Norwich

There is a good promotion at online bookmaker Boylesports for your Norwich v Chelsea betting on Saturday. If you enjoy a punt on the First Goalscorer market then this will be for you. When you back a selection in Norwich v Chelsea First Goalscorer betting, if your selection fails to score first, but does net the second goal of the game, then you will get your lost stake refunded with this offer. In the First Goalscorer Market you have Chelsea’s Daniel Sturridge as 9/2 favourite, with Fernando Torres and Frank Lampard around 5/1 to open the scoring. Norwich’s Grant Holt is back at 15/2, and if you back any of them and they scored second in the game instead of first, then you will get your lost stake refunded. Online bookmaker Boylesports offer a free £20 bet as a registration welcome bonus for new customers. Register an account, bet £20 as your first stake and they will give you a free bet to the value of that £20! So great free betting cash to get you started!

 Chelsea have the chance to make up some ground in the title race with Sunday’s big fixtures between the others contenders affording them the chance to play a little catch up. Andre Villas Boas takes his Blues to Carrow Road to face Norwich in a match they really can not afford to lose points in. Chelsea are eleven points off the top of the table but go into the match on Saturday on the back of two wins. Chelsea got the better of an improving Sunderland side at Stamford Bridge in their previous league match, with a rebound goal from Frank Lampard taking all three points for the home team. The Blues now have to manage without talismanic striker Didier Drogba for a while, as he is off with the Ivory Coast at the Africa Cup of Nations and so the impetus will be on Fernando Torres to step and get amongst the goals. However, Chelsea’s away form has not been too spectacular this season, with just five wins from their 10 league matches away from the Bridge. They have haven’t lost on their last five road trips, the most recent one a late 2-1 win at Wolves but they haven’t been overwhelmingly impressive. A draw at Wigan and then that lucky escape at Wolves to sneak three points, has not seen Chelsea at their fluent best. While they have nailed those back to back wins heading to Carrow Road, those have been the only wins in the last six Premier League matches, with three draws and a defeat on New Years Eve at home against Aston Villa. So Chelsea are still vulnerable, but they do show glimpses of showing some fight. With Manchester playing Spurs and Man Utd heading to Arsenal, this is a big weekend for Chelsea to sneak under the radar and make up some ground. New signing Gary Cahill is available to face Norwich, and when these two sides met at Stamford Bridge back in August of last year, Chelsea ran out 3-1 winners.

Paul Lambert’s Norwich City can be pretty proud of where they are at the moment, sitting in ninth place in the Premier League. The Canaries have only lost one of their last six matches, and that was against the high flying Tottenham, so there is a lot to applaud about the club at the moment. They should enjoy being back at Carrow Road after securing two away wins to start the new year with and that should give them confidence against a Chelsea side which misfires at times. Norwich’s last home fixture was a 1-1 draw with Fulham, and the Canaries have racked up four home wins, three draws and three defeats, two of those being against top six sides Arsenal and Spurs. So can Norwich spring another surprise and dent Chelsea’s outside title hopes of winning the Premier League this season? One problem for Norwich is that they have yet to keep a clean sheet all season in the league, and with them not being a too high scoring side, they are going to have to work hard for points against Chelsea. But that is just what they have proven that they can do. Norwich v Chelsea betting has the potential for a surprise, but the realistic hopes for the home fans is that they would be enormously happy with coming away from the match with a point. As for Chelsea, they need to show more clinical finishing up front, something which has been lacking all season long.

Norwich v Chelsea Betting Odds
Norwich to win: 5/1 at Bet365
Draw: 16/5 at VC Bet
Chelsea to win: 8/13 at Totesport

Saturday 29th October

Norwich v Blackburn

Both Norwich and Blackburn were expected to be fighting relegation this season but the Canaries are riding high in the top half whilst Rovers are currently propping up the foot of the table, they meet at Carrow Road tomorrow.

Paul Lambert is as astute as they come. He has worked under some fantastic managers during his playing career in the shape of Ottmar Hitzfeld and Martin O’Neill. The fact he sat his coaching badges whilst he was still playing meant that he could take a managerial job earlier than most. He has steadily progressed since taking the Livingston job in 2005 and he’s yet another Scottish manager plying his trade in the Premier League. Norwich has to wait until September to get their first win of the season but they have barely looked back since.A battling 2-0 loss at Old Trafford against Manchester United is their only loss in their last five matches so they seemed to have adjusted well to life in England’s top flight. Last weekends 1-1 draw with Liverpool at Anfield would have been a massive boost as it proved to everyone connected with the club that they do deserve to be in the Premier League and they are capable of competing against the better sides, even away from home.

Blackburn have struggled for much of the campaign and manager Steve Kean has been under intense pressure from his own fans. Kean, however, does have the backing of the owners and a 4-3 extra time win over Newcastle in the League cup during the week would have helped his case and he will hope that his players can push on and carry their cup form, which has taken them to the quarter finals, into league duty – starting this weekend. Rovers have won just once from their first nine games, losing six of them, so they need to be harder to beat so that when they don’t play well, they can still pick up the odd point, especially on their travels. Last time out against Tottenham they lost an early goal but Kean will be satisfied with their immediate response as they got back into it only to lose it in the second half. Their last away match was their second draw on the road this season when they played another of the promoted clubs, QPR. A repeat of that wouldn’t be the worst in the world but Kean knows they need to start winning games to move off the bottom of the table.

Norwich have already seen off Sunderland and Swansea at home and look to be getting stronger as the season goes on. It can’t be underestimated how important it is for sides who have been promoted to get points on the board early so the fact they are coming into their own after a few games will be pleasing for Lambert who is sticking to his principals and playing attractive football with plenty of width in the side.

It may be to early to say this is a must win for Steve Kean but he is under pressure to deliver results. Managers rarely last long when the fans have turned against them and the only way to win them back is to get instant results. A bad result tomorrow and the knives will be out again.

Norwich are the side in form and were worth a point last week. It will be a different type of game tomorrow as the last couple of home matches will mean the crowd will be expecting them to go at Blackburn and gain another three points. Confidence is high at Carrow Road and I can see them being victorious again.

My Selection: Norwich to beat Blackburn

Best odds available: 21/20 available with PaddyPower

English Championship

Birmingham v Brighton

There were two divisions between Birmingham and Brighton at this stage last season but one relegation and one promotion means they meet tomorrow in the Championship and St Andrews.

