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Saturday 13^th March

English Championship

Ipswich Town v Scunthorpe United

These sides meet for the 2^nd time in the league within a month and both are still on the hunt for the points which will keep them in the Championship.

Roy Keane has made a somewhat underwhelming start to his reign as Ipswich boss. The former Sunderland manager too charge of his first full season in August and harboured realistic dreams of being promoted to the Premier League. He signed some good players and used his contacts to bring in guys who have played at the top level over the last few years. Those dreams of being promoted and ambitions of playing at the top level come August of this year, however, have quickly disappeared and Keane and his men now find themselves locked in a tight relegation battle. Before Tuesday’s home win over Cardiff, Town were 1 point off the relegation zone so the 3 points gained in midweek have given them some breathing space. Ipswich’s main problem is the number of draws they have accumulated, especially at home. They’ve drawn 10 of their 17 league games at Portman Road, losing just 2. They’re obviously hard to beat but they quite clearly also have problems scoring goals. For a side which can boast attackers such as Jon Walters, Pablo Counago, David Healy and Darryl Murphy, 19 goals in 17 home league games is not good enough.

Scunthorpe find themselves below tomorrow’s opponents in the table and right in the mix of the relegation scrap. Nigel Adkins’ men average the 2^nd highest average for goals per game, with 3 goals per game. The statistic is dampened somewhat when you look at their goals against column, especially away from home. The Irons have the worst away defensive record in the Championship, conceding 7 more goals than the 2^nd worst, Watford, with 38. It works out conceding, on average, more than 2 goals a game, so their problems clearly lie at the back end of the pitch. They have managed 3 wins on the road thus far but have lost 11, the 3^rd least in the league. They have lost their last 3 on the road after managing back to back successes away to Derby and QPR. Scunthorpe have only won once since their win at QPR, a 2-1 victory at home to Barnsley in the middle of February. 3 out of their next 4 games are against sides in and around them so they are entering a crucial period of the season and one which they simply must collect points in. Tomorrow’s visit to Ipswich is arguably the hardest of the relegation battles they’ll face so any result will surely be a bonus.

Ipswich have not lost in the league at home since September when a 4-0 mauling to Newcastle served as a wake-up call to Keane who has adopted a slightly more conservative approach. They have won 5 and drawn 5 of their last 10 at Portman Road which is more than decent for a side who were struggling for form. As well as Cardiff, Ipswich have seen off an inform Coventry side and promotion chasing Blackpool, so they are more than capable of holding their own. A key player in their recent good form at Portman Road has been Darryl Murphy. The Irishman is on loan from Sunderland until the end of the season and he’s been the difference in recent games. Murphy has had a point to prove after being left out in the cold by Steve Bruce so the loan move has given him a chance to score goals on a regular basis and he’s done that. He’s notched 5 in 8, including both goals in the win over Cardiff. He’s formed a decent partnership with David Healy, also on loan from Sunderland, and the two have certainly provided Town with more cutting edge up top.

Scunthorpe have not played since the 27^th of February so it will be interesting to see the effect that has had on the players. Adkins is likely to go with Gary Hooper and Paul Hayes in attack once again as the two have 18 between them and are arguably Scunny’s most important players. Playing both, however, can leave them exposed at the back and could possibly explain why they lose so many goals.

I don’t think anyone can argue that Ipswich have the better players but that is often not enough a lot of the time. Roy Keane was faced with moulding these players into a unit and to play as a team. There are some signs that he is achieving this at long last and as such I think they’ll go on from their win on Tuesday, where they bossed a Cardiff side in the play-off picture, and make it back to back home wins.

My selection: Ipswich to beat Scunthorpe at a best priced 8/11 available with Betfred

English Championship

Leicester City v Cardiff City

A match at the opposite end of the table this time as 5^th placed Leicester entertains 6^th placed Cardiff at the Walkers Stadium.

Nigel Pearson has done a remarkable job with Leicester in their first season back in the Championship since winning promotion last season. They sit comfortable in the playoff zone and are on real good run at the moment. They have lost just once in their last 9 with the defeat coming in their most recent game away to Sheffield Wednesday last Saturday. With regards to their home form they have lost just 3 games all season and won 9 of their 17 home matches. They’ve not lost a league game at the Walkers since the beginning of December, winning 5 and drawing 3 of their last 8. Their most recent home game saw an excellent 3-0 win over rivals Nottingham Forest two weeks ago. It’s a win which will have galvanised the team after losing top scorer Matty Fryatt to injury at the beginning of last month.

Cardiff have and indifferent 2010 thus far, with 4 wins, 4 defeats and 3 draws from their 11 league games. They have had to contend with a whole host of problems off field from high court appearances for missed tax payments, through to a catalogue of injuries to high profile, and important players. It has been seen them lose 3 of their last 4 in the league and only 1 goal scored in those 4 games. They turned in arguably their worst performance of the season on Tuesday night in the aforementioned loss to Ipswich. It was a weak, timid display and it infuriated Dave Jones.

The Foxes will be boosted by the loan signing of James Vaughn from Everton on an initial 1 month loan. The young striker has found games hard to come by for the Toffee’s this season but he has undoubted quality and could prove to be a shrewd signing by Pearson for the next few games at least. The bluebirds may be able to call on three players who are recovering for injury. Stephen McPhail, Mark Kennedy and most importantly, Peter Wittingham, are all close to comebacks. Wittingham especially has been a big miss as he’s the league’s top scorer and is also extremely creative. He could return but his sharpness may not be a 100% so it will be interesting to see if he starts the game.

