Portsmouth

Chelsea v Portsmouth FA Cup Betting should give Blues boss Andre Villas Boas a bit of a respite from the high pressures of his first season in charge at the Bridge. It hasn’t been all plain sailing for Chelsea, and now they get to enjoy the comforts of home turf against a struggling Championship side. This should be a comfortable afternoon for Chelsea, you would think, but they have been guilty of letting matches slip this season, and nearly did so again after the turn of the new year, needing a late winner from Frank Lampard to pick up three points at Wolves after the Blues had conceded an 84th minute equalizer. That was Chelsea’s only win in their last five league matches, not the rampant kind of form you would expect from a team who are supposed to be challenging for top spot in the Premier League. Still, they are hanging in there, and they are still firing on domestic and European fronts. There have been suggestions of dressing room unrest which have been played down, and now Bolton’s Gary Cahill looks to be the club’s prime target for a quick purchase to tighten things up at the back. Chelsea have had problems at centre half this season, and they have struggled to keep clean sheets. But surely Andre Villas Boas will take a chance here to rest a couple of players and give more game time to certain people like Fernando Torres who needs to find some confidence. Chelsea will be without Ivory Coast duo Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou who are not permitted to play because of international duties with the forthcoming African Cup of Nations. This really shouldn’t be too much of a challenge for Chelsea, not at home, as they generally don’t give too much away there (although they have lost ten points at the Bridge this season).

Pompey will look back and see that Chelsea have shown patches of vulnerability at home, as the Blues crashed out of the Carling Cup there against Liverpool. However, what should put the ball even more firmly in the court of the London side in Chelsea v Portsmouth FA Cup betting, is the fact that Portsmouth have been struggling on the road badly this season. They have managed just one league win out of twelve attempts now and the bookies are really not giving Pompey too much of a chance at Stamford Bridge. Pompey boss Michael Appleton has already said that he hopes to avoid getting an FA Cup spanking, so that doesn’t exactly enthuse Portsmouth fans taking the trip up to London. If there was a time for Portsmouth though to pull out a big upset, it would be now. The club are looking for new owners, and it sounds unlikely that the club are going to have any money to spend in the January transfer window to help their position. A win at Stamford Bridge in the FA Cup though would do wonders for the coffers and confidence on the south coast.

Chelsea v Portsmouth FA Cup Betting Odds
Chelsea to win: 1/6 at Bet365
Draw: 6/1 at SkyBet
Portsmouth to win: 16/1 at Victor Chandler

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Saturday 10th December

Scottish Premier League

Celtic v Hearts

Celtic have transformed their season in recent weeks and will be hoping to continue their good run with a victory over an out of sorts Hearts side at Celtic Park.

It wasn’t so long ago that Celtic were 12 points behind in second place and there were more than a few supporters who were calling for Neil Lennon to be sacked as manager. Fast forward a month or so and things are looking a lot brighter for the Bhoys. Having won their last five league matches they have cut the gap to just four points which makes the form side in the SPL. Their recent good form has been the result of some key players coming back from injury and getting a run of games under their belt. Gary Hooper is a prime example as the striker was out of sorts for much of the season because of niggling injuries whereas now he has hit the kind of form he was in last season, scoring five goals in his last three league games, including a hat-trick the last time Celtic played an SPL match at home against St Mirren. Hooper is now joint top scorer in Scotland and Lennon will be keen for his star man to continue his good form, especially as Celtic are due to play league leaders Rangers at the end of December.

Hearts started the season brightly enough despite Jim Jefferies being sacked. Paulo Sergio was installed as his replacement and the initial signs were good however there has been a total lack of consistency recently and the pressure seems to be affecting the manager as he has had several outbursts at referee’s and the other match officials. The other problem facing Sergio is discontent amongst his players who have been failed to be paid once again this season. The players must try and remain professional but they are also human and if their is no guarantee of their wages being paid before Christmas, it’s bound to have an effect on the field. Last weekends 2-1 home defeat to St Johnstone was a real low point and was their seventh defeat of the season already. They travel to Glasgow knowing that the last time they played Celtic they ran out 2-0 winners at Tynecastle in October so they will be aware of what level of performance it will take in order to repeat such a feat.

Celtic’s recent form has been impressive in terms of results and performance. The 5-0 demoltion of St Mirren two weeks ago was a signal of intent from Lennon and his men and the first half performance last Sunday away to Dundee United was also much more like they way they can play. Beram Kayal is in much better form alongside Victor Wanyama in the middle of the park and it’s their partnership which has provided more protection for the much maligned defence. This has been evidenced in the amount of goals they have conceded in recent weeks compared to earlier in the season with the opposition managing to breach the defence just twice in the last six SPL games.

Hearts have lost four of their last six matches in the league and the fans are beginning to get restless as the performances have dropped in recent matches. Sergio is a passionate person and will be hoping that his passion rubs off on his players heading into Saturday’s match as it looked lacking at times last Saturday. When they defeated Celtic in October the players were all up for it and they never stopped fighting for every ball and closing Celtic down at every opportunity. It’s now about transferring that kind of performance from Tynecastle to their travels as they have won just one match on the road all season.

