English Championship

Saturday 18^th September

English Premier League

Blackburn Rovers v Fulham

Both Blackburn and Fulham will have aspirations of a top half finish at the very least this season so tomorrow’s clash at Ewood Park will be a good indicator for both managers.

Sam Allardyce has completely transformed Blackburn Rovers since replacing Paul Ince. He has brought in a flux of players and has reverted to building from the back in order to make his side hard to beat, especially at home. They have started this season pretty well with a win on the opening day against Everton which was then followed by an unlucky defeat away to Birmingham despite taking the lead in the second half. A home reverse against Arsenal, where they more than held their own, was trumped by a very good away point against Manchester City last time out. In every game they have played this season, they have caused their opponents big problems, which is a compliment to Allardyce, as every one of their games has been against a completely different style of play.

Mark Hughes was the man the Fulham board chose to replace Roy Hodgson after he departed for Liverpool during the summer. Hughes has sought to use the majority of Hodgson’s players and pretty much his 4-4-1-1 system. Carlos Salcido and Moussa Dembele have been the two most notable additions with the former replacing Paul Konchesky who followed Hodgson to Anfield. The new manager, however, has recently been dealt a blow with the news that their talisman, Bobby Zamora, will be out for five months after breaking his ankle last weekend in a challenge with Wolves captain, Karl Henry. Zamora has been in phenomenal form for the best part of two seasons which culminated in an England call up last month. Fulham will almost certainly have to change their style with his continued absence.

 Before losing to Arsenal last month, Rovers had only lost one match at Ewood in the whole of 2010. It’s testament to how hard to beat they are now when the likes of Manchester United, Arsenal and Everton have all come away with either a defeat or a draw. Fulham, on the other hand, have a horrendous away record in recent times. Their last win on the road in the league was August 2009, a total of 20 fruitless, away trips. That being said, they are still unbeaten this term with three draws and their win over Wolves last weekend. Two of those draws have been earned on the road against both Blackpool and Bolton so it’s another trip North to see if they can end their away day hoodoo.

Mark Hughes had a successful spell in charge of tomorrow’s opponents in the middle of the decade taking them into Europe and on several domestic cup runs as well as a couple of finishes in the top eight. He will be well aware of what his new club will be faced with on Saturday from Allardyce’s Blackburn. With Zamora out, it will be no surprise to see Dembele as their sole striker with a packed midfield behind him. Blackburn may well recall their star player, David Dunn, who has been struggling for fitness after injury. Dunn has a bit of quality which can light up a lot of dour matches and it may just be that his creativity is needed against Fulham tomorrow who have proven to be stuffy opponents thus far.

Blackburn currently sit a couple of points behind tomorrow’s opponents despite playing pretty well. They will know that a loss tomorrow and they will be cast adrift of that top ten pack already. Allardyce will be targeting these sort of games as ones which should deliver three points and it is my belief that they will succeed in doing this

My selection: Blackburn to beat Fulham

Best odds available: 11/10 available with several bookmakers including Skybet

English Championship

Barnsley v Derby County

Barnsley have made a flying start to the season and will look to continue their good form with another home win at the expense of visiting Derby at Oakwell.

Mark Robins came in during the season last year and although his arrival was not spectacular, there was enough about it to suggest that this season Barnsley would be a different proposition for the other teams in the Championship. He has got his new side playing attractive football which was no more evident than in their excellent 5-2 victory over local rivals Leeds on Tuesday night. Despite trailing early on, Barnsley came roaring back and completely dismantled their more illustrious opponents in a breathtaking manner. It was their third home win of the season in the league after getting the better of Middlesbrough and Crystal Palace. Key to their good form has been winger Adam Hammill. The former Liverpool trainee has been in excellent form with three goals already. He was subject of much interest over the summer but he has remained at the club where his stock will only grow higher.

Derby started the season very brightly with a good away win at Elland Road over Leeds. That, however, is their sole victory to date whilst they have only managed one other point in a draw at home to QPR. Nigel Clough will be disappointed as he was expecting his side to challenge for the play-off’s this term. Of course that expectation is not dead, but the signs look ominous. A disillusioned support is growing increasingly impatient and two defeats against Sheffield United and Hull City without even managing a goal, has only heightened that. The next six games may will make or break their season and Clough’s reign as manager. The first of those is obviously tomorrow and it’s not exactly been a happy hunting ground for Derby, they have only won once of their last six visits.

Barnsley have further strengthened their attacking options with the loan signing of Gary O’Connor from Birmingham. The Scotland striker was surplus to requirement s at his parent club with the arrival of several new attackers over the summer so he has moved temporarily. He scored on his debut against Leeds and will be looking to add to his tally on Saturday. Derby will once again look to Kris Commons for a spark to ignite their season. The little midfielder is their main source of goals, both scoring and providing, so a lot rest’s on his shoulders.

I think Barnsley have a great chance of gaining a fourth home win of the season against an indifferent Derby side. The visitors have used 6 strikers already this season with only one goal between them, and funnily enough, that striker was Rob Hulse who has moved on to QPR. With that kind of drought upfront, added to Barnsley’s confidence, it ‘s a home win for me.

My selection: Barnsley to beat Derby

Best odds available: 23/20 available with 888Sport.  

Saturday 11^th September

English Championship

Queens Park Rangers v Middlesbrough

Top of the table QPR host the pre season title favourites Middlesbrough who are desperately looking for a kick start to their stuttering season. 

Neil Warnock has went about his transfer business quietly over the summer and has sought to bring in players who he knows and trusts. Paddy Kenny played under Warnock for years at Sheffield United and was brought in as Rangers’ new number 1 whilst Shaun Derry was Warnock’s captain at Crystal Palace and has been brought in to add a bit of steel in the middle of the park. Other signings include Bradley Orr at full back, Clint Hill at centre half and Jamie Mackie upfront. These signings were added to on deadline day at the end of August with the purchase of Rob Hulse from Derby and the loan signing of Tommy Smith from crisis club Pompey. Both attackers are proven at this level and look set to excel in a side that are full of confidence and play with a purpose. QPR remain unbeaten after the first 4 games with 3 wins. Both home games have been straightforward, routine victories against Scunthorpe and Barnsley. They have yet to concede a goal at Loftus Road but will face their biggest test yet with big spending ‘Boro visiting tomorrow.

