Champions League-chasing Newcastle head to Nottingham Forest on Friday in the Premier League. James Cantrill previews the game picking out his best bets.
Football betting tips: Premier League
1.5pts Alexander Isak to score anytime at 17/10 (Betfair, Paddy Power)
0.5pts Alexander Isak to be shown a card at 15/2 (Sporting Index)
Steve Cooper could be without 10 players as his side welcome Champions League chasing Newcastle on Friday.
Without doubt, Brennan Johnson will be the biggest miss.
He has featured in every single one of their 26 league games, present for 91% of his sides domestic campaign.
With seven goals and two assists, he has had a hand in more goals than any other player at the club.
It is not just the offensive output he provides that makes him the main man in Nottingham, he is pivotal to how his side plays. Without him, it is tough to see how the hosts get anything out of this game.
Kick-off time: 20:00 GMT, Friday
TV channel: Sky Sports Main Event
N Forest 9/2 | Draw 11/4 | Newcastle 8/13
Heartbreak in the Carabao Cup was followed by a winless period of five games and left Newcastle’s Champions League hopes on the ropes.
In desperation, Eddie Howe re-jigged his tactics and freshened up the personnel and it paid dividends as Newcastle edged out Wolves on Super Sunday.
This saw the previously ever-present Miguel Almiron, big money January import Anthony Gordon and Callum Wilson make way for Jacob Murphy, Allan Saint-Maximin and ALEXANDER ISAK, the latter grabbing the opener.
It was a coming of age performance for the big Swede, one that primes him to become the Magpies chief number nine, debunking Wilson.
Isak’s tally of four Premier League goals is seven goals fewer than Almiron, but the former tops his sides charts for goals per 90 (0.52), making him Newcastle's most most clinical player.
This is why backing the frontman TO SCORE ANYTIME appeals here.
Forest are a lot sturdier at the City Ground, with four of the six league clean sheets coming at home.
In the absence of key personnel, I think Cooper’s side will struggle to keep the visitors at bay, as do the bookies, pricing Newcastle at odds-on to score two or more goals.
And if the Magpies are amongst the goals, I expect Isak to have a hand in them.
I also think backing ALEXANDER ISAK TO BE SHOWN A CARD is worth a small punt.
At 15/2, only three outfield players are larger odds to be booked then the frontman.
Isak was carded in the game last weekend, his first in England’s top flight, he has only started six games though.
In Spain, the frontman picked up 13 league cards across three seasons in which he started 103 games.
With a card per 90 average of 0.23 over that period, 5/1 would represent sufficient value here.
Nottingham Forest v Newcastle best bets and score prediction
- 1.5pts Alexander Isak to score anytime at 17/10 (Betfair Sportsbook, Paddy Power, SBK)
- 0.5pts Alexander Isak to be shown a card at 15/2 (Sporting Index)
Score prediction: Nottingham Forest 0-2 Newcastle (Sky Bet odds: 13/2)
Odds correct at 1610 GMT (15/03/23)
More from Sporting Life
Safer gambling
We are committed in our support of safer gambling. Recommended bets are advised to over-18s and we strongly encourage readers to wager only what they can afford to lose.
If you are concerned about your gambling, please call the National Gambling Helpline / GamCare on 0808 8020 133.
Further support and information can be found at begambleaware.org and gamblingtherapy.org.