Celtic are without doubt in much better form than the last time these two sides met and Hearts are regressing. Hooper and Stokes have 20 goals between this this season and will be a handful for the visitors defence whilst Kayal, Wanyama and Forrest in the midfield are full of energy and enthusiasm at the moment meaning it will be be difficult for the Hearts midfield to get a hold of the game. There is only one winner of this match for me and I can see it being a comfortable one at that.

My Selection: Celtic (-1) to beat Hearts

Best odds available: 21/20 available with Bet365

English Championship

Burnley v Portsmouth

Burnley have come from behind twice in the last fortnight to win away from home, this week they entertain a Portsmouth side yet to win away from home.

Eddie Howe came with a big reputation for such a young manager when taking over from Brian Laws last season. The former Bournemouth manager had been used to success and winning games when at his former club but it’s been a slightly different story at Turf Moor. Fans would have been disappointed after missing out on the play-off’s last season whilst this season, they have been unable to string a run of form together meaning they have been towards the wrong end of the table for much of this season. Signs are there, however, that Howe and his players are beginning to turn things around. After losing two late goals to Leeds resulting in a fourth successive defeat could have been a crushing blow but they have dusted themselves down and put a run of three wins together. They were behind against both Hull and West Ham but showed a new resilience and came back to win both matches. In between those games, they destroyed Ipswich at home which was arguably one of their most impressive wins of the season to date.

Portsmouth done the column a favour last weekend when they were successful against struggling Coventry but they face a different proposition against Burnley away from home. As mentioned, Pompey have not won an away game this term with a record of three draws and six defeats. They are one of only two sides who hold such a record so Michael Appleton definitely has his work cut out as he strives to improve his new club’s fortunes on the road. Last weekend’s victory was massive for a couple of reasons; they off-field drama seems to be never-ending at Fratton Park so the players showed how professional they are by gaining all three points and it was also the first win under the new manager. He will be hoping to build on that and ensure that Portsmouth can stay clear of the relegation zone as it’s getting very congested towards that end of the table. A win tomorrow, however, would mean that they would be just one point behind the Clarets.

Burnley’s home form has been patchy due to their inconsistency this season. They have won three, drawn three and lost the other four so if they do hold ambitions of being compeititive for a play-off spot they need to start winning more games at home. Last time out at Turf Moor their crushing win over Ipswich would have done a lot for confidence as it was also at home where they let slip a lead to lose 2-1 to Leeds late on the game beforehand. On loan striker Sam Vokes has been a breath of fresh air since moving from Wolves and he provides a different option upfront. His header last weekend which gave his new side victory showed his class and if they can retain his services to enhance their chance of promotion to the Premier League.

Portsmouth have lost six of their last seven away games in the Championship with their only point coming against Crystal Palace a couple of weeks ago. Their biggest struggle seems to be scoring goals as they have only managed one goal in their last six on their travels. Appleton may look to adopt slightly different tactics tomorrow but his hands are tied in terms of personnel as he is working with such a small squad. His options will be boosted tomorrow however as Liam Lawrence, Hayden Mullins and Luke Varney are all set to declare themselves fit after missing out last weekend.

Burnley don’t have a great home record by any means but they are hitting a bit of form and with Portsmouth so poor and toothless away from home, the selection is a home win.

My Selection: Burnley to beat Portsmouth

Best odds available: 21/20 available with William Hill

English League One

Walsall v Charlton

League leaders Charlton travel to Walsall on Saturday hoping to continue their excellent run of form which has left them seven points clear at the top of the table.

Walsall are currently in the relegation zone after a dismal run of form which has seen them fail to win any of their last six games in League One. Their last win was a 1-0 home victory over Preston back in October which was only their third win all season. Dean Smith has been in charge for just under a year but he is under pressure to get results and with the festive period coming up, he will be hoping his team can get some sort of confidence heading into one of the busiest periods of the season. Two of their three wins have come at home but they have also lost five matches at the Bescott already. In order to climb the league they need to make it harder for teams to take points off them, the visit of Charlton may well not be the type of team they will look forward to facing but if they were to get something tomorrow, it may well act as a catalyst and get their season going.

Chris Powell will be delighted with the start his Charlton side have made this season after so many coming’s and going’s during the close season. More than 20 players have been brought to the Valley under Powell but the supporters will not be caring about that so long as they continue to steamroll through the League One opposition. With just one defeat all season, an incredible eight wins in a row in all competitions and the top scorers in the division, the plaudits they have earned thus far have been well deserved. Their last league match was arguably the biggest of the season to date in England’s third tier as they came up against a Huddersfield side who had not been beaten for over 40 matches in the league. This Charlton side don’t care much for reputation or records though, and they accounted for them rather comfortably in the end, winning 2-0.

Walsall know that if they can string a couple of results together then it will mean a move out of the relegation zone. It is tight at the bottom of League One but the longer they go without winning, the harder it becomes to climb the table. Jon Macken is one of the most experienced players in the division and Smith will be hoping that his striker can put that experience to good use and prevent others around him for panicking as it’s the worst thing that could happen at this stage.