It’s a big match for the promotion picture and one that both sides will be desperate for the win with so many sides bunched up from 7^th to 12^th looking for a way into the play-off zone. Leicester have not lost in the league at home this year and they had an emphatic win over Forest last time out. They are a very disciplined side and are excellent on the break. Cardiff like to play football so there is a chance they’ll set up to win the game which will allow space for the home side to exploit. A win will give them a big advantage in their quest for promotion and I think they can get it.

My selection: Leicester to beat Cardiff at a best priced 11/10 available with Skybet

English League 1

Millwall v Charlton

The New Den will play host to a London derby tomorrow as Millwall battle fellow promotion hopeful’s Charlton.

Kenny Jackett has got his Millwall side hitting top form at the best possible time. They are on a run of 8 wins in their last 10 games which has seen them rise to 5^th in the table and with a 4 point cushion over 7^th placed Huddersfield. Their home form has been excellent all season with 12 wins, 4 draws and just the 1 defeat from their 17 home games thus far. Their solitary loss came back in November and it was a game I tipped them to win comfortably. They lost 2-0 to a Wycombe side who have been in the drop zone all season long. It’s been the sole blip on an otherwise fantastic home record. Their record at home against sides in the playoff picture also reads well. They have defeated Leeds, Colchester, MK Dons, Huddersfield and most recently, Norwich.

Charlton started the season so well and were candidates to win the league let alone gain promotion. Things have tailed off a little, however, and they find themselves closer to 7^th than they do 1st. Things have picked up again and they go into tomorrow’s match having won their last two games, one at home and one away. They wins have come against inferior opposition however, in the shape of Southend and Stockport. They weren’t very impressive in either of the games but they got the points and at this stage, that’s all that matters.

Neil Harris and Steve Morrison have formed an exciting partnership for Millwall in recent weeks and are on form heading into Saturday. Between them they have 24 goals in total 6 in the last 3 matches. They will prove a handful tomorrow and it will be a real test for a Charlton defence who have only kept one clean sheet in their last 15 games.

It’s hard to see past Millwall with such a good home record, they’re in excellent form at the minute and they have proven they are capable of beating the best in the league at home. Charlton are not at their best at this moment in time which is what edges it in the home sides favour for me.

My selection: Millwall to beat Charlton at a best priced 13/10 available with Coral 

With only one FA Cup Quarter Final replay to come, the line up for the Semi Finals is pretty much set. The big tie is between Aston Villa and Chelsea, after their wins against Reading and Stoke respectively. Chelsea have been strong favourites to retain the FA Cup from the outset, and have comfortably made their way back to Wembley. The semi finals are held at Wembley on April 10th and 11th and look to be setting up some thrilling matches. Villa inflicted a defeat upon Chelsea in the league earlier in the season, and so Carlo Ancelotti will having something interesting to throw into his team talk in preparations. Martin O’Neill’s Aston Villa have been one of the successes of the season, reaching the Carling Cup final as well. For Aston Villa, the FA Cup represents a great chance to make amends for a loss there to Man Utd.

Villa’s win over Reading in the Quarter Finals, was the first time O’Neill had won a match in March since taking over at Villa. Their reward has been the toughest draw they could get in the semi final, but you generally have to beat the best at some point to win a competition. They will have nothing to fear though, having beaten them and Manchester United this season. Portsmouth, for whom the FA Cup has been the one bright spark of the season so far, as they face financial and Premier League survival. Pompey earned a proud and battling victory for their fans and boss Avram Grant over Birmingham on Saturday to book their place in the semi’s. Can they complete a fairy tale in the FA after so much doom and gloom? Imagine him lifting the cup in the final against his old club Chelsea!

Fulham and Tottenham played out a stalemate, as was expected. Spurs will probably be happier with that, with a whole host of injury problems at the moment. Taking the fixture back to White Hart Lane, where they have the opportunity to put out a stronger side, will make them favourites. But Fulham are no pushovers this season, as they are going well in Europe and safe and secure in the middle of the league. They have played some good football, and there should be a lot of life left in this tie yet. The replay is on March 24th.

FA Cup Outright
Chelsea – 11/10 at Totesport
Tottenham – 7/2 at Totesport
Aston Villa – 9/2 at Stan James
Fulham – 14/1 at Stan James
Portsmouth – 14/1 at Coral

The transformation which Championship side Reading have undergone of late, has been nothing short of a miracle. Down and out near the foot of the Championship, their looked to be nothing on the horizon but relegation to League One. Up steps Brian McDermott after the much publicised departure of Steve Coppell, and out go Liverpool from the FA Cup. That victory in the Third Round replay at Anfield, has appeared to be the catalyst for a remarkable turnaround in the Royal’s fortunes. There looks to be a lot of faith around the club now, after winning 5 of their last 6 games, topped off with a 5-0 thumping of Sheffield Wednesday in their last league outing. As displayed in the Anfield heroics, they go out to the pitch with vigour and look to concentrate on playing their own game, as opposed to worrying about what the opposition is doing.