Gordon Strachan is under big pressure to succeed after spending millions over the summer and recruiting big names from the SPL. Despite taking over last season with the club in the play-off positions, Strachan endured a poor start and never really recovered. This season hasn’t been much different with just 4 points from a possible 12. Their two defeats have came against Ipswich and Millwall, two sides at the top end of the table. Their sole victory was in their most recent league match at home to struggling Sheffield United. It was a very disappointing match with little creativity on either side. Strachan will know that the quality and consistency will have to improve if his side are to challenge for play-off position, let alone automatic promotion. He will be looking to the likes of Barry Robson, Scott McDonald and Kris Boyd to provide the quality after all 3 came South with SPL winners medals with Celtic and Rangers. One man whose confidence will have been given a boost is Stephen McManus. The big centre half scored Scotland’s winning goal on Tuesday night in the 7^th minute of injury time. He, and Boro supporters, will be hoping it’s a catalyst for his club form.

The last times these sides met at Loftus Road the home side were on the wrong end of a 5-1 drubbing from Strachan’s charges. It was a game which turned out to be manager Jim Magilton’s last home match as he was subsequently sacked later that month.

Tomorrow’s game should be an entertaining match with the attacking options on show for both sides but Middlesbrough have rarely been entertaining under the stewardship of Strachan. He tends to set his sides up with two solid banks of four and the two strikers. It’s likely he’ll go with this again but his side will have to show some more attacking ambition soon if they wish to turn their season around.

Neil Warnock knows this league inside out and will realise the pressure Strachan is under at the moment. An early goal for the home side could make things exceedingly difficult for his counterpart so it would be no surprise if his side come out flying. With the extra quality upfront in Smith and Hulse, added to the likes of Taarabt and Mackie, I think the home side will be too strong for Middlesbrough. It may not be a classic but QPR should do enough to stay on top of the league for another week.

My selection: QPR to beat Middlesbrough

Best odds available: 11/10 with several bookmakers including Betfred

Scottish Premier League

Celtic v Hearts

Both Celtic and Hearts put their unbeaten records on the line at Celtic Park tomorrow in what is always a keenly contested encounter.

Neil Lennon has still yet to drop a single point in the SPL since taking over as Celtic manager in March. His record is currently: Played 11, Won11. It’s a fantastic effort and one which he’ll aim to ensure is further enhanced tomorrow. Celtic have been impressive in the league to date and have still yet to concede a goal. It’s basically a brand new team the manager has to play with the introduction of 11 new first team players. Most of these signings have taken up positions in the first eleven as well with only a select few players from the previous season remaining. Scott Brown, Shaun Maloney and Jos Hooiveld are the only three who look likely to command a regular starting slot in the coming months. Celtic’s last signing of the transfer window was Anthony Stokes from SPL rivals Hibernian. Stokes notched 23 goals last season for his previous club and he will be looking to be involved from the off against a side who’s fans will already loathe him from his time in Edinburgh.

Hearts have started the season solidly enough with two draws and a win from their opening 3 games. Jim Jefferies has started building from the back and made Hearts stronger as a team. He has done this with most of the players he had at the end of last season with the only difference being the introduction of Darren Barr from Falkirk. The right back has made the step up and has been impressive for his new club. Hearts, however, were dealt a massive blow in midweek with the news that Lee Wallace will be out for the best part of the season after injuring his knee in Scotland’s win at Hampden. Wallace has been exceptional for Hearts for the last 18 months and his absence will be massive for Jefferies as he looks to challenge for 3^rd spot.

Celtic will have Gary Hooper back in contention for the first time in the league this season. The striker injured himself in pre season and he will be desperate to play some part tomorrow to show the Celtic fans why Lennon paid over £2m for him. Fraser Forster will continue in goals for Celtic after debuting in their last game at Fir Park whilst the likes of Baram Kayal and Efrain Juarez will be looking to regain their starting places after being rested last time out.

Hearts will have Kevin Kyle leading their line once again and a lot of responsibility will lie upon his broad shoulders. Kyle is dominant in the air and will be looking to bully Celtic’s defence and cause them as many problems as he did for his previous club Kilmarnock. With Andy Driver still absent through injury, the creative influence will once again fall with Suso Santana. The tricky wide player has already scored this season and will be desperate to add to his tally tomorrow.

Celtic have an excellent record over tomorrow’s opponents at Celtic Park in recent years in the league with 4 wins from their last 5 encounters. Going by their domestic form already this season, I can see another 3 points for Neil Lennon’s Bhoys and it could be comfortable if they managed to get an early goal. The 2/5 on offer for a home win is decent enough, but I see value on the handicap as Celtic brushed aside St Mirren 4-0 in their only SPL home game thus far.

For anyone who likes coincidences then you need look no further than former Hibernian striker Anthony Stokes making his debut against their arch rivals Hearts for his new club Celtic. Stokes is a prolific goalscorer at this level and it would be just like him to score on his debut against a side who love to hate him.

My selections: Celtic (-1) to beat Hearts at best priced 15/13 with BWIN

            Anthony Stokes to score at Anytime at a best priced 11/10 with Bet365

Saturday 28^th August

English Championship

Millwall v Coventry City

Millwall will be looking to put last week’s disappointing defeat away to Leeds behind them when they entertain unbeaten Coventry City at home tomorrow.

Kenny Jackett has worked wonders since taking over the reigns as Millwall boss at the tail end of 2007. He stabilised the club before pushing for promotion and, after a couple of near misses, eventually succeeded last season when they defeated Swindon in the play-off final at Wembley. They have had a good start as well to life in the Championship, after thrashings of Bristol City and Hull. Their only blot thus far has been last week’s loss to Leeds at Elland Road. It was a strange match as the visitors took the lead despite being 2^nd best for much of the game. Leeds dominated for long spells and the result was fair at the end of the day. However, as good sides tend to do, the Lions recovered during the week with a win at home to Middlesbrough in the League cup. It was as comfortable a 2-1 victory as your likely to see and further enhanced the reputation of the New Den as being something of a fortress.

Coventry City have made an even better start to the new season under new manager Aidy Boothroyd. The former Watford manager has been a breath of fresh air for the midlands club and there is a genuine belief that the club can move forward and challenge for promotion this season. Home wins against Portsmouth and Derby, either side of a well earned draw away to Watford, have set the tone and standard for the weeks ahead. Saturday is expected to be their hardest test of the season to date and it will be a good yardstick to how far they have come as there have been many false dawns of late for the blue’s faithful. Indeed, at the exact same point as this last season, City had 7 points from their first 3 league games before going on to lose their next 2. That was ultimately another disappointing season so the players should be under no illusions as to what a good start counts for if it’s no followed through.

Millwall have a very similar squad of players available to them this season that they had last. A couple of loan signings in the shape of Darren Carter and Kevin Lisbie, who know the league well, are the only notable additions to the squad. This is endemic of what Jackett is all about. He needs to be able to trust his players and usually goes with experience. One player that was a possible exception to the rule is Steve Morison. The Welsh striker came from non-league football last season to star in League 1. He has carried on where he left off and his form this season has earned him a call up to the Welsh side where he made his debut earlier this month. It’s been a proper rags to riches story and Jackett and the Millwall fans will be hoping there is a few more chapters to be written.

