Oldham

Liverpool v Oldham FA Cup betting kicks off the weekend’s action for the famous old trophy. Yes, it is third round time, where the big boys join the fray, and while we wait the showcase match of the Manchester derby, it is Liverpool who will look to be the first Premier League club through to the fourth round. The Luis Suarez saga keeps persisting for the club and raising its ugly head, and after Liverpool were crushed by Man City in midweek, Kenny Dalglish will be looking for a bit of a cheer for the home fans. Without Suarez, as proved in the match against Man City, Liverpool are lightweight up front, there is simply no argument about it. Andy Carroll can’t find the back of the net and leaving Craig Bellamy then as your best strikers surely points to a spending spree needed up front for Liverpool. Still, this will probably be a good game for Andy Carroll to get some confidence against League One opposition. With Liverpool not participating in Europe and realistically not going to win the Premier League, the FA Cup could at least bring the club some cheer, so you would expect the Reds to put out a fairly strong side to face Oldham. Liverpool v Oldham FA Cup betting is a comfortable start for the Premier League side, at least it should be, in this year’s tournament. The Reds could genuinely be worth backing to lift the FA Cup, they are tight enough at the back really to scrap their way through close games. Suarez off course would be back, long before the final, so Kenny Dalglish has to be eyeing up some big success here and that makes Liverpool a good proposition.

Oldham, who are 14th in League One, will have a tough time of it at Anfield, if Liverpool are serious about this fixture. Tough to see an upset happening, even though Oldham will naturally be up for it. There is just not enough form from Oldham to suggest that they are going to go and raid Anfield. Yes, Liverpool have had their slip ups in cup competition against lower league teams, but with just one win in their last six league matches, Oldham really aren’t firing on all cylinders. Oldham’s stats in the league do read as average and little more and that is why they are around the mid table mark. Oldham came through the first two rounds of this year’s FA Cup, with two home wins, one over Burton Albion and then against Southend. But they step away from the familiarity of Boundary Park to head to Merseyside. Will they be the first giant killers of the 2011/12 FA Cup? Is Liverpool v Oldham FA Cup betting a foregone conclusion? It is hard not to agree with the way the bookies are leaning on this one, and that is a comfortable Liverpool win and nothing else. Liverpool don’t look to great in squad depth, but they can expect to rest a few and still bank on the quality which they have, especially at home to get through this one.

Liverpool v Oldham FA Cup Betting
Liverpool to win: 2/13 at Bwin
Draw: 9/1 at VC Bet
Oldham: 22/1 at VC Bet

Might be worth looking at building a multiple bet for the FA Cup matches this weekend. If you are going to do so, then online bookmaker Victor Chandler offer some good coverage on five folds an upwards. Place a five fold or upwards bet on the Win/Draw/Win football markets, and if just one leg of your selection lets the whole bet down, then VC Bet will refund your lost stake as a free bet. So a nice bit of coverage on your FA Cup football betting there. Victor Chandler offer a free £25 bet for new customers registering an account. The bookie will match the value of your first stake on a new account with a free bet of up to £25.

Saturday 3rd September

Sheffield United v Bury

The Premier League and Championship in England takes a break for a week due to International football so League One and Two take centre stage. Sheffield United have made a strong start to their campaign and will be looking for another three points at home to Bury.

Danny Wilson is quickly becoming the man of many clubs, Yorkshire clubs to be precise. Having started out with Barnsley, he had an unsuccessful spell at Sheffield Wednesday before being manager at a further four clubs before ending up at the other Sheffield club. Four wins from five matches means they are joint top of the table and it’s a start that has rejuvenated the Blades’ crowd after relegation last season. The squad is pack full of experience and there are a few players who have stayed on at the club to prove that they are worthy of the magnificent support they always recieve. Richard Cresswell, Nick Montgomery and Stephen Quinn are no strangers to Bramall Lane so they understand what the club is all about. The way the fixtures have fallen has meant that United have played just one match at home in the League thus far so it makes the start even more impressive.