Their feats in the FA Cup didn’t stop with beating Liverpool, for there was more Premier League opposition on the horizon for them. They beat Burnley in the fourth round 1-0 and then triumphed in a replay against high flying West Brom, who are seeking automatic promotion from the Championship. They are not safe from relegation yet, but the recent run of games has put them in with a much better chance of survival. They are only one point above Sheffield Wednesday, who are third from bottom, but the bottom half of the table is so tight, that a couple more wins will see them firmly in the safety of mid table. At least there is a lot more to be optimistic about now, as they welcome Aston Villa to the Madejski Stadium, in the hope of yet another giant killing act. Could they join Portsmouth as being one the fairy-tale stories of the FA Cup 2010, by joining them in the Semi Finals?

First they will have to get past Carling Cup finalists Aston Villa, who are proving to be a resilient lot under Martin O’Neill. They get Richard Dunne back from injury, as they look to fill the disappointment of losing one Wembley final this season, by getting back there to have another crack of the whip. Villa have had a preference for not putting out full sides for cup fixtures this season, but they will be strong on Sunday, as this is now a much more trickier tie than it may have been a couple of months ago. Villa are tight at the back, which is the foundation they have built upon in order to get them into the race for fourth spot in the Premier League, as well as their successful run in the Carling Cup. They do like to play a wide game though, as well as directly hitting the pacy big men up front, notably Gabriel Agbonlahor. England dangerman James Milner is also one to watch, along with Ashley Young.

Villa have already had a scare against Championships opposition in the FA Cup this season, needing a replay to get past a battling Crystal Palace. Reading are the only team left in the competition, not to come from the Premier League, and so will have their work cut out for them. This should be a free flowing game, as the initiative will be with the home side Reading to take the game to the higher level of opposition. The Villa defence should stand tall, as they have done for most of the season, but they are not big goalscorers. Still, they went 12 games unbeaten this year, only losing that record to Man Utd in the Carling Cup final, and are in good form. But Reading, as they have proven so far during this FA Cup run, they are capable of being the downfall of teams in much higher standing than them. Will this be another great day for the underdogs?

BETTING STATS (All competitions)

Head to Head
Reading 1, Aston Villa 2
Aston Villa 3, Reading 1
Reading 2, Aston Villa 0
Aston Villa 2, Reading 1

Last 5 Match Goals
Reading: 12 For, 7 Against
Aston Villa: 12 For, 8 Against

Last 10 Match Form
Reading: W5, D2, L3
Aston Villa: W5, D4, L1

Win Percentage:
Reading have a 26.3 win percentage at home
Aston Villa have a 41.2 win percentage away from home

MATCH PRICES
Aston Villa to win: 11/13 at Expekt
Draw: 13/5 at Boylesports
Reading to win: 7/2 at Bet365

Asian Handicap Betting Advice: Villa will be favourites to take this, even if it is away from home. They managed well enough against similar opposition in Crystal Palace in a tricky replay, and will have to curb the early giant killing enthusiasm of Reading in the early stages. They will have a battle on their hands, and this could easily turn out as draw, which is something to lean towards finding coverage in the betting. If you fancy another upset will be on the cards with the buoyant Reading side going so well this year, then taking a chance on Reading +0.25 will fetch 7/5 at Paddy Power (which will bring a half win for a drawn match). Otherwise, with Villa expecting to be in the ascendancy, but not a high scoring club:
Aston Villa -1.00 Asian Handicap 11/10 at Stan James

Chelsea look to defend their FA Cup crown with a home fixture against Stoke on Sunday. The Blues do have some selection problems ahead of the match, with the defence awaiting news on the fitness of Ricardo Carvalho. They will also be missing the influence of Michael Ballack who was sent off in last week’s defeat against Manchester City in the league. Chelsea also heard news this week that defender Jose Bosingwa won’t be back in action this season. Regardless of their starting line up, Chelsea will go into the match as favourites. The defeat at Stamford Bridge to Man City, was the first defeat which Chelsea have suffered at home all season, and ended a run of 37 consecutive games without defeat at home. Their plight wasn’t helped by the fact that goalie Petr Cech is out of action.

Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti needs to get his team going again, the way they were earlier in the season. Backup goalie Hilario, is no Petr Cech, and that means the Chelsea defence, which looked vulnerable defending set pieces this season, will need to dig deep and stand firm. Having lost their last two games, one against Jose Mourinho’s Inter Milan, and the 4-2 loss against Man City in the Premier League will have set nerves jangling just a little bit around Stamford Bridge. They started out as favourites for the FA Cup though, and having seen Man United, Liverpool and Arsenal all fall cheaply, it will be a surprise in many circles, not least the bookmakers, if Chelsea do not lift the trophy. They will firmly have their eyes set on a semi final place, as they take on Arsenal’s FA Cup conquerors Stoke City.

Recent England call up, defender Ryan Shawcross will be missing at the heart of the Stoke defence. It will have been hard to avoid the reason why. He was the one who ended Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsey’s season with a boisterous tackle, which got Arsene Wenger all hot under the collar. Stoke, under Tony Pulis, have given a good account of themselves this season, and look fairly secure in their mid table position. They had an extended unbeaten run in the Premier League, during 2010, until they lost their last match against Arsenal last weekend. Pulis has turned Stoke into one of those sides which are extremely tough to play against, as they favour the physical and direct route to goal.

Stoke’s win column away from home, is looking a little sparse though as they have only managed two in the Premier League. This, for betting strategies, is another aspect which will have betting leaning towards a Chelsea win. Stoke do have an offensive weapon from the thrown ins, as Rory Delap launches horizontal missiles goal wards, and gets such distance on them, it is the equivalent of a corner when Stoke get at throw in anywhere in the final third of the pitch. Stoke gave Chelsea run for their money on the opening day of the season, when the Blues had to come from behind to seal a late win at the Britannia Stadium. Stoke will be the sternest test Chelsea have had in the FA Cup this season, as the Premier League favourites have played only Championship opposition up until now.