Coventry have been busier during the summer than tomorrows opponents. They have strengthened their squad with the purchases of Lee Carsley, Clive Platt, Lukas Jutkiewicz and Gary McSheffrey. Two of those 4 have previously played with the club, and at a higher level than the Championship, so they understand the demands of the club and the expectation level from the fans. One player that could be added to that list is Marlon King. The disgraced footballer has recently been released from Prison for indecent assault of a woman. Boothroyd, who had him at Watford, is said to be keen on linking up with him again and a deal is close.   

I previewed several Millwall matches last season and heralded their strength as being how good they are at home. They have continued that form with 2 wins from 2 and looked excellent against Hull a couple of weeks ago. They were once again very strong during the week against big spending ‘Boro. Coventry have started pretty well too, and currently sit above Millwall by a point. However, they have not had any serious tests thus far. Portsmouth, Watford and Derby are not the strongest of sides, and in their only other match, they were soundly beaten by Morecambe in the League cup. I think Millwall’s style of play and their directness will be too much tomorrow afternoon and fully expect a home win.

My selection: Millwall to beat Coventry

Best odds available: 20/21 available with a couple of bookmakers including Victor Chandler

Scottish Premier League

Inverness Caley Thistle v Hamilton

A clash of two sides who are expected to make up the numbers in the SPL’s bottom 6 by many, but Caley Thistle and Hamilton have surprised many before so an interesting clash awaits at Caledonian Stadium.

Terry Butcher and his players managed to bounce straight back from relegation at the first time of asking. A strong second half of the season in the First division last term, entitled the highlanders to another crack at the SPL. Much like Millwall, ICT have went about their business pretty quietly and kept much of the same squad as they had for their promotion campaign. It has served them pretty well so far as they held their own against Celtic on the opening day of the season, narrowly losing 1-0, before a fantastic 4-0 away success against Dundee United last weekend. They followed this up with a comfortable 3-0 League cup win over Peterhead in midweek. Butcher will be delighted with the start but he knows there is a long way to go and will be demanding his team to be focused from the off tomorrow.

Hamilton were previewed last week and fortunately for us, not so for them, they came through with a pitiful home performance against Hearts. They were well and truly trounced for the second week in a row in the league and also conceded 4 without reply for the second week running. It’s dark times at the moment for Billy Reid as he also witnessed his side go out the League cup in midweek to 1^st division Raith Rovers. It was always going to be difficult start with the games they had in the league added to the turnover of players in the summer, but they have had no encouragement that thing will get better with their performances so far.

Inverness have a goalscorer in Adam Rooney who has netted 4 in all competitions so far. His two against Dundee United last season will give him the confidence boost he needed to prove he can cut it in the SPL after finishing top scorer last season in the league below. Hamilton, on the other hand, do not have anybody at this moment in time who will put the ball in the back of the net on a regular basis. They lost Marc-Antoine Curier during the summer and as yet, he’s not been replaced. That is the difference at this level.

Hamilton were toothless last week and completely played into Hearts’ hands by playing 3 at the back. There’s a very good reason as to why that system has become null and void in world football as it’s so easy to counter against. Caley Thistle will have received a boost after last week’s result and performance, and with confidence being a lot at this level, I can see them getting their first home win of the season and heaping yet more sorrow on the visitors.

My selection: Inverness to beat Hamilton

Best odds available: 10/11 available with several bookmakers including Betfred

First up, I can only apologise for last week’s dismal previews and advice. Unfortunately, the start of the season can throw results like that up. Hopefully I can point towards a couple of winners this time around.

Saturday 21^st August

English Championship

Burnley v Leicester

Both Leicester and Burnley harbour genuine hopes of being in the promotion mix up come the end of the season so tomorrow’s fixture at Turf Moor should give an indication of how far both sides are away from challenging.

After a pretty horrific second half of the season last term, Burnley and Brian Laws have made a quick start to this one with 4 points from 6. It’s an impressive opening considering they have played Nottingham Forest and Ipswich, two of the better sides in the division. Despite being in the bottom 3 for most of their debut season in the Premier League, the Clarets kept up a decent home record with 7 wins and 5 draws so they know how to win games at home. That being said however, most of this wins were under the stewardship of Owen Coyle and were aided by the likes of Steven Fletcher and Robbie Blake, all 3 have since departed. Laws has sought to replace the goals of Fletcher and creativity of Blake by bringing in Chris Iwelumo and Ross Wallace. Both are experienced and proven quality at Championship level.

It was a close season of upheaval for Leicester as they lost manager Nigel Pearson to Hull, replacing him with Paulo Sousa, on to his 3^rd Championship club in a couple of seasons, who will no doubt bring his own brand of football to the Walkers Stadium in time. Sousa was in charge of Swansea last season and they were renowned for their lack of goals and mean defence. His new side have not quite adjusted to this style as they have scored 6 goals and conceded the same amount in their 3 competitive matches to date. One player Sousa probably thought he wouldn’t be working with is DJ Campbell. The striker was on loan at Blackpool last season, helping them win promotion. He was expected to seal a permanent move over the summer but the clubs could not agree a fee and he finds himself playing in the 2^nd tier for another season.

Burnley have one of the best squads at this level with several influential attacking players. As well as Wallace and Fletcher, the likes of Chris Eagles, Martin Paterson and Wade Elliot would get into most sides in the league and they will need to keep them fit if they wish to return straightaway to the top flight. Their opening day win over Forest showed a mentality that was sadly lacking last year. Despite being on the back foot for a lot of the match, they stuck in and held on to their lead to gain all 3 points. The same mentality was evident once again last weekend when they went down to 10 men and lost a goal in the last minute only to equalise in injury time to remain unbeaten.

Leicester will be slightly disappointed with their start after such a good season in their return to the Championship. An opening day loss to Crystal Palace was followed up by a goalless draw at home to big spending Middlesbrough. Sousa would have been happy to rack up their first point of the season but they dominated the game and should have won the game, especially with chances missed in the first half.

Laws has done a good job in replacing key personnel with seasoned, Championship professionals. He will know that if they are to stand any chance of promotion, his side will need to make Turf Moor a fortress, and that they will have to win the majority of games against fellow promotion candidates. Their opponents tomorrow will no doubt be hard to beat, but you get the feeling that they are still finding their feet under the new manager. Star striker Matty Fryatt returned from a long term injury against Palace but he was only a sub last week.

With this in mind, and the fact Burnley have a good record over Leicester over the years leads me to think that Brian Laws and his charges will be celebrating another home win tomorrow evening.

