14 February 2025 Football

Top of the Props: Tractor Boy to thrive, scratching the Kovac-itch and all-action Pat to deliver

Oli Nixon, Prop Betting Specialist
Written by: Oli Nixon Prop Betting Specialist
4 min to read
IMAGO Croatian midfield man Mateo Kovacic in action for Manchester City 
IMAGO Croatian midfield man Mateo Kovacic in action for Manchester City 

Liam Delap to have over 1.5 shots for Ipswich vs Aston Villa - 4/5 – BetMGM

If Ipswich are to have any hope of survival, talisman Liam Delap will likely play a big part in it. The striker has contributed nine Premier League goals this season, which accounts for over 40% of Town’s goals, emphasising his role's importance.

Those goals have come from an average of 2.07 shots per 90 minutes, and he’s had two or more in ten of his 22 starts. 

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One of those starts came in the reverse fixture, where Delap had three attempts at goal and found the back of the net twice, so he’ll be confident of going again in this one.

Opponents Aston Villa only concede 11.8 shots per game. However, after Ezri Konsa limped off last weekend against Spurs, they now have a defensive crisis, with new signing Axel Disasi the only fit, recognised central defender.

With Delap likely to face a player out of position, he’ll fancy his chances of moving to double figures in the goals column and hopefully, this leads to plenty of shots from him. 

Mateo Kovacic to commit over 1.5 fouls for Manchester City vs Newcastle - 21/20 – BetMGM

Mateo Kovacic has been tasked with replacing the void left by Rodri in the centre of City’s midfield since his injury and it’s a role that he’s struggled to get to grips with. 

As well as being the glue that holds City’s attack together, Rodri was also the chief disruptor, charged with breaking down opposition attacks, often with tactical fouls.

Kovacic has averaged 1.03 fouls per 90 this season but has picked up a booking in a quarter of his appearances, showing that he’s no stranger to the cynical side of the game. 

In the reverse fixture at Newcastle, he made two fouls and was carded and on Saturday he’ll also be doing the defensive work of Rodri who himself has made two or more fouls in seven of his nine starts against Newcastle, seeing yellow in four of those games. 

Opposing Kovacic will be Bruno Guimaraes who is the most fouled player in the division, drawing 30 more fouls than any other player at an average of 3.52 per 90. 

If that’s not enough, the Croatian will also be up against Tonali and Joelinton who draw 3.19 fouls per 90 between them.

Everywhere you look in Newcastle’s midfield there are fouls drawn and despite new signing Nico Gonzalez likely to feature, Guardiola’s usual instruction for Rodri to kick them should fall to Kovacic and so looks a lovely price for at least two offences.

Patrick Dorgu to have over 0.5 shots and over 0.5 fouls for Man United vs Tottenham – 17/20 – BetMGM (Betbuilder)

New signing Patrick Dorgu had no time to get to know his new team-mates as he was straight into the line-up for their FA Cup tie against Leicester last Friday. 

Despite being hooked at half-time, the wing-back managed a shot and two fouls in a busy display.

Looking into Dorgu’s data in Serie A suggests that we can expect more of the same from him in the Premier League. Across 21 appearances for Lecce, he averaged 1.17 fouls per 90 and also fired in 1.76 shots per game. 

Tottenham are the second-most fouled side in the Premier League this season and if Dorgu lines up at right-wing back again, he’ll be opposing Son and Djed Spence who draw 2.12 fouls between them. If he’s in his more natural left-sided role, he’ll face Porro and Kulusevski who combine for 2.38.

Spurs have been a shambles at the back in recent weeks and are conceding 12.25 shots in their last four Premier League fixtures, including 20 against Brentford last time out. 

Across their last six matches in all competitions, opposition full-backs have combined for ten shots, so whichever side Dorgu plays on, he should get his shot to help land this betbuilder. 

Backing Dorgu to be the danger man on Sunday? Check out the full breakdown and value plays in our Tottenham vs Manchester United betting tips.

Odds correct at the time of writing.

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