BETTING STATS (All competitions)

Head to Head
Stoke 1, Chelsea 2
Chelsea 2, Stoke 1
Stoke 0, Chelsea 2

Last 5 Match Goals:
Chelsea: 10 For, 9 Against
Stoke: 6 For, 7 Against

Last 10 Form
Chelsea: W6, D1, L3
Stoke City: W3, D6, L1

Win Percentage:
Chelsea have an 85.7 win percentage at home
Stoke have a 12.5 win percentage away from home

MATCH PRICES
Chelsea to win: 3/10 at Expekt
Draw: 5/1 at Bet365
Stoke to win: 11/1 at SkyBet

Asian Handicap Betting Advice: Chelsea will be expected to reach the semi finals. They will want to gain a bit of confidence by winning this one at the first attempt. With their dodgy away form this season, Ancelotti will not relish this going back to the Britannia for a replay. One streak which may be worth taking a punt on, is an Anytime Scorer Bet on Chelsea’s Daniel Sturridge, who has scored in each round of the competition so far. He has four in the competition, the same as Stoke’s Ricardo Fuller, who is their best source for goals. As for the Handicap, the best returns will come from backing Stoke in the positive. Yes, they may lose, but they could be tough enough to hold on to:
Stoke +1.5 Asian Handicap: Evens at Bet365

Daniel Sturridge Anytime Scorer: Evens at SportingBet
Ricardo Fuller Anytime Scorer: 4/1 at SkyBet

FA Cup betting should draw a lot of attention here, as Craven Cottage should have one of the most entertaining FA Cup Quarter Finals, with the all Premier League derby clash of Fulham v Tottenham. Tottenham have some injury worries ahead of the tie, with England striker Jermain Defoe suffering from a hamstring problem, which he felt wasn’t right after his first half England performance against Egypt. Peter Crouch though, will be relishing the chances at a run in the team, after losing his starting spot for Spurs. Crouch came off the bench to further his impressive international record, his two goals helping England overcome the Egyptians at Wembley. With England World Cup hopeful Aaron Lennon already on the sidelines for another month of so, boss Harry Redknapp is getting down to the bare bones of a first eleven.

The Spurs midfield will also be missing Jermaine Jenas, Tom Huddlestone and David Bentley, which may tip the balance in favour of the home side for this tie. These are two good footballing teams, with Spurs probably just edging it in terms of betting. Spurs will be hoping to cling onto fourth spot in the Premier League this season, which will guarantee a marked improvement for the London Club. It will also secure a big payday in the Champions League next season. Harry Redknapp has toughened them up a little bit in comparison to the Spurs of old, and with some quality all over the park, are giving a good account of themselves. They have still struggled against the genuine title contenders, Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal this season, but they are clearly moving in the right direction.

Fulham manager Roy Hodgson has turned Fulham in a good competitive unit, who like to play attractive football. They are on a good run of form at the moment, going 8 games unbeaten with victories in all of their last five matches at Craven Cottage. There has been much discussion about striker Bobby Zamora, and whether or not he should be in the England team. He is having his most impressive season, and the powerful striker can hold the ball up well, and now has some consistency in finding the back of the net. Whether he is international quality remains to be seen, and he is unlikely to jump the England queue of strikers for the World Cup. Still, he can keep on trying to shoot his club to the FA Cup final to get himself noticed.

The two sides played out a 0-0 draw at Craven Cottage in December, and Fulham are struggling to find goals against Spurs. Sitting in ninth place in the Premier League, Fulham are one of those teams trapped in limbo, too good to be drawn into a relegation battle, but not good enough to push on to challenge for a place in Europe. Saying that, they are still in the Europa League, after coming through 3-2 on aggregate against favourites, and current holders, Shakhtar Donetsk. The London side have been turned around marvellously by Hodgson and he deserves all the plaudits which he can get. An appearance in the FA Cup final would be the icing on the cake, but first they will need to get the better of one of the best teams left in the competition.

BETTING STATS (League Only)

Last 5 Match Goals
Fulham: 6 For, 1 Against
Tottenham: 6 For, 3 Against

Last 10 Match Form:
Fulham: W3, D2, L5
Tottenham: W4, D4, L2

Win Percentage:
Fulham have a 64.3 win percentage at home
Tottenham have a  35.7 win percentage away from home

Match Prices
Fulham to win: 21/10 at Bet365
Draw: 23/10 at Totesport
Tottenham to win: 13/8 at Victor Chandler

Asian Handicap Betting Advice: The promises of a good close match here, between two teams who like to play football the right way. Fulham have only lost three times at home this season, and it will be a tough task for Tottenham. But the difference between the two sides in the league is about 10 points, and Tottenham have shown both their class and battling qualities this season in the FA Cup. However, Fulham at home are a tough side to overturn, and Spurs will put out a weakened side. Therefore backing them with a slight advantage, with coverage on a the draw makes good sense.
Fulham +0.25 Asian Handicap: 11/10 at Paddy Power

FA Cup betting will be torn on this quarter final. The Portsmouth saga rumbles on this season, with the crisis club uncertain of its future still, and boss Avram Grant not promising to stay. But they are still living the dream in the FA Cup, and it could be their one outlet to salvage something from the season. Their fans certainly deserve something, after the hardship of all the financial woes, and being unable to prise themselves off the bottom of the Premier League all season. They have fought well in the FA Cup this season, in contrast to the league, where everything piece of bad luck seems to go against them. They came through a potentially tricky tie in the 5th round, a derby match away at fierce rivals, neighbours Southampton.

