James Milton: Football predictions & free betting accumulator tips

Free football tips, bets and analysis for this weekend's Premier League, EFL and European action.

Best bets

Newcastle to win to nil v Bournemouth
3pm Saturday
2pts 11-8 bet365

Wigan to beat Reading
3pm Saturday
1pt 21-20 general

Napoli draw no bet v Milan
BT Sport 1, 7.45pm Sunday
2pts 5-4 general

Best Premier League bet

Newcastle v Bournemouth 3pm Saturday

Bournemouth came from 2-0 down to beat Nottingham Forest 3-2 in their most recent Premier League game but the Cherries can expect a tougher test against their former manager Eddie Howe's Newcastle at St James' Park.

Under interim boss Gary O'Neil, Bournemouth scored with all three of their shots on target at the City Ground, ending a run of four matches without a goal in the top flight.

That sequence included heavy defeats to nil against Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool, whose 9-0 rout at Anfield proved to be Scott Parker's final game in charge of the Cherries.

Newcastle are unlikely to run riot in similar fashion, although they shared a thrilling 3-3 draw with champions City last month. They should prove hard to break down, however, having kept clean sheets in three of their first six league games, so backing the Magpies to win to nil looks a good bet.

They eased to a 2-0 home win over Forest in their season opener and that was one of eight victories – five of which featured a clean sheet – in their last 11 home league fixtures.

Best EFL bet

Wigan v Reading 3pm Saturday

Reading start the weekend in fourth place in the Championship table but their underlying stats suggest they are hugely flattered by their league position and Paul Ince's men look worth opposing on their trip to Wigan.

After winning their first four home matches, Reading were trounced 3-0 by a depleted Sunderland side at the Madejski Stadium on Wednesday and they have also suffered some heavy defeats on the road.

They have scored just once in four away games, including 4-0 defeats at Sheffield United and promoted Rotherham, and last season's League One champions Wigan have made a solid start in the second tier.

The Latics have lost only one of their first eight league matches, against promotion hopefuls Burnley, and have won their last two, away to Luton and Huddersfield, so they should be confident of completing the hat-trick against opponents whose expected-goals figure is one of the lowest in the division.

Best European bet

Milan v Napoli BT Sport 1, 7.45pm Sunday

Napoli have caught the attention of British football fans by beating Liverpool 4-1 and Rangers 3-0 in their first two Champions League group games and they have also made a stylish start to their Serie A campaign.

Luciano Spalletti's side have taken 14 points from a possible 18 thanks to some excellent results including a 5-2 win at Verona and a 2-1 victory away to Lazio and they look a tempting draw-no-bet price at champions Milan.

The Rossoneri overcame Rafael Leao's 47th-minute red card to win 2-1 at Sampdoria last weekend but the Portuguese youngster, one of their most dangerous attacking players, is suspended for the clash with Napoli.

Milan have shown signs of defensive vulnerability this season. Both teams have scored in six of their eight games in all competitions, including this week's 3-1 Champions League home win over Dinamo Zagreb, and – as Liverpool and Rangers can testify – Napoli's attacking unit poses a major threat.

Weekend accumulators

Banker
Leyton Orient
League Two leaders Orient have won seven of their first eight games this term and their charge is unlikely to be halted by Walsall, who are on an eight-match winless streak in all competitions.

Blowout
Fiorentina
La Viola, who have scored only two goals in their last five Serie A matches, had a Europa League trip to Istanbul on Thursday and look too short to beat Sunday's visitors Verona.

Accumulator
Newcastle 4-9, Exeter 8-13, Leyton Orient 17-20, Northampton 9-10. £1 accumulator returns £8.20 with Betfair.

Both teams to score
Games at QPR 8-11, Fleetwood 4-5, Marseille 4-6. £1 treble returns £5.20 with Hills.

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