The Early Bird: Weekend football predictions & free betting accumulator tips from James Milton

The Early Bird best bets

Jeremy Doku to score at any time vs Burnley
3pm Saturday
3pts 29-10 Coral, Ladbrokes

Chesterfield to win & both teams to score vs Newport County
3pm Saturday
2pts 2-1 bet365

Como to win to nil vs Cremonese
2pm Saturday
2pts 11-8 Hills

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Best Premier League bet

Manchester City vs Burnley

3pm Saturday

Manchester City had only seven touches in Arsenal's penalty area during last Sunday's 1-1 Premier League draw but their forwards will show far more intent at home to Burnley.

Pep Guardiola's men defended in numbers after Erling Haaland gave them an early lead in north London and most of City's attacking impetus came from winger Jeremy Doku.

The Belgium international scored just three Premier League goals last season and is yet to break his duck in 284 minutes of top-flight action this term.

However, Doku scored twice in three starts at the Club World Cup, averaging 4.3 shots per 90 minutes, and has found the net three times in his last three World Cup qualifiers.

The winger is full of confidence after scoring a dazzling individual goal in City's Champions League win over Napoli and claiming two assists in the 3-0 derby victory against Manchester United.

Burnley conceded 26 shots in their last away fixture, a 3-2 loss at United, and their return to Manchester looks a great opportunity for Doku to improve his Premier League scoring record.

Best EFL bet

Chesterfield vs Newport County

3pm Saturday

League Two title favourites Chesterfield host Newport County, who are 8-13 to be relegated, so it is no great surprise that the Spireites are the shortest-priced team on this weekend's EFL coupon.

But Chesterfield are under pressure after four matches without a win and they haven't kept a clean sheet since a 2-0 victory at bottom club Cheltenham on August 9.

Backing the Spireites to win and both teams to score looks the value option as there were goals at both ends in seven of Newport's nine league matches this season.

Those games include 2-1 defeats to ante-post favourites MK Dons and in-form Grimsby as well as last weekend's 3-1 loss against unbeaten leaders Gillingham.

Newport gave the Gills an early scare, taking a first-minute lead through Nathaniel Opoku before missing a penalty eight minutes later, and they can land a blow on the Chesterfield defence.

Best European bet

Como vs Cremonese

2pm Saturday

Cremonese are one point ahead of hosts Como after four rounds of Serie A fixtures but Saturday's match betting gives a more realistic picture of the relative strength of these teams.

Serie B playoff winners Cremonese are 13-2 outsiders, having marked their return to the top flight with a smash-and-grab 2-1 win at Milan, who had 24 shots to their visitors' four.

Their last two games were goalless draws against Verona and Parma and, according to Understat.com, Cremonese had an xG of just 0.17 in each of those stalemates.

Cesc Fabregas's Como have beaten Lazio 2-0 in the league and Sassuolo 3-0 in the Coppa Italia at home this term and they should be backed for another victory to nil.

Bankers, longshots and acca tips

The Early Bird Banker

Bolton 4-5
The Trotters have snapped their frustrating run of draws, winning three of their last four games, and their forwards should be too sharp for League One hosts Northampton.

Weekend Longshot

Alex Iwobi to be first goalscorer vs Aston Villa 10-1
The in-form Fulham winger scored in last weekend's win over Brentford and faces a Villa side who have been starting games slowly this season.

Last week's Longshot selection was a 9-1 winner as Bolton's Thierry Gale scored first against Wigan

The Early Bird Acca 

Bolton 4-5
Stockport 4-6
Gillingham 4-5
Roma 4-9

£1 accumulator returns £7.79 with Coral, Hills and Ladbrokes

Both Teams To Score Treble 

Juventus vs Atalanta 10-11
Stoke vs Norwich 4-5
Bradford vs Blackpool 3-4

£1 accumulator returns £6.02 with bet365

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Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply. Registration required.

Read more:

West Brom vs Leicester predictions, team news, betting tips, odds and Bet Builder  

Football accumulator tips for Friday, September 26: Back our acca at 6-1 with bet365 

Football Bet Of The Day: James Milton heads to France for Friday's best bet 

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