Roker Riches: What odds are on offer for a second successive win at Stadium MK in the same week?

Welcome back to another edition of Roker Riches to all our readers, followers and friends around the world.

Yes, it’s that time of the week again when we grab all the change from down the back of the couch and out of the work trouser pockets, and we think about a little dabble with the bookies on the matches to come.

We have already forgotten how badly the bets crashed last time, however, this is a new weekend and anything can happen, but you have to be in it to win it.

Looking back on the last week and ignoring the betting returns, it has not been too bad a stretch in terms of football. The week didn’t get off to the best start with a stoppage time equaliser splitting the points against Gillingham in the league last Saturday. A few days later though the team rallied round really well to secure a 3-0 away win against MK Dons to take us one step closer to a final in a probably empty Wembley. Great eh!

Ignoring last Saturday’s 90th minute slip up, many fans appear to be building a slow but steady trend of optimism as the clock of Johnson’s tenure goes by the three month point.

Despite disappointing results like the 2-2 against Gills and the home loss to The Argyle, as well as draws against Wimbledon and Northampton (suggesting consistency is still some way off), the smouldering embers of footballing promise are being spotted by a notable portion of our numbers. If the embers can gain the benefit of a breeze to help fan the flames of success to ignition, we could well have something here. Maybe.

While winning 3-0 away in a cup match can seemingly only be a good thing before you meet the same team in the league, it doesn’t take Einstein to work out that both teams will likely ring the changes with three league points at stake.

League success means much more than a larger slice of the league cup pizza. And both teams have strong reasons to desire all maximum points this afternoon.

For MK Dons, they need to take their yo-yo form (three wins and two defeats in their last five league matches) and turn it more into wins and draws in order to pull away from flirting with the drop.

With Swindon and Rochdale both securing wins last time out, MK need to up their points average to prevent getting sucked in. Fourth bottom Northampton are eight points behind MK Dons with a game in hand, which interestingly is the same challenge facing Sunderland to win the league as we trail Hull by eight points with a game in hand. If we think we can still get top two, they must know they can still be dragged into the relegation battle.

In the case of Sunderland, it is all about continuing to gain more points than the five teams above them and those close by, hopefully doing enough to be in the top two slots when another 22 games have been played out, pandemic permitting.

We have recently gained points on most of those above us but unless we keep that up, the best we can hope for is another play-off lottery. After this game, the Lads have a run of games which could reap a strong points tally, with only the Doncaster home game looking a significant hurdle between now and visiting Pompey on the 9th of March. This could well be the start of our big push.

But what are the Riches punters backing for this first of that sequence of key games as we move further into the second half of the season? Let’s take a look.

---

The Rolling Table : Season 2020-2021

Yellow card update...

Once again with a little nagging and a VAR like look away by the ref as a few late submissions slipped in, there were no yellows this week.

Here is the table as it stands before the Lads return to Stadium MK this afternoon:

After four of the seven betting competitors pulled in wins last week, it’s back to earth with a bump for all this weekend with a clean sweep of zeroes. Many a bet was scuppered by the Mags away win at Everton, but hopefully the form book will return to being a reliable guide this time out.

---

Banker’s Bonus...

The bonus last week was based on more than one goal from the Lads, and if Ballon D’Or contender Wyke could carry on his scoring streak a huge £20 bonus was on offer.

Sadly Wyke didn’t chalk a goal up, with honours going to McGeady and Leadbitter against the Gills.

Thanks to the two goals, all punters have an extra tenner to dabble with this week.

---

This Week’s Bets:

Matty Crichton says...

Charlie Wyke to score anytime: I am sick of losing the Sunderland related bet, so I am taking the simplistic option to gain what should be easy profit. £5 returns £12.50.

English Fourfold: I picked one team from each of the four English professional leagues. Tuchel to continue his unbeaten run as Chelsea manager by beating Sheffield United. Notts Forest to obtain some breathing space from the relegation zone by beating Wycombe. Hull to retain top spot by beating bottom-placed Burton Albion. Lastly, Newport to end their poor run by winning against struggling Grimsby at home. £5 returns £51.40.

