hill) in Sunderland v Liverpool game