Striker! Mahrez can fire Leicester to title glory
PFA Player of the Year Riyad Mahrez is in Dave Tindall’s anytime scorer staking plan this weekend along with England’s most reliable marksman.
This column has already brought you one 50/1 winner this season and has had successful tips among its selection every single week since launch.
Premier League Top Scorers
24 Harry Kane (Tottenham) Last 6 games: 0-2-0-1-2-2 = 7
23 Sergio Aguero (Man City) Last 6 games: 0-1-1-3-0-1 = 6
22 Jamie Vardy (Leicester) Last 6 games: 1-2-0-0-0-0 = 3
18 Romelu Lukaku (Everton) Last 6 games: 0-0-0-0-0-0 = 0
17 Riyad Mahrez (Leicester) Last 6 games: 1-0-0-0-1-0 = 2
Analysis: Jamie Vardy misses the trip to Old Trafford so the stage is set for newly-crowned PFA Player of the Year Riyad Mahrez to inspire Leicester to their incredible title victory.
But forget fairytales for a moment as there are solid grounds for backing Mahrez to find the net as the Algerian is an away-day specialist.
In total, 13 of his 18 goals for Leicester this season have come on the road and he clearly enjoys having that extra bit of space in which to weave his magic.
Mahrez has scored in three of his last five road trips and got back on the goal trail with the opener in Leicester’s 4-0 home win over Swansea last week.
Back him at 3/1 to net anytime on Sunday and possibly score the goal that sees Leicester crowned as champions.
It’s a similar story with Premier League top scorer Harry Kane.
He’s fired blanks (v West Brom and Man Utd) in Tottenham’s last two home games but has scored five in his last three on the road.
As we know, we always get bigger prices for players on their travels, even if their home v away scoring stats suggest otherwise, so take Kane at 13/10 to find the net in Monday night’s London derby at Chelsea.
Sergio Aguero is another Premier League striker doing his best work on the road right now, but with Manchester City facing their massive Champions League showdown with Real Madrid at the Bernabeu next week, he may be rested for the trip to Southampton.
Best bet:
Riyad Mahrez to score anytime v Man Utd at 3/1
Harry Kane to score anytime v Chelsea at 4/5
Championship Top Scorers
24 Andre Gray (Burnley) Last 6 games: 0-0-1-0-0-1 = 2
21 Ross McCormack (Fulham) Last 6 games: 0-0-0-0-1-1 = 2
19 Abel Hernandez (Hull City) Last 6 games: 1-1-0-1-0-0 = 3
17 Nakhi Wells (Huddersfield) Last 6 games: 0-1-1-0-0-0 = 2
17 Tomer Hemed (Brighton) Last 6 games: 1-0-3-0-0-0 = 4
17 Jonathan Kodjia (Bristol City) Last 6 games: 1-1-0-1-0-0 = 3
Analysis: It’s gone rather quiet for the top two, Gray and McCormack, but there look to be plenty of good options below them.
Both Hull’s Abel Hernandez and Bristol City’s Jonathan Kodjia (pictured below) have scored in three of their last four games but the former is a very short price due to Hull taking on bottom club Bolton.
But Kodjia is certainly a backable price at 7/4 for Bristol City’s home game with Huddersfield.
The French striker has bagged four goals in the Robins’ last four home matches and City are scoring plenty of goals at the moment.
He should get plenty of chances against a Huddersfield side who have won just one in six.
Tomer Hemed is also worth considering for Brighton’s crucial home game with Derby, but Kodjia looks to have the easier task.
Best bets:
Jonathan Kodjia to score anytime v Huddersfield at 7/4
League One Top Scorers
23 Will Grigg (Wigan) Last 6 games: 2-0-1-1-2-0 = 6
22 Nicky Ajose (Swindon) Last 6 games: 0-0-0-1-0-1 = 2
20 Billy Sharp (Sheffield United) Last 6 games: 0-1-1-0-1-0 = 3
19 Sam Winnall (Barnsley) Last 6 games: 0-0-0-2-0-0 = 2
19 Adam Armstrong (Coventry) Last 6 games: 0-0-0-0-0-0 = 0
Analysis: With 18 goals since the turn of the year, Will Grigg has been League One’s hottest striker in 2016.
Of course, this column focuses on very latest form and he has that as well having made it six goals in his last five games with a double at home to Southend last weekend.
He’s also found the net in four of his last five away matches so should be able to help himself to another when the Latics make the short hop to Blackpool on Saturday.
The hosts are fighting to stay in the division but Wigan will be right up for it too as they close in on the title.
Best odds of 6/5 about Grigg are more than acceptable.
Billy Sharp is the only other of the division’s marksmen in good enough form for a bet.
The Blades striker has scored in his last two away games so 7/5 for another at Coventry is decent but Grigg is the standout bet in League One this weekend.
Best bet:
Will Grigg to score anytime v Blackpool at 6/5
League Two Top Scorers
27 Matty Taylor (Bristol Rovers) Last 6 games: 1-0-1-1-2-1 = 6
25 Jay Simpson (Leyton Orient) Last 6 games: 0-2-0-0-0-0 = 2
20 Lyle Taylor (AFC Wimbledon) Last 6 games: 0-1-2-0-1-2 = 6
19 John Akinde (Barnet) Last 6 games: 1-1-0-2-0-1 = 5
Analysis: Matty Taylor has been pencilling himself into our acca week after week and, once more, he came up with the goods when scoring at home to Exeter last Saturday.
That meant he’s netted in nine of his last 10 games so, in terms of an anytime scorer option, there isn’t a better one in all four divisions.
This weekend he’ll make his way to relegated York so it really is somewhat eye-popping that he’s available at an odds-against price. Don’t ask; snap it up.
We’ll also play Barnet’s John Akinde as his numbers outstrip his price.
The big striker took his tally to 20 goals with an early strike at Mansfield last time out and now has four in four.
Given that visitors Yeovil are in 20th and haven’t won any of their last five games, it’s a big surprise to see Akinde at 12/5.
Best bets:
Matty Taylor to score anytime v York at 6/5
John Akinde to score anytime v Yeovil at 12/5
Best-priced goalscorer accumulator:
Mahrez, Kodjia, Grigg & Taylor at 39.59/1
Dave Tindall