O'Regan's Longshots: Get stuck into these seven Saturday outsiders
Fri, 22 Aug 2025
Fri, 22 Aug 2025
Odds Now are delighted to unveil football tipping supremo Matthew O'Regan as our latest signing!
With a strong reputation for landing big-priced winners, we've tasked him with a weekly longshots column – so let's see what he's unearthed in his opening effort...
Well, writing my debut column with my left arm in a sling and right wrist in strapping is not ideal.
A Bennett's fracture on the left and a scaphoid fracture on the right is not enough to deter me from scoping out some outsiders – even if I am using just one finger to type!
Edo Kayembe is now in his fifth season at Watford and looks to be a key component of the Hornets' midfield again after making 44 appearances last campaign.
While the Congolese international only played 18 minutes in the opener against Charlton, he started the cup game against Norwich and league game against QPR – picking up a booking in both.
Kayembe averaged 0.25 cards per 90 last season, perhaps making the 3/1 price quoted by Bet365 fair on the face of it.
However, the addition of exciting midfielder Malick Yalcouye on a season-long loan from Brighton means the 27-year-old has his work cut out on Saturday.
Yalcouye was fouled twice on debut, with two Sheffield United central midfielders booked in that contest. Last campaign, the 19-year-old was brought down 3.21 times per 90 while at Sturm Graz, with the talented teen a foul-winning magnet.
Despite a poor season with Ligue 1 side Nantes, assisting just three times, Sorba Thomas was brought back to English football by Stoke this summer and has excelled so far, registering three assists in just two starts – as well as a goal.
Thomas has previous at this level, having assisted 12 times in 46 games back in 2021-22 with Huddersfield, and a further nine times in the 2023-24 season.
With his excellent delivery out wide, and the way the Potters have started the season under Mark Robbins, the quoted price of 10/1 for an assist seems far too high to me.
Grimsby have continued their steady rise up the leagues over the last decade and now sit second in League Two after taking 10 points from their opening four games.
They started the season with a 3-0 win over Crawley, a game that perhaps could have seen them score more goals, before drawing 3-3 against Harrogate thanks to late goals from Harvey Rodgers and Jaze Kabia.
They followed this up with a 3-1 home win over Shrewsbury in the Carabao Cup before beating Newport 2-1 thanks to a last-minute winner from Kieran Green – a game which the Mariners had 22 shots.
In midweek, they beat Walsall 0-1 but it could've been three on another day.
Accrington have taken just one point from their opening three games, but have scored in two of those. Dave Artell's side, donning their horrific red and blue away strip, should put on another stellar display at Accy and get the job done, even if that does involve shipping one along the way.
People often ask me why I “dislike” Notts County. I don’t. Honestly. I just can’t resist opposing them in the betting markets because the odds on them always seem to be shorter than I'd expect.
Yes, Martin Patterson finally got his first win in charge during the week — a 4-1 thumping of Shrewsbury. But dig a little deeper and it’s less impressive: they created less than 1.0 xG and still managed to be the first team this season to let Shrewsbury score.
Before that, it’s been a pretty dreary set of results: a 2-1 defeat at Barrow, another 2-1 loss at home to Salford, and a 1-1 draw with Newport. Sure, the return of Allassana Jatta is a plus, but overall the Magpies don’t exactly terrify anyone.
Meanwhile, Bromley are quietly going about their business. Andy Woodman’s side started with a respectable 0-0 at Shrewsbury, then beat Barnet 2-0, drew 2-2 with Fleetwood, and last time out pulled off a late comeback to snatch a 2-1 win away at Cheltenham.
All told, Bromley look lively, organised, and more than capable of clipping the Magpies’ wings — especially given the generous prices on offer.
I’m once again backing against Notts County — this time with a double-figure goalscorer who looks tailor-made to cause them trouble.
County’s set-piece issues have been glaring: they conceded from dead balls in each of their first three league games, then let in another from a cross against Shrewsbury. Defensively, they’re about as sturdy as wet cardboard.
Between the sticks, Kelle Roos has come in to replace Alex Bass, but let’s be honest — he looks like the budget option in every sense. The former Derby man has been shaky for years and the handsome b**tard should probably lean fully into a modelling career at this point
Bromley, meanwhile, have the perfect weapon to expose this weakness: Omar Sowunmi. The 6ft 6in defender already bagged one in midweek against Cheltenham, and he’ll be eyeing up this fragile County backline for another strike.
Shrewsbury’s problems off the pitch have been well-documented, but things on the pitch aren’t exactly offering much in the way of a positive distraction either.
Relegated last season with a whimper, Salop now look in real danger of suffering the dreaded double-drop as they languish 23rd in the table, albeit still early in the piece.
I backed them for relegation at a juicy double-digit price, and so far it’s ageing like fine wine. Michael Appleton is a clever coach when it comes to blooding young talent and working the loan market, but give him an older, tired squad on a shoestring budget and the results have been lacklusture at best.
The season so far reads like a horror show: a 0-0 against Bromley on opening day, followed by a 4-0 hammering at Tranmere, a 3-1 defeat to Grimsby, a 2-0 loss at home to Colchester, and most recently a 4-1 hiding at Notts County. That’s 11 goals conceded in just three away games across all competitions.
Next up, a Swindon side who’ve already shown their bite with a 3-2 win over Cambridge. Ian Holloway’s men will be itching for a response after their 2-0 stumble against Barnet in midewwek, and if they can find an early breakthrough here, the floodgates could open.
1pt - Edo Kayembe to Be Booked in Watford vs Swansea - 3/1
0.5pts - Sorba Thomas assist in Southampton vs Stoke - 10/1
0.5pts - Grimbsy to win and BTTS vs Accrington - 4/1
0.5pts - Bromley to beat Notts County - 23/10
0.5pts - Omar Sowumni to score in Notts County vs Bromley - 14/1
0.75pts - Swindon over 2.5 goals vs Shrewsbury – 3/1
0.5pts - Swindon Over 3.5 goals vs Shrewsbury -10/1
Total staked - 4.25pts
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
7 Days
30 Days
Year 2025
