SUNDAY AT WEMBLEY: The Striker previews Sunday’s Championship Playoff Final between HUDDERSFIELD TOWN V NOTTINGHAM FOREST with a place in the Premier League at stake. Find out the recommended BETDAQ bet.
HUDDERSFIELD TOWN V NOTTINGHAM FOREST
4.30pm Some say it’s the most important game in football.. it’s Championship Playoff Final time at Wembley on Sunday! Huddersfield Town and Nottingham Forest meet in what should be a brilliant occasion. There’s so much on the line here, you can’t help but feel we’ll surely get a lot of drama in-running on BETDAQ Betting Exchange. The odds at the time of writing currently trade; Nottingham Forest 2.18, Huddersfield Town 3.8 and the draw is 3.35.
Huddersfield were promoted to the Premier League for the first time in 2017 – they will have good memories of the Playoff final as they won on penalties. They were able to stay in the Premier League in the 2017/18 season, but it all went wrong in 2018/19 when they finished rock bottom. Some football fans called them the worst Premier League team in history, but they finished on 16 points which is actually the third worst ever. What can you say other than they were terrible that year, but they have re-built over the last few years. To highlight just how bad things were for Huddersfield, they actually finished down in 18th in the championship the next season and then 20th last season. The fact that they have managed to get into the Playoffs in remarkable, you’d probably say they were lucky not to go down to League 1!
That being said, fortunes change quickly in the Championship. It’s a cut-throat league, probably the most competitive in Europe. Nottingham Forest finished down in 17th last season, and they are looking to return to the Premier League for the first time since 1999. I’m sure all the neutral fans will be cheering for Forest given their history, but there really shouldn’t be much between the pair here. They finished in 3rd and 4th in the table with just two points between them, and they both took a win off each other this season in the Championship.
Let’s take a look at what the stats say about their season in the Championship, before looking at current form. Huddersfield have created an average xG of 1.2 this season, which they have over performed actually scoring 1.4 goals per game. They have conceded an xG of 1.2 and they have also over performed there, only conceding 1 goal per game. Huddersfield will want a tight game, and to possibly grind out a result because Forest are much better going forward. They finished the season with an average xG of 1.5 and their actual wasn’t far away at 1.6 – pretty much in line. While they conceded an average xG of 1.2 – same as Huddersfield – and the actual was 0.9 goals per game which is pretty much the same as Huddersfield.
They are both rock solid at the back, but it is Forest who have the edge going forward. It’s hard to argue with them being favourites. Forest have had the experience of a penalty shootout already in the Playoffs which will stand to them – they were very impressed in the first leg against Sheffield United but they were too cagey for me with the lead in the second leg. They finished the season without a win in their final two games, but they played very well – they created xG figures of 2.51 and 1.34 (double Bournemouth’s) and should have won both games. As you would expect Huddersfield played two very tight games against Luton and grinded out victory with home advantage.
I can’t see Huddersfield making the game open here, and how Forest set-up will be fascinating. An open game would suit them more. I agree with the market that Forest should be the favourites, but I feel the market has Forest a little too short at 2.18. I would have a much more open market; I couldn’t put anyone off laying Forest but the bet that catches my eye is under 2.5 goals at 1.67. I fully expect a very cagey game here, there’s a strong chance we’ll see 0-0 at half-time and I wouldn’t be surprised if we need extra time to find a winner. There’s so much at stake here, I can’t see either being very open and we’re in for a very cagey and nervous Playoff Final! Huddersfield will enjoy making this one as tight as possible, and it’s up to Forest to make the running in my opinion but I can’t see them taking many chances until the second half. Unders looks the value call.
The Striker Says:
Two points win Under 2.5 goals at 1.67 with BETDAQ BETTING EXCHANGE.
You can view all markets here -> https://betdaq.biz/HudNot
