Season Match Bets Prediction: Ante-Post Outright Preview

The start of the EFL season is upon us and Matthew O’Regan and Josh Ingram are here with their three best outright ‘Season Match Bets’, where two teams are pitted against each other before a ball is kicked off. 

The first of them for Matthew sees two Yorkshire rivals battle it out in League Two, before Gary Neville and Co. are reunited with familiar Merseyside foes. Finally, two bitter rivals lock horns once more in the Championship. 

• Bradford vs Doncaster: Doncaster
• Salford vs Tranmere: Tranmere
• Luton vs Watford: Luton

Josh’s focus is away from the EFL for his opening two punts, as he spies some value in the English Premier League in the ‘Team to Finish Higher Than…’ Ante-Post market on bet365, which is essentially a Season Match Bet.

• Crystal Palace To Finish Higher Than West ham
• Ipswich To Finish Higher Than Leicester
• Blackpool vs Stockport County: Stockport

Bradford vs Doncaster: Rovers the king of the Yorkshire coop

England, League 2, Saturday, August 10th, 15:00 (UK)

Despite being arguably the biggest side in League 2, Bradford have been stuck there for six years now, with their chances of promotion slimmer by the year. The Bantams have only been in the playoffs once in their five League 2 seasons, and things seem to be going stale. Graham Alexander’s side won six of their final seven league games to catapult themselves into ninth, but they still fell short of the playoffs yet again. 

Bradford owner Stefan Rupp has come in for flack for his running of the club, with many of the Yorkshire faithful growing disgruntled at his perceived lack of ambition. 

In terms of incomings, Callum Johnson has been signed on a free from Mansfield. The 27-year-old is a very talented right-back but will have been signed for depth due to Brad Halliday’s form and Johnson’s unfortunate injury record and lack of game time as a result. 

Their best centre back in Matty Platt, has been replaced by Aden Baldwin, who is prone to mistakes. Neill Byrne arrives to partner Baldwin from Stockport. Antoni Sarcevic also joins from County – if Bradford keep him fit they have one of the best attacking midfielders in the league. 

Bradford haven’t done much to improve on last season’s squad and there seems to be a lack of cohesion and thought behind the transfers. Baldwin excels at bringing the ball out from defence, while this is an area Byrne struggles in. With so much work still to do in the transfer market, I expect Bradford to struggle to reach the playoffs once again. 

After a disastrous start to the season and relegation a real possibility, Doncaster stormed into the playoffs, losing just once from February until the end of season. This included ten wins in a row as Grant McCann’s side ended the season in fifth before losing on penalties to Crewe in the Semi-Final. 

Jordan Gibson arrives after 13 goal contributions in League 1 for relegated Carlisle. Club icon Billy Sharp returns, perhaps looking to guide Doncaster to promotion in his final years as a professional. Joe Sbarra joins from Solihull Moors after being highly sought after by a lot of EFL teams. 

While the potential loss of Luke Molyneux is set to damage Doncaster’s front line, they are well-versed to finish above their Yorkshire rivals again. 

• Bradford vs Doncaster Prediction 1: Doncaster Season Match Bet (TRACKED BET)
• Best Odds: 1.72
• Bookmaker: bet365
• Stake: 10/10

Salford vs Tranmere: Class of 92 leaving the 92?

Many people expected big things for Salford last year, but any promotion push failed to materialise as the Ammies slumped to a 20th-position finish. While things improved under Karl Robinson, it felt like the previous years of squad-building had been undone by poor recruitment. This summer looks to be following the same pattern.

Callum Hendry has departed to MK Dons after 0.51 goals per 90 last season. Matt Smith has also left on a free after notching 24 goals last season. First-choice goalkeeper Alex Cairns has departed to Leeds. 

Losing your top scorer, another proven goalscorer, and a goalkeeper are worrying signs before the season starts. Tom Edwards and Jon Taylor are questionable signings, while there are doubts about whether Cole Stockon can recapture his Morecambe form. 

The signing of Dan Chesters on a permanent from West Ham is a positive one after a successful loan last season, while Stephan Negru should be a step above the other defenders in this league. Matthew Young joins on loan from Sunderland, with the 17-year-old arriving with rave reviews. 

While there are smattering of good signings from The Ammie’s, their lack of goal threat will be their downfall this season. 

An inconsistent season saw Tranmere finish 16th, with Nigel Adkins steadying the ship. Ten first-team players were released at the end of the season, with Adkins clearly trying to stamp his authority on the team and build a squad capable of challenging up the table.

Cameron Norman signs from MK Dons, strengthening a defence that was leaky last season. Sam Finley brings leadership and tenacity into midfield, while the signings of Sol Solomon (Marine) and Josh Williams (Connah’s Quay) signify perhaps a shift in recruitment. 