My selection: Burnley to beat Leicester City

Best odds available: 11/10 available at Bet365

Scottish Premier League

Hamilton v Hearts (12.00)

It’s little surprise that ESPN have snapped this fixture up to screen live tomorrow as games between Hearts and Hamilton, especially at New Douglas Park, are very entertaining.

Billy Reid had the chance to jump ship and become the new Swansea manager during the summer but he decided to stay loyal to Hamilton and try and keep them in the SPL for the 3^rd consecutive season. He will have to do without several players from last season’s squad however, including their key man, James McArthur. The little midfielder has joined James McCarthy at Wigan and it will be interesting to see how the Accies cope without him. Gary McDonald from Aberdeen was brought in to replace him whilst the likes of Jack Ross and Gavin Skelton have also been added to the ranks.

Jim Jefferies begins his first full season in charge in his second stint at Hearts manager. Jefferies replaced Czaba Lazlo, leaving Kilmarnock in the process, to steady the ship at a club where he enjoyed great success in his first spell. Over the summer he has attempted to bolster his attacking options with the signings of Steven Elliot and most notably, Kevin Kyle. Both strikers played together at Sunderland before moving in opposite directions. Elliot pottered around several Championship clubs whilst Kyle became a pivotal player for Kilmarnock under Jefferies. Calum Elliot, already at the club, clearly sensed competition for his jersey and notched last week at home to St Johnstone.

Hamilton had a dreadful start to the season as they were trounced 4-0 away to Aberdeen. The score slightly flattered the home side in the sense that 3 of the goals came from the penalty spot but it didn’t mask the fact that Hamilton looked slow at the back and toothless upfront. Hearts should have got the better of St Johnstone but only ended up with a solitary point.

Billy Reid had the best intentions when deciding to stay on as manager, and the loyalty is refreshing to see in this day and age, but it may well be misplaced. The loss of key players over the last year or so may well take its toll this season, and I believe the away side to be very good value to get the better of a poor Hamilton.

Kevin Kyle is likely to play from the start for the first time tomorrow and he will be a real handful for a shaky Accies backline. He was a real thorn in their side whilst at Killie and I expect him to pick up where he left off tomorrow.

My selections: Hearts to beat Hamilton

Best odds available: 8/5 available with William Hill

Kevin Kyle to score first at a best priced 8/1 available with Bet365

Saturday 17^th April

English Championship

Blackpool v Nottingham Forest

Both of these sides have aspirations of playing in the Premier League next season so there’s a lot on the line as Forest travel North to take on Blackpool at Bloomfield Road.

Ian Holloway has done a marvellous job this season to even get his side close to the play-off picture. In a league where the likes of Middlesbrough, Ipswich and Sheffield United are all behind Blackpool, it’s testament to the hard work and endeavour of one of the more colourful characters in the game. Holloway has transformed a side who were only ever hoping for a mid-table finish at best into a side who currently sit 2 points off the final play-off position with 3 games to go. Their success this season has been built on a very good home record. They have won 12 of their 21 home games, losing just 4 all season long. After a lull during January and February, they have picked up again and have went on a run of 1 defeat in 6 before last week’s defeat to Newcastle at St James’ Park – where everybody has struggled this season.

Nottingham Forest secured their play-off position last week with a comfortable win over Ipswich. Forest had a sustained challenge for automatic promotion which only petered out in the last couple of months, which can be put down to the loss of some key personnel to injury. Billy Davies will be determined to get his side back on a consistent run of good form before the play-off begins however, and after guiding Derby to the Premier League through the play-offs, as well as leading Preston to the play-off final before that, there is nobody better for the challenges which lie ahead. Forest, however, have struggled on the road of late and have not won on the road since their demolition of West Brom at the Hawthorns at the beginning of January. It’s a run of form which has seen them lose 7 and draw 1 of their last 8 on the road, scoring just 4 goals in the process.

Blackpool’s key player without a doubt has been Charlie Adam. Their skipper moved from Rangers in the summer for £500,000 and has never looked back. He has scored 15 goals from midfield and has been the catalyst for ‘Pool’s promotion bid. His form has earned him a call-up to the Scotland squad and he has been linked with a lucrative move to the Premier League in recent weeks. His future could lie in the top league with another club should Blackpool be unsuccessful in their bid to gain promotion, despite this, he will be as committed as anyone to push his side as far as they can go.

There has never been much between these sides when they play, as shown by the numerous draws in recent times (5 of the last 7 have ended in stalemates). This time around, however, a draw is not much good to the home side who need all 3 points to keep the pressure on Swansea and Leicester above them. With a play-off place assured and the likelihood it will be 3^rd place at that, I think Blackpool’s desire will be greater and can see them sneaking all 3 points.

My selection: Blackpool to beat Nottingham Forest at a best priced 6/5 with Betfred

English League 1

Gillingham v Leeds United

I think it’s always wise towards the end of the season to concentrate on matches involving teams who have something to play for and that is certainly the case for both Gillingham and Leeds.

Gillingham are still in deep trouble at the bottom end of the table where they currently lie 3 points and one place from the relegation zone, directly above Tranmere who have a game in hand as well. They are there in no small part because of their dreadful away form which reads zero wins, 6 draws and 15 defeats. It’s a shocking record which would normally see a side already relegated in most leagues. However, their home form has compensated for this somewhat as they have lost just 3 games all season at Priestfield, winning 10 and drawing the other 8. It’s the home form of a side who could be chasing promotion yet they are most definitely hampered by their inability to win away from home. Their recent home record is good as well, with 3 wins and 3 draws from their last 6.

Leeds are starting to recover from a shocking run of form which has saw them lose their lead at the top to Norwich, drop out of the automatic promotion spots for a couple of weeks, only to climb back up to 2^nd after 3 successive wins. Those run of wins were preceded by 4 straight defeats at the most crucial part of the season. Their return to form is most welcome for Simon Grayson who must have had visions of last season’s collapse at a similar stage. Their away form for much of the season has been pretty good with 11 wins and 5 draws from their 21 matches on the road thus far. They have won their last two away from home as well, against both Yeovil and Carlisle, and perhaps most encouragingly for all concerned with the club, is the fact they have created chance after chance in both these games.

Leeds have an excellent record against sides in the bottom half of the table away from home and will be looking to consolidate and continue this tomorrow. Gillingham have done reasonably well against the top sides at home, losing only to Norwich. I don’t think there is much between Leeds and Norwich when both are on form and the signs are there that Simon Grayson’s side are coming back to their best in recent games. They know they have to keep on winning with it being so tight for that 2^nd automatic promotion spot. A win tomorrow puts them within touching distance of playing in the Championship again and it’s a win I’m backing them to get.