Bury have made a steady enough start to lives in League on with two wins and a draw from their first five matches. Sitting in mid table at the moment, it’s surely a position that everyone associated with their club would take come May. They have already defeated one half of the Sheffield clubs when victorious at home last months. That match will give them confidence that they can take on the big clubs in the division of which the Steel City clubs most certainly are. Their other victory was away to Wycombe Wanderers, they kept a clean sheet that day so again, the fact they have got their first away win will be a weight off their collective shoulders. Richie Barker is in his first managerial post after a a playing career which spanned more than 15 years – much of it in the lower leagues in England. It is a test for him and his side but at the moment, they seem to be coping rather well all in all.

United will be looking forward to getting back to Bramall Lane after playing just one match so far. With a big crowd expected, United may well face their two new loan signings from Rangers in the shape of John Fleck and Kyle Hutton. They will add real energy and drive to the squad, bringing about a better balance within the squad between experience and youth. Bury will have to do without their talisman in recent seasons, Ryan Lowe. The prolific striker has moved to Sheffield Wednesday ironically enough so the challenge for Bury will be to replace Lowe’s goals to enhance their chances of staying up.

There was two divisions between these sides last season as United were in the Championship and Bury were promoted from League Two. The fact they are now competing in the same division suggests, that for very different reason, they deserve to be. I think the odds on a home win are very generous and I am selecting them with a good deal of confidence to get their fifth victory of the season.

My Selection: Sheffield United to beat Bury

Best odds available: 4/5 available with Coral

English League One

Oldham Athletic v Huddersfield Town

It’s another battle of the roses as Lancashire based Oldham take on Huddersfield from Yorkshire at Boundary Park.

Oldham have started in League One for well over a decade now, and for most of those years, they have been in and around the bottom half of the able. Apart from a couple of years at the start of this decade when they reached the play-off’s, it’s been a struggle for the Lactics. This season has started with two victories and three defeats, not bad after they lost their first two matches of the season. Their home form is nornally what keeps them in the league so Paul Dickov, in his second season in charge, will be hoping to boost their points total with a victory tomorrow. Dickov has bolstered his attacking options this week by signing Shefki Kuqi. The veteran forward played with his new manager when at Blackburn the Scot will know exactly what he will bring to his side. Kuqi is likely to make his debut tomorrow alongside loan signing Tom Adeyami from Norwich.

Huddersfield remain undefeated after five games with two wins and three draws. After losing key players such as Anthony Pilkington and Lee Peltier in the summer, it’s taken a little longer than expected for the Terriers to find their full stride. Last weekends 3-0 romp against Wycombe certainly signalled their intention however and they well be hitting a bit of form. It was their third win in a four in all competitions with the only blot on their copybook in that run being an extra time defeat to Championship side Cardiff. Despite the departures there are still plenty of goals in the side with Lee Novak and Jordan Rhodes still scoring freely. The introduction of players in the ilk of Tommy Miller from Sheffield Wednesday will hopefully boost the chances of Huddersfield going one step better in their bid for promotion. Having failed at the semi-final stage of the play-off’s two seasons ago, they were beaten 3-0 by Peterborough in the final last season.

Oldham may have been underachieved in recent seasons but the fact they have not been relegated in so long shows that they can be hard to beat and that they can get a result when they need to. Obviously, so early in the season, the pressure is not on as yet which I think play’s into the away teams hands. The pitch will be in the best state of the whole season which will suit the footballing style of Clark and his side. With so many matchwinners in their side, I think Huddersfield will be victorious on their travels for the first time in the league this season.

My Selection: Huddersfield to beat Oldham Athletic

Best odds available: 6/5 available with Victor Chandler

English League Two

Crawley Town v Bristol Rovers

Big spending Crawley were most people’s favourites to win League Two this season whilst Bristol Rovers posess a strong squad after their relegation from League One last season so tomorrow’s match looks nailed on to be entertaining.

Crawley romped the Conference last season and they have taken well to life in League one as they currently sit just three points off of first placed Rotherham. Last weekend’s defeat to Cheltenham was their only blot thus far when losing 3-1 away from home. It was a shock to many especially as they were 3-0 down at half time. Steve Evans will be hoping for a reaction from his players as it is now three defeats in a rown across all competitions. They do boast a 100% record at home however and have yet to concede a goal having notched five themselves. The man who scored for fun last season has taken off on the same foot this one as well with three goals from four. It means that Matt Tubbs has now scored 40 goals in 44 league games, an amazing record.

