Top of the Props: Lamps’ high-line, Cook-ing up a storm & Sulemana to shoot on sight

Over 3.5 offsides in Coventry vs Preston – 6/5 – BetMGM

Since Frank Lampard took over as Coventry boss, a clear tactical plan has been a high defensive line. 

In 18 games in charge, his Sky Blues side have caught their opponents offside 3.78 times per game and when you throw in their average of 1.89 offsides themselves, their games are seeing a huge 5.67 offsides. 

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This line has landed in 15 of Lampard’s 18 matches in all competitions and on that basis alone this looks a very inviting price. 

Preston games in the Championship are averaging 3.4 offsides which is slightly below this line, however, when they faced a Burnley side recently who catch more offsides than any other team in the division, there were six offsides. 

There were also six in their game against Hull on Boxing Day, under the management of Ruben Selles are seeing a similar increase in offsides to that of Coventry under Lampard. 

Over 1.5 Lewis Cook fouls in Bournemouth vs Wolves – 49/50 – BetMGM

At an average of 1.86 per 90 minutes, Lewis Cook has committed the ninth most fouls of any Premier League player this season. 

Normally a combative defensive midfielder, Cook has been deputising at right back in recent weeks and whilst stationed there has made nine fouls in four games, landing this bet in every match.

Cook was sent off in this fixture last season and this time around has the toughest defensive assignment on the pitch, containing Matheus Cunha. The Brazilian has drawn 2.29 fouls per 90 this season and is in the form of his life, so Bournemouth will be keen to shut him down. 

The last seven opposition right backs to face Wolves have combined for ten fouls between them and with Cook no stranger to the referee’s attention, he looks a likely candidate to add to that number. 

This match also forms part of our weekly football acca with goals the order of the day.

Over 1.5 Kamaldeen Sulemana shots in Southampton v Brighton – 5/6 – BetMGM

Ivan Juric has chopped and changed his Southampton line-up in a desperate attempt to kickstart their season and whilst that has proved futile. In Kamaldeen Sulemana he may have landed on a strong choice to play up front. 

Having been deployed as one of Southampton’s front two against Bournemouth, Sulemana got on the scoresheet with one of his five shots at goal in an all-action display. 

The Ghanaian will likely start up front again and having averaged 2.81 shots per 90 across his limited minutes, will be keen to impress again to nail down a starting spot for the league’s worst side.

Brighton will provide stiff opposition, however, the Seagulls’ struggles against the weaker teams in the division this season will be cause for optimism for Southampton. 

They gave up 12.8 shots per game on their travels and allowed Saints ten shots in the reverse fixture in which they limped to a 1-1 draw. 

In that game, both Adam Armstrong and Cameron Archer had two shots when playing as strikers and so Sulemana looks a lovely price to keep firing in the shots. 

Odds correct at the time of writing.