My selection: Leeds to beat Gillingham at a best priced 5/6 available with 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 

Saturday 26^th December

English Premier League

Sunderland v Everton

David Moyes takes his Everton side, on a run of 3 successive league draws, to the Stadium of Light to take on a Sunderland side who haven’t won since their impressive victory over Arsenal back in November.

Steve Bruce’s summer arrival, alongside some big investment from a new chairman, brought increased expectation to the North-east club. Things looked to be heading in the right direction with star signing Darren Bent scoring goals aplenty, excellent results over Liverpool, Manchester United and the aforementioned Arsenal game, as well as sell-out crowds for home matches. The past month or so however, has not been as positive. They have lost four out of 5 with their only respite coming against bottom dogs Portsmouth in a 1-1 draw at home. This dip in form may have coincided with the injury to Lee Cattermole. The energetic midfielder was a key player in the early part of the season for Bruce’s side and was pivotal to their style of play, especially at home where they rely on their midfielders getting close to the opposition and stifling their creative players. He has recently returned to the starting line-up but even his inclusion on Saturday couldn’t prevent Sunderland from slipping to another defeat away to Man City. Sunderland also look to be missing Craig Gordon. The influential Scottish goalkeeper broke his arm against Spurs at White Hart Lane in November and since his absence from the side, the team has shipped 9 goals in 6 matches, keeping only one clean sheet in process.

Everton have had a poor first half to the season by their own high standards set in previous seasons. Much was  expected from Moyes side after finishing 5^th last season and with the influx of players such as Johnny Heitinga, Diniyar Bilyaletdinov and Sylvain Distin. These signings were coupled with the retention of Brazilian striker Jo on loan for another season and the impending return of Yakubu from a long term injury. Despite all this, they find themselves at the wrong end of the table, a mere 3 points off 18^th place. A lot of this has been down to horrendous injuries to key players which has meant that Moyes has had to chop and change for much of the season. For much of the season they lacked a creative spark in the middle of the park with both Mikel Arteta and Steven Pienaar missing most of the season. The latter is now back fit and has played in the last 3 league matches which has saw a dramatic improvement in terms of chances made and goals scored. They have managed 6 in 3 games, gaining draws in all of these matches against 3 sides in top form. Draws with Birmingham, Chelsea and Spurs may just be what they need to kick-start their season.

It could be argued that this match is destined to end in a draw as both sides have only won one game apiece in their last nine fixtures. I believe Everton are gathering a bit of momentum however and with their injuries beginning to clear and key personnel playing more regularly they are due a victory. They have had a tough run of fixtures of late yet are unbeaten in 3. An away match over the Christmas period is right up Davie Moyes’ alley. They defeated Middlesbrough last Boxing day at the Riverside and I firmly believe they are capable of returning from the North East with 3 points once again. Everton have also won on their last 4 visits to the Stadium of Light.

My selection: Everton to beat Sunderland

Best odds available: 11/5 available with Victor Chandler

English Championship

Sheffield Wednesday v Newcastle United (12.45)

A meeting of two sides who are experiencing completely different fortunes at this moment in time as league leaders Newcastle make a short trip to the steel city to take on beleaguered Wednesday at Hillsborough.

Sheffield Wednesday are currently in the process of looking for a new manager after sacking Brian Laws earlier this month. His removal as manager has not done much to the performances on the park as the Owl’s were comfortably beaten on Saturday by Swansea at home. There seems to be a real lack of quality at the club at the moment which is surprising considering the heroes the Wednesday fans used to have not so long ago. There doesn’t seem to be anyone willing to take responsibility on the field which is a sad indictment for such an illustrious and successful club. As well as a lack of genuine quality at the club, there is immense fear and the confidence must be at an all time low. They have not won a match since October, lost their last 6 in the league and currently sit 3^rd bottom. It’s an unenviable task facing the new manager whoever it may be.

Newcastle on the other hand are absolutely flying at the minute. Chris Houghton’s men have stretched their lead to 10 points at the top of the table and are currently on a run of 9 games unbeaten, a run in which they have won 8. They are proving to be far too good for most of the other teams in the league and it may even be a record points haul if they continue in their current form. Key to their success this season has been Kevin Nolan. The former Bolton captain has been a rock in centre of midfield and has also popped up with vital goals in games which the Magpies have not been playing well. He has an influence in the team which gets the most out of players around him. He’s the clubs top scorer with 9 and has been a virtual ever present, missing just the two games all season. The midfield in general is extremely strong with Jonas Gutierrez (an Argentine regular), Alan Smith and Danny Guthrie all comfortably capable of playing in the Premier League. Upfront they are beginning to get it right as well with the return of Shola Ameobi back from injury and scoring at the weekend. His partnership with Marlon Harewood, although not the most prolific, will be troublesome for teams in the division as they never stop all game and will create plenty of space for the midfield to take advantage of.

  It’s one of these games which looks cut and dried and although football is never cut and dry, this is probably one of the closest you’ll get. I can’t see many sides stopping the Geordie Juggernaut the way they are going and I especially can’t see hapless Wednesday doing it. Newcastle are a standout 5/6 with Victor Chandler.

My selection: Newcastle to beat Sheffield Wednesday

Best odds available: 5/6 available with Victor Chandler

Scottish Premier League

Celtic v Hamilton

Celtic look to put the disappointment of their weekend loss to Hearts behind them when they welcome Billy Reid’s Hamilton to Parkhead on Boxing Day.

I previewed the trip to Tynecastle on my last blog so there’s nothing much new to report. Celtic still suffer from the same old failings at the back whilst they are still creating a plethora of chances at the other end but failing to take the majority of them. Another calamitous lapse in concentration from a central defender, this time Glenn Loovens, resulted in a penalty and a red card for fellow centre half, Gary Caldwell. Despite being down to 10 men for much of the game, Celtic were still way ahead in terms of quality, creating chances and playing the better football. It’s difficult to stress how far ahead they are of the likes of Hearts, Dundee United and Motherwell, especially when the results are so close and when they drop points to these teams but the crux of the matter is they are a lot, lot better than these kind of teams, well they are going forward. There is a lack of leadership at the back and players are not taking responsibility for their actions, especially at cross balls.

Hamilton never played at the weekend due to the blizzards on the West coast on Saturday so will be eager to go. They are coming into this match having won their last two and with only one defeat in their last 6 so confidence should be high. Reid has found a settled team for the first time this season in the last couple of months which has helped dramatically, especially in midfield. Captain Alex Neil has made a big difference on his return from injury whilst the two James’, MacArthur and Wesolowski have struck up a good partnership just infront him Neil.  It will come as no surprise to note that Billy Reid’s men will come to Parkhead to try and frustrate Celtic with a strict 4-5-1 formation with little adventure likely. Their plan will be to keep it tight until half time and get the home fans on their hero’s backs.