Bristol Rovers may well be a little disappointed with their start to the season as they had a couple of results where most expected better from them. Last weekends draw with Hereford was not on the agenda and they will consider it two points dropped. Manager Paul Buckle will be looking to his experienced players to get back on track as they also lost out in the cup during the week. Adam Virgo at the back is a big presence is more ways than one whilst Matthew Gill in the middle of the park has impressed thus far. It’s upfront where Rovers have struggled with just six goals scored in the league to date. Whay may come as a consolation to Buckle is the fact they are unbeaten at home in the league taken four points from a possible six.

It is a big match in the context of League One and much like the Sheffield United v Bury match, there were two divisions between the sides last term. As ever though, there is a reason why they are in this League and with Crawley so impressive at home added to a slightly indifferent start from their more illustrious opponents makes the home side clear favourites. They are a side I would stay on the right side of more often than not when playign in Sussex and I’m taking them to get back on track after three defeats on the road.

My Selection: Crawley to beat Bristol Rovers

Best odds available: 4/5 available with Betfred

Saturday 12^th February

English Premier League

Manchester United v Manchester City

The second Manchester derby of the season takes place on Saturday at Old Trafford with both sides occupying top four positions.

Manchester United suffered their first defeat in the league this season when they lost away to Wolves last weekend. It was a surprise to everyone, not least because their opponents were actually bottom of the table when they met, but also because it looked as though United were beginning to hit top form after impressive wins over Aston Villa and Blackpool which came as part of a 10 wins in 12 games in all competitions. Sir Alex Ferguson will have harboured hopes of going the full season unbeaten and emulating the great ‘Untouchables’ side of Arsenal, but he’s only too well aware that the main goal of this season was to regain the title from Chelsea and they are still well on course to do this with a four point lead over second placed Arsenal. Saturday’s match should hold little fear for United as although they may have lost their unbeaten record for the season, they still remain undefeated at Old Trafford with an imperious record of 12 wins and one draw from their 13 matches played. It really is a daunting prospect for any visiting side.

Man City have flattered to deceive at times this season and been awful to watch on others which has brought with it much deserved criticism. Just when you think they are going to put a run of results together and really challenge for the title, they stumble. Roberto Mancini has maintained all along that their am for this season was to finish in the Champions League places and compete in Europe’s Premier club competition the following year – and then progress to title challengers. Whether that’s what he’s really believed or it’s just what he lets on to the public is another matter altogether. Any manager who has a squad which cost the money his did, must have some sort of title aspiration. I tend to think that he has targeted the Championship but has simply come up a little short. Currently six points off United, having played a game more, they’re not out of it completely, but they are certainly up against it and have to avoid defeat on Saturday at their arch rivals stomping ground.

The cornerstone of United’s success this season has been the defence, especially the central partnership of Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand. The duo have been formidable for the league leaders and they look set to take their places again at 12.45 on Saturday afternoon. They will have to be on their game however as they come up against an old foe in former United player Carlos Tevez. The City captain has enjoyed a tremendous season to date and is easily his club’s most important player. With 18 league goals to his name already, he will be at the centre of anything positive coming from the away side.

Derbies are notoriously difficult to predict as the form book really does go out the window with so much at stake. City have tended to take a more defensive approach when up against the bigger clubs this term. Having already drawn 0-0 with both United at home and Arsenal away, the smart money is probably on a similar approach this weekend. Whether they do or not is immaterial in my view. United may have had a slip up last Saturday on their travels but their home form has been excellent of late and Wayne Rooney is beginning to hit top form. Home win.

My Selection: Manchester United to beat Manchester City

Best odds available: 4/5 available with Coral

English Championship

Hull City v Preston North End

Phil Brown returns to the KC Stadium to take on Hull City, a club he got promoted to the Premier League, with his new side Preston North End – who could be playing in League One next season.

Hull City are finally beginning to put a run of results together after the upheaval of relegation last season. A whole load of players were moved on and slowly but surely, Nigel Pearson is beginning to reconstruct a squad of players which he believes can restore the good times to Humberside. Currently slap bang in mid-table, the Tigers are just seven points off of a play-off position despite a pretty ordinary start to the season. However a run of just one defeat from 14 league games had provided them with a decent opportunity to challenge for promotion, as competitive as it is. One man who has really brought a feel good factor to the club is Matty Fryatt. The striker followed Pearson from Leicester to Hull in the January transfer window and has brought with him some much needed goals. He has netted six goals in as many matches, including a hat-trick in Hull’s last match, a 5-1 win over Scunthorpe.

