Kochi United vs Nara Club Prediction

Right then, J2 League action coming at you from Kochi, and we've got a right interesting one here. Kochi United have started the campaign like a house on fire - seven points from their first three games and goals galore. We're talking 3-2 against Kanazawa, a 2-2 thriller with Osaka, and a 3-1 dusting of Kataller Toyama. That's eleven goals in three matches, mate. If you're looking for a quiet afternoon, look elsewhere. This lot don't do nil-nil draws.

Now, Nara Club roll into town with just four points on the board and a bit of a Jekyll and Hyde start to life in J2. They took a proper hiding off Tokushima Vortis in their opener - six nil, ouch, that's the kind of result that ruins your goal difference for months. But fair play to them, they bounced back to beat Imabari 1-0 and shared the spoils with Ehime in a 2-2 draw last time out. The worry for them travellers is their away form, or lack of it. Zero wins in their last four on the road, losing three of them, and shipping two goals a game like it's going out of fashion. That's not exactly filling the away end with confidence, is it?

Looking at the recent history between these two, Nara have had the Indian sign over Kochi - four wins to Kochi's one in the last seven meetings, with two draws thrown in. They even turned Kochi over 3-0 the last time they met back in August. So there's a bit of history there that might make the home fans nervous.

But here's the thing - form is temporary, class is permanent, and all that jazz. Kochi are flying high in the table, joint top in fact with seven points, while Nara are stuck down in sixth with just four points from their nine available. When you look at Kochi's recent improvement - their goals scored trend is on the up and they're picking up points for fun - against Nara's away day blues, you can see why the bookies have made Kochi the favourites at 1.90.

Nara's defensive record on the road is shocking - two goals conceded per game average in their last four away days. With Kochi banging them in for fun at the moment, I can see the home side finding the net. Whether Nara can respond is the question - they did score twice against Ehime and managed one against Tottori in their last away day, so they're not completely blunt up front.

Key Points:

• Kochi United have scored 8 goals in their 3 J2 League games this season (3-2 vs Kanazawa, 2-2 vs Osaka, 3-1 vs Kataller Toyama)

• Nara Club have won 0 of their last 4 away matches, losing 3 and conceding 2.00 goals per game on average

• The last 3 Kochi United matches in J2 have all seen Both Teams To Score and Over 2.5 Goals

• Nara Club suffered a 0-6 defeat to Tokushima Vortis in their J2 opener but have since kept a clean sheet against Imabari (1-0 win)

• Head-to-head record favours Nara Club (4 wins vs 1), but Kochi won the last home meeting between the sides

Summary:

I'm backing the home win here. Kochi are red hot in front of goal, Nara can't buy a win away from home, and at 1.90, there's enough value to get involved despite that dodgy head-to-head record. Sometimes you've got to ride the hot hand, and Kochi are scorching right now.