Celtic have won every meeting between these sides since Hamilton’s promotion last season. Their matches at New Douglas Park have been far closer than the ones at Parkhead. Hamilton’s last two visits to the East End of Glasgow have witnessed two comfortable 4-0 wins for the home side and I do not envisage anything different come Saturday. Celtic have created a barrow load of chances in nearly all of their matches under Mowbray and it really is a matter of time before they win by 5, 6 or 7. They are 4 points and 9 goals worse off than top of the table Rangers so know that Saturday is a perfect chance to go about mending those differences.

My selections: Celtic (-2) to beat Hamilton at a best priced 13/8 with Skybet

Celtic to win both halves at a best priced 6/4 with Skybet

Marc Antoine Fortune to score anytime and Celtic to win at a best priced 11/8 with Boylesports

Saturday 12^th December

English Championship

Watford v Derby County

Derby look to end their awful run of form on the road but they’ll find it extremely difficult to get anything from Watford who have now won their last four matches at Vicarage Road.

Watford continued their recent run of good form at home with a convincing, but hard fought, victory over London rivals QPR on Monday night. Despite going a goal behind early on, Malky MacKay’s side stuck to playing their football and got their rewards with three well worked goals against a good Rangers’ side. Tom Cleverley was again at the heart of everything that was good about the Hornets’ play and he’ll be the biggest threat to Derby tomorrow afternoon. His loan deal from Man United has been extended and he’ll now finish the season with the Championship side which will be a huge boost for everyone at the club.

Derby have failed to score in their last 5 away matches, but have still managed to pick up a couple of draws in that run of games. They are by far the lowest scorers away from home in the league with a measly 5 so Nigel Clough has attempted to make them harder to beat on the road because of this. They got a good point in midweek when travelling north to Preston but they are also a side lacking confidence so they should find Watford a different proposition altogether.

Watford will be hoping that the Henri Lansbury, the young midfielder on loan from Arsenal, will be fit to play after missing Monday’s victory. He has an excellent understanding with Cleverley and their styles of play complement each other. Derby will have to do without Dean Leacock who was injured in the stalemate with Preston which will mean a reshuffle at the back and this could be their downfall as he’s looked impressive of late, as well as being the organiser at the back.

Derby have struggled against the better sides in the league all season long. Nearly all their victories have come against sides in and around them at the foot of the table so I don’t hold out much hope for them tomorrow, home win.

My selection: Watford to beat Derby County

Best odds available: 19/20 available with several bookmakers including Victor Chandler

English Premier League

Manchester United v Aston Villa

8 points and 3 places separate these sides in the current Premier League as Martin O’Neill’s pretenders travel to the reigning Champions, Manchester United.

Man United’s defensive problems have been well documented of late and it’s a case of everybody rolling their sleeves up and mucking in while their recognised defenders sit out through injury. This has been the case for the likes of Darren Fletcher and Michael Carrick. Both of whom are superb midfielders but they have also proven themselves to be adept at playing centre half in the last couple of matches. They get some respite this week though with the likely return of Nemanja Vidic who has got over his flu bug. He should be a certainty to return to the line-up. United will be looking to Wayne Rooney and Ryan Giggs to provide the spark going forward as both were at the centre of everything last weekend at Upton Park. They have an understanding which makes them almost impossible to stop when both are on form.

Aston Villa have won two and drawn two of their last 4 matches so come into this match in decent enough form but most of those games and points have come at Villa Park. Their away form is patchy this season with 2 wins, 3 draws and 2 defeats. It’s not the worst record by any means, but they have dropped some silly points on the road already, especially against West Ham and Wolves. They only picked up 1 point from these games and both were games where they should have won as they were on top for long spells and their quality was far higher. They do score goals on the road though and they’ll feel they can cause United’s makeshift defence problems, especially in the air with either Emile Heskey or John Carew partnering Gabby Agbonlahor upfront.

It’s hard to see anything but a United win in this match as they are beginning to hit form and scoring goals from all over the park. Michael Owen has staked his claim for a starting spot with his midweek hat-trick but it doesn’t matter who plays, they’ll create a plethora of chances throughout the game. Their patched up side will also have its biggest test with Villa in good scoring form as well and capable of scoring goals from a variety of positions. With this in mind I fancy over 2 goals as well as the home win.

My selection: Manchester United to beat Aston Villa – 1/2 available at William Hill

Other selection: Over 2 goals – 4/5 available with Skybet

English League one

Huddersfield v Gillingham

Notoriously poor travellers Gillingham travel to a side who have not been beaten at home all season in the shape of Huddersfield.

I’ve previewed Huddersfield already this term and they haven’t changed much since then. They score an incredible amount of goals at home and they tend to win most of these games. 7 points from a possible 9 in their last 3 home games, with 11 goals scored and 4 conceded in that time. They dropped points in their last home match however when drawing 3-3 with lowly Tranmere which was a surprise considering how efficient the Terriers have been at home.

Gillingham have it all to do if they are to get anything other than a hiding tomorrow. They have a solitary point from their 10 away matches and have conceded 24 goals on the road, scoring just 7. It’s horrific reading for a team who are so hard to beat at their own place. They have already lost to Leeds United, Southampton and MK Dons away from home, by at least 2 goals as well. They also have to do without key defender Josh Gowling which will leave them even more vulnerable at the back.

Huddersfield are one of the best sides in League 1 and must be the most free flowing, attacking team in the division at home. They score goals for fun and always look to attack no matter who they are playing, emphasised by their 2-2  draw with top of the table Leeds at Elland Road last weekend. The more cautious amongst us may wish to take the 1/2 for a home win but I’m taking a slightly riskier bet and taking the home side to be winning at half time and full time as well as Huddersfield minus a goal.

My selections: Huddersfield to be winning at HT/FT – available at 6/5 with Coral

                              Huddersfield (-1) to beat Gillingham – available at 5/4 with Bluesquare

Saturday 21^st November

English Championship

Watford v Scunthorpe

Watford, who currently sit in 12^th position, entertain a Scunthorpe side who are battling to avoid relegation and have lost their last 3 matches in the league.

Malky Mackay had a big turnaround of players during the summer months and opted to, as many managers do, to go with mostly younger players with a sprinkling of experienced players thrown in to nurture the fresh talent. Two players who have grabbed a lot of the headlines since moving to Vicarage Road are Henri Lansbury from Arsenal and Tom Cleverley from Manchester United. Both youngsters are initially on loan until January and have really struck up an exciting partnership in the Hornets midfield. Cleverley has 6 goals to his name whilst Lansbury has scored twice. Their performances this season have earned them call-up’s to the Under 21’s. Another player who joined during the summer was Danny Graham from Carlisle. The striker gives Watford a focal point upfront and his presence and ability to hold the ball up brings the likes of Cleverley and Lansbury into play, as well as wide man Don Cowie.

