Cardiff

Saturday 17th December

Scottish Premier League

Motherwell v St Mirren

Christmas is only eight days away but Motherwell will be in no mood to provide St Mirren with any festive cheer when the two sides meet at Fir Park.

Motherwell have surprised many this season with their form and currently sit best of the rest in the Scottish Premier League. There was ambitious talk earlier in the season that they may even be capable of splitting the two Glasgow sides but that seems like a fading possibility. They have, however, been very consistent and that is evidenced by the fact that they have lost just four game all season and three of them have been to Celtic and Rangers. St Johnstone are the only other side who have defeated them and they to have been impressive this season. Stuart McCall took over from Craig Brown last season and he managed to get the club to the Scottish Cup Final where they eventually lost out to Celtic but things are definitely on the up and the fans will be excited about what the future holds.

St Mirren’s manager Danny Lennon has been in the job for 18 months and it looks as though, slowly but surely, he is starting to mould his side into what he wants them to play like and what he set out at the start of last season. They look much more threatening this year and play a more attacking brand of football which the fans were crying out for. The other side of that story, however, is that they concede more goals as their defence is less protected than what it has been in previous season. It seems to be working though as the Buddies currently sit eighth which is unusual for them as they are normally in and around the relegation zone. Seven points clear of bottom placed Dunfermilne means that the first few months of the season have been a success but their is a long way to go between now and May so Lennon will be aware that the job is only half done.

Motherwell have one of the most exciting talents in Scotland in the shape of Jamie Murphy. The striker has been in and around the first team picture at Fir Park for a few years now but over the last couple of seasons he has really come to the fore and he is now one of the manager’s first picks every week. Along with Michael Hingdon he is the club’s top scorer with six league goals, but he’s also a provider of goals which makes him so important to the team. Having scored two goals in his side’s 3-0 win over St Johnstone last Saturday, Murphy heads into tomorrow’s fixture full of confidence.

St Mirren had spent a lot of money on wages by bringing in the likes of Paul McGowan, Steven Thompson and Gary Teale over the summer and all three are players who have contributed to their teams good form this season. Lennon will have been happy that his side came back from two goals down last Saturday against Aberdeen to earn a draw but they may well have won it as they were by far the better team in the second half and had plenty of chances. It means that St Mirren have went three games without a win and have won just one of their last five. Away from home they have won just one of their last six but they did manage a draw against Rangers at Ibrox so Fir Park should hold no fears for them.

Motherwell have won 10 of their 17 matches this season which is an excellent record in a league where so many of the sides are evenly matched. With Higdon and Murphy upfront they have two players capable of causing defences a lot of problems and scoring that vital goal which is often the difference in the SPL. They are too big a price to pass up tomorrow despite the fact that their home form is not as strong as their form on the road, they still remain the percentage and value call.

My Selection: Motherwell to beat St Mirren

Best price available: Evens available with William Hill

English Championship

Cardiff v Middlesbrough

Big match in the Championship as third placed Cardiff host fourth placed Middlesbrough – a win for either side could see them end up in an automatic promotion spot tomorrow evening.

Malky Mackay has worked wonders in truth since arriving at Cardiff. He has had to change so much of the squad which is often disruptive and results in a team having to gel before they can get to the level they were at previously. That’s not been the case here as the former Watford manager has seen the changes that he made pay off and the Bluebirds are just a couple of points off the top two positions. Their last defeat was way back in October and since that loss at Peterborough they have won six of their following nine games. It’s tremendous form and some of the wins have come against difficult teams and at notoriously hard venues such as Reading and at home to Birmingham. Overall they have lost just three games all season and only one of those has come at the Cardiff City stadium where they have won seven of their ten matches to date.

Tony Mowbray has got things right at Middlesbrough this season and they seem desitned to challenge for promotion this season after a couple of indifferent campaigns. Level on points with tomorrow’s opponents it’s no surprise that there is a lot of pressure on tomorrow’s match but for all the right reasons. They set themselves up perfectly with two 1-0 victories against Bristol City and Brighton in recent weeks. Those games have been par for the course this season as they may not be the prettiest team to watch but they are hard to beat and more often than not, are able to nick a goal and take the points. Their away form is particularly good with six wins from 10 matches – only West Ham can boast a better record than that in the division. Those defeats came against Nottingham Forest and Southampton, both of which were after their magnificent run of six straight away wins in all competitions between August and September.

Kenny Miller has been an inspired signed for Cardiff as he allows Mackay to set up a system which is both hard to break down, but also allows them great freedom going forward. Miller is very much a striker who likes to put defenders under pressure and never stops running for the whole time he’s on the pitch. This means that Cardiff can play a counter attacking style of play away from home but at the same time they can switch it and keep the ball for long periods with that extra midfielder thanks to Miller playing as a lone striker. The Scottish internationalist has six league goals to his name already but few would back against him adding to that in the next few weeks.

‘Boro are one of the lowest scorers in the top half of the Championship with 25 goals so it’s no surprise to read that they boast the best defensive record in the league as well. Their defences have been breached just 17 times this term which is their foundation for their success. They do need to do better against the sides in and around them in the table however as the loss to Southampton earlier in the season was coupled with a home defeat against West Ham. They have also drawn against the likes of Blackpool and Leicester. There is an argument to be made that the fixtures have been kind to them in the early part of the season but they do face a difficult programme of fixtures over the Christmas period so their credentials will be put to the test – starting tomorrow.

Cardiff, for my money, have been the most impressive Championship side in recent weeks. They are not conceding many goals and look dangerous on the break. The only criticism of them would be that they may not take as many chances as they should be and that could be key tomorrow against a resoulte Middlesbrough defence but I have a suspicion that Tony Mowbray’s men have been flattered somewhat by their league position and fancy the home side to come out on top here.