Chris Hougton had an unenviable task when made manager of Birmingham City in the summer as the club had to get rid of their best players to pay large debts which so many clubs suffer as a result of a relegation from the Premier League. A shaky start to the season was to be expected such was the turnover of players and with the quality of some of those who left. However things are definitely looking a lot brighter for the Blues both at home and in Europe. Birmingham have actually won their last six matches in all competitions, four in the league and two away victories in the Europa League. The four wins in the league have been even more impressive as they have come against some of the bigger clubs in the league such as Leeds, Leicester and Nottingham Forest. Hougton will be demanding that his players continue to give their all and improve the chances of promotion challenge come the end of the season. Tomorrow’s match takes on significant importance despite being so early in the season as they can move into the play-off positions with a win and would have at least one game in hand over most sides as well.

Brighton were the opposite to Birmingham as they had a very positive close season after running away with the League One title last season Moving to a new Stadium added to the Euphoria whilst the signing of quality players such as Craig Mackail-Smith and Vicente was the icing on the top. This good feeling carried over to the start of the season as they were unbeaten in their first eight matches in all competitions, a run of form which yielded seven wins a draw. With form like that they had many people thinking of a second automatic promotion (something Norwich achieved last season), including their own fans. Unfortunately for the Seagulls fans things have tailed off in recent weeks as they haven’t won in their last eight matches – losing five of them. Poyet’s problems were further increased after influential midfielder Gary Dicker was carried off in their most recent defeat against West Ham on Monday night.

Birmingham have played five games at St Andrews in the league and have won four of them. The only team who have come away with anything were Barnsley who were only denied by a late Chris Burke goal. Home form is always important in the Championship so Hougton will be pleased that his side are difficult to beat on their own ground and will be determined to continue that tomorrow.

Brighton will be hoping that their good football and excellent passing game can provide something this week. They had an incredible amount of possession on Monday night but chances were few and far between for having so much of the play. West Ham got an early goal and basically sat on their lead inviting their opponents on to them. Brighton were not up to the challenge that night so Poyet must decide whether he changes something or sticks with what has gotten them so far over the last 12 months.

Birmingham have a bang in form striker with Chris Wood scoring four goals in his last five matches and he will be up against a side he was on loan at last season. Brighton may well be wishing they still had him as they have scored just three goals in their last five games. A team that can’t score can’t win games so I’m taking Brum to notch their seventh successive victory tomorrow.

My Selection: Birmimgham to beat Brighton

Best odds available: 11/10 available with Ladbrokes

English League One

Preston v BournemouthTen points and 12 places in the table seperate Preston and Bournemouth but there are few easy games in League one and the away side will be hoping to upset the odds tomorrow at Deepdale.

Phil Brown is one of the more colourful characters in the game and there’s rarely a dull moment when he’s around. He can also produce a team to challenge in both League One and the Championship which is what he’s doing with Preston North End. He couldn’t save them from relegation last season but he’s been charged with the task of getting them straight back into the Championship at the first time of asking. A run of six straight victories and seven out of eight was enough to put them into contention for automatic promotion but things have stalled of late and they are without a win in their last five league games. It means they currently sit out of the play-off zone but their is a long way to go and recent performances have certainly not been terrible – they have also played two of the current top four so although there is plenty of room for improvement to get to that stage there has been enough shown thus far to be optimistic. Their home form is pretty strong as they have won four of their seven matches at Deepdale and are scoring plenty of goals with an average of more than two goals per game at home.

Bournemouth are in their second season in League One and as is common in these leagues, they are finding the second season more difficult than the first. Eddie Howe, who led them to the division, has obviously left for pastures new and the role of manager was handed to Lee Bradbury who was a player at the time. His side currently sit in the relegation zone but with the league being so tight throughout, a couple of wins could see them leap right up the table. It’s trying to find consistency which is the problem for the Cherries as they have won back to back games just once this season. They are difficult to beat however as they have lost just one of their last six matches which will definitely be a source of comfort for Bradbury and the Bournemouth supporters who will both be keen to move away from the relegation picture as soon as possible.

Bournemouth have performed better on the road this season compared to at home so the visit to Preston will not hold too many fears for them. Wins against Leyton Orient and Exeter will have bolstered their confidence when playing on their travels and Bradbury will be hoping for more of the same.

Preston’s only other defeat other than Sheffield United was against Colchester back in August so it promises to be an entertaining game for those attending. Neil Mellor and Iain Hume have forged a good partnership and will be hoping their goals can get their side back on to the winning trail.

I don’t think there will be much in it but I’m going for another home win here.

My Selection: Preston to beat Bournemouth

Best odds available: 10/11 available with Skybet

Saturday 17th September

English Premier League

Bolton v Norwich City

Bolton will be hoping to get back on track after last weekend’s 5-0 thumping whilst Norwich are still in search of their first win since their return to the Premier League.

Owen Coyle received enormous credit for the way his Bolton side played and performed last season. This season he is having to deal with a completely different type of publicity as last weekends thrashing at the hands of Manchester United was their third defeat in a row. Not ideal at anytime of the season, you have to take into account the fact that their opponents have been the two Manchester clubs and Liverpool, so hope is not completely lost. What will have disappointed Coyle the most is how easy it has been for sides to breach the Bolton defence. Despite only playing four games this season, the goals against column reads 11 – the worst record of all the top flight clubs. After a comprehensive defeat of QPR on the opening day of the season, Wanderers fans could be forgiving for thinking they may do even better than last season so tomorrow’s game is probably more important than it should be so early in the season.

Norwich have earned plaudits already this season for their approach to the game but Paul Lambert won’t be dwelling on that as he knows only too well that it is points his side need to make the impact he wishes to on the Premier League. Last Sunday’s loss to West Brom was a sore one to take as once again the Canaries had chances to earn a point at least but just lacked that cutting edge to get back into the game. It was also the fourth successive game where the newcomers had given away a penalty which has to change if they wish to do anything this season. Premier League teams are ruthless at the best of times so giving them a gift from 12 yards out only adds to the problems. What Norwich do have is an excellent enthusiasm for the game and hopefully the have some of that winning spirit you need when earning two consecutive promotions. Games like tomorrow are difficult as even though they need that first win, a draw at the Reebok must be considered a good result.

Bolton may look to freshen the pack from the start as deadline day signing David N’Gog pushing for a full debut alongside Tuncay Sanli who is well known to Premier League defences. Ivan Klasnic may well be the player to miss out despite being the club’s top scorer this season as Kevin Davies involvement is almost assured. Norwich can also shuffle their strikers with several options upfront. Grant Holt leads the line very well, similar to Davies in many ways, so it may be a case of who partners him up top.

The home side know they can perform better than their last couple of performances. Having already brushed aside one of the other newly promoted sides tomorrow’s fixture may be what they need to get back on track and it’s a game I can see them edging.

My Selection: Bolton to beat Norwich

Best odds available: 5/6 available with Totesport

English League One

Rochdale v Charlton Athletic

League One leaders Charlton travel north to Spotlands to take on Rochdale hoping to keep up their 100% record on the road this season.

