Football Bet of the Day: Shakhtyor to take heart from the Miracle of Waregem

Phillip Cocu's PSV score plenty of goals, but concede them too

After some brutal blows, Kevin Hatchard has dusted himself down, and is hoping for goals in a Europa League clash between PSV Eindhoven and Shakhtyor Soligorsk...

PSV v Shakhtyor Soligorsk
Thursday, 17:45

Okay boys and girls, gather round. Let's huddle up. Sometimes in this game, we have setbacks, but do we give up? I can't hear you - I said do we give up? That's right. We battle on, and we stay strong. So IK Frej let us down and got battered 5-1, but are we going to sit here and cry about it? No, my friends, we are not. The comeback starts here.

Now that you're suitably pumped, let's head to the Netherlands for the first time, for a Europa League qualifier between PSV Eindhoven and Shakhtyor Soligorsk (17:45 KO).

Phillip Cocu's PSV have made a stunning start to the Eredivisie season, winning 3-1 at Willem II and then pulverising NAC Breda 6-1. In the previous round of Europa League qualifying, a 1-0 home success against St Polten was followed up by a 3-2 victory in Austria. So, in four games, PSV have rattled in 13 goals and conceded four. Even in the one game where PSV kept a clean sheet, they still gave up five goal attempts against their Austrian visitors.

Belarusian outfit Shakhtyor have featured in this column before, and their penchant for banging in goals could prove very useful for us this evening. They have scored at least once in nine of their last 11 matches in all competitions, and in the previous round of the Europa League they raised eyebrows by putting seven goals past Belgian side Zulte Waregem over two legs. A stunning 5-2 win in Belgium was followed up by a 2-2 draw in Belarus.

Shakhtyor have netted at least once in their last six Europa League games, including last season's tie against Moldovan side Milsami. Although PSV represent a big step up in class, and will probably win the tie comfortably, I fancy Shakhtyor to nick an away goal this evening against a PSV defence that has its weaknesses. On that basis, backing Yes in the Both Teams To Score market looks the way to go at a chunky 2.427/5.

Recommended Bet
Back Yes in the Both Teams To Score market at 2.427/5

2014 P/L (1pt per bet)

Points Staked: 10

Points Returned: 11.5

P/L: +1.5 points