Bradley Wright-Phillips is one of the most inform strikers in England never mind League One. The former Manchester City trainee has 14 league goals to his name already including seven goals in his last six league matches. He is certainly capable of playing at a higher level but his attitude has been called into question at previous clubs. If Powell can keep his mind on his football and ensure he keeps putting the effort in, there is every reason to believe that he could finish up top scorer out of all the divisions in England this season.

Charlton are bang in form, Walsall are totally out of sorts so the away win looks the only wager here.

My Selection: Charlton to beat Walsall

Best odds available: 5/6 available with Coral

Saturday 3rd December

Aston Villa v Manchester United

The evening kick off see’s Alex McLeish take on his former Aberdeen manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, as Aston Villa host Manchester United.

Villa were outclassed when they travelled to Tottenham just under two weeks ago and it was alarming to see the gap between two sides who were pretty even 18 months ago. The 2-0 scoreline does not really tell the full story as Spurs were by far the better team and looked stronger in every department. Since then Villa played out a 0-0 draw with Swansea at the Liberty Stadium last Sunday. The game was overshadowed by the tragic death of Wales manager Gary Speed that morning. Both sets of players done well to remain professional and do their jobs but there was certainly more than a few affected by the news. McLeish, who took over in the summer, will be anxious for his side to hit back infront of their own fans tomorrow night and make amends for the Spurs game where they never turned up at all. Their home record has been good and they have suffered just one defeat at Villa Park all season. That defeat was when they went down to 10 men in the first half against West Brom so the home fans will be expecting another big performance from their heroes.

Manchester United were the victim of a terrible decision from the assistant referee last Saturday which proved crucial as they dropped a couple of points in the 1-1 home draw against Newcastle. The equaliser came from the penalty spot after Rio Ferdinand was adjudged to have brought down Hatem Ben Arfa in the area. The United player clearly played the ball but the penalty was given and converted. It was United’s first dropped points since losing 6-1 at home to rivals Manchester City. Ferguson is not silly, he knows that they can’t afford to slip much further behind the league leaders as their big squad will no doubt negate the usual problems such as injuries and suspensions later in the season. Away from home United have looked more clinical than last season when they drew too many games. Four wins and two draws from six matches is certainly heading in the right direction and what will be pleasing from the manager’s point of view is the fact they have conceded just three goals on their travels – the lowest amount in the league.

History also suggests tha this will be a close game. This fixture is often tight and there’s not much between the sides when they face each other at Villa Park. United managed to rescue a late draw in their last meeting in the Midlands whilst their last win was in December 2009.

As mentioned, Villa have only lost once at home but they have yet to play any of the bigger sides at home. Wins against Norwich, Wigan and Blackburn as well as a couple of draws against Wolves and Newcastle means that they are hard to beat but the big test will come when the current champions visit tomorrow.

United have already seen off the likes of Swansea and Everton in recent weeks, team’s who are often hard to break down when playing at home. It’s likely that they’ll set out in a similar fashion tomorrow by looking to get the goal on the break and keeping things tight at the back. WIth City playing earlier and big favourites to win their match, United will be determined not to drop any further behind and should collect all three points.

My Selection: Mancester United to beat Aston Villa

Best odds available: 3/4 available with William Hill

English Championship

Portsmouth v Coventry City

Our attention turns to the bottom end of the Championship as Coventry travel to Portsmouth with both teams looking for the points to lift them away from the relegation zone.

Michael Appleton took over the Portsmouth job after Steve Cotterill left for Nottingham Forest and it’s fair to say that it his first game could have went better as they lost 2-0 to Watford. His next match was against big spending Leicester at Fratton Park and it was much more encouraging as Pompey took the lead only to have to settle for a share of the points. Now he has a loss and a draw to his name, the natural progression will be for tomorrow’s match to be his victory. He couldn’t ask for a much better chance as Portsmouth have a strong record at home and the opposition tomorrow are on a dire run of form at present. Peterborough and Brighton are still the only two teams to have won at Fratton Park this season. Up until the Leicester match, Pompey had been on a run of three straight victories, all of them comfortable. It’s also worth noting that two of those wins were against the other two sides who sit in the relegation zone – they face the third club tomorrow.

Coventry were previewed a couple of weeks ago and even then it was obvious that they were in the midst of a crisis as they just couldn’t score goals. It’s much of the same as they have still yet to win a match since October, going through the whole month of November without picking up a victory. Their only point last month was a 1-1 draw at home to Cardiff whilst their last away match was a 2-1 loss to Brighton. Andy Thorn is still entrusted with the job of turning things around but you have to wonder how long he will get before the board decide it’s better off in someone elses hands. If they are to end the rot they must do something they haven’t achieved since April – win an away game in the Championship. Funnily enough, their last away win in the Championship was against tomorrow’s opponents. That may provide a source of comfort for the travelling players and fans and at this stage, they need every positive they can get their hands on at the moment.

Pompey are certainly part of the relegaton picture as well as they are only out of the bottom three places on goal difference. With only one win in five things need take to a turn for the better if they wish to climb the table and alleviate some of the pressure which will no doubt be building. Coventry are in deeper trouble however as they are without a win in nine and are seven points adrift of safety.