My Selection: Cardiff to beat Middlesbrough

Best odds available: 5/4 available with Victor Chandler

English League Two

Crewe v Crawley

Top of the table Crawley travel north to take on Crewe in a bid to extend their unbeaten run in all competitons to 15.

It was the end of an era when Dario Gradi finally stepped aside and allowed a new man to take on the role as Crewe’s manager. Gradi had been in the job for over 20 years so you could forgive the new manager, his assistant Steve Davis, of being a little worried that he was in a no win situation. His start as manager may not have been terrific but it’s not been terrible either. Crewe are currently sitting in mid-table and of the four games that Davis has been boss, they have won two, drawn one and lost the other one which was, incidentally, his first match in charge in the FA Cup so they remain unbeaten under his stewardship in the league. Tomorrow will be their hardest test yet as they face the league leaders and their home form is definitely something that needs to improve as they have already lost five games on their own patch.

Crawley were many people’s favourites to go up and earn consecutive promotions due to the amount of finances they have at their disposal. The form they are currently in has seen them climb to the top of the division with a three point lead heading into the festive period. Steve Evans is no strange to managing succesful sides in the Conference but it’s the first time that he has been in charge of a club at this level who have been doing so well. 14 games unbeaten for anyone is a massive achievment due to the competitive nature of football nowadays but even more so for a team who were playing in the division below last season. Their last defeat was in the middle of September and to date it’s only their third league reverse of the campaign so far.

Crewe will be hoping that their three game unbeaten run in the league can give them the confidence to compete against high flying Crawley and if they can produce their best form on the day then they well give their visitors problems. The key is consistency at Gresty Road though as they have such a young team and it’s inevitable that they are going to have some off days as they are on their learning curve at the moment.

Crawley will travel to Crewe full of confidence having won their last five scoring 16 in the process. Matt Tubbs was prolific last season in the Conference and he has carried on that kind of form this season. He’s scored four goals in his last two games after a run of five games without a goal so the chances are he is hitting a bit of form one again which is probably not great news for tomorrow’s opponents.

When a team is in the form that Crawley are it’s hard to oppose them and it’s certainly not going to be me that is the brave man who backs against them. I think they will have too much going forward for tomorrow’s hosts.

My Selection: Crawley to beat Crewe

Best odds available: 8/11 available with Bet365

Saturday 5th November 2011

English Championship

Cardiff City v Crystal Palace

One point separates Cardiff and Crystal Palace in the table as both sides currently sit in the play-off zone so an attractive match is in proposition tomorrow at the Cardiff City Stadium.

Malky MacKay is four months into his job as Cardiff manager and despite some tricky moments and a lot of rebuilding, he looks to be getting things right on track for another push for promotion. Taking over from Dave Jones was always going to be difficult as he was in charge of some of the most successful Cardiff City teams in recent times. It’s a hard act to follow but the Scot is doing things his own way and getting a lot of success from it. Already in the quarter finals of the League Cup, his side sit fifth in the Championship, one point off tomorrow’s opponents and four points behind second placed West Ham. Their most recent match resulted in an impressive 3-0 success against Derby at Pride Park. It was only their second away win of the season but on the basis of it, it won’t be the last win on the road. Having won three of their last four they are hitting form heading into the Winter months which will delight MacKay as he is well aware that one team always puts together a run between now and Christmas which see’s them in contention for promotion.

Crystal Palace were previewed in this blog last month when they beat our selection, Ipswich, at Portman Road. It was a surprise to me as I felt that they were a far better side at home and that their early season form on the road flattered them somewhat. That’s not proving an error in judgment as they are now unbeaten in nine games in all competitions. Dougie Freedman’s side are also in the last eight of the League Cup so he’s another Scottish manager who is proving to be a hit in the English Championship. Palace have drawn their last two matches 0-0 with Reading and Portsmouth. Standards have been set so high that the Eagle’s fans will probably be disappointed with those results as they were both at Selhurst Park where they have been so strong this campaign. With three defeats and four wins from their seven away games, life is rarely dull on their travels. Their last defeat on the road was over a month ago and confidence will certainly be high, especially as their last away game was that impressive 1-0 win against the Tractor Boys.

MacKay has attempted to blend youth with experience during his overhaul of the playing squad. He has also looked to his fellow countrymen to bolster the players already there with the likes of Craig Conway, Don Cowie and Kenny Miller joining in the summer. All three are internationalists and will be key players in the coming months.

Palace will be hoping that Owen Garvan returns to the squad along with Alexander Tunchev. Both have missed recent games with injuries but are influential players who should at least find themselves on the bench. Jermaine Easter and Glenn Murray are likely to play upfront after forming a very hard working partnership.

Cardiff are on an impressive run of their own with just two defeats in 15 with their home record particularly impressive. From their first seven matches they have won four and drawn two. The only defeat at home has come against Brighton at the beginning of the season.

Their win against Derby was one of authority and they will hopefully have enough to dispose of a stubborn Crystal Palace side.

My Selection: Cardiff to beat Crystal Palace

Best odds available: 20/21 available with Boylesports

English Championship

Portsmouth v Nottingham Forest

Steve Cotterill returns to Fratton Park less than a month after leaving to become Nottingham Forest manager. Portsmouth will be desperate to put one over their former boss as the two sides clash.

Pompey have yet to appoint a full time replacement for Cotterill and it might be having an adverse effect on the players as from the four games since his departure, they have won just once and and lost two of the other three. Guy Whittingham, caretaker manager, is probably unlikely to get the role permanently but he will be doing is utmost to ensure he is being considered. Pompey’s home form has been good through all the upheaval with four wins and two draws from seven games. Their only defeat came against Peterborough at the end of September. After two games on the road where they picked up a solitary point, they will be glad to get back to home comforts and will be especially motivated as their former manager makes a return.