A late burst of goals saw Pompey run out 4-1 winners, to book their quarter final fixture at home against Birmingham. They have encountered Birmingham once this season, back in August, when Birmingham won a close match, 1-0. Portsmouth have already beaten Premier League opposition in the FA Cup this year, taking out Sunderland 2-1, and now boss Avram Grant will hope to get a little closer to that silver lining of a miserable season, an FA Cup final appearance. They do have home advantage, and all in all, it is not a bad draw for them. Their opponents, although stubborn and resolute in their defence, haven’t been setting the Premier League alight in goals scored.

Birmingham, under Alex McLeish are enjoying a season of comparative success. They were enjoying a long unbeaten run, until coming unstuck a little bit of late, and that will give Pompey heart. Birmingham’s game has been built around defence, and they, like Portsmouth, do struggle for goals. This could mean that there will be a tight game at Fratton Park on Sunday, with Birmingham looking to cap a fine season with at least a place in the Semi Final. For both of these teams, the FA Cup this season represents a lot to their fans. Whatever happens with Portsmouth in terms of administration, it is pretty much a dead cert that they will be relegated this year.

For Birmingham, it represents the opportunity to show that they are an up and coming club, giving them a further platform to build off for next season. Neither team are in great form at the moment, with just three wins between them in their last five matches. Still, it should make for an entertaining encounter, even if it is a tight, scrappy cup tie on the south coast. Birmingham have only scored 26 goals in the Premier League all season, but even that paltry amount tops Pompey, who have netted just 23 times. Therefore it is unlikely to be a goal fest down at Fratton Park, and every likelihood that this could head back to St Andrews for a replay.

BETTING STATS

Last 5 Head to Head
Birmingham 1, Portsmouth 0
Portsmouth 4, Birmingham 2
Birmingham 0, Portsmouth 2
Birmingham 5, Portsmouth 0
Portsmouth 1, Birmingham 1

Last 5 Match Goals
Portsmouth: 4 For, 10 Against
Birmingham: 5 For, 6 Against

Last 10 Form
Portsmouth: W2, D2, L6
Birmingham: W3, D4, L3

Win Percentage:
Portsmouth have a 23.1 win percentage at home
Birmingham have a 30.8 win percentage away from home

Portsmouth to win: 13/8 at SkyBet
Draw: 23/10 at Totesport
Birmingham to win: 2/1 at Victor Chandler

Asian Handicap Betting Advice: This is one of those games where trying to gain rewards from a draw would be worth investigating. If you want to be safe, then the first place to go for this, would be a Draw No Bet on whoever you think will sneak the tie, the equivalent of which, in Asian Handicap Betting is 0. Leaning towards Portsmouth though, simply because of the home fixture and nothing left to lose this season, and coverage with a half win, if they draw:
Portsmouth +0.25 Asian Handicap: 4/6 at Paddy Power

Although luck was not with the Irish in their World Cup qualification playoff against France last November, boss Giovanni Trapattoni is still confident that there are good times ahead for the Republic of Ireland. Tuesday night sees them back in action for the first time since that tragic “Hand of Henry” night, and they will be doing all they can to give World Cup 2010 favourites Brazil, a real run for their money. For Brazil, this is the last run out they will get before the World Cup in South Africa starts on June 11th.

Trapattoni has been boosted by the fact that Robbie Keane joined up with the squad ahead of the match at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium, after he was initially ruled out through injury. The Spurs striker, currently on loan with Celtic until the end of the season, picked up an injury on the derby day match against Rangers, but has been declared fit. There will be some doubt over him starting though, but the temptation may be to leave him on the bench instead of sending him out up front with Kevin Doyle.

The could be some new faces on the pitch for the Irish during the friendly, as Trapattoni starts planning for an assault on qualification for Euro 2012. Brazil are travelling to London with pretty much a full squad, which includes Kaka, but there are a couple of notable exceptions. When Brazilian coach announced his squad for this match some time ago, AC Milan’s Ronaldinho wasn’t a part of it, despite being in great form for his club. Also missing from the line up will be phenomenal hot-shot, Sevilla striker Luis Fabiano, who will miss the encounter after picking up an injury. The Irish defence will be happy about that, no doubt, who will be without the stabilising presence of Aston Villa’s Richard Dunne.

Match Prices:
Ireland to win: 15/2 at Victor Chandler
Draw: 3/1 at Bet365
Brazil to win: 1/2 at Totesport

England striker Wayne Rooney is hoping that the England fans will be behind John Terry on Wednesday night during the friendly against African Cup of Nations Champions, Egypt. Chelsea Captain Terry was roundly booed in his team’s defeat against Wayne Bridge’s Manchester City on Saturday, and this is the first time that he will pull on an England shirt since all of the media barrage he has faced. Terry was stripped of the England captaincy by manager Fabio Capello in light of all the media surrounding Terry, choosing to hand the armband to Manchester United’s Rio Ferdinand instead. Ferdinand will be missing from the match, as he was from the Carling Cup final because of injury.

