Entertaining Gent should have too much quality for Lokeren

Jupiler League
7.30pm Friday

Gent's last Jupiler League match, at home to Antwerp, finished goalless but that was out of character for Jess Thorup's side, who should find their shooting boots against bottom club Lokeren.

Before last weekend's blank, Gent's first 15 matches of the campaign featured 57 goals at an average of 3.8 per game.

They have struggled against the stronger teams in the division, losing 5-1 at home to leaders Genk and 4-0 to Club Brugge, also on their own patch.

But, more relevantly for the trip to Lokeren, Gent have an excellent record against teams beneath them in the league table, winning seven of their nine games and scoring 23 goals in those fixtures.

They beat Lokeren 2-1 at home in August and their opponents haven't improved much since then.

That was one of ten defeats in 16 league fixtures for the Flanders outfit and their last game ended in a 4-2 home defeat to Charleroi, despite taking an early lead.

Charleroi are a point worse off than Gent in the table so it is no surprise to see the visitors odds-on for victory.

Lokeren have kept clean sheets in four of their eight home matches this term but those shutouts all came against teams in the bottom six and in their other four outings in front of their own fans they have conceded 14 goals.

Gent are an inconsistent side but they have plenty of attacking firepower and a high-scoring away win looks the best bet.

Recommendation
Gent to win & over 2.5 goals
1pt 13-10 general

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