Forest were in dire straights before Cotterill took over in October. Steve McLaren’s reign was nothing short of a disaster and he had to go as players were simply not playing for him any longer. Since Cotterill has took charge their fortunes have definitely changed although their is plenty of room for improvement. Three wins from four matches is a big step in the right direction especially when you consider the calibre of teams they have beaten. Middlesbrough and Reading have been accounted for at the City Ground whilst a 2-1 win away to Blackpool means they have a 100% record on the road under their new boss. The only blot in his short career as Forest manager was a 1-0 loss at home to Hull where they dominated for large spells.

Portsmouth look to have been dealt a massive blow with the loss of their captain Liam Lawrence. The midfielder picked up an injury against Crystal Palace on Tuesday and it looks highly unlikely that he’ll be able to take part tomorrow. Greg Halford may well take his place as the utility man looks as though he’ll return from is own injury.

Forest are unlikely to change a winning formula after their 1-0 success against Reading. Cotterill has looked to stabalise the team and shored things up at the back. He will be looking towards Marcus Tudgay for their goals with the striker having notched in two of his four games in charge.

Passions are likely to be running high tomorrow come 3pm at Fratton Park. For all the good Cotterill did under immense pressure during his time with Portsmouth, football fans are a fickle lot and all they will remember is that he left their club for another, a rival in their own division.

It’s a more speculative punt than normal as a lot has to be taken on faith with regards to how well Forest are currently playing or if they have been successful because of the immediate impact of a new manager. Portsmouth have a small squad and with the loss of their influential captain it seems even more condensed. They don’t score too many at the best of times and with Lawrence out, they could be vulnerable against a team who look to be on a roll whatever the reason for their upsurge in form.

Cotterill will know these players inside out and as he’s a very shrewd character, the value may well lie in the away win.

My Selection: Nottingham Forest to beat Portsmouth

Best odds available: 85/40 available with Victor Chandler

There will be another preview for Sunday’s games so check back on Saturday night

Also, I have succumbed to the Twitter craze and will be updating regularly with my thoughts on football and horse racing so if you wish, follow me @CReilly1967

It is the same old question which raises it’s head every year around this time. No, not if Santa is real or not, but whether the weather will play its part in the seasons’ festivities by producing a White Christmas. The UK has had its fair share of snow during December, and with the chance of more on the way, will the UK be under a blanket of snow as the children run down the stairs in the morning and man of the house eagerly awaits the opening of the local hostelry to enjoy some Christmas cheer? Even though everyone dreams of a Dickensian White Christmas, it really has not happened all that often. Bah Humbug! There have been just seven recorded White Christmas’s in England since the turn of the 20th century, so the odds really are always against it happening. You only have to go back to last year to find the last White Christmas on record. Parts of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland all had snow fall. Unfortunately, climate change is putting the dampeners on any potential rise in frequency of having a White Christmas, as the winters are supposedly getting milder (although that’s probably a bit hard to believe at the moment).

All it takes is just one flake of snow to fall and be recorded by a meteorological centre, of which there are many around the UK. Just one flake in that 24 hour period, and the record books will record a White Christmas. Of course, everyone wants more of an effort from Mother Nature than just a single snowflake, and you would expect the occurrence to happen further north of the country, than in the milder southern areas. The end of the December isn’t prime time for snow, as it more frequently shows up in January. Those old picture perfect Christmas Cards you see with snowy scenes, is largely based in the 18th and 19th centuries when the weather was a bit more brutal and harsh than it is nowadays. However, with everyone dreaming of a White Christmas in 2010, there are of course betting odds which need to be explored for the market.

White Christmas – Snow in UK and Ireland

Aberdeen: 9/4 at William Hill
Edinburgh: 9/4 at SkySports
Glasgow: 3/1 at William Hill
Belfast: 7/2 at SkyBet
Dublin: 7/2 at William Hill
Newcastle: 7/2 at Coral
Leeds/Bradford: 7/2 at Coral
Bristol, Cardiff, Manchester, London, Liverpool and others: 4/1 at William Hill

White Christmas in Belfast: No 2/9 or Yes 3/1 at BetFred

White Christmas in London: No 1/4 at BetFred, Yes 9/2 at Totesport

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 

It’s the big glamour tie for Cardiff in the FA Cup, and it is their reward for a home win against Leicester in the previous round. Cardiff need the big pay day, and while a win against the Premier League leaders would be a massive victory, so would taking the match to a replay. The Welsh side have been trying to keep her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs wolves from their door, successfully having another winding-up order delayed. They are having to borrow advance money from tickets sales, as well as sell some of the land they owned, and this is all from a club which is seriously in the play-off hunt for promotion to the Premier League. The visit to Stamford Bridge is their big day out, and it will help them stave off money worries for a little bit.

But they are not going to go to their illustrious rich counterparts just for the money. The Championship side firmly believe that they can cause an upset. They are certainly carrying the form to do jus that, as they have won five out of their last outings. The loss in that run of games came by then Championship leaders Newcastle, who tore the Cardiff side apart. Unfortunately for Cardiff, they can’t take a fully fit squad to Stamford Bridge, as they announced that midfielder Stephen McPhail won’t take part in the game. With main threat up front Jay Bothroyd touch and go whether he will be able to play, boss Dave Jones will be unlikely to be able to put out a full bench of substitutes, such is the injury crises he is having to deal with.

No such problems for Chelsea, although they have just lost Ashley Cole for three months, as under fire Captain John Terry is in Dubai taking a break away from the game to sort out his personal life. Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti still refuses to take the competition light heartened, as name a strong team, with Hilario taking over in goal from Petr Cech. Cardiff will have to deal with Didier Drogba and Daniel Sturridge up front, as Nicolas Anelka gets a well earned rest. The major changes comes in defence, where Paolo Ferreira and Alex come in as replacements for England duo Terry and Cole. The Blues are steadfast in their ambitions to hold on to the title which they won against Everton in last year’s final.

