GW 15 – Ones to Watch

Matt: Whilst international breaks may not be particularly well received by football fans in general, we can’t deny thoroughly enjoying them here at TUG. The inclusion of teams from the National North & South leagues always brings an added dimension and rarely disappoints in terms of high scoring fixtures. I shall certainly be fully exploring those games in the hope of unearthing some hidden gems as we like to call them.

I think it’s also going to be difficult to avoid League One this weekend and it’s there where i’m heading first of all. The fixture between Peterborough United and Bradford City looks rather appealing, given that the home side are the division’s top scorers on 33 and the away side have lost eight and drawn one of their last nine games. The Bantams’ woes have gradually gotten worse all season and there has been something of a revolving door policy going on with their managers, none of whom have been able to change their fortunes. After six league defeats on the bounce and facing a team who love a goal or four, this looks to be a very tough encounter for the Yorkshire-men.  The Posh have been well backed by TUG players already this season and i see no reason why that won’t be the case again this weekend.

Tip number 2 comes from the aforementioned National League South and it’s another United i’m backing here………Welling United. The Wings face bottom of the table Weston-super-Mare at Park View Road, hoping to get back on track after a couple of iffy results recently have started to derail their bid for promotion. This is the perfect opportunity to do exactly that, especially as they’ve had an extended break whilst their visitors were in FA Cup action last week, losing 2-0 at home to National League Wrexham. The season has been something of a ‘mare’ for Weston, if you’ll excuse the pun, as The Seagulls have recorded just one solitary victory in the league so far. However, they are showing signs of life and certainly not going down without a fight, having lost only twice in their previous nine games in all competitions. On paper, this should be a routine home win………i’m not too fussed what the result personally, but i’d like a few Welling goals in the process! Good luck to you all.

Ally: My first tip of this International weekend sees me up in the north east, as League One high flyers Sunderland take on mid table Wycombe Wanderers. The Black Cats have scored in every league game so far this season, and only failed to score once when beaten at home by Championship side Sheffield Wednesday in the first round of the Carabao Cup, way back in August. Since then they have gone from strength to strength at home, maintaining an unbeaten record there,  having won 3 of their last 4 games on Wearside, averaging 3 goals per game. Wanderers meanwhile have coped well since promotion to sit comfortably in mid table, but they have just one clean sheet away from Adams Park and I don’t imagine that record increasing after tomorrow’s game.

My second tip takes advantage of the availability of National League North and South fixtures. I’m going for the North division’s current leaders Bradford Park Avenue, who welcome struggling Ashton United to West Yorkshire. Bradford’s home form is solid, if unspectacular, as they have scored in every game so far……but never more than twice! Rather it is visitors Ashton’s away form that has drawn me to this fixture, as they have lost their last 4 games on their travels conceding 14 goals in the process. As a result i fancy Bradford PA to maintain their scoring run at home, even if it might not be a goal fest!

Good luck!