Jack Wright's Weekend 13/1 Fivefold

After a disappointing festive period, Neil Critchley is back to squeezing the best out of his Tangerines. In 2024 Blackpool have recorded three successive league wins as well as beating Burton to book a place in the EFL Trophy quarter finals. Also recording a pair of 2-2 draws over 90-minutes against Premier League Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup before exiting the competition in extra time. The 8th placed Seasiders will need to keep that form going with a four-point gap to the play off places having played at least a game more than most of their rivals.

Charlton are in disarray. It’s no win in 12 for them across all competitions and they have lost six of their last seven in the league. Michael Appleton was sacked following the midweek home defeat to Northampton. While his successor will have to make do without second top scorer Corey Blackett-Taylor who was loaned to Derby this week.

Last weekend a 93rd minute Morecambe goal condemned Mike Williamson to his first home league defeat in charge of the Dons. In a game which saw his side dominate the ball with 71% possession and post an xG of over 2 the MK boss wasn’t too hard on his players. Prior to that loss a run of eight wins in 11 League One outings had seen his side climb up into the play off places and he got an immediate response with a 3-1 defeat of AFC Wimbledon in midweek.

Gillingham let rock-bottom Forest Green off the hook after taking the lead last weekend to end a run of three straight wins. However, despite a recent upturn in form the Gills have still lost six of the last 10 on the road.

OGC Nice will be looking to pick up where they left off as they face their first home league game since December 20th. Terem Moffi the hero in the 2-0 win over Lens with a late double off the bench. Those goals meant Les Aiglons extended their unbeaten start to the season on home soil, winning each of the last five. That run sees Francesco Farioli's men as the closest rivals to runaway leaders PSG. Nice warmed up for the contest by edging a five-goal thriller at Bordeaux in the Coupe de France and booked a place in the last 16.

Visitors Metz lost their last four games going into the winter break and promptly lost the first on their return. They have scored just once in those five defeats and face the leagues meanest defence here. The hosts have conceded just twice in nine Ligue 1 games at Allianz Riviera this term.

Noah Okafor scored a dramatic late winner in a five-goal thriller at Udinese last weekend. That sealed a seventh win in the last nine competitive fixtures for the Rossoneri and keeps them in touch with the title race. Back on home soil Stefano Pioli’s men have won five straight Serie A fixtures and will be confident of extending that run here.

Bologna only has one win to their name on the road this term and have a dreadful head-to-head record. The Rossoblù haven’t beaten Milan since 2016 suffering defeat in 13 of the subsequent 16 meetings.

Reims have returned to Ligue 1 action following the winter break in fine style. After a run of four defeats in five games in the French topflight Will Still has seen his men record back-to-back wins at home to Le Havre and most impressively at Monaco. That win saw Les Rouges et Blancs climb up into the European qualification places and close the gap on their 4th placed hosts to four points.

For Nantes their domestic struggles continue. Defeat at home to rock-bottom Clermont was not only a fourth successive loss in the league but also a seventh in their last nine. Falling to defeat in each of their last four Ligue 1 road trips too. Reims will be looking to continue a run which has seen them win each of the last three meetings between the two sides and six of the last seven.