WEEKEND BETTING: Preston North End face Wigan Athletic in Championship derby clash

Daniel Johnson is 8/1 to be first goalscorer

It’s another derby on the road for North End.

This time they head down the road to Wigan for what is possibly tougher than it looks on paper.

The Latics are no mugs and their recent win at Leeds shows this.

It’s that time of the season where a point isn’t enough for Alex Neil’s men.

They dropped two at home to Swansea last weekend and if you draw too many you don’t make the play-offs – it’s that simple.

I can see it being an entertaining game and if I had to have a bet on a correct score, a 2-2 draw at 12/1 looks possible.

For a first goalscorer, Daniel Johnson at 8/1 is always value with him being on penalty duties.

With a limited amount of top-flight action this weekend it will be a case of rolling over the two days.

That’s not to say I don’t think there is a decent bet out there though.

I was drawn to Watford away to Brighton when I saw they were priced up around 5/2.

The Hornets have found their form of last season under Nigel Pearson and they must have every chance of getting a result down on the South Coast.

Taking a price like that means you can afford to player safer elsewhere.

I think Sheffield United at home to Bournemouth falls into that safer category.

Chris Wilder has established his Blades side in the Premier League this season and although they are short enough at 8/11, you would have to fancy them to get over the line and get the three points.

The last leg of the weekend treble for me would be taking Manchester City to beat West Ham with a -1 handicap.

They are too short to back just to win, though at 3/10 they are worth sticking in the bet.

They regularly put teams down at the bottom end of the table to the sword and the Hammers are down there struggling.

That treble will pay just under 7/1 and looks as good a bet as any to me this weekend.

The Betfair Hurdle at Newbury (3:35) looks a quality race for punters to get stuck into. Hughie  Morrison has a nice horse in NOT SO SLEEPY, who hacked up at Ascot in December.

At 6/1 he should have every chance.

Enjoy your weekend folks and keep the punting fun.