Boxing Day Accumulator Tip

Bolton and Sunderland players will be enjoying the festive season a great deal more after crucial away wins for their clubs in the last round of matches before Christmas. On Boxing Day we have reason to think that their good spirits will continue as Newcastle and Everton look like generous guests. In the Championship, Reading will be full of revelry if their fine form is maintained against Brighton. Three home wins equates to a 10/1 shot with Betfred.

Owen Coyle looked like he has won the league when his side claimed a vital three points at Blackburn on Tuesday. The 2-1 victory lifted the Trotters off bottom spot and the renewed sense of unity at the club was there for all to see. Bolton have shown flashes of brilliance this season with a 5-0 win over Stoke and a 4-0 defeat of QPR standing out. The boss will be desperate to see his side do the business twice in a row though and Newcastle arrive at the Reebok looking vulnerable.

The Magpies are without a win in six as memories of a fine start to the season become more distant. The concession of four goals at Norwich and three goals at home to WBA last time out show an alarming decline in defensive solidity. The long-term loss of Steven Taylor at centre half has seemingly caused particular problems. A home win at odds of 6/4 (Betfred) looks like good value based on momentum.

I’m applying very similar logic, at the same odds, for Sunderland v Everton. The Martin O’Neill revolution is already in full swing after two wins in his first three matches; another one on Monday would lift the Mackems above the Toffees. Sunderland showed tremendous character to win 3-2 at Loftus Road having been pegged back to 2-2 from 2-0 up. 13 shots on target away from home would suggest that the three points were no fluke either.

Everton have been doing just enough to avoid a full-blown crisis, but there’s a feeling that things are going the wrong way generally at Goodison Park. David Moyes has seen his side sneak three away wins this season against struggling sides, but there’s little reason to suggest a resurgent Sunderland will go the same way.

Finally, in the second tier we can be pretty bullish about a Reading side who have enjoyed two excellent results in a row. There won’t be many Championship teams who can better a week in which they follow a 3-0 home win over West Ham with a 1-0 victory over Leeds at Elland Road. The Royals are surging up the table, and they entertain a Brighton side who seemed to get their best form out of the way in the warmer weather. A 1-0 defeat at Middlesbrough recently was excusable, but defeat by the same scoreline at home to Burnley last time out will have been more concerning. Just eight goals scored in 11 away matches is comfortably the worst in the top half of the division.

Backing Bolton, Sunderland and Reading to win makes a lot of sense at best odds of 10/1 with Betfred.