Rochdale consolidated last season after earning promotion by remaining in the division. This season has been a bit of a mixed bag so far with more downs than ups. After eight games they have won two, drawn two and lost the other four so improvement is definitely on the agenda. Their wins have come in the last two games however with is encouraging as they prepare for the visit of the league leaders. Last weekends derby victory over Bury was followed by a gritty 1-0 win at home to Scunthorpe. The highlight of the season thus far has been in the cup, however, after knocking QPR out at Loftus Road. ‘Dale had failed to kick on from that victory until now so Steve Eyre will be hoping that they are at the beginning of a good run of results and form as they head into a busy part of the season.

Charlton have been lingering in League One for a couple of seasons now and have seen the likes of Norwich, Brighton and Millwall surge past them into the Championship in that time. That should make the players, fans and coaching staff determined to get out of England’s third tier as soon as possible as the gap between the two leagues is pretty big – both in quality and finance. They could barely have started the season in better form, however, sitting at the top of the table undefeated having played a game less than most of the teams in the division. What will be most pleasing for manager Chris Powell is their form on the road as they have won all three of their away matches thus far. A lot of teams have strong home records but more often than not it’s getting consistently good results on the road that makes the difference come the end of the season.

Rochdale have a small squad compared to most sides in League One so it’s likely to be much the same for Eyre in his selection. Charlton have a bigger squad than most and that brings with it more options. It allowed Powell to shuffle the pack on Tuesday night in the League cup defeat against Preston so he may well look to make some changes again tomorrow. One man who will start is Bradley Wright-Phillips who has been in excellent form with five goals in six matches. Johnnie Jackson is another who has started the season really well and his goals from midfield often prove the difference.

Charlton have started the season particularly well and although Rochdale have won their last two the value, for me, lies in the away win.

My Selection: Chartlon to beat Rochdale

Best odds available: 7/5 available with William Hill

Sunday 18th September

English Premier League

Manchester United v Chelsea
Manchester United and Chelsea have had some epic battles in recent times and Sunday’s match may well prove to be another classic at Old Trafford.

Sir Alex Ferguson must be delighted with the start to the season his side have made and may be a little surprise as well. Emphatic defeats of Tottenham, Arsenal and Bolton followed a hard fought win over West Brom on the opening day of the season. Wednesday’s draw in Lisbon with Benfica was also a decent result considering they were well below par and it was a depleted side compared to the one who has played in the Premier League this season. The outfield signings of Phil Jones and Ashley Young look as though they have been at the club for years whilst the emergence of Tom Cleverley and Danny Wellbeck at the start of the season has also been very positive. The one area of concern for Ferguson will have been David de Gea in goals. The young keeper has thrown a couple in the back of the net already but his ability is there for all to see and Ferguson will not be panicking just yet.

Andre Villas-Boas will experience his biggest test as Chelsea boss yet when he takes his side to Old Trafford on Sunday. An acceptable start to the season with 10 points from 12 could be made a whole lot better if he manages to get the better of his new advisory at the first time of asking. Last Saturday’s win over Sunderland was arguably the most impressive performance this season whilst they followed it up with a comfortable enough win against Leverkusen during the week. Villas-Boas rested a couple of his big players with Sunday’s match in mind so he knows the importance of the game even this early in the season. His biggest dilemma will be whether or not to include Fernando Torres from the start. He had a hand in both goals in Europe but has only scored one goal since joining in January. Other options include Nicholas Anelka and Daniel Sturridge whilst Didier Drogba is nearing a comeback after a head injury.

United will almost certainly recall Phil Jones, Rio Ferdinand, Javier Hernandez, Nani and Ashley Young as well as David De Gea in goals. It’s a measure of how big their squad is and how much quality is contained within it when you see the likes of Darren Fletcher, Ryan Giggs, Park Ji Sung and Antonio Valenica likely to drop out on to the bench.

Chelsea may not have as big a squad anymore but they do have more quality than they finished last season with. Juan Mata already has two goals to his name and will be a vital player for them this season. Villas-Boas will be hoping that the little Spaniard can inspire, and link with, Torres and get the best out of the £50m man.

Despite the start Man City have made I still believe that these two sides will fill the top two positions come the end of the season. Many have written Chelsea off as they have not looked as fluent or as dominant as the other two but they do so at their peril. United have been the most impressive thus far and go into Sunday’s game as favourites. Chelsea will be hoping to frustrate United in the early part of the game and use the pace they have in the counter attack.

I think United may just edge the game but the odds are a little skinny for me to get involved in the result. Instead, with the form Rooney is in I am siding with him to score anytime during the 90 minutes.

My Selection: Wayne Rooney to score anytime against Chelsea
Best odds available: 11/8 available with Victor Chandler

Free bet for Manchester United v Chelsea at Bet365

Chelsea v Norwich City Betting Tip & Odds: Well, Norwich City, to be fair, have done pretty well to start the new Premier League season, but can’t see them getting much out of a trip to Stamford Bridge. Chelsea are looking as if they are just waiting to click, and with new players coming in, they are getting stronger. We are just waiting for the Chelsea midfield to give the forwards more of a chance to click, so we are predicting that this will be Chelsea’s easiest afternoon of the new season so far. Think at this stage, and with the head to head record, a Chelsea -2 Asian Handicap for 5/4 at Victor Chandler is great value.

Chelsea to win: 2/9 at SkyBet
Draw: 11/2 at Bet365
Norwich City to win: 16/1 at Victor Chandler

EPL Match Preview: With neither side tasting defeat so far in the new premier League season, just two points separate Chelsea and Norwich heading into this match. If that were the case near the end of the season, Norwich fans would be delighted. Chelsea are looking to really build up some momentum with some tough games on the horizon, while Norwich will be looking to consolidate their Premier League start in one of the toughest arena’s on the circuit. Will the Canaries be singing again at the end of ninety minutes here, or we will finally get to see the attacking threat that Andre Villas-Boas promised Chelsea fans when he was appointed. There are different long term agendas here, title chances and survival needs, so who will step up an impress?