It was against Everton during midweek that Chelsea’s unbeaten 2010 came to an end in 2-1 defeat, with both Toffees goals coming from Louis Saha, who did his old club Manchester United a huge favour. Cardiff are on a pretty good run of form away from home, and will be hoping that they can repeat their success of 2008 when they reached the FA Cup final. For now, they will have to overcome the strongest opposition left in the competition this year, with Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United all having taken their exit.

BETTING STATS

Last 5 Match Goals
Chelsea: 9 For, 4 Against
Cardiff: 15 For, 8 Against

Last 10 Form
Chelsea: W6, D3, L1
Cardiff: W4, D4, L2

Win Percentage:
Chelsea have an 89.5 win percentage at home
Cardiff have a 41.2 win percentage away from home

Match Prices
Chelsea to win: 2/11 at Boylesports
Draw: 13/2 at Paddy Power
Cardiff to win: 16/1 at SkyBet

Asian Handicap Betting Advice: On their day, Chelsea should be a good two goals better than Cardiff, but Cardiff are going well at the moment, despite all of their financial woes. They can put up a fight, but could be missing two of their most creative and influential players. Chelsea are sending a strong line up into competition as they look to hold on to their FA Cup title. At home, it is hard to bet against Chelsea playing lower opposition.
Cardiff +2 Asian Handicap: 9/8 at Bet365

Cardiff v Sheffield Wednesday

English Championship

Saturday 20^th December 15.00

Cardiff go into Saturday’s clash with Wednesday at Ninian park having taken 4 points from two difficult away games so they should be in great heart. The visitors will be disappointed not to have defeated Bristol City at home last weekend but they themselves have gained a win and a draw from their last two matches on the road, albeit against easier opposition than the bluebirds.

Cardiff have been nothing short of excellent at home this season with only Birmingham and Wolves taken all three points back home with them. The hosts have brushed aside Crystal Palace and Preston recently and can count themselves unlucky to only have drawn with Reading who scored snatched a late point.

Sheffield Wednesday, despite their last two away matches, have found it tough going away from fortress Hillsborough. They have only managed two wins from their 11 road games and a total of 11 points from a possible 33.

Cardiff will hope on-loan hitman, Michael Chopra, will pass a late fitness test to take his place alongside Jay Bothroyd, who miraculously recovered from injury last weekend to put Ipswich to the sword. Top scorer Ross McCormack misses out again but they haven’t missed him thus far. Sheffield Wednesday will be without 4 regulars and possibly a further two in the shape of veteran Steve Watson and wide-man, Wade Small.

The home side face a difficult next match away to Reading so will be doubly determined to get the festive run of games off to a winning start tomorrow. With the play-offs as tight as they are they know their home form is crucial to any sort of challenge and will go out tomorrow expecting nothing less than all 3 points.

It will be a tough, competitive match, but with Joe Ledley and Stephen McPhail providing that wee bit extra quality, the home side should just edge it.

My selection: Cardiff to beat Sheffield Wednesday

The best price available for a Cardiff victory is 5/6 available at www.online-betting.me.uk/links/Betfred

Inverness C. Thistle v Aberdeen

Scottish Premier League

Saturday 20^th December 15.00

Anyone going to tomorrow’s match does so with my best wishes, having been through in Inverness for work this week, take it from me, it is absolutely freezing.

Speaking to followers of Caley, it is apparent that all is not well at the highland club. Having lost 4 of their last 5 matches and the last 3, the home side go into the match tomorrow desperate to stop to rot against the closest club to them in the SPL, geographically. The fans seem to place most of the blame on manager Craig Brewster and if you believe the local press, it would seem he is in big danger of being sacked if he cannot improve his side’s fortunes rather quickly

Aberdeen have won their last 4 games at home but have not managed to pick up three points on the road since mid-October. Since then, however, they have played 4 of the top 6 on their travels, picking up a point at both Edinburgh clubs but succumbing to Rangers and Dundee United. The only other side they have lost to away this term was Celtic in September, so their form has not been as bad as it seems.

Aberdeen’s star player returns to bolster their squad tomorrow afternoon. Sone Aluko has been one of the most exciting talents in the SPL this season and deservedly won November’s young player of the month last week. He will almost certainly start tomorrow and will hope to be joined by fellow winger, Jamie Smith who faces a late fitness test. With Scottish internationalist Lee Miller bagging two goals last week, the ICT defence could be in for a tough time.

The home side welcome back Ross Tokely who will hope to keep Aluko quiet and will have for his side to stand any chance of getting a result.

The home fans will be looking for their team to go at the visitors tomorrow from the first whistle. If this is the way Brewster goes about things, it could play straight into the visitors’ hands who have pace to burn going forward with the aforementioned Smith and Aluko as well as striker Darren Mackie.

The away side will also be buoyed by the fact they’ve never lost a match at the Caley stadium and have won 5 of the 7 matches they two have played in Inverness. They have sold out their allocation and their fans come through in expectant mood.

I fear the end is nigh for Brew and he could be undone by one of his former clubs on Saturday.

My selection: Aberdeen to beat Inverness Caley Thistle

The best price available for an Aberdeen win is 8/5 available atwww.online-betting.me.uk/links/boylesports   

Blackburn v Stoke City

English Premiership

Saturday 20^th December 15.00

New Blackburn boss Sam Allardyce could hardly have picked a better match for his first in charge. His new troops are up against a side yet to taste victory away from home in the Premiership this season. Stoke have only picked up 3 points from 24 on their travels and they will have to contend with the new manager syndrome which has haunted so many teams in the past.

With the exception of David Bentley, it is basically the same squad available to Allardyce that finished in 7th place for Mark Hughes last season. The likes of Santa Cruz, Pedersen, Warnock and Dunn are all exceptionally talented individuals just begging to be given a new lease of life and an injection of confidence.

Allardyce is a past master at man management and he will need every bit of his talent to guide Rovers to safety this term. He will be extremely determined to show that he was unfairly treated during his time at Newcastle and will want to get off to the best possible start with a victory tomorrow. Let’s face it, if he’s going to keep them in the league, they have to be able to beat sides like Stoke at home.