I previewed Scunthorpe’s last match which was also on the road against my selection Blackpool. I highlighted their weaknesses before that match and having seen the highlights from the game, they’re still suffering from a lack of quality and this level and making basic errors in defence. A plus point for them since that match is the return of star man Gary Hooper. The influential striker is back to full fitness and will return upfront alongside Paul Hayes. Hooper has 5 goals and is joint top scorer with Grant McCann so his return to the side is a big plus. A big negative for Scunny however, is the absence of goalkeeper Joe Murphy who is suspended after being sent off against Blackpool. He has been an ever present virtually for his 3 years at the club so it’s difficult to imagine anything else other than this having a negative impact on Nigel Adkins’ side. Josh Lillis will deputise for Murphy and it will be interesting to see how the youngster handles the occasion tomorrow afternoon as it will be only his 4^th start in the league in nearly 4 seasons.

When I previewed the Blackpool – Scunthorpe match I picked out Ben Burgess as one of the home side’s key men as he will take the brunt of challenges and enable the better footballers in his side to play. The exact same applies here with Danny Graham. He will go toe to toe with Scunthorpe captain Rob Jones who is their best defender but this will mean there will be space freed up for Cowie, Lansbury and Cleverley. I just don’t think Scunthorpe’s defence is good enough to cope with that trio, especially if, as I suspect, Graham occupies Jones.

Watford have won their last two games at home, playing some lovely football as well. They annihilated Sheffield Wednesday 4-1 before easily dispatching Preston in their last match, 2-0. Scunthorpe have now lost 6 of their 8 away matches and I can’t see any other course of events tomorrow, other than for that figure increasing to 7.

My selection: Watford to beat Scunthorpe

Best odds available: 5/6 with Victor Chandler

English Championship

Ipswich Town v Sheffield Wednesday

We stay in the Championship for the 2^nd match-up of the week as Roy Keane’s improving Ipswich side take on struggling Sheffield Wednesday in a match both sides will be keen to pick up 3 points to move up the table.

It took 15 games for Ipswich to record their first win of the season which was a surprise to many considering they were favourites with some bookies at the start of the season. Their major problem thus far has been the amount of draws they have accumulated as opposed to losing too many games. They have lost just one more than Cardiff who sit 3^rd in the table but they have drawn 9 times which is the joint highest in the English Leagues. They are currently unbeaten in 5 and that run has included games against the likes of Swansea and Watford. Their attacking options are good with Carlos Edwards and Grant Leadbitter brought in from Sunderland strengthening the midfield and a crop of strikers including Jon Walters, Jon Stead and Tamas Priskin.  They are, however, rather lightweight at the back and have yet to find a settled back four. This is emphasised in the goals conceded column where they have allowed 11 goals in 8 home games and kept only 2 clean sheets all season.

Sheffield Wednesday are falling fast under Brian Laws with only 1 win in their last 7 matches and no away win in the league since the end of August. They have had to contend with a lot of injuries however and an unsettled side rarely leads to positive results. Aside from former Town players Tommy Miller, Laws has a fully fit squad to choose from going into tomorrow evening’s match so there will be no excuse if they turn in another poor performance. Wednesday’s inability to come back after going a goal down is a major problem. They have failed to win any match after going behind and have only managed to secure a point on two occasions. It’s a real problem for Laws and it was noticeable against Watford that the heads went down as soon as they went 3-1 down right at the start of the 2^nd half.

Ipswich, I believe, are in a false position. Their squad is a lot stronger than the current table suggests so I don’t think we can pay too much attention to that at the moment. Keane has a vision for this side and if you watch and listen to him in interviews he’s not panicking one bit. They have not lost a match in over a month, and whilst winning only once, they are improving game on game. Both sides are near to full strength and with that in mind, I feel the home side have the better squad of players as well as being the inform side so it’s an easy decision for me, home win!

My selection: Ipswich to beat Sheffield Wednesday

Best odds available: Evens with several bookmakers including Skybet

English League 1

Millwall v Wycombe

For the 2^nd week in a row I’m previewing a Wycombe Wanderers match, this time, they’re on their travels once again this time facing Millwall at the New Den.

Kenny Jackett’s Millwall side are in 7^th place in League 1, 2 points outside the play-off positions. They are unbeaten in 7 in the league, winning 4 and are unbeaten at home all season and have the 2^nd best defensive record in the league. Their star men thus far have been James Henry, on loan from Reading, and veteran striker Neil Harris, who is incidentally 12 years Henry’s senior. Millwall start the season in a relatively slow fashion but much of that was down to a plethora of injuries to important players. Paul Robinson, Darren Ward and Zak Whitbread have all been missing for most of the season, with Whitbread still absent. Their return to the side has saw a change in results and more consistent performances.

I’m pleased to say that both my bets involving Wycombe came in last week and both came in rather easily. They were destroyed 6-0 by a rampant Huddersfield side who are one place above Wycombe’s opponent’s tomorrow afternoon. Gary Waddock’s charges also played their FA Cup replay midweek and duly lost 2-0 away to Brighton. There will come a time when the manager changes his attacking philosophy, there simply has to. It’s refreshing to see a manager set out his team to win no matter what the game but to do that there must be a sizeable amount of quality to play with and I don’t think Wycombe have enough quality to take games to the likes of Millwall and Huddersfield.

It will come as no surprise to discover that I am siding with the home side this week. It’s not only a lack of quality in the Wycombe ranks, but also the fact they’ll be playing their 3^rd away match inside a week. That is a lot to ask of any team, and considering they have failed to win a match on the road all season, it’s too much to ask of Wycombe. I’m going for Millwall minus a goal at rather generous 11/8.

My selection: Millwall (-1) to beat Wycombe Wanderers

Best odds available: 13/10 at Sportingbet

Good lucky and Happy punting

Saturday 7^th November

English Championship

Blackpool v Scunthorpe

Both Blackpool and Scunthorpe were expected to struggle at the wrong end of the table by many at the start of the season. Whilst it looks like being the case for the away side, it has been the polar opposite thus far for Ian Holloway’s tangerines.

