*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change
This week’s Monday night action comes from the Championship as Russell Martin’s Swansea travel to the Black Country to take on a West Brom side in free-fall.
We’ve cracked open the form books and rummaged through the stats to come up with a four-fold bet builder that’s sure to spice up your week. This ones teeming with value.
*A Bet Builder with these four best bets pays at approximately 27/1 with Paddy Power. CLICK HERE TO ADD IT TO YOUR BETSLIP.
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Monday 8pm: West Brom v Swansea
TV: Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Football
Match odds: Draw
The home side come into this fixture in wretched form. The Baggies have lost five of their last six in the league, drawing the other.
Tellingly, they’ve only scored once in those six and have leaked ten goals with Steve Bruce’s appointment yet to inject the kind of stability they were searching for.
Their home form reads slightly more favourably, with two wins in the last six, but they remain woefully low on confidence and have been cut well adrift of the play-off places.
Swansea’s current form is not that much rosier. They arrive at the Hawthorns with two wins and four defeats in their last six in the league, having scored four and conceded 11.
They’ve also taken just two points from their last six away matches. The Swans are without a win on the road since victory at bottom-of-the-table Barnsley who are nine points from safety and looked destined for League One next season.
All things considered, and with neither side giving us much cause for optimism, the smart money here is on The Draw.
Both teams to score? Yes
While we aren’t expecting an absolute goal-fest, the sides’ leaky defences suggests both teams could get their opportunities.
Midweek saw Steve Bruce slump to his third defeat in four as West Brom manager but his side did at least register their first goal since his arrival. They were also leading for a large portion of the game against Middlesbrough and created just as many chances as the home side, something Bruce will no doubt take positives from.
Swansea have struggled in front of goal, with only three sides having scored less in the division.
They did, however, stick three past Bristol City a couple of weeks ago and, in Joel Piroe, they’ve got a goal threat who could cause West Brom’s defence real issues.
Defensively, West Brom have conceded at least two goals in five of their last six while Swansea’s last two away trips have seen them ship four goals to Sheffield Utd and three to Stoke.
We aren’t too confident of either side keeping a clean sheet here.
Joel Piroe to score anytime
Dutch centre-forward, Piroe, has been one of Swansea’s brightest sparks this season. The 22 year-old began the campaign in red-hot form following his move from PSV with 10 goals in his first 18 appearances.
The goals have dried up somewhat since the turn of the year but he still has a very respectable 12 league goals to his name. Only four players have registered more.
He has shown signs of rediscovering that goalscoring form in recent weeks, bagging in Swansea’s recent victory over Bristol City.
If he gets the service, he may find some joy against a Baggies defence that’s been shorn of solidity in recent weeks.
We think he’s a decent price so we’re plumping for Joel Piroe to score anytime.
Cards Over 4.5
Both of these teams have been guilty of a little ill-discipline in recent weeks.
West Brom find themselves at the wrong end of the Fair Play table with only four sides having worse disciplinary records this season.
They’ve picked up more red cards than any other side while only five sides have a higher ratio of fouls committed per game.
Meanwhile, Swansea have been the most fouled team in the league this season with their opponents committing on average 12.97 fouls per game.
While The Swans overall disciplinary record is better than West Brom’s, they have lost their heads slightly in recent weeks, receiving three red cards in their last seven matches.
If the game isn’t going as either side hoped, this one has the potential to get a little scrappy.
We’re going for over 4.5 cards.
West Brom v Swansea tips
Match odds: Draw
Both teams to score? Yes
Joel Piroe to score anytime
Cards Over 4.5
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