The visitors were probably dreading a quick appointment by the Blackburn board but will go into the match after snatching a terrific late draw at St James’ Park two weeks ago after being 2-0 down. They will have to go in search of their first win without key players in the shape of Sidibe and Lawrence.

Blackburn have far more quality than Stoke all over the park. They have been a top 10 EPL side for several sides and players do not turn bad overnight. They will go at the visitors from the word go tomorrow and the crowd will back their new manager from the off.

My selection: Blackburn to beat Stoke City

The best odds available for a Blackburn win are 17/20 available at www.online-betting.me.uk/links/bluesquare

English Championship

Ipswich Town v Cardiff City

Saturday 13^th December 15.00

I’m venturing into the dreaded Championship for my first pick this weekend. Both sides had play-off aspirations this season and they should be there or thereabouts come May. The home side currently sit 11^th, 5 places off Saturday’s visitors, but only find themselves 3 points off the final play-off place.

Ipswich were excellent at home last season and terrible on the road. It’s been a mixed season thus far having lost 2 games early on at Portman Road and picking up more points on their travels. Their two home defeats both came in August and since then have gone 9 games unbeaten at their own place, winning 5 of them. Their most recent home success came on Wednesday night against Bristol City. The most interesting thing to take from this was that they were a goal down at Half time before storming back in the 2^nd 45, scoring 3 without reply, they also had to play the last half hour with 10 man. I think this victory shows that they have a belief about them again when playing at home and it is going to take a very good team who will take anything back with them.

The visitors are a good side. They have a lot of talent, especially going forward. The likes of Chopra, Routledge and Ledley are players who are excellent at this level. They possess that bit of magic that can change a game in an instance and are dangerous throughout the match. They are, however, dogged by injury problems up top. Bothroyd is likely to miss out which takes away their target man, arguably one of their biggest strengths as he is the only one able to hold the ball up to bring in the aforementioned players. However, even more important is the miss of top-scorer and main man this season, Ross McCormack. He has 14 goals for the bluebirds thus far and has been a superb buy from Motherwell. He looks sure to be a big miss tomorrow afternoon.

Cardiff have been very stubborn all season. They have only lost 4 matches all season. Their problem has been the amount of draws they have accrued, especially on the road. They have stalemated 10 times already, with 7 of these coming on their travels. If they had converted 4 of these into wins they’d be challenging for automatic promotion with the big 3 in the division. Of the other 4 games they’ve contested away from home, they won 2 and lost 2. The 2 defeats have come in their last 4 games and they have not won away since the 25^th October, a success against lowly Nottingham Forest.

Ipswich will rely on 5-goal Owen Garvan who has been exceptional for them this year and probably one of the players of the season so far in the Championship. He will look to link up with the likes of Ambrose and Sumulikoski in the midfield to provide chances for John Stead who is coming into a bit of form with 5 goals for Town this season.

Both teams play football the way It should be played and we should be in for an entertaining match. I just feel that with that wee bit extra belief, Ipswich can add to Cardiff’s recent stumbles on the road and get all 3 points.

My selection: Ipswich to beat Cardiff

The best odds for an Ipswich win is 5/4 which is available at several bookmakers including www.online-betting.me.uk/links/coral

English Premiership

Tottenham v Manchester United

Saturday 13^th December 17.30

Once again I’m going with a game featuring Champions United. I don’t think I’ve collected from a game involving them this season but like Robbie Williams I’m coming back for more.

Spurs have been transformed since Harry Redknapp took over in late October. He’s a past master and making his teams hard to beat and that’s exactly what he’s done here. He’s built from the back and it’s no coincidence that their recent good form has come as captain Ledley King has played the last 7 league matches. He’s steadied the ship at the back and provided much needed on-field leadership for what can only be described as mentally weak players further up the park.

Monday’s derby win will have done wonders for morale going into this match. Having watched it however, the same old problems kept cropping up in their play. Too many times did the likes of Jenas, Bentley and Modric give the ball away or producing a poor final ball into the box. These mistakes, due to the lack of quality in the West Ham side, went unpunished, if replicated tomorrow against Man United, they won’t.  Upfront they also look lacking with only one up top. Pavlyuchenko is better than he was but he still lacks the holdup play needed to play as a lone striker. He is still a much better option than Darren Bent who looks totally disinterested unless the ball is played in behind the defence.

United have been poor on the road by their standards having only won 3 from 8 thus far. They have had a difficult run of matches away from home having already faced Chelsea, Liverpool, Villa and rivals City in that run of games. Saturday is another one to add to the list and it certainly won’t be easy. They’ll have to do without the suspended Evra and Rooney and could also be without the doubtful trio of Ferdinand, Carrick and former Spurs here, Berbatov.

Ferguson has been his usual candid self in the build up to the match, stating he is unsure whether any of the three will take the field tomorrow. They key player for me would be Berbatov. The amount of times a former fans favourite has done damage on his return to a former club is staggering. There were a few choice words for the talented Bulgarian after his drawn out transfer on the last day of the transfer window from previously adoring fans and I don’t imagine they’d have went unnoticed.

Berbatov is the key for me, he plays I see a United win, if he doesn’t then they could struggle to break Spurs resolute defence down with only Tevez as an available senior striker. I feel United will want to go off to their World Club cup adventure feeling good about themselves. I also believe the last two weeks has seen them returning to their determined selves again with two ground out victories against City and last weeks, last gasp win at home to Sunderland. It will not be easy but United should gain a narrow victory tomorrow evening.