Chelsea Form:
Well, undefeated in their opening two matches of the new season are Chelsea, and that was not unexpected. Perhaps their opening day draw against Stoke was a little bit, because many were expecting to Chelsea to hit the ground running and come out with a bang under new boss Andre Villas-Boas. Truthfully though, over their first two matches, although they have enjoyed possession, they really haven’t created too many clear cut chances. They took their sweet time in overturning an opening goal from West Brom at Stamford Bridge in their second match, and then there were no real signs of stepping up a gear and heaping piles of pressure on the Baggies defence. Everything was calm, collected and a little bit predictable. However, while the shopping window is still open, Chelsea look as if they are ramping things up. They have drafted in young forward Romelu Lukaku, are apparently still chasing Tottenham’s Luka Modric and Porto’s Uruguayan midfielder Alvaro Pereira. While Pereira plays in midfield, he is also very adaptable in the wing back position to give Chelsea a bit more thrust from the back. There is talk of Florent Malouda heading out to Juventus as Villas-Boas strives to build a winning side. They have landed Juan Mata from Valencia though, in probably what is going to be their shrewdest bit of transfer business this season. Although he is just a youngster, the Spaniard is definitely a team player and doesn’t have any super star individual persona about him. That is what Chelsea need, and with a proven goal scorer record, he will add extra dimension from out width, but also has a great knack for floating inside and getting on the score sheet. That is what Chelsea desperately need, someone to open the game up, to stretch it, to do something different and unpredictable. They also still need someone of Modric’s calibre in the centre of the park to pull the creative strings. But Chelsea are widening their options and going for younger players to replace the aging crop they have now. In summary, the Blues have landed a solid start, and they are not too far away from getting where they want to be. We should see the Blues growing in confidence and attacking style the further into the season they get, and this is a great chance to flex their attacking muscles.

Norwich City Form:
The Carrow Road faithful will be happy enough with their side’s start to life in the Premier League. After opening up with a 1-1 draw away at Wigan, they again worked hard to earn a repeat score line at home against Stoke in their second match. While that has all gone to plan, Canaries boss Paul Lambert has been left scratching his head as to how his side allowed themselves to get hammered 4-0 by League One’s MK Dons in the Carling Cup midweek. While Lambert had put out a totally fresh side against the MK Dons, it was still one which was packed with familiarity from their Championship campaign last season. But, the Canaries just never got going, never got a foothold in the match and couldn’t compete with the hungrier visitors. So maybe we can just write that off as a bad night at the office. They can’t play like that at Stamford Bridge, or they will get eaten alive. They have equipped themselves pretty well so far in the league, and have put in patches of rousing performances. There is certainly enough suggestion there in their game, that they can more than make a decent season of this, and still be hanging around next season. But this will be their first serious big test against a high quality side in the Premier League. These are the fixtures which they will have been looking forward too the most, taking on the big guns. Paul Lambert is probably the ace in the Norwich pack, very tactically aware and big things should be coming his way as a manager. So all in all, Norwich have steadied the ship well enough at the start of the season, have not been overawed, but you feel Stamford Bridge is a different kettle of fish altogether.

Head to Head: Clearly not a great deal of recent history between the two sides. The last time they met was back in the 2006/07 season in the FA Cup, which Chelsea won 4-0 at Stamford Bridge. The last Premier League encounter was in the 2004/05 season which Chelsea also won. Interestingly, the last three matches at Stamford Bridge between the two have ended in 4-0 wins for Chelsea. Norwich have only scored one goal in their last five matches against the Blues. Overall, at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea have won 11 of 21 matches against Norwich, with the Canaries winning 5 and drawing 5.

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The Club:
Norwich make a welcome return to England’s top flight. The Suffolk outfit are one of those teams many neutral fans like to get behind, as there is still a family oriented, close knit feel about them. Life in the Premier League is going to be a culture shock for their players who have been plying their trade in the Championship, but they look youthful and vigorous enough to adapt quickly. Norwich do attract their critics, but they have a lot going for them, and seeing them back in top flight football is a nice thing to see. Hopefully we see some of the attractive football that saw them overpower teams in the Championship, and with the strengths they do have, they have the capability of scrapping it out for survival. Norwich are the side how are being tipped to surprise people in the Premier League this season. Will it be a step too far, or will the steady, smart hand of Paul Lambert guide them to safety. It will be a season about survival for Norwich, and achieving it will be like winning the league at this point.

Players/Manager:
Norwich boss Paul Lambert seems pretty unfazed about the challenges of staying in the Premier League. After a successful season in leading Norwich to an automatic promotion place from the Championship, Carrow Road will once again taste the heady heights of life in England’s top flight. Norwich really played some strong, attractive football the right way through the Championship, and there is just the sense that out of the newly promoted sides, Lambert may just about have the craft and guile to guide Norwich to safety. The first big blows to life in the Premier League for Norwich City, is that striker James Vaughan and defender Elliot Ward will both have to miss the start of the season after picking up pre season injuries. The last thing that a newly promoted squad needs is injury concerns at the very start of the season. Norwich won’t be able to go the big spending money route, but salvation could come in the form of loan deals which will help them bolster their squad. They have brought in Kyle Naughton at left back from Tottenham for that reason, and it is the Norwich defensive line which will be tested the most this season. Up front, Norwich showed a good penchant for goals in the Championship, and while they won’t find them as easy to come by this season, they at least look as if they have decent cover up front while Vaughan misses the start. Last season’s top scorer Grant Holt is ready to make his mark in the Premier League, and with a good young core at the heart of Norwich City, we could see a bit of adventure from them. Not a strong enough squad at first glance to finish anywhere above half way, but a solid bottom half finish will have the Canaries singing.

Last Season: 2nd in Championship
The Canaries were the Championship’s top scorers last season, netting 83 goals. They couldn’t match the defensive efforts of fellow promotees, Swansea and QPR though, but they showed great form to book their place in the Premier League. Plenty enough from their performances last season to see them being on a par with some of the established Premier League sides like Wigan and Wolves who struggled badly last year.

2011/12 Projection:
After playing some decent football last season, Paul Lambert now needs to translate Norwich’s style to the Premier League. They probably won’t foresake or change much about the way they play, but some adaptability is going to be needed. There is a lot of trust in the ability of Lambert to get them through their trials and naturally, points at the start of the season, adjusting to life in the Premier League are going to be tough to come across. Still, there is enough hope that Norwich will just be OK, with a huge emphasis on their home form. They have to keep things tight at Carrow Road, they cannot afford to throw away valuable home points, but they will make life difficult for visiting teams there. There is a big air of optimism around Carrow Road and we are going to buy into it and back them to maintain their Premier League status and look ahead to the following season. They need to get points out of their first two fixtures to give them a footing in the Premier League though.

Finishing Position: Bottom Half of Table Safety

Premier League Relegation Odds:
8/11 at Bet365

First Three Fixtures
August 13th: Wigan v Norwich
August 20th: Norwich v Stoke
August 27th: Chelsea v Norwich

BACK TO 2011/12 PREMIER LEAGUE BETTING GUIDE

Scottish Premier League

English Championship

Coventry City v Middlesbrough

The big freeze has hit British Football earlier than normal with a whole host of games already called off. One game to survive the cold, for now, is one taking place at the Ricoh Arena as Coventry host a struggling Middlesbrough side in desperate need of points.