Preston are in deep trouble as they currently sit rooted to the foot of the table and 10 points off safety. Having sacked Darren Ferguson earlier in the season, they entrusted Phil Brown with the task of saving their Championship status. Five games on since taking charge of the club, Brown is still searching for his first win and Preston are still looking like a side very much destined for the drop. Brown has managed a couple of decent draws at home to Leicester and away to Middlesbrough but confidence is at a real low. Last weekend’s 4-0 home defeat to Bristol City was just another in a long line of losses, but it was also the first real hammering of Brown’s reign and very much removed any of the feel good factor which his arrival would have brought. Their last win was on the 11^th of December, two months ago now. The longer it goes without another, the harder it is to find one.

Hull have managed to strengthen during January with Aaron McLean also joining Fryatt at the club. It has really improved City’s attacking options. At the other end of the park the loan signing of Brad Guzan has meant they can rely on a quality keeper which makes a world of difference for everyone in the side, especially the defenders. Preston haven’t been so lucky. Whilst Hull have benefited from being taken over, North End have not had that luxury. They have, however, managed to prise Ian Ashbee from tomorrow’s opponents as he once again links up with Phil Brown.

Form may not always work out in the Championship but the stats on this game all point towards a home win. Preston have not won away from home since September, a run of eight games. I can’t see them getting anything tomorrow with Hull City’s strikers on such good form.

My Selection: Hull City to beat Preston North End

Best odds available: 4/6 available with Betfred

English League One

Huddersfield v Oldham

The two form sides in League One meet tomorrow as Huddersfield play host to Oldham as the two continue their quest for promotion.

Lee Clark’s side missed out in the play-off semi finals last season and were desperate to rectify their failure by going straight up this time around. Just four points off top, they stand an excellent chance of gaining automatic promotion. Like every successful team their home form is pretty sound and they are difficult to beat on their own ground. This has been the case for a while at Huddersfield; a bigger problem was their lack of points on the road. They won only nine games away from home last season, with six wins to their credit already, they should comfortably surpass that this season. Their recent form overall has been excellent as they are undefeated in eight League One games, winning six of them.

Oldham have not been involved in the promotion picture for a long time so it’s testament to the job currently being done by Paul Dickov. Even though it’s his first job in management, the former Scottish Internationalist striker has taken to it like a duck to water. His side are currently in the final play-off position, five points off tomorrow’s opponents. Like Huddersfield, the Latics are also on a very good run of form with just one defeat in seven matches. In such a competitive and tight division, that is certainly no mean feat. Oldham’s away form has been pretty balance with four wins, give draws and four defeats, but they are certainly no pushovers on the road as they have already taken points off of Charlton, Sheffield Wednesday and Rochdale.

Tomorrow’s match, as well as being a derby of sorts, is a real yardstick to how far Oldham have come in recent months. Huddersfield have been a strong side in League One for a few years now so Dickov will be aware of the test that awaits his side. I just feel that this game may just be edged by the home side who have been scoring goals for fun of late with nine goals in their last three games. I can see it being entertaining but with Huddersfield coming out on top.

My Selection: Huddersfield to beat Oldham

Best odds available: 5/6 available with Totesport

Saturday 14^th February

English FA Cup

Swansea v Fulham

Championship side Swansea host Fulham of the Premier League in Saturday’s early kick off in one of the tie’s of the round.

The away side head into this game on the back of a run which has seen them lose only two matches out of their last fifteen. The impressive form has seen them record 6 wins with 2 of these coming in this competition, both away against lower league opposition.  Despite these victories away from home in the cup, they have yet to take maximum points on their travels in the league. From their last 3 matches in the league they have lost two and drew the other one, last week’s goalless draw with Wigan.

As I have no doubt mentioned before, Swansea have been a revelation this term. Roberto Martinez has put together a team full of craft, pace and ability and entwined it with graft and enthusiasm. Despite missing last season’s star man, Ferrie Bodde, for much of the season they have put together a run of even better form than Saturday’s visitors. Since their reverse at home to Birmingham in November, they have went on a run of 15 games unbeaten. Granted, 9 of those games were stalemates, but it should be noted that they have won 6 of their last 7 games, including their impressive 2-0 victory over Portsmouth in the last round. Incidentally, their last defeat was also their only home defeat of the season; winning 7 and drawing 8.