My selection: Manchester United to beat Tottenham

The best price for a Manchester United win is 5/6 available at several bookmakers including www.online-betting.me.uk/links/betfred

by Matthew Chapple

With the championship season just four games old, there has already been a few surprise results with both Derby and Crystal palace occupying two of the relegation places. The biggest shock of the season so far came on the opening day with new boys Doncaster defeating Derby at Pride Park. Derby, who are widely tipped by several to be serious promotion contenders, have already given themselves a mountain to climb under Paul Jewell and are without a win after their first 4 league fixtures.

Crystal Palace are the other side who have made a dreadful start to the season. Two draws and two defeats see them lye in 22nd in the league and are also without a win from their first 4 fixtures.

Several have made undefeated starts to the season with Wolves, Preston, Birmingham, and Bristol City all yet to taste defeat. Wolves currently occupy top spot on goal difference which was largely down to their two terrific home victorys over Sheffield Wednesday which finished 4-1 and their 5-1 rout over Nottingham Forest.

Another surprise is that none of the three new clubs occupy any of the relegation places with Nottingham Forest the lowest out of three in the league in 16th. After Doncasters opening victory at Derby they went on to get 4 points from their next 3 matches.

Outright Betting: With Birmingham winning 3 out of the first 4 fixtures they are justified 10/3 favourties to win the league and judging by their early performances, they should go close. Wolves look good value at 11/2. They eased past their first few league games especially at home and look the team to beat in my opinion. Reading will be thereabouts come the end of the season and the bookies think so too and have priced reading up as third favourties at 7/1 while the new rich boys, QPR are currently 9/1 to win the Championship outright.

Relegation Odds: With both Blackpool and Barnsley not getting particularly good starts the bookies have priced them up as favourites for the drop with Blackpool 5/4 and Barnsley 11/8. The value looks to be with Derby County at 7/1. They are winless in 4 games and have just 1 point to their name. Their performances have been poor and haven’t really looked like winning any of the first 4 fixtures. Burnley lack quality and at 11/4 they look a fair bet for relegation and they should be around the foot of the table come the end of the season.

How we rate each team chances individually.

Barnsley
Players In: Luke Steele, Iain Hume, Roberto Colace, Mounir El Haimour, Darren Moore
Players Out: Paul Reid, Sam Togwell
Key player: Iain Hume
Prediction: 21st Despite making it all the way to the semi-final of the Fa Cup last season they struggled in their domestic campaign and finished 18th. They have a distinct lack of quality especially up front and they will struggle for fire-power in front of goal. We expect them to be around the bottom again this season.

Birmingham
Players In: Lee Carsley, Kevin Phillips, Marcus Bent, Kemy Agustien, Quincy Owusu-Abeyie
Players Out: Adam Lezgdins, Fabrice Muamba, Daniel de Ridder, Olivier Kapo, Sone Aluko
Key Player: Kevin Phillips
Prediction: 2nd They were unfortunate to be relegated last season as they got some decent results in the Premiership. They have kept the basic structure of the team while adding the likes of Everton’s Lee Carsley and West Brom’s Kevin Phillips. They have made a decent start to the season and they should be challenging for the automatic spots this season.

Blackpool
Players In: Matt Gilks, Joe Martin, Alex Babtiste, Steve Kabba, Jermaine Wright, Adam Hammill, David Vaughan, Marlon Broomes, Rob Edwards, Sone Aluko, Alan Gow
Players Out: Marcus Bean, Keigan Parker, Michael Jackson, Wes Hoolahan, Kaspars Gorkss
Key Player: Daniel Nardiello
Prediction: 23rd They did extremely well to avoid any sort of relegation battle come the end of the season but with a lack of quality, we fancy them to have a difficult season this time around. With just 4 points from the first 4 fixtures it doesn’t look too good.

Bristol City
Players In: Nicky Maynard, Gavin Williams, John Akinde
Players Out: Alex Russell, Nick Carle, Darren Byfield, Richard Keogh
Key Player: Nicky Maynard
Prediction: 9th They had a fantastic season last year and were unfortunate in the play-off’s. Once again they have made a great satrt to the season and with 8 points from the first 4 games they currently lye in 4th position and look on course for another good season. They were the surprise team last season but we doubt they will beat that and we fancy them to settle in the top half of the table this time around.

Burnley
Players In:Martin Paterson, Kevin McDonald, Christian Kalvenes, Diego Penny, Remco van der Schaaf, Chris Eagles, Russell Anderson, Steven Thompson
Players Out: John Spicer, Kyle Lafferty, James O’Connor, Jon Harley, Djemba-Djemba, David Unsworth
Key Player: Martin Paterson
Prediction: 22nd Burnley finished in mid-table last term and will be lucky to surive this season in our opinion. Chris Eagles should provide them with creativity while fan will be looking towards Martin paterson for goals this season after they let Kyle Lafferty go to Rangers. With just a single points form the opening fixtures the writing looks on the cards already. They lack quality and look set to face a relegation fight this season.

Cardiff
Players In: Darren Dennehy, Ross McCormack, Mark Kennedy, Jay Bothroyd, Eddie Johnson, Peter Encklemen
Players Out: Aaron Ramsey, David Forde, Warren Feeney, Robbie Fowler, Steven Thompson, Jimmy Flyod-Hasselbaink, Trevor Sinclair
Key Player: Joe Ledley
Prediction: 7th Cardiff somewhat sacrificed their league campaign for a great cup run in the FA Cup which seen them lose 1-0 to Portsmouth in the final. They will be disappointed with the departure of Aaron Ramsey who had a lot of potential and doesn’t seem as if Cardiff have found a replacement. Joe Ledley will be key if they are to push for the play-off’s this season but we think they will just come up short.

Charlton
Players In: Stuart Fleetwood, Martin Cranie, Hameur Bouazza
Players Out: Patrick McCarthy, Darren Randolph, Chris Iwelumo, Marcus Bent, Madjid Bougherra, Osei Sankofa, Sam Sodje, Ben Thatcher, Jerome Thomas, Amdy Faye,
Key Player: Marcus Bent
Prediction: 8th We’re not impressed with their lack of incoming transfers but they do posses some decent players in the final third. I think their season will rely heavily on a good start. If they hit a win less streak then they could start struggling. 6 points from 4 games isn’t the ideal start they would have hoped for and we doubt they will make a claim for one of the play-off spots.

