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Southend vs Barnsley Predictions

  • 12:30
  • Expired
  • Roots Hall
Southend
    Barnsley
      • Sky Sports Football

      odds when tipped

      odds when tipped

      Southend vs Barnsley Predictions

      Chris Powell’s men have managed to steady the ship in recent weeks; they came back from the brink and thus prevented what seemed like a certain loss when drawing 3-3 against Portsmouth in their last home match, while they battled hard, to take a point away against Accrington last time out. After two reasonably encouraging draws, the Shrimpers will be hoping to treat their fans to a win.

      Southend may have drawn away at Accrington last time out, but their efforts were very pleasing indeed. It was the Shrimpers that created more going forward, as the fact that they ended the game with an expected goal difference of +0.77 suggests. Their efforts going forward prior to receiving a red card were solid, while they didn’t give much away. If they can repeat that performance on their own patch, then Powell’s men certainly have a chance against one of the best teams in the division.

      In previous seasons, Roots Hall has been something of a fortress, though the Shrimpers have been very up and down at home during the current campaign. That said, their overall numbers aren’t too bad. They have a positive goal difference on home soil, while they also boast an average expected goal difference of +0.17. An average of 1.44 expected goals for doesn’t exactly suggest that Southend have been overly menacing in the final third, though their average of 1.27 against does tell us that they’ve not given an awful lot away.

      When it comes to giving little away, Barnsley have impressed on their travels. The Tykes have shipped an average of just 1.06 goals on the road, while they’ve conceded an average of just 1.16 expected goals. These numbers tell us that Daniel Stendel’s men, who’ve kept the third most travelling clean sheets in League One this season, have done a good job of preventing their opponents from doing too much in the final third.

      As well as looking like a useful side defensively on their travels, the automatic-promotion-chasers have offered plenty going the other way. As things stand, Barnsley have scored the second highest number of goals on the road in League One this term, while Saturday’s visitors also boast a pleasing average of 1.73 expected goals for. They’ve also scored at least twice in three of their last four away games.

      However, while Barnsley have posted very solid figures away from home this season, they’ve not been at their best of late; they struggled to get going when drawing at home to Burton, while a draw was really all they deserved for their efforts at Fratton Park last time out. Had Portsmouth notched from the spot, the Tykes would be coming here off the back of a defeat.

      As we can see from both the above and the league table, Barnsley are the better of the two teams, there can be no denying that. However, has there really been enough between Southend’s overall efforts at home and Barnsley’s efforts on the road to warrant such a disparity in odds? In short, no.

      When they fought back against the long-time league leaders at this venue recently, the Shrimpers proved that they’re no mugs, while their effort last time out was positive too. Frankly, Southend, who’re rarely well beaten on home soil, look too big at the current prices and thus a bet on them to get a positive result represents some value.

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