Portsmouth’s home record swings this for me having seen a couple of Coventry’s recent games. They look toothless upfront and are always liable to concede a goal at the other end. Pompey were unlucky not to collect all three points last week against Leciester who are a much better side than the one they face tomorrow.

My Selection: Portsmouth to beat Coventry City

Best Odds available: 5/6 available with Betfred

Sunday 4th December

Everton v Stoke City

Everton play host to Stoke at Goodison on Sunday with just one point seperating both sides in the league.

Everton are on their best run of the season thus far as it’s the first time they have managed to record back to back victories in the league. It may not be championship winning form but it’s certainly a sign of some sort of consistency being restored to a club who have been severely lacking in it in recent months. Last weekend’s 2-0 win away to Bolton followed on from their home win against Wolves. The late penalty against Mick McCarthy’s men could be one that shape’s the season for the Toffee’s as they looked much better last weekend. Davie Moyes will be hoping that they can kick on from that and boost their league position. It has taken them a wee while to get adapt to the loss of Mikel Arteta, now at Arsenal, but things are coming together and other players are starting to take more responsbility. Having already lost three times at Goodison this season they will be looking to put on a good show for their supporters who have been short changed at times.

Stoke managed the draw they needed to qualify for the next stage of the Europa League against Dynamo Kiev on Thursday night. It’s a magnificent achievement for Tony Pulis and his men as it’s their first season in the compeition. It’s also impressive as they have qualified with a match to spare. As with a lot of clubs who are not used to playing European football, league performances have sometimes suffered and they have found it difficult to balance their midweek matches wit domestic action at the weekend. Everytime Stoke have played a group match in the Europa League, they have lost their next league match. They have been unlucky in the sense that every match that has followed has been away from home but it’s something Pulis will have been tearing his hair out at. The latest example was a 5-0 hammering away to Bolton after a very good win in Israel. The travelling abroad doesn’t seem to be the biggest reason in their domestic defeats as they have lost to Arsenal and Swansea after playing at home in Europe beforehand.

Everton could always rely on Tim Cahill to pop up with a goal when the going got tough but it’s not been the case this season. The midfielder come striker has not scored in the Premier League since the middle of December last year. It’s an incredible record when you consider how many goals he is used to scoring throughout his career. Worryingly for Stoke, however, is that he is getting closer and closer to breaking his duck for the season and it would be a brave man to bet against him doing it before too long.

Stoke will once again freshen things up after their midweek exertions. Peter Crouch is likely to come back in alongside Jon Walters upfront after being rested on Thursday. The two first choice strikers were a thorn in Blackburn’s side last Saturday in the 3-1 success. That was Stoke’s first win in the league since the middle of October. Like Moyes, Pulis will be drilling into his players the importance of consistency in this league.

Everton impressed me last weekend against Bolton and Stoke’s European hangovers speak for themselves. The home win is very tempting in this instance. Another bet I believe is worth a go is for Tim Cahill to finally get off the mark this season. He is getting into all the right positions and is going to take one of the chances sooner rather than later.

My Selections: Everton to beat Stoke at a best priced 3/4 available with PaddyPower
Tim Cahill to score anytime at a best priced 2/1 available with Coral

Saturday 5th November 2011

English Championship

Cardiff City v Crystal Palace

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

My Selection: Cardiff to beat Crystal Palace

Best odds available: 20/21 available with Boylesports

English Championship

Portsmouth v Nottingham Forest

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

My Selection: Nottingham Forest to beat Portsmouth

Best odds available: 85/40 available with Victor Chandler

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

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

Saturday 15^th January

English Premier League

Stoke City v Bolton Wanderers

Stoke and Bolton have had to deal with some unfair criticism during their Premier League tenure, but both have had a good first half to the season and will look to continue it at the Britannia tomorrow.

Tony Pulis’ side has been battered from pillar to post ever since they were promoted to England’s top flight for their style of play. Critics have attempted to downplay their incredible achievements by branding them too physical and even setting out to injure other opponents. Such claims are downright ridiculous and it’s a credit to Pulis who has gone about his business in a quiet and dignified manner. His side are currently enjoying their third consecutive season in the Premier League and they’re comfortably set in mid-table as we approach the second half of the campaign. Occupying 11^th spot in the table, Stoke are six points off the relegation zone but also the same number of points from the final European spot. A key difference in their performance this season as opposed to the previous two, as that they have accrued more points on the road. Normally so strong at home, the Potters have won three games away already, just one fewer than their whole total of last season and one more than their debut year.

Owen Coyle has enjoyed the exact opposite reaction from pundits than his opponent tomorrow. Journalists and colleagues alike have praised his brand of football and lauded him for turning Bolton into a football playing side. For years Wanderers were criticised for being too physical, like Stoke, and for playing route one football, like Stoke. Sam Allardyce’s sides always had a touch of quality about them with the likes of Jay Jay Okocha and Youri Djorkaeff pulling the strings so the criticism was very unfair. It was slightly more understandable when Gary Megson had the manager’s job as his sides tended to be far more reserved and disciplined with little flexibility. Coyle has transformed that viewpoint however and his midfield is much more dynamic with creativity in abundance. Having played one more game than tomorrows opponents, Bolton find themselves three points better off, despite having won just one in their last six league games.

