Saturday british betting preview

Saturday 20^th February

English Premier League

West Ham United v Hull City

It’s yet another battle between two sides at the bottom of the table desperate for points as Phil Brown leads his Hull side to London set to take on improving West Ham.

The Hammers have finally begun to pick up points regularly for really the first time this season. Gianfranco Zola’s side have lost just one of their last 5 but at the same time, they’ve only won one of those. It may not be pretty reading compared to the form of the likes of Chelsea, Manchester United and Everton but when you put it alongside teams in and around them, there’s not too many who can rival it in terms of not losing games – which is fundamental at this stage of the season. Their last match saw a very convincing 2-0 win over high-flying Birmingham at home. It was a win that owed much to the influence of Carlton Cole. The England striker scored his first goal since returning from injury and he led the line exceptionally well. He can be the catalyst between now and the end of the season for the East London club and it’s imperative he remains fit and healthy. He was partnered upfront by one of the club’s new singings in the January window – Mido. The former Middlesborough, Wigan and Tottenham player has been a regular fixture in the Premier League so it was no real surprise to see him return to these shores last month. He could prove to be an astute signing between now and the end of the season and along with Benni McCarthy and Ilan, West Ham have certainly strengthened what had been a problematic area in the earlier part of the campaign.

Hull will again have to make do without the talismanic figure of Jimmy Bullard. The midfielder is still recovering from injury but could be given a place on the bench to boost team morale if nothing else, as the former Fulham man is without doubt the best and most important player at the football club. City will be looking for their first away win of the season on Saturday which is a damning statistic when you think that only they and Burnley remain winless on the road. They have scored a measly 7 goals as well on their travels, conceding 31, the 3^rd worst record in the division. Phil Brown is tasked with sorting this out but it remains to be seen whether he has the players and quality at his disposal to do so. Many feel that Hull were extremely lucky to survive their maiden season last year, with a horrendous run of form after Christmas meaning they relied upon other teams keeping them up whilst sending Newcastle down. This season they have performed at a decent enough level at home with 5 wins and 5 draws from 13 games but have let themselves down with some horrific away results. Their most recent away defeat came against Blackburn where the 1-0 reverse flattered them. It was a game which only ever looked like having the home side triumphant at the end, but poor finishing allied with some great saves from Boaz Myhill meant they were always in the game without ever really looking like scoring.

West Ham have won 2 and drawn 1 of their last 3 games and they’ve kept 3 clean sheets in the process. They have class all over the field from their keeper Rob Green, to Matthew Upson, Scott Parker, Valon Behrami through to Cole up top. It’s a very strong spine they have in their team and is arguably why they have by far the best goal difference of the 7 teams involved in the relegation battle. Their squad is packed full of international players, several of whom will be playing in South Africa this summer so they will be motivated even more so to go there on a high by helping their club out of this predicament.

Hull do not look the same team without Bullard in the midfield so the sooner they get him back the better they’ll be. Until he is fit enough to return, a lot of expectation will be heaped upon Stephen Hunt. The Irish wide player is the club’s top scorer this season with 6 and he’s been the subject of much interest despite only moving to the KC Stadium last summer. He’s the infectious player a club like Hull needs and he’s done will thus far. He can only do so much though and it’s upfront where they tend to fall down.

West Ham won this match pretty easily last season, winning 2-0. It was a performance which merited an even bigger margin of victory but I’m positive if you offered Zola any sort of win on Saturday, he wouldn’t care one bit about how they achieved it. Hull do not have enough upfront to worry a stronger West Ham defence whilst Cole looks to be getting back to his best and is likely to prove too much for a porous Tigers backline.

My selection: West Ham to beat Hull

Best odds available: Best priced 5/6 available with Boylesports

English Championship

Newcastle United v Preston North End

Newcastle will be looking to extend their unbeaten home record this season when Preston come calling on Saturday.