Coventry
Players In: Guillaume Beuzelin, Aron Gunnarsson, Keiren Westwood, Freddy Eastwood, Steven Wright, Clinton Morrison
Players Out: Liam Davis, Julian Gray, Donovan Simmonds
Key Player: Freddy Eastwood
Prediction: 10th They had a poor season last year and were lucky not to go down. A new manager at the helm in Chris Coleman and their new signing Freddy Eastwood could one of the buys of the season. The welsh international is a proven goalscorer at this level and his goals this season will be crucial for Coventry’s ambitions. I don’t think they have the credentials to push for promotion and might have to settle for a mid-table finish.

Crystal palace
Players In: Patrick McCarthy, Johannes Ertl, Darryl Flahavan, Jos Van Nieuwstadt, Jose Fonte, Simon Thomas, Nick Carle, John Oster, Leandre Griffit, Alan Lee
Players Out: Jeff Hughes, Lewis Spencer, Mark Kennedy, John Bostock, Tony Craig, Clinton Morrison, Tom Soares, Dougie Freedman
Key Player: Nick Carle
Prediction: 6th Crystal palace made it to play-off’s last season and we fancy a repeat this season despite their poor start to the season. Neil Warnock has built a decent side at Palace and his side have the ability to push for promotion back to the top flight once again. One negative for me was them letting go of Clinton Morrison to league rivals Coventry. The forward bagged 16 goals in the championship last season and will be missed.

Derby
Players In: Kris Commons, Steve Davies, Nathan Ellington, Paul Connolly, Ruben Zadkovich, Paul Green, Jordan Stewart, Martin Albrechtsen, Liam Dickinson, Przemyslaw Kazmierczak, Rob Hulse
Players Out: Robert Earnshaw, Kenny Miller, Michael Johnson, Lee Holmes, David Jones, Darren Moore, Jason Beardsley, Craig Fagan, Tyron Mears, Eddie Lewis
Key Player: Rob Hulse
Prediction: 12th Despite them dropping down from the premiership we reckon they will have a difficult season. They were the worst ever team to play in the Premiership last season and they haven’t strengthen enough for us to think they will bounce straight back up. Add that to their poor start to the season we reckon they will find things tougher then they first expected in the Championship. Kris Commons and Rob Hulse look decent signings but we’re not too confident of their defence. A tough season ahead predicted which could see the end of Paul Jewell.

Doncaster
Players In:John Spicer, Darren Byfield, Tomi Ameobi, Matthew Mills, Jos van Niewstadt, James Chambers
Players Out: Paul Green, Stephen Roberts, Mark McCammon
Key Player: Darren Byfield
Prediction:19th Doncaster made it into the championship via the play-offs from League one and although they didn’t go up through automatic promotion, we fancy them to do well this season. They have a solid look about them and they could give some of the bigger sides in the league a surprise when they play them. Derby have already found this out when they lsot at home to Doncaster 1-0. Going by their first few performances they should have enough to stay up.

Ipswich
Players In: Pim Balkestein, Gareth McAuley, Kevin Lisbie, Richard Wright, Ivan Campo, Ben Thatcher, Moritz Volz, Johnathan Stead
Players Out: Gavin Williams, Gary Roberts, Nick Colgan
Key Player: Johnathan Walters
Prediction: 3rd Ipswich are a team with a great home record. They were the best home side of last season with just the on defeat at Portman Road. We didn’t think many would beat them at Portman Road this season but with two straight home defeats it has certainly made us concentrate harder. Although they have made apoor start to the season by their own standards, we still fancy them to at least get one of the 4 play-off positions. A distinct lack of transfers into the club is a slight concern but we fancy them to go well and possibly sneak automatic promotion.

Norwich
Players In: Sammy Clingan, Wes Hoolahan, Ryan Bertrand, Dejan Stefanovic, Elliot Omozusi, Arturo Lupoli, David Bell, Stuart Nelson
Players Out: Matt Gliks, Andrew Cave-Brown
Key Player: Arturo Lupoli
Prediction: 14th Norwich finished 17th last season which is unacceptable for a club with their recent history. They lacked goals last season and have brought in some strikers wit h the aim of putting it right this season. However they still lack quality in the midfield and there is a lack of quality creative players in their squad. If they can provide the former Arsenal youngster, Lupoli with regular service then they may go well but they are very incocnsistent and we fancy them to have another poor season.

Nottingham Forest
Players In: Robert Earnshaw, Guy Moussi, Andy Cole, Joe Garner, Paul Anderson, Mickael Darnet, Lee Martin
Players Out: Kris Commons, Matt Lockwood, Alan Power, Sammy Clingan, Grant Holt, Junior Agogo
Key Player: Robert Earnshaw
Prediction: 17th Last seasons League two runners-up Nottingham Forest look to have enough to see off relegation for one season at least. The signing of Robert Earnshaw from Derby County is a massive positive. The welsh international has bags of pace and can score at this level. If Nottingham are to survive then his goals will play a key part. A 5-1 hammering against Wolves won;t go down too nciely with the players but their other 3 performances look good enough for us to think they should settle nicely in the bottom half of table.

Plymouth Argyle
Players In: Jason Puncheon, Karl Duguid, Yala Bolsaie, Graham Stack, Emlie Mpenza, Nicolas Marin, paul Gallagher, Chris Barker, Simon Walton
Players Out: Paul Connolly, Paul Wotton, Najim Abdou, Peter Halmosi
Key Player: Emile Mpenza
Prediction: 15th I live near Plymouth and the fans are not too optimistic about the season ahead. Plymouth have let several of their best players go over the past year with the likes of Ebanks-Blake going to Wolves in January and their most high profile of them all in Peter Halmosi who couldn’t resist the lure of the premiership with Hull City. Emile Mpenza is a fantastic signing for Sturrock and he could be crucial for Plymouth this season. After a decent season last year we fancy them to finish in mid-table this term.