The match against Egypt is just one of three that England have before the World Cup starts on June 11th, with the other two against Mexico and then Japan. Manchester United star, Rooney, was left on the bench for the start of Sunday’s Carling Cup triumph over Aston Villa, but that did not stop him making his mark again as he netted the winner with a header. There were worries that Rooney wouldn’t be fit for the friendly, and the last thing England want is to hear any news about injury their star player. England need him fit and healthy for the World Cup, and Capello has already alluded to the belief that he thinks the England star is being overworked by Alex Ferguson. The fears were over a niggling Rooney knee problem, but Rooney insists that it was because of a stomach virus, and Ferguson wanted an excuse to give him a rest. Thankfully he should be fit for Wednesday, but probably won’t play the whole match.

The race for Rooney’s strike partner hots up, with Carlton Cole and Theo Walcott being named in the squad. Walcott is a move towards getting him more experience, as he hasn’t been on top form this season, with injury problems. Spurs’ Aaron Lennon misses out through injury. While Rooney has urged England to show support for Terry, the vacant left back position, vacated by Terry’s team-mate Ashley Cole because of injury, and Wayne Bridge’s decision not to play for England, will draw the spotlight. Capello has drafted in Leighton Baines from Everton as expected, along with Aston Villa’s Stephen Warnock. These are two recognised left backs, but there is also speculation that Villa’s James Milner may fill in there, but his great form in attacking roles for Villa should warrant him being used further forward.

One surprise name in the England defensive corps, was that of Ryan Shawcross, from Stoke, who would be in line for his debut if he makes an appearance. His call up game just hours after a wayward tackle broke the ankle of Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsey, in Stoke’s first defeat of the year. It has been Stoke’s stubborn displays which has earned Shaw cross a call up to the senior squad. The left side of midfield will also be contested, as Chelsea’s Joe Cole, who had made the spot his own, hasn’t been selected for the squad, instead Stewart Downing makes a comeback to the England fold, after nearly a year on the sidelines. Birmingham keeper Joe Hart, after a string of impressive performances, is one of three keepers alongside David James and Robert Green.

This friendly match does have some importance, as it will be the final match before Capello names his provisional squad for the World Cup on May 12th, while the final squads have to be named for FIFA on June 1. It is a big opportunity for players to stake a claim for a World Cup spot, especially with the likes of Ashley Cole and Rio Ferdinand missing, it could also be a chance for one of the strikers to step forward, should the worst happen, and Rooney can’t start. Egypt should not be too much of a pushover, not on the back of their performances at the African Cup of Nations, where they successfully defended their title. They looked a confident passing side, with an eye for attack, and for goal. They missed out on the 2010 World Cup, after being eliminted by Algeria in qualification decider.

England v Egypt Stats: The two sides have only met twice, and only once in competition at Italia 90.
The first time was a friendly in 1986, in Cairo. England won 4-0 with goals from Trevor Steven, own goal, Danny Wallace and Gordon Cowans. The second meeting between the two teams was at the 1990 World Cup, in Cagliari, where England won 1-0 with a goal from Mark Wright (assisted by Paul Gascoigne).

Match Prices:
England to win: 4/11 at Bet365
Draw: 4/1 at SkyBet
Egypt to win: 8/1 at Paddy Power

England Squad v Egypt:
Keepers: David James, Rob Green, Joe Hart
Defenders: Wes Brown, John Terry,  Matthew Upson, Joleon Lescott, Ryan Shawcross, Leighton Baines, Stephen Warnock.
Midfielders: James Milner, David Beckham, Theo Walcott, Frank Lampard, Gareth Barry, Steven Gerrard, Michael Carrick, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Stewart Downing.
Forwards: Emile Heskey, Jermain Defoe, Wayne Rooney, Peter Crouch, Carlton Cole.

Carling Cup Betting will hit its peak on Sunday. Manchester United will be looking to hold on to their Carling Cup, with victory over Aston Villa on Sunday. By that time, United will know where they stand in the race for the Premier League title as well, with Chelsea playing on Saturday, but all attention will be on their Wembley date against Martin O’Neill’s Aston Villa. Villa are enjoying a good season and are firmly lodged in the race for fourth spot in the Premier League. A lot of their good work can be attributed to the sound defensive system which O’Neill has instilled at the club, and they go into Sunday’s showdown with the best defensive record in the Premier League.

It was their defence which strolled into Old Trafford earlier in the season, to hold out for a surprise 1-0 win against the Red Devil’s, which sort of set a benchmark for what the Midlands side wanted to achieve this season. They have, slowly but surely, developed their own identity in style, personnel and have played their way into the upper tier of the Premier League. While they may take a more direct route to goal than Manchester United, that is simply playing to their strengths, and they do look a very good, organised and solid team. They certainly have pace up front in England hopeful Gabriel Agbonlahor, but they haven’t been prolific in front of goal, compared to the teams in the standings around them.

It is quite a strong England connection from Agbonlahor, with Emile Heskey, Ashley Young, Stephen Warnock, Stuart Downing and bright spark of the season, James Milner. As well as the pace of Agbonlahor, they have power in the air, but their route to goal has been a bit shy of other competitors. That hasn’t stopped their progress upwards though, as their defence has given them a great platform to build upon. The mainstay of this defence has been Richard Dunne and James Collins, who will need to police Rooney again. This allows them to soak  up a lot of pressure against teams, as well as conceding possession, because they are capable of winning matches by the odd goal. This is contrast to Manchester United, who drive towards goal with fluency, with England striker Wayne Rooney usually on the end of all the attacking moves.