The home side returned to the top of the Championship on Wednesday with a 4-1 success of crisis club Crystal Palace. They had to come back from a goal down in the first half but their superior class and quality of player prevailed as they made chalked up their 12^th home win of the campaign. Despite being top for much of the season, Chris Houghton refused to rest on his laurels and strengthened his side during the transfer window. He brought in a total of 5 players on a mixture of loans and permanent deals and all 5 have played some part in the fixtures since. Arguably the most effective, certainly in an attacking sense, has been Wayne Routledge. The little winger joined from QPR and has made an immediate impact in the North East. He’s provided balance in a position which has seen many a player tried in it. He scored in the 4-1 win over his old club and he’s created several goals with his sharp wing play and accurate crossing. He’s a dream provider for the likes of Andy Carroll and Shola Ameobi, as well as fellow new signing, Leon Best. Newcastle have the best home defensive record in the league, and joint best overall. It’s been added to by the capture of Mike Williamson from Portsmouth. The former Watford stopper has slotted in seamlessly and looks to be the solid, no nonsense centre back that the club have been looking for in their attempts to go straight back up.

Preston are on to their 2^nd manager of the season with Darren Ferguson taking the reigns after the sacking of Alan Irvine. Ferguson has found it hard thus far with only 1 win in 5 league games. They suffered an embarrassing 5-2 thrashing on Tuesday away to Derby in a match which could easily have been even worse for North End had it not been for some woeful finishing from the Derby players. Everytime Derby attacked they looked threatening and their key players were afforded too much space, especially Rob Hulse who simply bullied the Preston centre halves whenever they did decided to get close to him. It’s worrying times for Ferguson as he’s unable to call upon a massive squad anyway, but when his key players such as Sean St Ledger and Ross Wallace are off the boil, it’s very difficult to bring anyone else in to freshen things up. They won’t find things any easier on Saturday when they travel north, especially when you consider they have lost 9 away games already this season, including 6 of the last 7.

Newcastle have been like a juggernaut at St James’ this year and they know it must continue to roll along with the league being so tight and also because their away form is not nearly as good as their home. It’s these type of games which will determine where they finish come May as everyone will drop points, but it’s dropping silly points such as a home game against a side out of form which will severely dent their promotion aspirations. Preston look far too weak at the back to hold out for anything other than damage limitation – comfortable home win.

My selection: Newcastle to beat Preston

Best odds available: Best priced 4/7 available with Stan James and Coral

Scottish Premier League

Motherwell v Hibernian

Motherwell are not quite out of the running for 3^rd place but they know that anything other than 3 points against the team currently in that position, Hibs, will all but end their hopes.

Craig Brown has done a fantastic job since taking over from Jim Gannon on a temporary basis until the end of the season. The former Scotland manager has led his new side to 7 matches unbeaten in the league, including 4 wins. What’s been most impressive about this is the fact he’s used exactly the same players as his predecessor but far more effectively. It’s a very young squad he’s working with so inconsistency could have been a problem – it’s been anything but. They’ve brushed aside Aberdeen and Kilmarnock away from home whilst winning against St Mirren and Hamilton at Fir Park of late, but there best performance was 10 days ago at home to Rangers. They dominated the match from start to finish and if not for a shocking offside call, would have been 2-0 up with 20 minutes to player. As it was, Rangers leveled the match late on but the home side earned many plaudits for their way of playing.

Hibs have had a good season up till now but there are signs there that they have ran out of good performances and that little bit of luck. They are now 3 games without a win and have conceded 10 goals in the process, taking only a solitary point which they had to rely on a last minute penalty against Aberdeen to earn. They have stuttered of late and it’s probably down to the fact they’ve overachieved in the first half of the season thanks to a load of Anthony Stokes’ goals and some excellent support from Liam Miller in the middle of the park. These two have failed to perform in the last couple of weeks which has had a serious effect on results. They can’t keep pulling them out the bag all season and it looks as though they are tired from their early season exertions, especially when you consider that both have played little football in the last couple of seasons.

‘Well currently sit 8 points behind Saturday’s visitors so a win is a must to narrow the gap and put the pressure on between now and the split. Hibs were thumped 5-1 in midweek away to St Johnstone and it will be interesting to see how the players react on Saturday. I thought they looked out of ideas against Rangers last Sunday whilst their defence looked more vulnerable than it has done for much of the season. Motherwell are on a roll at the minute and the value certainly lies with a home win on Saturday.

My selection: Motherwell to beat Hibs

Best odds available: Best priced 6/4 available with several bookmakers including Skybet

Saturday 23^rd January

English Championship

Sheffield Wednesday v Peterborough

Alan Irvine takes charge of Sheffield Wednesday for the 3^rd time as his new charges come up against bottom club Peterborough in the proverbial relegation 6 pointer at Hillsborough.

