Striker! Three in his last four, here’s why Lukaku can net again

Dave Tindall
Romelu Lukaku: Can get among the goals again

Romelu Lukaku: Can get among the goals again

In-form Everton marksman Romelu Lukaku and Burnley hotshot Andre Gray are both in Dave Tindall’s 33/1 anytime scorer staking plan this weekend.

This column has already brought you one 50/1 winner this season and has had successful tips among its selection every week since launch, including two 7/4 winners last week.

Premier League Top Scorers

19 Jamie Vardy (Leicester) Last 6 in all comps: 0-0-1-0-2-1 = 4

17 Romelu Lukaku (Everton) Last 6 games: 1-1-0-1-0-0 = 3

16 Harry Kane (Tottenham) Last 6 games: 0-0-0-0-1-0 = 1

14 Sergio Aguero (Man City) Last 6 games: 0-0-1-0-1-1 = 3

14 Odion Ighalo (Watford) Last 6 games: 0-0-0-0-0-0 = 0

14 Riyad Mahrez (Leicester) Last 6 games: 0-1-0-0-0-0 = 1

Analysis: Just when their teams want them to keep banging in the goals, some of the division’s leading marksmen are finding the going tough.

Harry Kane hasn’t scored in his last four, Riyad Mahrez has only a single goal in his last 11, Odion Ighalo is six games without a goal and even Jamie Vardy and Sergio Aguero have managed to find the net just once in their last four outings.

But these things are cyclical and, after a dry patch of his own (none in five). Everton’s Romelu Lukaku has hit the goal trail again.

He’s registered in three of his last four, including the last two, and now has 17 for the season, putting him just two goals behind top scorer Vardy.

Next up for the big Belgian is a home game against West Ham and, on first glance, his odds of 23/20 don’t appear great.

However, he scored against the Hammers earlier this season and, despite their lofty position in the table, Slaven Bilic’s men have been average on the road of late, winning just one since October.

They’ve let in their fare share too so back an in-form and bullish Lukaku to help himself to another goal.

Romelu Lukaku to score anytime v West Ham at 23/20

 

Championship Top Scorers

20 Andre Gray (Burnley) Last 6 games: 2-0-0-0-0-1 = 3

16 Ross McCormack (Fulham) Last 6 games: 0-0-0-0-1-0 = 1

16 Abel Hernandez (Hull City) Last 6 games: 0-0-0-0-1-0 = 1

14 Alan Judge (Brentford) Last 6 games: 1-0-1-0-0-0 = 2

13 Nakhi Wells (Huddersfield) Last 6 games: 0-1-1-0-1-1 = 4

Analysis: Andre Gray ended a mini-drought of four goalless games with a double in the 2-1 win at Bolton last Saturday and has hit the magic 20 mark for the season.

Burnley now top the table and will be looking to Gray to keep them there when they take on local rivals Blackburn at the weekend.

As 13 of his goals have come at Turf Moor, he looks more than a decent bet at 7/4 to slam in another. We’ll put him in the acca.

Alan Judge continues to score regularly from his advanced midfield position and has chalked up goals in two of his last three starts for Brentford. Stretching further back he has four in eight.

The Bees host basement club Charlton on Saturday and, as the visitors concede at over two a game away from home, Judge certainly makes appeal at 2/1 to wheel away in celebration again.

Nahki Wells has four in his last six so must surely be a bit of value at 3/1 and bigger to pop up on the vidiprinter again when Huddersfield travel to Derby.

That’s simply too big for a player who has become a proven scorer at this level with nine in his last 14.

Best bets:

Andre Gray to score anytime v Blackburn at 7/4
Alan Judge to score anytime v Charlton at 2/1
Nahki Wells to score anytime v Derby at 31/10

 

League One Top Scorers

19 Adam Armstrong (Coventry) Last 6 games: 0-0-2-0-1-0 = 3

19 Nicky Ajose (Swindon) Last 6 games: 0-1-3-2-0-0 = 6

17 Sam Winnall (Barnsley) Last 6 games: 0-1-0-0-0-0 = 1

15 Billy Sharp (Sheffield United) Last 6 games: 0-0-1-0-0-0 = 1

15 Paddy Madden (Scunthorpe United) Last 6 games: 0-0-1-0-1-0 = 2

Analysis: He didn’t score at home to Doncaster on Tuesday night but Nicky Ajose has blasted in six goals in Swindon’s last three Saturday outings.

We’ve landed 8/1 (2 or more) and 7/4 payouts in the last two and will stick with the striker to help the in-form Robins to a fifth straight win.

Ajose, who has 19 for the season now, has the perfect opportunity for another goal as Swindon travel to third-bottom Oldham. The Latics are porous at home and have shipped 30 goals in 16 matches.

That’s the second worst home defensive record in League One so Ajose is a very decent price at 15/8 to get the locals grumbling again.

As for the rest, no-one has the recent figures to justify a bet with Adam Armstrong, Sam Winnall, Billy Sharp and Paddy Madden all managing to score in just one of their last four games.

Best bet:

Nicky Ajose to score v Oldham at 15/8

 

League Two Top Scorers

23 Jay Simpson (Leyton Orient) Last 6 games: 1-0-0-0-0-0 = 1

17 Matty Taylor (Bristol Rovers) Last 6 games: 3-0-0-0-0-0 = 3

15 Marc Richards (Northampton) Last 6 games: 1-0-1-0-0-0 = 2

14 Lyle Taylor (AFC Wimbledon) Last 6 games: 1-0-0-1-2-0 = 4

14 Billy Kee (Accrington Stanley) Last 6 games: 0-1-1-1-0-1 = 4

Analysis: After a string of duck eggs (five each), Jay Simpson and Matty Taylor both got on the scoresheet again last time out, the latter with a hat-trick.

So, are they now both set to go on another run?

There’s every chance and Simpson looks worth a play at home to a Luton side who have let in six goals in their last two road games.

Simpson is 11/8 to add to the 23 he’s netted already this season so put him in the acca.

We’ll swerve Taylor though. Bristol Rovers travel to Carlisle and Taylor has netted in just one of his last eight away games.

Two of the division’s leading marksmen will be on the same pitch when Lyle Taylor’s AFC Wimbledon host Billy Kee’s Accrington.

In the first match-up back in October, both men got on the scoresheet twice as AFC Wimbledon won a seven-goal thriller.

Scope then for more goals from the pair except Taylor hasn’t troubled the scorers in three of his last four home games. Kee has similar numbers away from home so I can’t quite pull the trigger on either striker.

Best bet: 

Jay Simpson to score anytime v Luton at 11/8

Best-priced goalscorer accumulator:

Lukaku, Gray, Ajose & Simpson at 33/1

Dave Tindall