Aidy Boothroyd took over as manager of Coventry during the summer and has looked to imprint his own style at his new club. He’s very much an innovative manager in the sense that he’s always looking to try different things and look for that extra edge no matter how it comes about. It seems to be doing the trick at the moment as the Sky Blues are in the lofty position of 6^th which brings with it a play-off spot. That is, of course, a long way off as we’re still not halfway through the campaign, but the signs are positive. Boothroyd led Watford to the Premier League when no-one thought they would come close, so he has proven he can work wonders under the right conditions. Like every successful manager, he has managed to blend experience with youth in order to strike a balance. Veteran’s such as Lee Carsley and Marlon King have both played at a higher level whilst the likes of Aron Gunnarsson and Ben Turner are providing enthusiasm and arrogance of sorts which comes with younger players.

Middlesbrough have endured a horrific season to date, so much so that they’re on to their second manager before Christmas as Gordon Strachan was one again replaced in a job by Tony Mowbray. Currently sitting second bottom of the table, three points off bottom, they are in real danger of dropping to English football’s third tier. Mowbray is in an unenviable position as he is working with some players who he sold to the club from his previous employers, Celtic. The likes of Barry Robson, Stephen McManus and Scott McDonald were considered to be surplus to requirements then but he has to rely on them once again. Another problem facing the former ‘Boro player is their shocking form away from home. From nine games on the road they have managed just one victory whilst losing seven. They have scored the fewest number of goals on their travels in the league which is something that simply has to turn around if they are to survive in the Championship this season.  

Coventry have been pretty solid, if not spectacular, at home thus far. Five wins and a draw from nine is decent enough but they must continue in a similar vein if they wish to stay amongst the promotion contenders come May. After a run of three straight defeats they have recorded back to back victories in the league without conceding a goal in the process. It will have pleased Boothroyd as it shows there is resilience within his squad and a determination to succeed.

Middlesbrough go into tomorrow’s match knowing that a defeat for them and a win for Preston on Saturday would result in the Teesiders being at the foot of the table heading into the Festive period. That should be reason enough for them to go into this match all guns blazing but it looks as though there is a lack of belief and commitment at the moment. Coventry have been impressive and powerful for a lot of the season, especially at home, and because of the lacklustre attitude that plagues ‘Boro at times, I believe the home side will triumph.

My selection: Coventry to beat Middlesbrough

Best odds available: 13/10 available with William Hill

English Championship

Derby County v Norwich City

Both Derby and Norwich have enjoyed a run of good form of late so something will have to give as they face each other at Pride Park tomorrow afternoon.

Nigel Clough has all but transformed Derby County since taking over as manager just under two years ago. After a sticky first year in charge, things have really came together for the son of Brian, and he’s starting to fulfil some of the promise he has always threatened to deliver. Derby’s form this season is very surprising for most as they have underachieved of late. Fourth position after 19 games and just six points off an automatic promotion place, everything bodes well for the next six months. Their home form has been the main reason for their position to date as they have been successful in six of their nine matches at Pride Park. In actual fact, they have won their last six games at home, albeit against some of the weaker teams in the league. Those wins, however, breed confidence as they head into matches against more difficult opponents in the coming weeks, starting tomorrow.

If Nigel Clough has done a very good job at Derby, then Paul Lambert has been even better in his quest to return Norwich to former glories. Appointed manager last season when bottom of the League One table, Lambert has guided the club to fifth place in the Championship after winning the league last year. It really is remarkable and testament to the hard work and nous of the former Celtic captain. They head in to tomorrow’s match on the back of a 4-1 mauling of arch rivals Ipswich last Sunday. It was a match they completely dominated and the score probably flattered Town as it could have been so much more. Man of the match and hat trick hero Grant Holt was at the centre of everything and is proving to be a massive player for the Canaries despite this being his first season at Championship level. Two defeats in 11 is pretty solid form and shows how hard to beat they are at the moment. Tomorrow’s game represents a stiff task but they have already been away to Millwall, Reading and QPR and managed to avoid defeat in recent weeks.

One thing this match should produce is goals as both teams are very offensive in their set up and look to win games, home and away. Norwich have failed to score in just one match away from home all season, against QPR, whilst Derby have a similar record at home as only Sheffield United have prevented them from netting this term. Goals have flown in at Pride Park all season as seven of their nine home games have included more than two goals in them.

Derby may just have the edge come the end of the game but I believe there is more value in siding with the goals than either of the teams tomorrow.

My selections: Both teams to score at a best priced 3/4 available with BlueSquare

                             Over 2.5 goals at a best priced 5/6 available with Betfred

Saturday 25^th September

English Premier League

Birmingham v Wigan

Both Birmingham and Wigan only have one win apiece this season so neither side will be lacking in fight or desire at St Andrews tomorrow.

Alex McLeish has recently signed a new long term contract with the midlands club which is a sign of intent as he has done a fantastic job and transformed the club into an established Premier League outfit. He will be satisfied with his start to this season but frustrated nonetheless. An opening day draw at Sunderland was followed up with a home win over Blackburn. Since then, they have suffered their first defeat of the season in the derby against West Brom last week. Their most impressive display was arguably their home draw with Liverpool. But for Pepe Reina, the Blues would have easily won the game.

Wigan have been this season’s whipping boys, especially at home. Blackpool, Chelsea and Manchester City have all comfortably won at the DW Stadium already. Roberto Martinez’s side did spring a surprise on the road when they held on for a 1-0 success against Spurs at White Hart Lane. That, to date, is their only away match of the season thus far so Martinez will be hoping his side can replicate that form at St Andrews tomorrow. The biggest problem for Wigan has been their defence as they have conceded 13 goals already, the joint worst record in the Premier League along with West Ham. Add to that the fact they’ve only scored two goals all season (the worst in the league) then it’s fair to say that drastic improvement is needed if they are to survive this season.

Birmingham have a fantastic home record which they will be looking to preserve for as long as they can. The last side to take three points from St Andrews was Bolton Wanderers just under a year ago. It’s testament to how hard they are to beat and the belief that McLeish has instilled to the club. Wigan, on the other hand, have only won twice in 12 away games in England’s top division.

Alexander Hleb surprisingly moved to Birmingham on loan from Barcelona at the end of August. But it’s another midfielder who has caught the eye already – Craig Gardener. The former Villa player has been in scintillating form and has three goals already to his name.

Wigan are an unknown quantity away from home as they have only played the one match on the road and Spurs were particularly poor that day. However, you cannot get away from how strong the home side are on their own patch and I’m taking them to enhance their fantastic run at their ground with their second 3 points of the season.