Sheffield Wednesday have won both games since Alan Irvine took charge at the start of the year. A 2-1 success at Oakwell in the Yorkshire derby against Barnsley was quickly followed up with another victory of the same scoreline, this time away to Blackpool. Both wins will he rejuvenated what was a flagging side who were low on morale before the departure of Brian Laws in December. Before Irvine took charge, Wednesday fought back well to earn a draw in their last home outing which was on Boxing day against top of the table Newcastle. The Owls have got back to basics under their new manager and results as such, have picked up. They are playing a basic 4-4-2 but it is far more positive now than it was under Laws. The players seem to be working that wee bit harder, running for an extra yard and definitely more confident infront of a goal. Sometimes it takes a fresh face coming in to kick-start a team’s season and that is exactly what has happened at Hillsborough.

Peterborough are also on to their 2^nd manager of the season after Darren Ferguson was sacked last year to be replaced by Mark Cooper who was manager of non-league Kettering. Ferguson, ironically enough, is now manager of Alan Irvine’s old team, Preston North End. The Posh travel north tomorrow looking for their first away win all season. They have played 12 matches on the road thus far, losing 8 and picking up a measly 4 points in total. Their form in general has been rather poor throughout the season as they have only managed to win once in their last 14 matches in all competitions. Last time out they lost heavily at home to a Derby side who were also perceived to be in crisis. That loss was made even worse with the sending off of their captain Craig Morgan and fellow defender Ryan Bennett. As a result, both will miss the match tomorrow which means their already wafer thin squad is decimated even more.

Should Wednesday triumph for their 3^rd game in a row they would move further clear of the relegation zone and give themselves some much needed breathing space. Irvine will know this and he will be emphasising how important it is to keep the momentum going at this crucial part of the season. He and his players will also realise that because there are so few games on in the division tomorrow because of the FA Cup, it provides an opportunity to steal a march on teams who will be idle. Peterborough need to start picking points up relatively soon or they will be cast adrift at the bottom of the table. They are currently 7 points off safety which is a rather big gap when you consider that they have failed to win 2 consecutive games all season long.

Luke Varney begins his 3^rd spell on loan at Wednesday tomorrow but he might have to make do with a place on the bench due to the good form of his new team-mates. Peterborough, as mentioned previously, will be without two centre backs so it means a defensive reshuffle with midfielder, Charlie Lee, expected to drop back in as cover.

Momentum is everything in this league and Sheffield Wednesday definitely have that on their side at the moment whilst a depleted Peterborough side who are low in confidence and totally out of form look to be the perfect opposition for the Owls to record a 3^rd successive victory.

My selection: Sheffield Wednesday to beat Peterborough at a best priced 20/23 with Boylesports

FA Cup 4^th Round

Aston Villa v Brighton and Hove Albion

The home side are back into action after Wednesday’s match where they defeated Blackburn to reach their first final in a decade, this time it’s FA Cup action as they take on Brighton for a place in the 5^th round.

Martin O’Neill has transformed Villa in his 4 and half years at the club and he and his players have finally got their reward with a trip to Wembley next month. His side is packed full of young talent, ability and pace. Whoever they face in the League cup final will know not to expect anything other than a stiff examination and for a massive test. O’Neill will also know that the season is nowhere near finished and that his side have done nothing thus far. He’ll want to remain in as many competitions for as long as is possible and that means he’ll be doing his upmost to get a side on the park tomorrow capable of winning to progress to the next round of this cup. He’ll no doubt freshen his side up but there will still be a core of players who have done so well this season who will be selected to make sure that there are no surprises or shocks come 5 o’clock tomorrow. Villa defeated Blackburn in this competition as well in the last round, coming through 3-1 so will be hoping for a similar result tomorrow against League 1 Brighton.

Gus Poyet took over from Russell Slade earlier on this season and after a promising start, results once again suffered. They have picked up once again of late however and are unbeaten in 4, winning their last 3. Interestingly enough, all 3 wins have come on the road which is promising, but they’ll face a far stiffer test than anything they have faced before when they travel north to the Midlands. It will be interesting to see how Poyet approaches this match as he’s known as being an attacking manager so it will be somewhat surprising if he switches to a more conservative system as his side have scored 8 goals in their last 3 games, with Glenn Murray scoring 5 of them.