Banker’s Bonus: Three teams to win, but all with both teams to score to amplify those odds! Charlton to beat Rochdale, Accrington to beat Northampton and Posh to beat Crewe. £10 returns £510.30.

Photo by Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images

---

Gary Morris says...

Sunderland to win 3-0 - hopefully this direct repeat of the Pizza cup will come in this time in the league. Fiver returns £105.

League one 4 bagger - Accrington, Hull, Posh and Shrewsbury all to win. A few hopefully obvious wins here - famous last words...Fiver returns £70.91.

Bankers Bonus - Man Utd, Spurs, Leicester and Chelsea all to win in a prem 4 way. With a tenner bet, this will bring in £74.25 if it rolls in.

Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images

---

Phil Butler says...

Aiden McGeady to Score and Win. The tricky winger has some serious competition on the left as demonstrated by Jones on Tuesday in the cup, so Aiden will be keen to turn on the tricks and keep his slot. £5 returns £35

3pm Saturday Treble. Brighton, Brentford and Reading all to win away from home. £5 returns £74.25

Bankers Bonus - Sunday European Trixie (3 doubles and a treble) Sampdoria, Verona and Frankfurt all to win - with a little insurance policy since I’ve got a tenner. Tenner returns £91.29

---

Paul Fletcher says...

Sunderland to win, both teams to score and over 10 corners in the match – I think MK Dons will definitely raise their game after a poor showing midweek but I’m still backing us to do enough to come away with a vital three points. On a dodgy pitch, I wouldn’t be surprised to see some no nonsense defending, with both teams happy to concede corners rather than taking unnecessary risks. £5 returns £65

Double Chance Sixfold - Bristol City, Hull, Charlton, Mansfield, Tranmere and Livingstone to all avoid defeat this afternoon. £5 returns £28.49

Win and BTTS treble – I’m saving my Banker’s Bonus for Sunday in the hope that winning big will be as easy as A,B,C. Ajax, Barcelona and Copenhagen to all win their games without keeping a clean sheet pays a game-changing 20/1. £10 returns £214.20

---

Malc Dugdale says...

Sunderland to win and BTTS - we did well to keep a clean sheet in the cup, but with a few of the regulars back for MK I am not so sure we will do that in the league game, but hopefully we should have enough to take the 3 points. Fiver returns £27.50.

5 way league one Acca - Hull, Ipswich, Posh, Portsmouth and Charlton all to win. This is the last thing we need with these sides being our competition for going up, but with the opponents including Burton, Crewe, Plymouth and Rochdale, I would be surprised if our mates in the top 8 drop many points. Fiver pays £161.95.

Bankers Bonus - League two treble - Tranmere, Forest Green and Cambridge all to win. These three top six League 2 sides have only one loss between them in the last 15 games, and they are all playing sides they should beat. Two of the three are away from home though so it’s no guarantee, hence decent odds. Tenner returns £176.40.

Photo by Chris Donnelly/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images

---

Danny Roberts says...

Sunderland to lose: It will be typical Sunderland to look comfortable against a side to then get beat by them a week later. £5 returns £16.

League One Treble: Hull, Fleetwood and Portsmouth all to win. They look like winnable games and I think all our nearest and not-so-dearest in the league will pick up wins. £5 returns £30.87.

Photo by Alex Burstow/Getty Images

Bankers Bonus: Aston Villa and Manchester City to win their games. £10 returns £53.30.

---

Riches Readers’ Random Pick...

Our random pick for the Readers and followers this week is a 1-0 win to the lads. This may well be a good option as the pitch was poor on Tuesday, and will likely be worse for the league match, so flowing footy with loads of goals may not prevail.

This bet offers odds of 6/1 on Skybet, and with the usual tenner plus a tenner for bankers bonus, if this comes in the return will be a tasty £140.00 for a twenty investment.

---

Good luck to Sunderland and to all our betting buddies.

Let us know what you will be betting on this weekend, on social media or by email.

Cheers and Ha’way the Lads!