My selection: Birmingham to beat Wigan

Best odds available: 5/6 available with several bookmakers including Betfred

English Championship

Norwich City v Hull City

These sides were separated by two divisions this time last year but both Norwich and Hull are both vying for wins in the Championship, at opposite ends of the table.

Paul Lambert has been in charge of Norwich for little over a year but what a year it’s been. The club were propping up the League 1 table before Lambert joined but the Scot got them playing attacking, winning football, and before long, they were well clear and won the League 1 Championship. This season has been much of a continuation and they find themselves in the Play-off places after half a dozen matches. Despite losing their first match of the season, at home to Watford, they have surprised many with such a young, and small squad.

Hull City have had a complete opposite start to the season.  An opening day win at home has been their sole success of a terrible season thus far. Nigel Pearson knew what he was inheriting when he took over in the summer – an ageing squad which needed trimmed due to massive financial problems. He has had to deal in free transfers as well as loans from the EPL in order to try and build a squad capable of staying in the division let alone being promoted. From their three away matches this term, they have zero points, conceded nine and scored one, it doesn’t bode well for their trip to Carrow Road.

Norwich have defeated Swansea and Barnsley already at home and will be looking for their third consecutive win to carry on their momentum. Key to their fortunes will be Grant Holt who is their main source of goals and their captain. He is the experienced head in amongst the youngsters around him and will be pivotal to anything that Norwich which to do this season. Hull have recalled Jimmy Bullard lately despite the fact he looked destined to leave due to his high wages. He could prove a talisman but you have to question how much desire he has at this level.

I watched Hull’s last game at home to Nottingham Forest and it was such a poor match, low in chances, low in entertainment and low in quality. Norwich can take advantage of the disarray tomorrow’s opponents find themselves in and add to their already decent tally at this stage of the season.

My selection: Norwich to beat Hull

Best price available: Evens available with several bookmakers including William Hill

Scottish Premier League

 Celtic v Hibernian

Celtic will be looking to maintain their 100% domestic record as Hibs travel to Parkhead tomorrow afternoon.

Neil Lennon is still boasting a 100% record in the SPL since taking over in March and it shows no signs of stopping soon. Since they were last previewed, Celtic have defeated Hearts and Kilmarnock in the league before destroying Inverness 6-0 in the league cup during the week. Lennon will be hoping that the run can continue with the first Old Firm game of the season creeping ever closer with the 24^th of October looming. He will also know that Rangers are doing just as well as his own side and will want to keep the pressure on their arch rivals as they play on Sunday this week.

Hibs have had a dreadful run since winning on the opening day of the season away to Motherwell. Two defeats at St Mirren and at home to Rangers have been in amongst a couple of poor home draws with Hamilton and Inverness. Boss John Hughes will feel the pressure even more now since his side crashed out of the League Cup away to Kilmarnock despite taking the lead. On top of all that, they lost their star striker, Anthony Stokes, to tomorrow’s opponents.

Celtic are a different proposition at home than they are on the road. Three narrow away wins have kept their run going but it’s at Celtic Park where they have been most impressive. A 4-0 thumping of St Mirren was followed up with a 3-0 success against Hearts and as already mentioned, the 6-0 win over Inverness means from three domestic home games, they have scored 13 and conceded zero.

With the form Hibs are on at the moment and the fact confidence is low within the Easter Road camp, you fear for them when they travel to Glasgow. They look toothless upfront and very leaky at the back so it probably won’t come as a surprise to note I am siding with the home side for a very comfortable win.

Also, Stokes has scored 3 in 2 for his new club and should start against his old club. It would be typical if he notched another against his former employee’s so it would be negligent not to side with him

My selections: Celtic (-2) to beat Hibernian at best priced 12/5 available with Paddypower

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

Saturday 27^th March

English League 1

Norwich City v Leeds United

The big match in the football league this weekend takes place at Carrow Road as top of the table Norwich entertain Leeds who occupy the other automatic promotion spot in League 1.

I’ve spoken about how well Paul Lambert has done since taking the reigns in August. His side have been in scintillating form since he took over and they’re currently 8 points clear of tomorrow’s opponents. They’ve won more games than anyone else in the league, they’ve score more goals than anyone in the league, they have the most home wins and the most away wins, and no other team has lost fewer games than any other team in the league. Norwich look to be nigh on certainties to go straight back up to the Championship but will want to do it in style. Their home form is staggering under Lambert with 14 wins from 17 and a 44 points from a possible 51 at Carrow Road. Only Southampton have managed to come away with all 3 points since the Scot took over, and it was probably the worst Norwich have played under Lambert. Key to their amazing form has been the trio of Wes Hoolahan, Chris Martin and Grant Holt. The 3 of them have terrorised league 1 defences all season and have 47 goals between them in the league alone. It equates to near enough 2 thirds of Norwich’s goals in the league and it’s no surprise that they have played in every game possible when available.

Leeds started the season flying and found themselves on top for nearly all of the first half of the season. Simon Grayson’s men steamrolled their way to the top of league 1 and were well clear of the chasing pack coming into January. They have tailed off massively of late, however, and now have a massive fight on their hands to secure automatic promotion. Their most recent match was at home to fellow promotion hopefuls Millwall which ended 2-0 to the away side and was very one sided. Leeds looked jaded, completely lack in ideas and a team that’s low in confidence. That’s not surprising when you analyse their recent form. Since knocking Manchester United out of the FA Cup in January, the Elland road side have won 3 of 14 league games. It’s a staggering run of form from a side who were coasting earlier in the season. Goals have dramatically dried up as well in that time as they’ve only managed to score 17 times in that run of games, an average of just over 1 per game whereas their season average before that was well over 2. Jermaine Beckford is once again their leading goalscorer but mystery surrounds his absence from Monday night’s team. The striker was said to have strained a hamstring in the warm up but reports have emerged that he has had a bust up with Grayson and stormed out of the ground before the Millwall game.

Norwich have faired pretty well against their nearest challengers, especially at home. They have beaten Millwall, Huddersfield and Swindon, scoring 6 and conceding 0, and drew 2-2 with Charlton last year. Leeds on the other hand have a relatively poor away record when up against the sides vying for promotion. They have already lost away to Millwall, Swindon and Southampton, perhaps more importantly, 2 of these defeats have came in the last 6 weeks.

Leeds will find it even more difficult with the news that Patrick Kisnorbo is out for the rest of the season which could prove to be a massive loss as the defender has been a crucial player all season long, and is arguably their best defender. His loss could be compounded with the continued absence of Beckford who may miss out again. Norwich on the other hand have all their key personnel fit and available for the top of the table clash.

