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Welcome to another Roker Riches episode, at a time of much happiness and mirth in Mackem fan circles.
For the first time in a very long time (about a year I think, a stretch which gave Parky manager of the month if I recall right....how well that turned out eh!) our Red and White winning machine has secured three victorious league games on the trot as well as a penalty shoot-out win to go to an empty Wembley in 2 weeks.
9 goals for us and only 1 against have the boys up to 5th in the league, with a slight gap starting to emerge for the teams in the promotion playoff berths. Importantly, the only team above us in the league ladder as well as in the latest League One form table are Peterborough United (Malc’s local team these days). They regularly have a late slump, so lots of reasons to be positive. Cue banana skin versus Crewe? Hopefully not.
Will the merriment and confidence rub off on the betting slips of our Riches posse? Let’s see what they are backing for the lads this time out, and for wider fixtures this weekend as we take on Crewe Alexandra’s “Railwaymen” at their place hoping to keep the promotion train rolling.
The Rolling Table: Season 2020-2021
Yellow card update...
One yellow card this week for our Gary. Our betting buddy from the Emerald Isle was so busy setting up a new double PC and monitor setup, his betting duties slipped through the cracks. All the other lads got their bets in on time, continuing the impressive discipline seen for some time.
Here is the table as it stands before the Lads take on Crewe this afternoon...
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Some success returned to the betting slips last Saturday alongside our winning run continuing for the lads on the pitch.
Danny won from his Sunderland bet (bringing in a huge £13.75), making sure he doesn’t take a net loss. Matty had an even better return with his English four way bringing in £44.77, taking him back over the century of funds again.
Other than those two winners, a standard tenner down for everyone else (and twenty for Gary due to his yellow). Several near misses for many were the subject of much moaning (especially from Paul, who seems to “hit the post” more than Burge’s dirty studs on an away day to Accrington).
Banker’s Bonus...
This week’s Bankers Bonus is based on the hope that our scoring prowess carries on.
Though Crewe have played okay in places of late, including doing Sunderland a huge favour beating Accrington last time out, they haven’t let more than 2 goals in for a month when they were beaten 4-1 away to Gillingham.
If the lads manage to get three or more goals this weekend, we will award all punters an extra tenner for next Saturday’s home game versus Rochdale.
We succeeded in this challenge versus Burton, MK Dons and Doncaster, why not away to Crewe? Hopefully a certain tenner for all to come.
This Week’s Bets:
Matty Crichton says...
Sunderland to win and over 2.5 goals scored: The fact Sunderland have won three League One matches on the bounce and have scored the most goals in 2020/21 in all four divisions leads me to believe that this is a great bet, Crewe’s unbeaten home run in 2021 may say otherwise... £5 returns £17.50.
League One Treble: Hull to turn their fortunes around against Wimbledon, Posh to beat Wigan and remain top of the table, plus Pompey to beat Gillingham - hopefully this safe treble can help me slowly edge up the table! £5 returns £19.60.
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Gary Morris says...
SAFC to win half and full time with Wyke to continue scoring, and JJ to get his first for the lads. A healthy £75 payout for my fiver wager.
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Premier league draw treble.... I feel a few draws coming this weekend and think these 3 are all dead rubbers, namely the home ties for Leeds, Newcastle and Chelsea. £5 pays back £208.84
Phil Butler says...
Sunderland to win both halves: I seem to have little luck in picking goalscorers, and I don’t feel as confident in Sunderland to keep clean sheets as I did during our good run of form earlier in the season. However, we’re always a good bet for goals and if we can manage to win the first half I back us to grab another goal in the second. £5 returns £35.
EFL Treble: Well, the prediction for my Banker’s Bonus treble was correct last weekend, but unfortunately it was my prediction that my pick from the 11:30 kick-off would let me down with Udinese only managing a draw against Parma. Last week’s EFL Treble was shocking, with none of my selections winning so hopefully I can go from famine to feast with a trio of 3pm Saturday kickoffs.
Barnsley face Millwall at home and find themselves just outside the playoffs under a manager who prompted a “who?” when mentioned in the Roker Report group chat, but the Tykes should be a banker in this week.
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Also in the Championship, QPR travel to St. Andrews to face Birmingham City who are headed for relegation under Aitor Karanka. Down in League Two, Bradford City have won four of their last five and I’m backing them to make that five in the last six by winning away at Walsall this afternoon. £5 returns £69.88.
Paul Fletcher says...
Sunderland to win 4-0: Crewe are a decent side who haven’t lost many home games this season. If we hadn’t dropped so many silly points at home then an away draw wouldn’t be an awful result. Unfortunately we have so only a win will do. I fancy us to sneak it 1-0 but that doesn’t pay the big money so I’m sticking with my greedy plan. 4-0 is 40/1 so £5 returns £205.
Win and BTTS £1 Trixie: The time for playing it safe has gone and big winners are needed. The four teams that I’ve selected to win without keeping a clean sheet this weekend are AC Milan, Standard Liege, Basel and AZ Alkmaar. Three out of four correct would return approximately £75 but for a full house my £5 stake returns £677.50
Malc Dugdale says...
Sunderland to score 3 or more goals - I’m not entirely sure we will always pull off a clean sheet but I am increasingly confident we can get a good haul of goals on the road, and though this bet doesn’t call a win I would expect that result if this happens. If Gillingham can get 4 past these, we should be able to get 6. Fiver returns £25.
4 way Premier and League One combo - Man City, Wolves, Ipswich and Rochdale all to win this weekend. City are flying and are approaching the point of being champions in all but formality with their ten point lead over Man Utd and Leicester. Wolves should deal efficiently with our monochrome cousins up the A1 too. Ipswich should overcome a stuttering Doncaster side who haven’t been the same since we battered them, and I fancy Rochdale to beat Burton to start their pull away from the bottom 6, who are only separated by 3 points. Fiver pays £89.25.
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Danny Roberts says...
Sunderland to win: We’re in good form and I think it’ll continue this weekend against Crewe. They like to attack rather than sit back and defend and I think that will suit us. £5 returns £10.25.
Plymouth to beat Lincoln City: I have a weird feeling this will happen this weekend. Lincoln are on a little dip now and have deserved to lose their last two. Plymouth are a good team and are at home. £5 returns £16.50.
Riches Readers’ Random Pick...
Sunderland to win 3-1 - this weeks random pick is for the lads to replicate a score line we haven’t seen go our way since pre season. This offers good odds of 16-1 hence returns £170 if it lands for our readers. They certainly need a boost, maybe this is their week.
Good luck to Sunderland and to all our fellow punters. Please remember to gamble responsibly, and enjoy your weekend. Let us know what you will be betting on this weekend, on social media or by email.
Cheers and Ha’way the Lads!