O'Regan's Longshots: Five outside football fancies for Saturday
Fri, 07 Nov 2025
Fri, 07 Nov 2025
Odds Now’s resident football tipster Matthew O’Regan is back with the latest edition of his longshots column, aiming to arm you with some big-priced wagers for Saturday’s action across the English leagues.
Bournemouth, maybe foolishly, stuck to their principles away at Manchester City. Andoni Iraola’s defence were caught out on the halfway line multiple times, trying to play a high line against Erling Haaland – a player caught offside just 18 times since coming to England.
Don’t get me wrong, I love when an underdog is brave and attempts to go toe to toe against one of the big boys. But against Haaland, surely you just drop the line a bit? It’s not rocket science.
Another team that became renowned for their high line was Aston Villa under Unai Emery, so Sunday’s fixture should be a barnstormer for neutrals.
The Villains eased past Maccabi Tel Aviv in midweek without breaking much of a sweat. For a side who notoriously struggle domestically after playing in Europe, Villa have manged to win all three games this season after European excursions – though I am really not helping my case by stating that, I admit.
However, Bournemouth are a relentless pressers and menaces to play against, something a side fresh off a midweek clash will dread.
The Cherries have seen BTTS in 4/5 away from home – the exception a 0-1 win over Spurs, where they suffocated Thomas Frank’s side.
A fresh Bournemouth side away at a Villa side who have been inconsistent – I’d be stupid not to side with the visitors at a big price.
If I had a pound for every time somebody told me that Brighton vs Palace ‘isn’t a real rivalry’, I’d be retired on a beach in the Maldives. Yes, it may mean nothing to you but it means a lot to me – I hate them dirty b***ards!
They did the double over us last year and won the FA Cup – probably my worst ever season I can remember watching Brighton. This year, Fabian Hurzeler must be desperate for a reaction after two dismal performances in last year's match-ups.
While the rivalry was traditionally so often ignited by two local-born academy graduates in Wilfried Zaha and Lewis Dunk, few players understand the hatred more than Joel Veltman.
The 33-year-old has been injured since Chelsea away but is back fit for Sunday. Whether he is thrown straight back in remains to be seen but backing the opposing winger to be booked is nice regardless.
Yeremi Pino was signed as the Eberechi Eze replacement in the summer and has had a mixed start to life in Surrey. The Palace faithful love the Spaniard for his work rate and endeavour, averaging 1.76 fouls, 2.13 tackles and 0.30 yellows per 90 minutes. Last season in La Liga, Pino averaged 0.51 yellows and 2.26 fouls per 90 as he got stuck in.
If Veltman plays, I may double down on this bet – it’s still a wonderful price regardless.
Patrick Kelly played 30 games for Doncaster last season after signing from Coleraine in Northern Ireland. Of those 30 games, 15 were starts with the 21-year-old scoring twice. This summer, he signed for fellow Yorkshire side Barnsley.
Despite just three starts, he has adorned himself to the Oakwell crowd, scoring off the bench away at Bradford. He was rewarded with a start against Rotherham, registering four shots but failing to score.
However, watching the highlights I was impressed with how often he broke out of midfield to arrive late in the box. With 11 shots and 1.53 xG in 383 League One minutes, Kelly is a player that should soon explode in the goalscoring department – a trend I want to get ahead of.
Folkestone were priced as double-digit outsiders to win the Isthmian Premier Division but have since been backed into 11/4 favourites owing to their excellent start.
Jay Saunders' side are just two points off the top of the table despite having two games in hand. Invicta boast the best attacking record in the league, scoring 34 goals in just 13 games, including 18 in eight away games, picking up 17 points.
This weekend, they face a Potters Bar side bottom of the table after four losses in a row. Sammy Moore is now back at the helm but has a lot of work to do to salvage The Scholars' season.
In their last four defeats, they have conceded 12 goals, with over three match goals landing in three. Potters Bar also have the second worst defensive record in the league, conceding 32 goals while scoring 20, with their games averaging just shy of four goals per game.
It would not be a surprise to see Folkestone spank them by four or five goals, while Potters Bar will fancy their chances of getting on the scoresheet, something they have only failed to do three times.
Sutton United vs Morecambe
Bedford vs Merthyr
Macclesfield vs AFC Telford
1pt – Aston Villa vs AFC Bournemouth – Bournemouth Win and Both Teams To Score – 5/1 (Bet365)
1pt - Crystal Palace vs Brighton – Yeremi Pino To Be Carded – 3/1 (Bet365)
1pt - Doncaster vs Barnsley - Patrick Kelly To Score anytime – 9/1 (SkyBet)
1.5pts - Potters Bar vs Folkestone – Folkestone Win and Over 3.5 Match Goals – 11/4 (Bet365)
1pt total trixie - Bonus Trixie - BTTS in both halves in Sutton vs Morecambe, Bedford vs Merthyr and Macclesfield vs AFC Telford
Total staked - 5.5pts
Despite only being in his early 20s, Matthew O'Regan has wasted little time making a name for himself as a sound footballing judge.
With a strong social media following, gained as a result of his uncanny ability to repeatedly land big-priced winners, Matthew now shares his insights on the beautiful game – and how to profit on it – as his profession.
He credits most of his betting skill to working in a bookmaker shop as a youngster, seeing the silly mistakes most punters make which inspired him to try and attack things from a different angle.
When he's not scouring markets and writing columns, Matthew follows Brighton and his local non-league club Worthing.
Despite only being in his early 20s, Matthew O'Regan has wasted little time making a name for himself as a sound footballing judge.
With a strong social media following, gained as a result of his uncanny ability to repeatedly land big-priced winners, Matthew now shares his insights on the beautiful game – and how to profit on it – as his profession.
He credits most of his betting skill to working in a bookmaker shop as a youngster, seeing the silly mistakes most punters make which inspired him to try and attack things from a different angle.
When he's not scouring markets and writing columns, Matthew follows Brighton and his local non-league club Worthing.
Matthew's p/l
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