Stoke have completed the permanent transfer of Jermaine Pennant from Real Zaragoza as they look to finish in the top half of the table for the first time since their return. The winger had been in excellent form during his loan spell and linked up really well with the likes of Tuncay, Ricardo Fuller and Kenwyne Jones. More than that, however, he provided a real balance with Matty Etherington on the left wing. Bolton also have a number of player who have been a real threat going forward this season. Aside from Kevin Davies, Johan Elmander, Stuart Holden and Lee Chung-Yong have been a menace for Premier League defences. Coyle will have to do without Lee, however, as he is on International duty with South Korea in the Asian cup.

Bolton are currently experiencing their leanest run of the season with just four points from a possible 18. Their away form has also been very poor of late as they have lost their last four on the road scoring just one goal. Stoke know that they can bully teams at home with their physicality and their ability to hem teams in with their style of play. Whether that’s possible against Bolton, a strong team themselves, remains to be seen. However with the form Bolton are in on the road, and the fact Stoke brushed aside Everton last time out, I fancy the home side to edge this.

My Selection: Stoke City to beat Bolton

Best odds available: 6/5 available with Boylesports

English Championship

Nottingham Forest v Portsmouth

Nottingham Forest put their incredible home record on the line again with Portsmouth the latest side attempting to leave the City Ground with all three points.

Billy Davies has overseen a fantastic run of 31 Championship games unbeaten at home which is the envy of all of his rivals. This league is notoriously difficult to get out of and one of the most important ingredients for doing is a strong home record. Davies, who has already been promoted with Forest’s arch rivals Derby, knows that there are obviously other things needed, but will be especially pleased with how difficult it is to come to the City Ground these days. Six wins and six draws already this term, Forest are beginning to put a run together which would see them challenge the teams above them in the hunt for promotion. One defeat in nine has saw them rise to seventh in the table just a couple of points behind Watford with a game in hand.

Portsmouth have had a pretty normal season compared to last year and Steve Cotterill has used this to his advantage by steering Pompey clear of any real danger of relegation. Currently in 18^th position and five points clear of the final relegation spot, 2011 will hopefully, for Pompey supporters, see a fresh start for the club after all their recent problems, on and off the park. Working with such a small squad is never easy so Cotterill and his players have to be commended for their performance thus far. A key player for them has been Liam Lawrence as the experienced midfielder has brought some much needed quality and composure to the South coast club. Having already chipped in with seven league goals, his involvement between now and the end of the season is vital if the club are to consolidate and move forward. He was a doubt earlier on in the week but should be fit to take his place on Saturday.

The visitors have failed to win a game in their last five in all competitions. They were also soundly beaten last time out in the FA Cup away to Brighton. Forest, who were victorious in the cup, have Marcus Tudgay available again whilst captain Paul McKenna will also return. Pompey will have to do without Dave Kitson and Greg Halford.  Both will be missed as they provide both experience and quality.

With such a threadbare squad, lessened even more with injuries, Portsmouth have it all to do, especially as they have to travel to a ground where no visiting side has left with three points for over a year. Forest are hitting form just at the right time and they should account for tomorrow’s opponents as they continue their quest for promotion to the Premier League.

My Selections: Nottingham Forest to beat Portsmouth

Best odds available: 8/11 available with Betfred

Scottish Premier League

Aberdeen v St Mirren

Amazingly just one points separate’s Aberdeen and St Mirren as we approach February but that’s the case as the two meet at Pittodrie tomorrow.

Craig Brown has had an immediate effect since becoming Aberdeen boss at the end of 2010. Before that, Aberdeen were enduring a horrific season under former manager Mark McGhee which culminated in seven straight defeats. Brown has came in from Motherwell, with his assistant Archie Knox, and instilled some much needed organisation and discipline within the squad. He has sought to strengthen the squad with the introduction of David McNamee at full back and Nick Blackman upfront. Blackman was on loan at Motherwell for the first half of the season, he impressed with 10 goals so it was natural Brown would be interested in him again at his new employers. The former Scotland manager has used his lengthy list of contacts to further bolster his squad with Fulham midfielder Robert Milsom joining until the end of the season as well.

Danny Lennon’s first season managing at this level has been one of inconsistency and frustration. St Mirren continue to struggle at the wrong end of the table, where they are just four points off bottom, and fail to turn good performances into points. Lennon doesn’t have the resources available to him that Brown will at Aberdeen, but even still, he will be annoyed with the amount of missed chances taken by his misfiring strikers. All of this was highlighted last week in the Scottish Cup as they were held to a goalless draw at home to second division Peterhead.

Aberdeen, on the other hand, ran riot against lower league opposition in the cup hitting East Fife for six. The man who got a hat-trick that day, Chris McGuire, is bang in form and enjoying a new lease of life under his new manager. St Mirren can take solace from the fact that they won last time out on the road against Inverness. They are actually unbeaten in the last three on the road which should provide some encouragement.