Rooney, who can usually play just as well isolated, as well as part of a duo, is the main threat for Manchester United, and it goes without saying that the Villa defence will have to shepherd him well. Villa do not have many worries in terms of injuries and selection, with their more illustrious opponents having the lions share of that. United boss Alex Ferguson has to make do again without Rio Ferdinand and John O’Shea at the back again, as well as the experience which Ryan Giggs brings to the team. Owen Hargreaves is still absent, and midfielder Anderson injured himself against West Ham, and winger Nani will be missing through suspension.

Villa have had the better of the encounters between the two sides this season, but a lot could come down to big match experience. United have plenty of that, although they haven’t won a final at the new Wembley Stadium without needing penalties to do so, so that could factor in your betting strategies. It looks as if it will be a tight game on Sunday, and a draw is more than possible. United will start as strong favourites, even though they have had some woeful blips in from this season, which seem to come out of the blue. Aston Villa have gotten to the final, largely on the back of the reserve team, but the first team will be out in force on Sunday, including goalie Brad Friedel who has yet to play in the competition so far this season. Edwin van der Saar, who has just extended his contract at United, should get the starting nod for the Red Devils.

United also ran largely with their underlings through the competition, before the main players stepped into the fray to see off rivals Manchester City in the semi finals. This is the first piece of silverware on offer for the new season, and it’s no surprise that United are participating in it. They put the pressure back on Chelsea at the top of the Premier League with a midweek win over West Ham, after Ferguson tinkered greatly with his starting eleven. Now they will be looking to add what hopefully for United fans, will be the first silverware of another successful season. The key factor could be how well the Villa centre halves deal with a certain Mr Rooney, and rely on the pace that they have to catch United on the counter. It could be a big battle in the middle of the park for supremacy, as both teams have the capability to flood it.

BETTING STATS

Last 5 Head to Head
Aston Villa 1, Man Utd 1
Man Utd 0, Aston Villa 1
Man Utd 3, Aston Villa 2
Aston Villa 0, Man Utd 0
Man Utd 4, Aston Villa 0

Last 5 Match Goals
Man Utd: 13 For, 6 Against
Aston Villa: 11 For, 6 Against

Last 10 Form
Man Utd: W7, D1, L2
Aston Villa: W5, D5, L0

Asian Handicap Betting Advice: Yes, Manchester United will go into the betting as favourite, and rightly so. This should be a close game, with Aston Villa being such a tight unit, and therefore, any Asian Handicap bet which has Villa in the plus at a good price, should seriously be considered. Are United two goals better than Villa? Can Villa go better than holding out for a draw for long periods? These are questions worth asking, and both which point to a Villa plus.
Aston Villa +1 Asian Handicap: 4/5 at Victor Chandler

Saturday 27^th February

English Premier League

Birmingham City v Wigan Athletic

Birmingham have stuttered of late after a fantastic run of games unbeaten so they will be determined to get back on track and to winning ways when they host Wigan at St Andrews.

Alex McLeish has worked wonders with his Birmingham side after winning promotion to the top flight last season. He bought shrewdly with the acquisitions of Scott Dann, Roger Johnson, Christian Benitez and Barry Ferguson all coming in during the summer transfer window. All 4 have been exceptional for the most part and played a huge part in City’s 15 match unbeaten run earlier in the season. These 4, along with Joe Hart, Lee Bowyer and Cameron Jerome have built an excellent spine down the centre of the side which has made them resilient, hard to beat and disciplined. Their strength is shown with them having the joint best home defensive record in the league, losing just 8 goals in 13 matches thus far, which has resulted in them losing only 2 at St Andrews. Their record against sides below them in the table at home has been good, with wins over Wolves, West Ham, Blackburn, Sunderland and Portsmouth already. Bolton are the only team currently below Brum who have escaped with all 3 points – it took a late goal for this to occur.

Wigan are still in the thick of a relegation battle after going on a run of 6 games without a win in the league. Roberto Martinez’s side suffered a heavy defeat in their most recent game against Tottenham at home. The first goal in a 3-0 reverse was blatantly offside but it shouldn’t mask the fact that Wigan offered nothing in an attacking sense and looked decidedly weak, slow and cumbersome at the back. Unsurprisingly the have only scored 3 goals in their last 6 matches which doesn’t bode well for Saturday as they were playing against far weaker defences than the only they’ll be up against at St Andrews. Part of Martinez’s problems have been the lack of goals but the main problem is their porous defence. Wigan have the 2^nd worst away defence in the Premier League, the only above them in this table is Burnley who haven’t won away from home all season. Wigan’s away record isn’t too bad for a team fighting relegation as they have been victorious 3 times on the road already this season. Their wins have come against Wolves, Aston Villa and Burnley. The win over Villa was a freak result in the sense that it was the opening day of the season and they have never looked like emulating such a win again.

McLeish’s side are so good at frustrating the bigger teams so it will be interesting to see if they adapt this style of play and take the game to the visitors. If they do change and be more expansive, it could mean they leave space for the likes of Hugo Rodallega and Charles N’Zogbia. I think McLeish is too canny for that and he’ll stick to his side strengths of having two compact units of 4 and trying to hit the away side on the break using the pace of Benitez and Jerome. Both players should relish the prospect of playing against Gary Caldwell and Titus Bramble. Both are very awkward when up against pace and power in my opinion, especially Caldwell. The Scottish international is a good reader of the game and his distribution isn’t the worst but he’s not physical enough for a centre half which could prove to be Wigan’s downfall come the end of the season.