The Canaries have been impressive any time I’ve seen them this season and they look to be getting stronger as the season goes on. There is a real sense of unity and togetherness surrounding the club which Lambert must take huge credit for. Holt is still banging in the goals and he will relish the thought of coming up against a weak and fragile Leeds side who looked absolutely toothless on Monday night. A win will basically ensure a return to the Championship and could all but seal the league title – it’s one I think they’ll get.

My selection: Norwich to beat Leeds at a best priced 21/20 available at Betfred

Premier League

Wolves v Everton

Both sides are coming off excellent midweek victories so Molineux should play host to an entertaining game as Everton travel to the Midlands to take on Wolves.

 Mick McCarthy was ecstatic after his side came out on top in the big relegation battled at Upton Park as his side won 3-1 and all but ensured their stay in the Premier League for another season. It was Wolves’ 3^rd away game in succession and they managed to take 7 points from them – a superb accomplishment for any side, let alone one who were written off earlier in the season. They’ve done it by playing some really good football as well and central to these impressive performances was Kevin Doyle. The Irishman has been a brilliant buy for McCarthy as he has led the line very well, especially in recent weeks. He got his reward with the opening goal in the win over West Ham, it was his 7^th league goal of the campaign, not prolific by any means, but he has a habit of scoring important goals.

Everton are on a sensational run of form at present which culminated in a powerful 2-0 win over Man City away from home. They totally bossed the side who were put together for hundreds of millions, dominating them on their own ground. Davie Moyes would never say it but he must still harbor faint hopes of challenging for 4^th and the final Champions League spot. If it hadn’t of been for a dreadful start to their season, they would surely be in pole position for the European spots as opposed to playing catch up now. They have only suffered two defeats in their last 17 games, an astonishing run of form for such a small squad. Mikel Arteta has been a driving force in recent weeks since his return from injury and the Spaniard is definitely making up for lost time. He has scored 4 goals in his last 4 games and has a massive say in any game at the moment.

Wolves will be on a high after their recent form but McCarthy will be making sure they don’t get carried away with themselves and will no doubt keep faith with the same starting XI that has served him well over the last 5 weeks. He will attempt to play the same counter attacking football his side have deployed of late with the expectation that Everton will come and force the issue.

Everton would be a match for any side in the division at this point and to find them odds against facing a side in the bottom half of the table looks to be value – away win.

My selection: Everton to beat Wolves at a best priced 11/10 available with Stan James

Scottish Premier League

Dundee United v Motherwell

Dundee United knock Rangers out of the Scottish cup during the midweek and will be looking to follow up that result with another victory over an improving Motherwell.

A last minute David Robertson goal ended Rangers’ treble ambitions and put United through to a Scottish Cup semi final with Raith Rovers. It was nothing more than they deserved and in truth, it should have been more comfortable. It’s been a productive season for United thus far as they are currently 3^rd in the table and occupying the Europa League spot. From their last 6 home games they have won 3, drawn 1 and lost the other 2, so it’s been pretty erratic.

Motherwell have been transformed under the stewardship of Craig Brown. The former Scotland boss has steadied the ship since taking over in December. They are without defeat in the league in 2010. It’s a run of form which has catapulted them into contention for 3^rd place as they are level on points with tomorrow’s opponents although they have played a game more. It makes the match even more interesting and it’s one which Motherwell must get something from if they are to chase United down.

Brown is an excellent tactician at this level and he will look to exploit United’s tiredness after their massive effort during the week. He will look to keep it tight for much of the game, trying to hit them on the break with the pace of Jamie Murphy upfront. An away win would put Motherwell into 3^rd courtesy of a better goal difference and they will be desperate for it. A draw would not be catastrophic but United have been susceptible to a lack of consistency before and Motherwell have won on their last two visits to Tannadice so at the odds, an away win is very appealing.

My selection: Motherwell to beat Dundee United at best priced 16/5 with Skybet

Saturday 30^th January

English Premier League

West Ham United v Blackburn Rovers

Both West Ham and Blackburn will be looking to move themselves further away from the relegation zone when they meet at Upton park tomorrow afternoon.

It will be the club’s first match at Upton Park since new owners, David Sullivan and David Gold, took over earlier this month. Manager Gianfranco Zola has been able to keep his star players because of this and has also started to bring in players to bolster his options, especially upfront. Benni McCarthy has joined from, ironically enough, tomorrow’s opponents but a work permit issue means he’ll be unable to go straight into the side. There are numerous rumours going around about another couple of signings but it’s unlikely anyone else will be brought in on time to feature tomorrow afternoon. The Hammers still sit perilously close to the bottom on 3 as they remain level on points with 18^th placed Burnley. They know that games against sides in the lower half at home are exactly the kind of games they need to win in order to survive. As hard as it is to believe, they have only won 4 games all season so it’s no wonder they are in the position they’re in. They have picked up two valuable points in their last two away games against Aston Villa and most recently, at Portsmouth last midweek. 3 of their 4 wins this season have come at home and two of them have been against sides close to them in the table. They have lost 4 matches at Upton Park in the league but none of these defeats have been inflicted by sides in the lower half of the Premier League.  

Rovers have improved their form of late and after sticking a couple of wins together find themselves in 11^th position, 7 points clear of the relegation zone. Wins against Wigan Fulham at Ewood Park has alleviated a lot of the pressure from manager Sam Allardyce and his players. The manager is actively seeking to improve his squad before the close of the transfer window on Monday but he’ll go with what is currently available tomorrow. In order to continue their recent good form, Rovers will have do something they’ve only managed once this season – win away from home. They have lost 8 of their 11 matches on the road already this season, conceding 28 goals in the process. The positives for Allardyce seem to be outweighing the negatives at the moment though, as his big players are beginning to perform to their best. Morten Gamst Pedersen is beginning to find the form of a couple of seasons ago, David Dunn is back fit and proving to be pivotal whilst £6m Niko Kalanic scored his first Premier League goal in the win over Wigan.

West Ham have Carlton Cole back fit and that is a massive bonus. Cole is easily the most improved player in the league over the last 18 months and is certainly Zola’s most important player. He is fundamental to West Ham’s success as he’s their main goalscorer and is a real leader on the park. He leads the line fantastically well so after getting a 20 minute run-out on Tuesday, it’s likely he’ll start tomorrow for the first time since November. Blackburn will be looking to end a massive hoodoo when they travel south tomorrow. They have not won at Upton Park in the league since 1994. They’ve not even picked up as much as a point in this fixture since 1995 so they know how hard it will be to leave East London with anything.