The likes of Richard Dunne, Emile Heskey and Stan Petrov are nigh on certainties to be rested as they have niggling injuries so expect to see Habib Beye , Fabian Delph and Steve Sidwell return to the side, along with striker John Carew. O’Neill will expect the replacements to be more than good enough to gain a win and a subsequent entry to the draw for the 5^th round.

Brighton are on a decent run of form but are still leaking goals against sides far inferior to anything they’ll face tomorrow. Villa Park will be buzzing and I cannot see anything other than a comfortable home win.

My selections: Aston Villa (-1) to beat Brighton available at 3/4 with Bet365

                            Aston Villa to win both halves available at 6/4 with Skybet

Good Luck and happy punting!  

Saturday 16^th January

English Premier League

Stoke City v Liverpool (12.45)

After a pathetic performance on Wednesday night, Liverpool must pick themselves up after their cup defeat to Reading when they travel to the Britannia Stadium to face a stuffy Stoke side.

Tony Pulis has never made any apologies for his side’s preferred style of play, especially whilst playing at home. Stoke are direct, physical and rely very much on their strength and presence at set pieces. These strengths have turned them into an established Premier League club, less than two years since winning promotion. Some people may debate that but they have never been in any real danger of being relegated, either this season or last. The majority of other clubs do not go to the Britannia expecting to win as they would elsewhere which is a testament to the industry of Pulis and his players. Tomorrow’s match against Liverpool will be their 11^th home match of the season and they’ll be desperate to add to their 5 wins. The biggest surprise about their home form is probably the fact they’ve lost 3 already this season. They have lost to Chelsea and Manchester United which is completely excusable whilst their other defeat was against high flying Birmingham. These defeats signify that it pays to be in good form before coming to the Britannia, as Stoke will not let you get into a rhythm, they’ll be at you from the off.

Liverpool are something of a crisis club at the minute, arguably one of many in the Premier League. Rafa Benitez is for the first time under immense pressure from the fans. Their patience is growing thin with the Spaniard after another cup exit in midweek. That defeat was compounded by injuries to Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres and Yossi Benayoun. These 3 are probably the Reds most dangerous and influential players, they’ll miss their presence a great deal as they are also big characters who would be vital in tomorrow’s kind of atmosphere. Pepe Reina and Javier Mascherano should return to the squad and there could also be a debut for Maxi Rodriguez who signed in midweek. ‘Pool’s away form has been hit and miss to say the least. They have won 4 on the road but lost 5, drawing 1. This is the away form of a mid-table side, not of a side who were expected to mount a serious challenge for the title. Their away defeats include reverses at Sunderland, Portsmouth and Fulham, teams whose approach to the game is not too dissimilar to that of tomorrow’s opponents. A strong home defence, a hard working midfield with a touch of creativity and a front two full of power and pace.

Liverpool laboured to a draw in this fixture last season but I can envisage things being even worse this time around. They are completely lacking in confidence and consistent form. Reading were far more inventive, created more chances and just looked a whole lot hungrier than Liverpool on Wednesday night. I know it’s based on nothing more than assumption, but it looks as though certain players have stopped playing for Benitez for whatever reason.

 Liverpool struggle at the best of times when teams take the game to them and control the tempo, something at which Stoke have mastered at home. Pulis will know there will never be a better time to play a Liverpool side and he’ll get every last ounce of effort out of his side in tomorrow’s lunchtime kick off. You could have had 6/1 for Stoke on Wednesday, but as events have unravelled since then, we’ll have to make do with 29/10.

My selection: Stoke City to beat Liverpool at a best priced 29/10 with Bwin

English Premier League

Manchester United v Burnley

It’s a baptism of fire for new Burnley manager Brian Laws as he takes charge of his first game which is a visit to Old Trafford to take on the champions.