Swansea have done exceptionally well against the more cultured sides in the Championship this season, defeating the likes of Reading, Preston, Ipswich and Burnley in recent weeks, with relative ease as well it has to be said. The likes of Jason Scotland, Jordi Gomez and Nathan Dyer are far more effective when they are given space to play and Fulham will allow them a lot of the ball on Saturday as they will look to hit the hosts on the counter-attack.

Fulham have been given two tough games thus far in the FA Cup. They have left it late against both Sheffield Wednesday and Kettering Town, the winning goals coming in the last 5 minutes in both cases – they will find this match even tougher. Having only managed 6 points all season on the road, and scoring a paltry 3 goals in the process, I can see them coming unstuck at what is sure to be a rocking Liberty Stadium.

I think Saturday’s game will be an open game and can see both sides scoring, I just feel that the home side will have a little too much for their higher ranking opponents.

My selection: Swansea to beat Fulham

The best odds available for a Swansea win is  13/8 with Skybet

Also, if you are not as confident in the outright result, I would advise a couple of side bets for a little bit of added interest in what is sure to be an enthralling encounter.

Other selections: Jason Scotland to score anytime 2/1 with Paddypower

More than 2 goals in Swansea v Fulham 5/4 with Stanjames

Saturday 14^th February

English League One

Oldham v Northampton

High flying Oldham entertain perennial mid table finishers Northampton at Boundary Park on Saturday in a match they will be looking to gain all three points in a bid to keep their promotion challenge firmly on track.

Despite a couple of recent setbacks on their travels, Oldham have continued to be a force at home. They have picked up 8 wins and 6 draws from their 15 home games in league 1 already this season, including gaining maximum points from 2 of their last 3. A big part of their success is the quality of their strikers, especially Lee Hughes. The controversial hitman has bagged 15 already this term. Midfielders Liddell and Taylor also have 8 goals apiece, add that to the experience of Dean Windass, on loan from Hull City, then it’s not hard to understand why Oldham sit in 5^th place, 7 points off the 2^nd automatic promotion spot.

Northampton are something of an enigma. Despite proving incredibly difficult to beat on their own turf (only 3 defeats from 15), they have only managed to pick up 3 points on two occasions when playing away from Sixfields. Both these victories were against sides below them in the table and both are currently occupying positions within the relegation zone.

Despite having to contend with a suspension to their goalkeeper, the home side should have too much firepower at the other end of the pitch for Northampton to cope with and should take all 3 points. It’s a game they will have targeted as a must win beforehand and they should oblige.

My selection: Oldham to beat Northampton

The best odds available are 8/11 from Betfred Betfred

Saturday 14^th February

English FA Cup

West Ham v Middlesborough

An all Premier league clash between two sides enjoying contrasting fortunes. The home side are flying in the top half of the table under Gianfranco Zola whilst ‘Boro are on their worst run in 13 years. These are games I normally avoid due to their unpredictable nature but I just cannot see where the away side are going to pick up anything.

Survival is the name of the game for Saturday’s visitors to Upton Park on Saturday. Slap bang in the middle of the relegation zone and without a win in the EPL since the beginning of November, manager Gareth Southgate is faced with his biggest task yet since taking charge. In spite of their shocking league form, they have managed to make it through to this stage by defeating lower league opposition in the shape of Wolves and Barrow.

Zola has started to stamp his mark on this side after a relatively timid opening couple of months in charge. Their narrow defeat to Man United last Sunday was their first reverse since the middle of December, a run of games which has seen them win 6 and draw 2. The likes of Cole, Collison, Behrami and Mark Noble will be a handful for an away side who have failed to win at Upton park since 2000.

The cup may prove to be a welcome distraction for ‘Boro but their pitiful recent form leaves a lot to be desired. Zola will know that defeat would mean merely playing out the rest of the season and hoping for a top 10 finish whereas victory could be the catalyst for a prolonged run in a competition they came so close to winning in 2006.

Roared on by an now expectant home crowd, the pace and power of West Ham should be more than enough to brush aside Southgate’s charges.  

My selection: West Ham to beat Middlesborough

The best odds available for a West Ham win is 5/6 available with Boylesports