Under the guile and stewardship of the experienced Nigel Adkins, expect Tranmere to have a steady season. 

• Salford vs Tranmere Prediction 2: Tranmere Season Match Bet (TRACKED BET)
• Best Odds: 2.62
• Bookmaker: bet365
• Stake: 10/10

Luton vs Watford: Hang your hat on Hatters

Luton won the hearts of many through their unlikely climb through the ranks to reach the Premier League. Rob Edwards’ side battled with all their might to survive but ultimately fell up short. 

However, as ever, the Hatters were shrewd in the transfer market, signing a number of players acclimatised to Championship football should they go down. This will allow a smooth transition and gives Luton a great chance of bouncing straight back up. While the losses of Ross Barkley (Aston Villa) and Gabriel Osho (Auxerre) are a blow, Luton have kept the core of the squad that has served them well in recent years. 

Therefore, they have a settled squad, with only Arsenal starlet Reull Walters and Brentford’s box-to-box midfielder Shandon Baptise arriving. A couple big name sales such as Alfie Doughty is to be expected, but the Hatters a savvy recruiters and will have significant financial muscle over a lot of the league. 

A stable, smart club is not what you can describe bitter rivals Watford as. The Hornets had a relegation scare last year but had enough to survive. Tom Cleverley has been given the permanent job after impressing in his brief spell as interim manager. 

So far, the only signings have been veteran midfielder Moussa Sissoko rejoining the club and Celtic youngster Rocco Vatta coming in, while Canada star Ismael Kone has left for Marseille. 

Arguably their two best players in Wesley Hoedt and Yaser Asprilla are close to moves away. While they should command a good fee for Asprilla, recruitment in recent years suggest Watford may not adequately replace him. 

While Watford should have enough to survive, they should be miles behind their bitter rivals come May. 

This price is too short to back as a single. Yet, it is definitely worth putting in outright accumulators. 

• Luton vs Watford Prediction 3: Luton Season Match Bet
• Best Odds: 1.40
• Bookmaker: bet365
• Stake: 10/10

Season Match Bet Prediction odds via bet365 as at 09:00, July 23rd, 2024. Odds may now differ.

Crystal Palace to Finish Higher Than West Ham United: Soaring over the Hammers

England, Premier league, Friday, August 16th, 20:00 (UK)

Oliver Glasner’s men, with the front three of Eze, Olise, and Mateta, were arguably the best team to watch in the country in the last part of the season. The late-season form of winning six of the previous seven while going unbeaten with a team that wasn’t his and had no preseason was incredibly impressive. The thought of Glasner having an entire preseason makes me very optimistic about the possibilities for Palace this season. 

Michael Olise’s departure is the clear missing piece going into the new season, regardless of the fee received. It is a big miss, as he’s not easily replaceable. There are no other departures for Palace, with a few fringe players leaving, but the key is keeping Eze. Do that and they have a good chance at pushing further into the top half. 

Their limited transfer business has been good, with a free transfer for Dimichi Kamada standing out, resulting in a reunion for him and Glasner from their time in Frankfurt. Kamadas’s production was down last season, with only four goals and assists, compared to his last year at Frankfurt, when he had 15 goals and assists. If he can obtain numbers similar to his Bundesliga levels, it will help replace Olise’s 16 goals and assists.

West Ham struggled last year, ending with a -14 goal difference and only 3 points above Palace. This included a poor run for Moyes’ final games, with one win in six against an eventually relegated Luton side.

Lopetegui is now the man at the helm for West Ham, and it is his second time testing his hand at the Premier League. In his short stint at Wolves, his side wasn’t particularly positive and had relatively poor results, with a 32% win percentage and a negative 10-goal difference. He has a more streamlined fixture list, and with the absence of European football, he can focus on implementing his ideas with only one game a week. 

West Ham’s main signing, Max Kilman, is good but not overly inspiring with the expected shift to three centre-backs. Regarding forward areas, they are short up top; Antonio is not someone you can hang your hat on for regular goals anymore. Last year, even though Jarrod Bowen performed well regularly, he was put into an unfamiliar position.

Over the last ten seasons, Palace have finished above West Ham four times and I can see it happening again. Different from the other times where Palace would finish 10th or 11th, and West Ham would have a particularly poor year, I think it will be due to Glasner thriving, as he has already shown, and kicking Palace on into possibly an outside chance for Europe or very close to it.

