Roker Riches: The Lads Look For Goals At The Etihad

Week Six Recap

Week six proved to be a profitable one for three fifths of the Roker Report pundit team with Dan bringing home a fantastic return as his faith in both Sunderland and Steven Fletcher were rewarded with a big win which put our man in France back into positive figures for the season. Karl also came out of the weekend with a tidy profit with both of his selections winning. I was also able to add to my bank as Sunderland's resolute defence and of course that Simon Mignolet save helped my Sunderland to win to nil bet to come home. Not such a good week for Chris or Simon but both are still in contention as we enter week seven.

Onto the selections:

Dan Williams

What a difference a week makes. Last week's huge winnings on a Sunderland / Fletcher double means I've plenty in the kitty to have some fun with.

As tempting as it is to lump on Fletcher 1-0, I'd be more than happy with a point on Saturday, and my bet reflects what I can see being a really tight game. £3 please.

Robbie Di Matteo's team haven't really had a slump yet, and will be buoyed by a thumping midweek win in the Champions League. Poor old Chris Houghton though saw his team ship five against Liverpool last week, and I can see them doing the same here against a Chelsea side with a far more potent attack. £3 please.

• Sunderland vs Manchester City to finish a draw with under 2.5 goals - 14/1 - £3 Stake
• Chelsea to beat Norwich 5-0 - 23/1 - £3 Stake

Karl Jones

We had a good weekend, didn't we? I'll try to prove that it wasn't a fluke this week, so here goes.

Having got five goals in four games you would think that the bookmakers would be keen to lock up Fletcher's value, but they've done exactly the opposite this weekend. Manchester City are conceding more than one goal per game (on average) which gives Sunderland slight hope of getting a result at a ground where only they managed to last season. Fletcher looks fully fit for the first time in his Sunderland career and his confidence is soaring.

The first one is pretty self-explanatory - Chelsea are flying, Norwich not so much. There could be a bit of a drubbing on the cards at Stamford Bridge, but the one goal handicap at 4/6 is startling value. As part of this week's double, Cardiff, who went top of the Championship on Tuesday are away to struggling Ipswich Town on Saturday. Given the riches of attacking talent the Welsh club have at their disposal, they should continue their winning run.

• Steven Fletcher to score at any time - 4/1 - £5 Stake
• Chelsea to beat Norwich -1, Cardiff to beat Ipswich - 3.8 - £5 Stake

David Boyle

Normally when putting together my Saturday coupon I will stay clear of the early kickoff after seeing a bet fall at the first hurdle one too many times. However, rules are rules so having studied the form I am going to go with a new favourite punt of mine - both teams to score. Of course it is no secret that Manchester City have an embarrassment of riches when it comes to attacking talent and even if Mancini decides to shuffle his pack somewhat come Saturday lunchtime it is hard not to see the home side scoring. However, they are also yet to keep a clean sheet this term and with Steven Fletcher is such irresistible form I fancy us to nick at least one goal.

For my second bet I am going to stay clear of both the Premier League and the unpredictable Championship and instead pick out a couple of League One and Two fixtures as part of a double. The first of which will be Stevenage, currently lying in second place, unbeaten and have home advantage over Scunthorpe who go into the game on the back of two successive defeats. Gillingham will complete my double as they travel to sixteenth placed Oxford who last week ended a run of six consecutive defeats win a win over lowly AFC Wimbledon. Gillingham should have too much for the home side in this one.

• Sunderland vs Manchester City: Both teams to score - 2.4/1 - £3 Stake
• Stevenage and Gillingham to win - 4.41/1 - £2 Stake

Simon Walsh

Obviously everyone is on a high at the moment. We're unbeaten and we have the most in form striker in the league up front for us. Things couldn't really be better eh? Well I'm back to losing money hand over fist in this feature, so I'm afraid it's my turn to be a bit of a negative Nancy here have my heart rule my head.

For this week's game between ourselves and Manchester City, that means little other than a win for the Citizens. There's no odds on that however which particularly appeal to the gambler in me, so I'm going for a high-scoring encounter, and there to be 3 or more goals in the game priced at 2/1.

Elsewhere in the footysphere I'm looking at a little double from within the Premier League. I can see Southampton doing well at home again against Fulham, and I'm coupling that with a win for West Bromwich Albion at home to the forlorn QPR.

• 3 or more goals in Manchester City vs Sunderland - 2/1 - £5 Stake
• West Bromwich Albion & Southampton To Win - 4/1 - £5 Stake

Chris Weatherspoon

You know what? Sod it. We were five minutes away from victory there last season, so why can't we hold out and do it this time? Even without Lee Cattermole giving Yaya Toure another schooling. Even without Sess or Jimmy Mac firing on all cylinders. Even if Adam Johnson is still a bit crocked! With odds like this, a daft pound on Sunderland to win at Manchester City on Saturday lunchtime might not be that daft after all. Haway the lads...

And now for a daft treble to boot. Betting on away wins is pretty much a big 'no-no' at the best of times, but this weekend there could be some decent value. Everton, a sole blemish against West Brom aside, have started the season uncharacteristically strong - evens for them to win at Wigan is too good to ignore. Arsenal let themselves down against Chelsea last week, so expect them to bounce back at West Ham. And it's pretty hard to ignore Manchester United at any time. Yes, they lost 0-3 at Newcastle last season, but Sir Alex Ferguson will be keen to stress the need for a response after last week's defeat at home to Spurs.

• Sunderland to win at Manchester City - 14/1 - £1 stake
• Everton, Arsenal and Manchester United to win - 6.28/1 - £3 stake