If this match took place a month ago then I believe it would have a very different complexion on it. Aberdeen were struggling whilst St Mirren were putting a run of form together. However it’s not and with Brown having such a positive impact up North, I feel the value is definitely with the home side tomorrow.

My Selection: Aberdeen to beat St Mirren

Best odds available: 10/11 available with William Hill

There are only six teams that can realistically win the Premier League, although there are at least a dozen sides who have the potential to finish top of the Championship. While Newcastle cruised to the title last season, it looks set to be more competitive this time around, with fifteen teams currently trading at 20/1 or lower.

It’s Middlesbrough who are the favourites to win the English second flight and potentially join fellow north-east clubs Newcastle and Sunderland in the Premier League next term. They have certainly been the big spenders of the Championship this summer, recruiting Barry Robson, Willo Flood, Scott McDonald and Stephen McManus from former club Celtic. However, the real coup de grace is the acquisition of Kris Boyd and that means the bookies are offering no bigger than 7/1 (Victor Chandler) about Boro.

Most firms have Nottingham Forest as second favourite to win the league and they should certainly be featuring at the right end of the table come May. Billy Davies steered his team to third place last season and there are several young players in the squad who should improve. The Tricky Trees should have plenty of firepower in Robert Earnshaw and Dexter Blackstock, with Coral offering a best price 9/1 that they win the league.

The team that finished like a train in the Championship last season were Reading, who were relegation candidates after the first few months of the campaign but ended up close to the play-offs. Brian McDermott deserves tremendous credit for turning around the Royals’ fortunes and they are 14/1 (Sporting Bet) to continue making progress by winning the league.

Former Reading boss Steve Coppell is sure to get a warm reception when he returns to the Madejski Stadium next season with his Bristol City team. It’s a shrewd appointment by the Robins as they look to finally make the big time and Sky Bet offer 20/1 that the supporters at Ashton Gate are toasting a title-winning campaign. Striker Nicky Maynard is one reason why they might be riding high, although the manager will be concerned by how many goals were conceded last term.

It’s unusual to see the three relegated teams from the Premier League so low in the outright betting list. Burnley are 11/1 (totesport) to bounce back from last season’s relegation, although the bookmakers expect Hull City (22/1 bet365) and Portsmouth (28/1 Coral) to have a much tougher time of things on their return to the Championship.

Queens Park Rangers are back among the favourites this season, two years after Flavio Briatore bought the west London club. In that time, several managers have come and gone, although Neil Warnock is a manager well-versed in the Championship and the Super Hoops are 12/1 (Coral) to win the league. Roy Keane’s Ipswich Town (16/1 Paddy Power) are also among the favourites, although it could be a couple of promoted teams that feature near the top.

Leeds United have finally made it out of League One and are 18/1 (Blue Square) to make it a double promotion by winning the Championship. However, they were faltering badly towards the end of the campaign and that allowed Norwich (18/1 Victor Chandler) to win the league. Perhaps the Canaries can have another season to remember.

Franks for Everything
Online bookmaker Paddy Power are going for an exciting FA Cup Final promotion, just with a different option on a Chelsea star. England international, Frank Lampard is the man to follow on their FA Cup Final Cash Back offer as all eyes fall upon the battle at Wembley between Chelsea and Portsmouth. If Lampard scores the final goal of the final, then Paddy Power will refund lost stakes on the following FA Cup Final markets: First Goalscorer, Last Goalscorer, Correct Score and Scorecast. The offer applies to singles made on these only, and applies to the regulation time of 90 minutes. There is a maximum refund of £100 per account holder.
     
Paddy Power FA Cup Final Outright Prices
Chelsea to win: 1/5
Portsmouth to win: 12/1

With Carlo Ancelotti’s Chelsea clear favourites to lift their third FA Cup in four years, the majority of the betting on Saturday’s domestic season closer, is heading towards the Stamford Bridge outfit. There is still time to take advantage of these FA Cup final offers, by signing up for a new account. Paddy Power offer a welcome bonus of a free £25 bet, which comes in the form of a matched first bet on a new account

Beware of the Drog! FA Cup Final Cashback Offer!

Online bookmaker Victor Chandler are offering a cash back special on Saturday’s FA Cup Final, with all the focus and attention on Barclays Premier League Golden Boot winner Didier Drogba. If the Chelsea talisman scores the last goal of the match, then Victor Chandler will offer some compensation on lost bets. The markets covered for this FA Cup final special, are the Correct Score, along with the First and Last Goalscorer bets. If your bets on those go sour, but Drogba, who netted a hat trick in his last outing for Chelsea as they thumped Wigan 8-0 to win the Premier League, scores the final goal of the game, you will be covered by having your lost stakes refunded as free bets of the same value. There is a maximum refund of £50 per account holder.

Victor Chandler also have a wide range of FA Cup Final specials which are well worth casting an eye over, such as Chelsea to come from behind and win, or an anytime own goal. Victor Chandler also offer up to £100 as a welcome bonus, which is earned on a sliding scale of bets.