• Prediction 4: Crystal Palace To Finish Higher Than West Ham (TRACKED BET)
• Best Odds: 2.00
• Bookmaker: bet365
• Stake: 10/10

Ipswich Town to Finish Higher Than Leicester city: Edging battle for Survival

The Tractor Boys are back in the Premier League for the first time in 22 years. Kieran Mckenna’s side was expected to have a positive season last year. Still, few would have anticipated them to go up automatically in second place for back-to-back promotions. Since Mckenna has taken over, he has transformed them into a winning machine. It will be more challenging at the top table of English football, but they are better equipped than fellow new boys, Leicester, who might have a points deduction looming, this season. 

Recruitment is always the critical part when gaining promotion to the Premier League. Many have got it wrong, but Ipswich’s dealings have been very sensible. Locking down Omari Hutchinson on a permanent basis is great business; a young player who looks ready for a go at top-flight football. The apparent direction of signing players 25 and under makes sense. I see the signings as relatively risk-free with lots of upside, such as Jacob Greaves from Hull City and Ben Johnson, who has Premier League experience, on a free transfer.

Off the back of a promotion year, you are always susceptible to players either not returning from loans or being snapped up by a bigger club, so to have Hutchinson done so early has meant Ipswich are yet to lose any significant piece of the puzzle that would help them this in 2024/25. 

The opposite has happened for Leicester, with Kieran Dewsbury-Hall bought by their former manager and new Chelsea gaffer, Enzo Maresca. It’s a big loss – a key cog of their promotion side. Due to Leicester’s financial situation, this was always to be expected.

A permanent deal of Abdul Fatawu will raise morale after plundering 19 goal contributions for the Foxes last year. Elsewhere, Caleb Okoli, for a smallish fee in today’s game for a player who played 34 times in Serie A for a decent side in Atalanta, can be seen as quite astute. The free signing of Bobby Decordova Reid won’t pull up any trees. 

To even consider Leicester to finish above an Ipswich side that has improved on paper, they need more quality through the door, and I’m not sure that is going to happen. It could be a long, tough year for the Foxes.

A change of manager is never ideal after a positive season. Losing Maresca to Chelsea wouldn’t have been part of any long-term plans. Appointing Steve Cooper, who did a good job in the grand scheme of things for Nottingham Forest, might not be the end of the world. Meanwhile, Ipswich has the continuity of keeping the man who’s got them up and who is, I think, better equipped to give them a chance of seeing off relegation and, in turn, finishing above Leicester City.

• Prediction 5: Ipswich Town To Finish Higher Than Leicester City (TRACKED BET)
• Best Odds: 1.80
• Bookmaker: bet365
• Stake: 10/10

Blackpool vs Stockport: County to pip the Seasiders

Under David Challinor’s leadership, Stockport has achieved two promotions in three years, culminating in their rise to League One this year. Their impressive season, winning the league with 94 points and finishing above Hollywood-backed Wrexham, sets an optimistic trajectory for the club. While back-to-back promotions may be a stretch, a positive season is on the cards. 

Many EFL sides experience a lot of ins and outs in the summer, and Stockport has been no different, but they have impressed me with their recruitment. You can’t look past the loan deal of Michael Mellon from Burnley, who, in the first half of last campaign on loan at Morecambe, proved to be a very capable goalscorer with 15 goals in 27 all comps. A possible partnership with Isaac Olaofe makes for a mouth-water prospect.

Going up to League One, you need experience within this tough division, and they have seemingly kept this in mind with the signings of Sam Hughes from Burton, who’s played the last four years in League One, and Callum Connolly, who’s played 156 times in the Championship and 88 times in League One. They will be starting or contributing a lot across the season.

While emotional for the Stockport faithful, the departures of Paddy Madden and Ryan Croasdale were not entirely unexpected. Both players, now at clubs in League Two, are set to make significant contributions at in the fourth tier. The club’s mix of youthful and experienced players at this level for the future indicates effective business. With the potential of the new signings, there is much to be excited about for the upcoming season. 

Jordan Rhodes’ permanent signing is a no-brainer. He is a certified goalscorer at this level. He was very good in the first half of the season, with 15 goals in 19 starts. He is an EFL veteran who will still score goals. However, injuries and a lack of consistency in the second half of the season showed what typically happens to players as they approach their mid-30s. Ashley Fletcher is not a signing that I think will work out – a striker who doesn’t score doesn’t whet the appetite. For him to have a go at League One is not a bad thing, but he’s not a forward I would want to rely on at any point of a season if you need goals.

Both teams finishing 6th-12th is a realistic possibility; I can also foresee these sides’ head-to-head match-ups being close. The potential of the players bought in by Stockport might just edge it with the likelihood of them proving to be free-scoring.

• Blackpool vs Stockport County Prediction 6: Stockport County Season Match Bet
• Best Odds: 1.83
• Bookmaker: bet365
• Stake: 5/10

Season Match Bet Prediction odds via bet365 as at 14:00, July 23rd, 2024. Odds may now differ.

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