Blackpool currently sit in 7^th position in the Championship, level on points with 6^th placed QPR and just 6 points off top. Their lofty position is mainly due to their excellent record at Bloomfield Road. Holloway has turned their home ground into something of a fortress this season with 5 wins from their 7 games, drawing the other two. Their unbeaten record is made to look even more impressive when you take into account some of the names that have tried and failed to take all 3 points home with them. Newcastle and Sheffield United were brushed aside whilst Cardiff did better than most and left with a point. Their defensive record at home has been nothing short of incredible. They have conceded just two goals this season – only Newcastle and Cardiff have managed to breach the home rearguard.

Scunthorpe came straight back up last season after suffering relegation in 2008. They were considered to be relegation candidates straight from the beginning and although they currently sit 5 points off of 22^nd, their poor form on the road looks likely to drag them down into a dogfight later in the season. Like Blackpool, they have performed better at home with 13 of their 17 points coming at Glanford Park. Nigel Adkins’ side have lost their last their last 3 away matches in the league, with defeats coming against Nottingham Forest, Plymouth and most recently Peterborough. With the exception of Forest, these are defeats against sides below them in the table which makes them all them more worrying.

Blackpool have strengthened considerably during the close season with a host of new arrivals already impressing. They managed to make last year’s loan signing of Charlie Adam from Rangers permanent whilst they also brought in Jason Euell, Hameur Bouazza and Jay Emmanuel –Thomas who has impressed since joining on loan from Arsenal. These players, along with David Vaughn, make up a potent, and vibrant, midfield and attack so it’s no surprise the problems they have caused other teams, especially at home. All 5 should be fit, ready and free of suspension to take their place tomorrow afternoon. As for Scunthorpe, they will be without their talismanic striker Gary Hooper who will miss the match through illness, this is a massive blow to United as he is their joint top scorer and also is vital to the way Adkins sets his side up.

A player I’ve not mentioned yet is Blackpool’s Ben Burgess. The Irish striker may not be everyone’s cup of tea and can be frustrating when he’s not on his game. However, I think he’s been very impressive for ‘Pool this term and his link up play allows the like of Adam and Bouazza to get into the box to create and score goals. Whoever he’s partnered with tomorrow, whether it be Euell, Brett Ormerod or on his own, he’ll be a constant pain for Scunny’s defence, especially their massive centre half Rob Jones. This will be a key battle in tomorrow’s match.

Blackpool may well be punching above their weight this season, whether they do so for the entire 46 games remains to be seen. I think their midfield and attacking options will be far too much for Scunthorpe who have already proven to be weak and feeble on the road.

My selection: Blackpool to beat Scunthorpe

Best odds available: 3/4 available with Paddypower

English Premier League

Manchester City v Burnley

Saturday see’s a North West derby between two sides who may be close together geographically, but are miles apart in terms of the current footballing climate in England.

Since Man City were taken over by the Abu Dhabi group in 2008, they have spent an obscene amount of money on a plethora of new players. This season has seen the purchase of players such as Emmanuel Adebayor, Carlos Tevez, Kolo Toure and Gareth Barry. All four came from teams who finished higher than City last season so it doesn’t take a brain surgeon to work out why they jumped ship. Hideous financial weight aside, Mark Hughes’ side have had a very decent start to the season, currently occupying 4^th spot and having a game in hand over the top two. They have stuttered of late with 4 draws from their last 4 matches. 3 of these matches were away from home and came against sides who have decent enough home records. Their home form this season has been good with 10 points from a possible 12.

I’ve tipped Burnley before on this blog but it was when they were defending their excellent home record, away from Turf Moor is another matter altogether. They have yet to pick up a single point on their travels losing all 5 matches thus far. They have conceded a massive 17 (joint 2^nd worst in the league) with only a couple of goals managed at the other end – both game against Blackburn incidentally which means they haven’t scored in the other 4. Owen Coyle should be praised for his sides home form but he may also be criticised for employing the same tactics away as he does at home. Their expansive football leaves them wide open for the better sides in the league to cut them open at will when they go visiting.

City will have Adebayor and Toure back fit so Hughes will have a load of options to fill his midfield and attack. I imagine the former Arsenal hitman will return to the starting line-up as they looked rather toothless without him last week. He may be partnered by Craig Bellamy and Tevez in attack with Stephen Ireland pushing for a recall in midfield. Coyle is expected to name the same side that defeated Hull last Saturday.

If Hughes does go with Ireland in midfield it will mean there will be a direct link between the other midfielders and the 3 upfront. This has been missing from City’s play in recent weeks as Ireland has found himself on the bench more often than not. Hughes may look at Burnley’s porous defence and style of play and see it as an ideal opportunity to restore the controversial Irish man to the side.

You won’t get much of a return backing City at 1/3 or so but there are several good value bets elsewhere in this match up. Burnley have lost 4 of their 5 away matches by at least two goals so my main bet in this game is Manchester City -1.

Another bet which caught my eye was for the home side to win both halves tomorrow. After a lacklustre couple of games recently, they’ll be sure to come out firing infront of their own supporters. In order for this bet to be successful they need to beat Burnley in both halves of the match (do not get this bet confused with the half time/full time wager.

My selections: Manchester City (-1) to beat Burnley – available at EVENS with several bookmakers including 888Sport

Manchester City to win both halves tomorrow – available at 5/2 with Skybet

English Premier League

Wolves v Arsenal

Arsenal travel to Wolves on Saturday evening looking to continue their strong start to the season by gaining all 3 points in what is sure to be an interesting and entertaining match.

Wolves foiled my Aston Villa tip a couple of weeks ago and have been stubborn opposition of late with 3 draws in as many matches. Their come from behind draws against Stoke and Villa have been particularly impressive considering the strength of both those sides.

Arsenal have went about their business pretty quietly on the whole considering they have lost to both halves of Manchester already. Despite those defeats they are 3^rd, 5 points behind leaders Chelsea with a game in hand. They have been particularly strong at home with 5 wins from 5 but the aforementioned losses have been the only times they have left with nothing this season. They have already defeated Everton and Fulham away which are both hard at the best of times whilst they were 2-0 up and coasting at Upton Park last month before a couple of dodgy decisions and before you know it it’s 2-2.

Despite Mick McCarthy’s home side being resilient of late, they have yet to face a team of Arsenal’s class and quality. A 4-1 mauling of AZ in the Champions League midweek is evidence that Arsene Wenger’s side are in top form.

I fully expect Arsenal to collect all 3 points tomorrow but again, you won’t get rich backing them at 2/5. So in order to make the bet a little more interesting I’m taking Robin Van Persie to score at anytime and Arsenal to win. Van Persie has been Arsenal’s go to guy this season and has scored in their last 3 away matches in the league, he has 7 in total this season.

My selection: Arsenal to beat Wolves and Robin Van Persie to score at anytime

Best odds available: 6/4 with several bookmakers including Boylesports

Good luck and happy punting.