Victor Chandler FA Cup Final Outright Prices
Chelsea to win: 1/7
Portsmouth to win: 14/1

FA Cup Final Betting Preview: Barclays Premier League Champions Chelsea, will be banking on their strong end of season form to secure the double on Saturday, by beating Portsmouth in the Final of the FA Cup. Carlo Ancelotti’s Blues secured two league wins over Pompey during the season, a 2-1 home win, and then a 5-0 thumping of the troubled club at Fratton Park. But all of the league thrills and spills have passed now, and Chelsea have one final piece of business to attend to, and FA Cup betting at online bookmakers around the country are favouring a successful afternoon from the Blues from London. Both sides have, in an unprecedented move, been training on the Wembley Pitch, which has had its problems over the year, in order to try and secure a fantastic football finale to the English domestic season. The two finalists have had contrasting seasons, with Chelsea closing out the Premier League title with an 8-0 hammering of Wigan, while Portsmouth have been playing out a futile battle against relegation all season.

The FA Cup has lifted the shackles of the pressure of league football for the southerners, and under Avram Grant, they have steadily and solidly at times, progressed to the FA Cup final, their second in three years, against the odds. Their semi final victory over Chelsea’s London rivals Tottenham, was the highlight of their campaign, and despite the gulf in class between the two sides which will take to the field on Saturday, there is always that old FA Cup magic which will see the underdogs raise their game. This would be something akin to the Crazy Gang of Wimbledon taking out Liverpool in the FA Cup final in the 1987/88 season. Portsmouth and Chelsea are the only two sides to have lifted the FA Cup at the new Wembley, with Chelsea having won two of the three finals there (once against Manchester United, and once against Everton), and Portsmouth beating Cardiff to have their day of glory at the new home of English football.

Chelsea captain John Terry, who has found himself in the headlines for the wrong reasons this season, gave England fans a scare when he hurt his ankle, with fears that the centre half had fractured or broken his foot. Subsequent scans in the week revealed no damage, and the Chelsea skipper will be fit to take his place in the starting eleven on Saturday afternoon. Terry is one of four key England stars who should be on the field, with Frank Lampard, Joe Cole, and Ashley Cole, who is a five times FA Cup winner. Ashley Cole continues to prove his fitness ahead of the World Cup, and Fabio Capello will be hoping that all come through the match unscathed, so as not to ruin England’s World Cup plans.

Since Portsmouth lifted the trophy in 2008, everything has gone downhill for the club. They have been mired in financial troubles, and have had to fight winding up orders. Pompey keeper David James, who missed out on an England World Cup place, is drawing hope and inspiration from being underdogs. Betting odds gave them no chance in the semi final against Tottenham, but they prevailed, and they will be in that exact same position come kick off on Saturday afternoon. Their leaky defence, which has compounded their problems at the bottom of the league, will come up against a Chelsea side which netted over 100 times during their league campaign, and Premier League Golden Boot winner Didier Drogba will be hungry to shoot his way to more FA Cup success. The FA Cup though is often about the underdog, and Pompey’s success in reaching the final alone is one to be applauded. It has come against the odds, and they could be 90 minutes away from causing a major upset. Chelsea may not have all of their first choice players available, such as Michael Essien, but whoever they field, they will still be strong favourites.

Chelsea have an incredibly strong record against Portsmouth though, not having suffered defeat against the side from the south coast in 28 meetings, and twenty one of those being victories. Stats like that often get thrown out of the window when it comes to the FA, as this season has already shown with the likes of Leeds taking out Manchester United, and Reading beating Liverpool. From the third round onwards the giant killers become the main focus of the competition, but come the Cup Final, things usually pan out in favour of the favourites. Big match experience counts for a lot, and the quality that Chelsea have in their ranks, do, in all fairness outclass that of what Avram Grant can field for Portsmouth. While Chelsea have displayed some incredible goal scoring power throughout the season in the league, they have also only conceded one FA Cup goal on their run to the final, and have netted 16 times.

Chelsea are strong favourites, and therefore are not going to bring great odds. Bet365 have Chelsea at 1/5 to win, which is pretty much par for the course across the online bookmakers. Just to put it all into contrast, Pompey are hovering around 14/1 to lift the trophy on Saturday. But as always, there are ways to try and increase your returns with your FA Cup betting. By studying Live In Play betting, looking at Asian Handicaps, and individual goal scoring markets, you should be able to increase your returns if, like most of the betting world, you fancy a Chelsea victory. Let’s look at the stats.

Chelsea v Portsmouth FA Cup Final Betting Outright

Head to Head
Portsmouth 0, Chelsea 5
Chelsea 2, Portsmouth 1
Portsmouth 0, Chelsea 1
Portsmouth 0, Chelsea 4
Chelsea 4, Portsmouth 0

Last 5 Match Goals
Chelsea 19 For, 2 Against
Portsmouth: 6 For, 6 Against

Last 10 Match Form
Chelsea: W8, D1, L1
Portsmouth: W2, D4, L4

FA Cup Final Match Odds
Chelsea to win: 1/5 at Bet365
Draw: 7/1 at Victor Chandler
Portsmouth to win: 29/2 at Bwin

Asian Handicap Betting Advice: If Chelsea get their noses in front early, then it could be another field day for them. They have been in blistering goal scoring form, something which carried them to the Premier League title. They have annihilated better teams than Portsmouth, and on the big occasion, it really could be a one sided match from kick off. You are going to have to bank on Chelsea running up a goal fest again in this outing if you are going to look for higher rewards. Naturally this is not beyond the realms of possibility.
Chelsea -2.25 Asian Handicap: 5/4 at Paddy Power

Saturday 15^th May

English FA Cup

Chelsea v Portsmouth

No-one would have given Pompey a chance of reaching an FA Cup final with everything that has gone on at the club this season so it’s testament to the hard work of Avram Grant and his players that they face Chelsea at Wembley tomorrow.