Birmingham have won both games against Wigan at St Andrews in recent years and they will have targeted this match as one where they can get back to winning ways. They’ve not lost a home game since that defeat to Bolton back in September and I can’t see a poor Wigan side altering that statistic come 5pm on Saturday. Birmingham will be pushing for their best finish in the league for a long time and I think they’ll get another 3 points in this fixture.

My selection: Birmingham to beat Wigan

Best odds available: Evens available with Betfred

English Premier League

Burnley v Portsmouth

It will be Premier League first on Saturday when Burnley take on the first top flight side in England to go into administration – Portsmouth.

Brian Laws took the reigns from Owen Coyle in January and has tasted victory once thus far – a 2-1 win over West Ham in their last home match. For all their failings on the road (and there have been many) their home form is still more than decent with 6 wins and 4 draws from the 12 games played at Turf Moor this season. The only team to beat them at home, other than Wigan, were Chelsea at the end of last month, and even that was a close run thing. They are most definitely difficult to beat on their own patch. They are also beginning to get key players back at the right stage of the season with Martin Paterson returning last week and Steven Caldwell also getting back to fitness.

Portsmouth have had a disastrous season already and it’s set to get worse tomorrow (Friday) when they officially enter administration and automatically incur a 9 point penalty deduction. They’re already 7 points adrift at the bottom so when the penalty is incurred they are as good as relegated. It’s a shame for the players, supporters and the likes of Avram Grant who have done nothing to deserve such problems, but for the likes of Peter Storrie and the multiple owners who have tried to make a quick buck and totally mis-managed the finances of the  club in the last few years, it’s nothing more than justice. You simply can’t break the rules so extremely and expect to get away with it in the long run. They’ll go down because they deserve to. On the field Pompey have 1 win and 10 defeats from 13 away games and have lost 7 of their last 8 away league games.

Laws and Burnley are running out of games between now and the end of the season and they know that Saturday’s game is a must win if they are to survive their maiden season in the Premier League. Home games will be vital in their bid, especially home games against sides in and around their own position in the league. Pompey are the only side below them in the league at this point but it’s not all bad, only 4 points separate 7 positions and a win on Saturday could arguably see the Claret’s move to 14^th providing other results go their way,

You expect nothing else other than Portsmouth to give 100% on Saturday as they have done in every match this season, but the hype, attention and scandal surrounding the club at this moment is bound to have an affect. They have struggled on the road for the whole season and as I have already proven, Turf Moor isn’t the easiest of hunting grounds.

Burnley need the points more and I think their desire will prove to be too much for a club in crisis.

My selection: Burnley to beat Portsmouth

Best odds available: 6/5 available once again with Betfred

Sunday 28^th February

Scottish Premier League

Rangers v Celtic

It’s derby weekend once again in Glasgow when Celtic travel across the city to take on their bitter city rivals at Ibrox.

Rangers go into the match with a 7 point lead, a game in hand an 20 goals better off in terms of goal difference. The league really is theirs to throwaway and it will be a surprise if they don’t make it back to back league championships in May. Their team is not the greatest to watch, they don’t play free flowing football but their style of play is effective. They have a strong goalkeeper and defence, a hard working midfield and a good partnership upfront with Kenny Miller and Kris Boyd. They are undefeated at home this season and have already defeated Celtic in the league earlier this season – a 2-1 win back in October. Manager Walter Smith is likely to have a fully fit squad to choose from with Allan McGregor likely to take his place in goals despite being assaulted last Saturday in Glasgow. Smith will more than likely line up 4-4-2 and try to overpower Celtic using Lee McCulloch and Kevin Thompson as his midfield partnership.

Celtic are massive underdogs in the league but anything can happen in this fixture as we all know. They have played Rangers off the park twice already but only have a single point to show for their efforts. The last match between these two was the most one sided game I’ve watched in a long time – if it a was a boxing match it would have been stopped at half time. With a mix of shocking refereeing and some horrible finishing from Celtic, the match ended in a 1-1 draw. Celtic have failed to record back to back wins in the league since the beginning of December which is a damning statistic only made worse hen you consider it’s against teams such as Aberdeen, Kilmarnock and Falkirk. Tony Mowbray knows his side are in last chance saloon on Sunday and it’s up to them whether they take it or not.

Marc Antoine Fortune has been a big player for Celtic of late and his performance in the last game against Rangers was excellent. He dominated both of their centre halves and they couldn’t cope with his pace and power. His partner that day was Giorgios Samaras who missed a glut of glorious chances which were created because Fortune pulled the defence all over the place. On Sunday his partner will be Robbie Keane so it’s a massive difference in terms of quality, ability and bottle. Keane has done it all throughout his career and he will be desperate to score for his beloved Celt’s at Ibrox, providing of cours it is in a Celtic win.

Celtic are due a victory over Rangers but I normally refrain from betting on the outcome of these games because they are so hard to predict. I think the 9/4 on offer for an away win is too big as I strongly believe that Celtic have far more quality in their ranks, so I wouldn’t put anyone off backing them. The bet I will advise is for Keane to score at anytime. Fortune will do a lot of the ‘ugly work’ for his strike partner and Keane’s movement and quick thinking should seem him have at least a couple of good chances. He’s also scored in his last two games for Celtic so the signs are there that he is hitting top form as he get’s his sharpness.

My selection: Robbie Keane to score at anytime

Best odds available: 21/10 available with PaddyPower

KTF