Preston
Players In: Barry Nicholsen, Ross Wallace, Jon Parkin, Stephen Elliott
Players Out: Tamas Priskin
Key Player: Neil Mellor
Prediction: 13th Preston struggled for the majority of last season and spent a lot of the time near the foot of the table. The eventually finished in 15th and with the lack of activity in the transfer market this summer they won’t be too far away from where they finished last season. They have made a great start to the new season though and have 10 points from their first 4 games beating some of the favourites for promotion. Their start to the season is very good but they are a inconsistent side and we doubt they can keep it up throughout the season.

Queens Park Rangers
Players In: Radek Cerny, Peter Ramage, Emmanuel Ledesma, Kaspars Gorkss, Dani Parejo, Samuel Di Carmine
Players Out: Stefan Bailey, Jake Cole, Daniel Nardiello, Zesh Rehman. Simon Walton, Chris Barker
Key Player: Emmanuel Ledesma
Prediction: 4th QPR fans are confident they can win the title this season. With new investors from the world of Formula 1 they have the cash to push for promotion and a minimum of a play-off spot will be expected from the fans. They have brought in a decent keeper in former spurs shot stopper Radek Cerny and Ledesma is a classy winger who can deliver a good ball. The board have already expressed that they aim to be in the premiership within the next couple of season and we think this could be their year but it will take a lot of work.

Reading
Players In: Noel Hunt, Chris Armstrong
Players Out: Adam Bygrave, Ben Hamer, Glenn Little, Dave Kitson, Scott Davies, Ibrahima Sonko
Key Player: Kevin Doyle
Prediction: 5th Despite Reading being relegated from the Premiership they have managed to keep the majority of their best players. Leroy Lite, Steven Hunt and Kevin Doyle have all stayed at the club with their only big departure being Glen little to Portsmouth. They have started fairly well and are in 6th position after 4 games. They have enough quality to regain their premiership status and we expect them to be in the play-off’s come the end of the season.

Sheffield United
Players In: Greg Halford, Sun Jihai, Darius Henderson, Justin Haber, David Cotterill
Players Out: Chris Lucketti, Rob Hulse, Ben Starosta, Luton Shelton, Johnathan Stead, Michael Tonge, Chris Armstrong,
Key Player: James Beattie
Prediction: 11th A disappointing season last term saw them finish in 9th. They are a club expected to push for promotion each season but are very inconsistent. They did well to keep hold of James Beattie who scored 21 league goals last season. Even with Kevin Blackwell at the helm i can’t see them mounting a promotion challenge this season and will have to settle for another average campaign in mid-table.

Sheffield Wednesday
Players In: James O’Connor, Tony McMahon, Jimmy Smith
Players Out: Burten O’brien
Key Player: James O’Connor
Prediction: 24th Sheffield Wednesday seem to struggle each season and were tipped for relegation last season. They do lack fire-power in front of goal and with no recognised signings they will be in for another difficult campaign and a dogfight at the foot of the table looks inevitable.

Southampton
Players In: Chris Perry, Lee Holmes, Paul Wotton, Tommy Forecast, Morgan Schneiderlin, Anthony Pulis, Jack Cork
Players Out: Cedric Baseya, Andrew Davis
Key Player: Bradley Wright-Phillips
Prediction: 20th Another former Premiership club on the decline. After their stint in the top flight they have seriously struggled for results in the championships and were very fortunate not to go down last season and their survival went down to the last day of the season which saw Leicester take their place in the last relegation spot. A team who lack goals and confidence and if they get off to a bad start, their could be no way back for the Saints.

Swansea
Players In: Ashley Williams, Mark Gower, Federico Bessone, Albert Serran, Fabien Brandy, Stefan Morrision
Players Out: Kevin Austin, Kevin Amankwaah, Darryl Duffy, Darren Way
Key Player: Jason Scotland
Prediction: 18th Last season League one champions will be hoping to avoid a relegation fight but with a lack of depth within the squad they could have one on their hands. Despite manager Martinez making some signings over the summer they do lack a potent striker and could struggle somewhat for goals. Going on their first couple of performances they should have enough to pull off survival though.

Watford
Players In: Jon Harley
Players Out: Nathan Ellington, Jordan Stewart, Toumani Diagoura, Steve Kabba, Darius Henderson, Moses Ashikodi, Danni Shittu
Key Player: Tommy Smith
Prediction: 16th After a great start to last season which seen them top of the league at Christmas, they fell off the pace and only just managed to get the last play-off spot. They went out at the first hurdle to eventual play-off winners Hull City. Their does seem to be cash problems at the club also with Boothroyd being forced to sell several key players with Nathan Ellington, Steve Kabba and Darius Henderson all departing the club. With very little coming into the club they look in trouble. They are widely tipped to struggle this season and we reckon they will finish 10 places behind their position last season in 16th.

Wolves
Players In: Sam Vokes, Richard Stearman, David Jones, Chris Iwelumo, Matthew Hill
Players Out: Freddy Eastwood, Matt Bailey, Seyi Olofinjana, Elliott Bennett, Lee Collins, Jay Bothroyd, Charles Mulgrew
Key Player: Michael Kightly
Prediction: 1st Manager Mick McCarthy has made some decent signings over the summer in a bid to improve on last seasons finish of 7th. Wolves had a disappointing season last term and were fancied to at least get a play-off spot. Welsh international Sam Vokes looks a decent proposition for the future while Chris Iwelumo should be what they need to get the goals to push them higher up the league. They have made the best start to the season out of any of the championship clubs and with them currently in first place, we fancy them to remain their aslong as they keep up the good performances.