Blackburn’s two wins have given them breathing space so it’s probably fair to say that tomorrow’s match is more important for the home side. I honestly think this is a must win for Zola’s side as they have a tough set of fixtures coming up in the nest 6 weeks so these type of home games are the kind of games they will be targeting. The home crowd will be on a high after the takeover so the atmosphere will be even better than it normally as at the old stadium. Their main man is back from injury and they also have history on their side. I expect it to be an entertaining game and there will be a couple of goals as well. West Ham have only lost 1 of their last 5 and I believe they are good enough to win tomorrow afternoon.

My selection: West Ham to beat Blackburn at a best priced 6/5 with Totesport

English League 1

Norwich City v Hartlepool United

League leaders Norwich City entertain a Hartlepool side who are on a poor run of form so a visit to Carrow Road is probably not a match they are looking forward to.

Paul Lambert has done a terrific job since taken charge back in August. He has guided Norwich from the relegation zone right to the top of the table and with an excellent chance of going straight back into the Championship. The former Colchester and Wycombe boss has not done a lot to the playing staff but he has instilled a system and discipline which has reaped it’s won rewards. He’s played under some of the best managers in World football, including Omar Hitzfeld and Martin O’Neill so he’ll have picked up plenty from those two individuals. Both were proper man managers and Lambo seems to be exactly that type of coach as well. His side are on a superb run of form having won their last 7 games and unbeaten in their last 15. Their home form under Lambert is very strong, he’s not lost a game at Carrow road since taking the hot seat.

Hartlepool have had a wee stutter of late having lost 3 of their last 4 in the league and with just two win’s in their last 12 matches. Their away form is also something of a concern and they look weak defensively on their travels. They’ve lost their last 6 away games and have conceded 15 goals in the process. Pool will be boosted by the absence of Norwich captain Grant Holt. The striker is not only their top scorer, he’s also their best and most important player. He will miss tomorrow’s match due to suspension after being sent off last weekend. They’ll also welcome the return of Ritchie Humphrey’s who has been an important player for them this season.

Norwich are flying at the moment and their strikers are bang in form. There good end has to end at some point but I think it will take a better side than the current Hartlepool team to disrupt their promotion charge. The 1/3 generally on offer for a Norwich win may appeal to some of the big hitters but I think that the home side are more than capable of covering the handicap the form they are in at the moment. They’re not only scoring a lot of goals at home they’re not conceding many either, when you consider the fact that the visitors tomorrow are conceding goals and not scoring too many on their travels, the 10/11 on Norwich minus a goal is value for me.

My selection: Norwich (-1) to beat Hartlepool at a best priced 10/11 available with Bet365

Saturday 10^th October

English League 1

Carlisle v Norwich City

Norwich will be looking to make it 4 straight wins in all competitions when they travel north to take on a Carlisle side who haven’t picked up a league victory since the 5^th of September.

Paul Lambert has had a positive impact since replacing Bryan Gunn as Norwich manager back in August. Incidentally, it was Lambert’s former side, Colchester, who caused Gunn’s sacking when his Canaries side lost 7-1 to them on the opening day of the season. Since Lambert’s arrival, City have climbed the table and currently find themselves in 7^th position, 1 place and 2 points outside of the play-off picture. They have won their last two matches in the league, both at home, by a four goal margin each time. Their last two away matches have been against strong home sides in the shape of Gillingham and MK Dons. The former resulted in a stalemate in a match Norwich may feel they should have taken all 3 points whilst they will also feel aggrieved at not taking something from MK Dons in a match they dominated for large spells.

Carlisle United have found life difficult in the league this year managing only two victories from their 11 matches this far. Their home form, normally quite strong, has let them down with only one win from 5 games whilst losing 3 of those. They have lost to pretty weak sides all in all, Brentford, Exeter and Brighton are not great by any stretch of the imagination and are teams who are likely to be at the same end of the league as Carlisle come the end of the season. Their only success was against the hapless Tranmere who have been brushed aside by most teams already this season whilst they picked up a credible draw with Southampton.

Norwich will be hoping their top scorer and captain Grant Holt is fit enough to start tomorrow as he is instrumental in Lambert’s style of play. The former Celtic and Dortmund midfielder likes his teams to get the ball wide and whip crosses into the box for the target man so Holt’s fitness is key to this game. If, as expected, he does play, I think Carlisle’s defence is in for a very difficult 90 minutes. A big blow to Norwich will be the absence of Stephen Hughes who is on international duty with Scotland. Darrel Russell may well come in to replace Hughes.

Carlisle will be desperate to pick up their first 3 points in more than a month tomorrow and may take some comfort from the fact that their opponents have only notched one victory on the road in the league this term. That statistic, however, is deceptive as Lambert wasn’t in place for one of their two away defeats and his side have shown a big improvement on their travels. With Grant Holt in excellent form I just think Norwich’s attacking flair will be too much and see them home rather comfortably in the end.

My selection: Norwich City to beat Carlisle United

Best odds available: 11/8 available with several bookmakers including bet365

English League 2

Bradford City v Crewe Alexandra

A local derby of sorts with Yorkshire meeting Lancashire at Valley Parade as Dario Gradi takes his troops to face Stuart McCall’s Bradford.

Bradford City had a poor start to the league campaign losing 5-0 to Notts County before dropping a further 5 points in their next two matches. It wasn’t until an extraordinary match at Cheltenham that they picked up their first 3 points of the season winning 5-4. Since then, the Bantams have not looked back and have remained unbeaten since. In this run they have won 4 and drawn 4 which has seen them climb the table to 9^th position, 3 points off 7^th place. Their home form looks patchy when you look at their season stats but when you focus on their last 3 home games it looks a lot more positive with 2 wins and a draw with only one goal conceded. They may not have been playing the strongest away sides but they have been despatched with considerable ease.

Crewe have found things a little tough going since their relegation to England’s 4^th flight of league football. They started the season reasonably well with 4 league victories from their opening half dozen matches. They have, however, lost their last 5 matches in the league which meant that their former manager lost his job as a consequence. Dario Gradi has since taken over again but even his return could not halt the clubs fortunes as Crewe lost out by the odd goal in five last week at home to Rotherham.

Bradford’s upsurge in form cannot be put down to any one great player, it’s been a genuine team effort. Players like Rehman, Williams and O’Brien have provided a solid platform at the back for the likes of Osborne, Evans and Flynn to go forward with a bit of intent at the other end of the park.

Bradford have won 4 of the last 5 rounds of this fixture but did lose the last time these sides met at Valley Parade. Crewe will come out to attack as they only know how to play one way so I expect goals tomorrow. So as well as advising a bet on Bradford to continue their good form and take all 3 points I think the more than two goals bet is also a very decent shout.

My selections: Bradford to beat Crewe

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

Other selections: More than two goals in the same game

Best odds available: 4/5 with PaddyPower.