The Cards Column Tips: Drameh at the Riverside

Crawley delivered a 1.83 winner in last week’s Cards Column for our cards and bookings expert Matt Kirby. This week sees the FA Cup second round, so Matt’s focus is on the top two tiers, with plenty of fascinating Premier League and Championship matches.

• Wolves v Bournemouth: Over 1 first-half card & over 2 second-half cards
• MIddlesbrough vs Hull: Cody Drameh To Be Booked

The Football Betting Pod: NEW EPISODE OUT NOW

New faces on the panel but same old faces on this weekend’s oppose list for Sam, as Scott, Dan, and Mark Stinchcombe piece together another jam-packed football betting episode. Expect nine best bets and plenty of football predictions ahead of the weekend.

(01:17) – Liverpool vs Real Madrid/Man City

(16:30) – Bristol City vs Plymouth Argyle

(20:47) – Wolves vs Bournemouth

(25:00) – Brentford vs Leicester

(29:12) – Chelsea vs Aston Villa

(32:00) – POD TREBLE

Referee Appointments in the Premier League, Championship, League One and Two: Kav the big game ref

Chris Kavanagh has this weekend’s standout game as Liverpool look to extend their lead in the Premier League title race when Man City visit Anfield on Sunday afternoon. The ref has been quite card-happy this season and sent off Christian Norgaard for Brentford last weekend. But that’s now been rescinded after an appeal.

Rob Jones has Friday night’s south coast battle between high-flying Brighton and struggling Southampton. Anthony Taylor heads to London Stadium for West Ham v Arsenal after going through his second game without showing a card last weekend – not bad considering his reputation!

In the Championship, Gavin Ward has Friday night’s big game between promotion-chasing pair Sheff Utd and Sunderland. Lewis Smith oversees Leeds’ trip to Blackburn. Elsewhere, Select Group 1 official Tim Robinson – who’s shown 4+ cards in all eight of his games – has Bristol City v Plymouth.

For all the referee data and insight, give Matt a follow on X/Twitter. His handle is @m_kirby95, where he also posts data for Champions League games! And that’s where you’ll find the referee appointments and charts for the upcoming midweek round of top-flight matches.

Wolves vs Bournemouth: Cash in on the Bankes

England, Premier League, Saturday, November 30th, 15:00 (UK)

I’ve found myself slightly stranded this week with moving lines causing chaos across the board. I had eyed up over 4 Asian cards in Norwich v Luton but that line moved to over 4.5 before the time of writing, so I decided to swerve, despite both being good for fouls and cards.

That means I’ve had to get slightly inventive with my opening pick, as Wolves entertain Bournemouth at Molineux in the Gary O’Neil derby.

The line has been set at over 5.5 cards and probably rightly so with Peter Bankes fairly trigger happy in the last couple of seasons and these two generally being good for a card.

Their last three meetings have seen: six yellows (three each), eight yellows and a red, plus five yellows and a red.

Those clashes saw first half and second half breakdowns: 1FH & 5SH, 4FH & 6SH + 2FH and 5SH, which leads me to the angle I’ll put up at 2.2.

Referee Bankes is averaging 2.5 cards in the first half and 1.9 in the second, so can go fairly early when it comes to cautioning players. So, I’m slightly surprised his second-half figure isn’t higher given the players are generally walking the tightrope.

Using the excellent resource of PlayerStats.footbal shows these two sides top the Premier League foul charts – Bournemouth’s 13.7 per game is the most, with Wolves second at 13.1.

Fouls lead to cards and both sides have players from countries that now have to milk contact, plus a few added rolls like they’ve been poleaxed will sway Bankes to reach for a caution.

Talking of the referee again, he oversaw the Cherries’ EFL Cup exit at West Ham in August. That game saw seven yellows – two in the first half and five after the break.

Overall, two sides that top the foul charts and a hint of animosity based on the manager in the home dugout could lead to plenty of tension on the pitch. Bankes likes an early card, so combine them with second-half cards.

• Selection: Over 1 first-half card & over 2 second-half cards
• Best Odds: 2.2
• Bookmaker: Bet365
• Stake: 7/10

Cody Drameh To Be Booked: Drameh at the Riverside

England, Championship, Saturday, November 30th, 12:30 (UK)

After a busy week of Championship action, Middlesbrough and Hull will look to get back to winning ways after falling to defeats. But for the Tigers it saw the axe fall on Tim Walter’s short and troubled reign.

Andy Dawson takes interim charge for their trip to the Riverside, where the unpredictable Boro await.

I’ve mentioned him before but Liverpool loanee Ben Doak can cause plenty of problems for opposing defences. And that’s why I’m putting Cody Drameh on the radar for this lunchtime game.

The electric winger is one who can draw fouls and be a creative spark for this Boro side when they need it. Doak has been fouled twice on his last two starts, and going further back five times in their home defeat to Bristol City.

That game against the Robins saw left-back Ross McCrorie booked, while Watford’s left centre-back Ryan Porteous was cautioned against Boro. More recently, Coventry employed Jack Rudoni in a left wing-back role, which saw him see yellow for one of his two fouls.

Drameh has committed at least one foul in eight of his last 10 league appearances and was booked in their 4-0 away defeat at Norwich. That might be his only caution this season, but earlier in his career, he was certainly used to entering the referee’s notebook.

What I also like about Drameh is how he bombs up and down that left flank. Plus, he gets stuck in. He averages 4.3 tackles per 90, including six at Stoke, seven at Norwich and five in 21 minutes at Oxford. Just on Tuesday, Drameh completed six tackles in that defeat to Sheffield Wednesday, so definitely puts himself about.

Doak driving at Drameh could be one of the key battles in this game, so referee Stephen Martin will have to keep his eye on that one. Martin’s last few matches have seen him remain quite calm, including managing to go 90 minutes without booking a player (Sheffield Wednesday v Norwich).

However, the last time Mr Muscle visited the Riverside I was there. That was Boro’s win against Stoke, which wasn’t a bad-tempered game but still saw Martin book 11 players, including seven of the visiting men.

With Hull winless in nine in the league, they could sit in to try and contain. But they could take to tactical fouling to break up the Boro pressure. And if the Tigers do somehow take the lead, there’s a chance of Drameh picking up a card for some time-wasting at a throw-in.

I’m happy enough to take Drameh given all the above factors at 5.00 with Bet365. He is slightly bigger with Sky Bet but you don’t get that concession in case he doesn’t start if interim boss Dawson shuffles the pack.

• Selection: Cody Drameh to be booked (TRACKED BET)
• Best Odds: 5.00
• Bookmaker: Bet365
• Stake: 3/10

There usually is a third pick, but I felt 1.8 was short for two cards each in Brentford v Leicester. While the Asian cards line in Preston v West Brom appealed but Thomas Bramall stung my last weekend. The official gave three yellows in the first half in Luton v Hull before blanking in the second to let me down for even a push.

Despite that game at Deepdale having a good chance at cards, I’ve been dissuaded by the referee. So, rather than go big, I’ll just take those two angles for this weekend’s action. I’ll see if anything catches my eye as we go, which I’ll post on X/Twitter.

Odds via bet365 and Skybet as of 22:00, November 28th. Odds may now differ.

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