Chelsea come into this match on the back of winning the Premier League last Sunday so are chasing their first domestic double for decades. It would cap off what has been a pretty successful first season for Carlo Ancellotti as manager of the club. They could hardly come into this match in better form with 8 wins from their last 9 games in all competitions. It’s been a fantastic recovery since losing to Inter in the Champions League and they have proved that experience is every bit as important as skill in the closing weeks of a season. Some of their attacking play of late has been superb as well, most notably at home where they have scored 16 goals in 3 matches, conceding zero.

Portsmouth are already relegated and have been for quite some time which means this match has taken on even more significance since they defeated Spurs in the semi-final last months. It’s been a turbulent season which included a manager being sacked, several new owners and culminated in the club going into administration which ultimately sealed their relegation fate. Their cup exploits have been excellent, however, and they have fully deserved their place in tomorrow’s final. They have saw off, as well as Spurs, Birmingham, Sunderland and local rivals Southampton. The players really seemed to have risen to the challenge of giving their supporters something to be happy about this term. Of course the club won the competition in 2008 when things looked a lot rosier for them. The team is basically unrecognisable from the one that defeated Cardiff that day but they can still call on their goal scorer from that game, Kanu, who will likely start on the bench.

Everyone has this one down as a Chelsea win and if I am being honest, I do too. However, the price on them is disgusting when you take everything into consideration. It’s a one-off game. It’s at a neutral venue. Portsmouth have looked like a different team in this competition. Chelsea have been celebrating since last Sunday and their key players have a big summer ahead of them in the World Cup.

So as ever, I’ll look elsewhere for a good value bet. I know Chelsea have been in excellent goal scoring form and that Portsmouth have been pretty generous at the back, but I have a feeling that this could be a low-scoring match. Pompey will defend for their lives as they did in the semi-final. They’ll look to restrict space in the final 3^rd and will play with one up in order to flood the midfield. Their midfielders are also better defensively than they are going forward. I also feel that Chelsea are a slightly different team when away from Stamford Bridge so I’m going to have a play on under 2.5 goals.

I do expect Chelsea to win and when they do get a goal, if I have called the game correctly, I expect Portsmouth to push for the last 20 minutes or so and this will result in gaps being left which Chelsea will exploit so I think 2-0 seems as good a score as any to have a small stakes gamble on.

My selections: Under 2.5 goals available at a best priced 6/4 with Ladbrokes

                             Chelsea to win 2-0 at a best priced 11/2 available with Coral

Scottish Cup Final

Dundee United v Ross County

It’s another version of David vs Goliath in the Scottish equivalent as 1^st division Ross County hope to upset SPL side, Dundee United.

United have had an excellent season finishing 3^rd and qualifying for Europe. It’s even more impressive when you consider the fact they lost their manager Craig Levein halfway through the season as he took the Scotland’s manager job. His assistant Peter Houston took over the reins and he has done superbly well after a sticky first couple of games in charge. He’s basically carried on where Levein left off as it’s the same set of players he has at his disposal, tactics are exactly the same and the way they play their football is almost identical, so the change in leadership has been seamless.

Ross County defeated Celtic in the semi-finals to reach their first ever National cup final. Derek Adams side played the Glasgow giants off the park that day and thoroughly deserved their win and place in tomorrow’s finals. They also saw off Hibernian in the quarters over 2 games so they have had a very difficult and challenging route to the final. Their fans are adamant that they are not coming to make up the numbers and Adams has said that they will go to attack Dundee United in order to bring the trophy back up north to Dingwall. They also seem to be very confident and know that they are capable of springing another surprise in this season’s competition.

 I expect the FA cup final to be pretty close in terms of goals and I expect this to be a similarly close match but I envisage more goals in this game simply because the way both teams set up. Both sides will go with 2 strikers and 2 wide players capable of creating chances. County have scored 24 goals on the road to Hampden so they certainly know where the goals are. As do United who were the 4^th top scorers in the SPL so there is definitely going to be plenty of chances for both sides.

David Goodwillie has had a good season and has managed to scored in 3 of his sides Scottish Cup games this season, including the opening goal in their semi-final win over Raith Rovers at Hampden. He’s a handful for any defence with his power and pace and the 6/4 for him to score anytime is worthwhile nibbling at.

My selections: Over 2.5 goals available at a best priced 10/11 with Victor Chandler

                             David Goodwillie to score anytime at a best priced 6/4 with Ladbrokes