Manchester United have, for me anyway, failed to click thus far this season. Sir Alex Ferguson has had to constantly chop and change, especially at the back thanks to a plethora of injuries. He has been unable to field a consistent line-up for any real length of time which has proved to be detrimental to his sides on field performances. Currently sitting 2^nd in the table, a point behind Chelsea who have a game in hand, they know they have to put a run of results together in order to claim their 4^th title in a row. There were signs last week away to Birmingham that they were becoming more fluent and creating more chances, it’s just a matter of now being able to take them. Wayne Rooney is creating chances for others whilst also contributing as the club’s top scorer. He’s easily their most important and influential player and his form of late must serve as inspiration to others around him who may not be performing as well.

Burnley begin life without Owen Coyle and it will be interesting to see how well the players react to a change in management. For many of them, their former manager would have brought them to the club in the first place so they will need to adapt to a change in personnel, a different take on the game and possibly being used in unfamiliar systems. Brian Laws must think he’s won a watch with his quick fire appointment after being sacked by a club who find themselves in the relegation picture in the league below. He will be under no illusions as to how difficult it will be for his new team to stay in the division. The signs were there before Coyle left that they were beginning to struggle and their home form was not as good as it had been in the earlier stages of the season. Their porous defence must be improved in this window as they have lost 40 goals already and look like conceding at least a couple in every match they play away from home.

United normally come on strong in the second half of the season and will strive to continue this trend starting tomorrow. Nothing less than a win will do for Ferguson’s troops and a good win may well act as a catalyst for the remainder of the season. Goal difference may yet prove to be important when the honours are handed out in May so it will be no surprise if they put a few past the worst away defence in the division.

My selection: Manchester United (-2) to beat Burnley at a best priced 11/8 with Boylesports

Scottish Premier League

Celtic v Falkirk

Neither of these sides have kicked a ball in anger for two weeks so both will be eager to get back into action as Celtic entertain bottom dogs Falkirk.

Celtic’s last match was the derby game at Rangers where they completely dominated and should have had the game wrapped up by half-time. However they failed to take their chances and ended up drawing 1-1, remaining 7 points behind their rivals but with a game in hand. Tony Mowbray has started his mid-season cull by getting rid of 4 players, including Barry Robson and Captain Gary Caldwell. Both have departed to England with the South Korean Ki being singed as Robson’s replacement along with Dutch centre half Jos Hooiveld coming into take Caldwell’s position. The latter will, however, miss out tomorrow as he is not yet fit but Ki may feature at some point. The Bhoys know they can’t afford any slip-up’s in these kind of games so are sure to come out all guns blazing in an attempt to put the game to bed early doors.

Falkirk started the season very slowly and as a result find themselves playing catch-up with everyone else in the league. Eddie May has attempted to rectify this in the 2^nd half of the season by bringing in more experience. Former Celtic player, Colin Healy has joined on loan from Ipswich whilst former Leeds United striker Enoch Showumni has also come in on a short term deal to bolster May’s options upfront. Falkirk have won only once on the road this season in 9 games, losing 5. They will need to improve this form and become harder to beat if they are to move up the table and avoid relegation.

The last time these two sides met they played out a 3-3 thriller at the Falkirk Stadium but things should prove to be different when they meet tomorrow at Parkhead. Falkirk have lost on each of their last 9 league visits to Celtic Park. Their last 3 encounters in Glasgow’s East End have seen 10 goals conceded and none scored – I can’t see this changing for the better tomorrow. Celtic know that they need to make up their goal difference on Rangers and these kind of matches are the time to do that.

One player who has started to fulfil his potential is Celtic striker Marc Antoine Fortune. The former West Brom marksman is beginning to show why Mowbray shelled out £3.8m for him in the summer. He had an excellent game against Rangers which was on the back of 3 goals in December. He’ll be out to add to his tally and his strength, allied with his pace and smart running could prove decisive against a weak Falkirk defence.

My selections: Celtic (-2) to beat Falkirk at a best priced 6/4 with Skybet

                             Mark Antoine Fortune to score anytime at a best priced 5/4 with Bet365

Apologies for not posting a preview last week and a Happy New Year to one and all – let’s hope it’s a profitable one!

Saturday 9^th January

English Premier League

Fulham v Portsmouth

Crisis club Portsmouth travel to Craven Cottage to take on a Fulham side who’s only home defeats this season have came against Chelsea and Arsenal.

Roy Hodgson must be more than satisfied with his side’s first half to the season as the Cottagers occupy 9^th place in the table. Their league position, excellent results and good football comes as no surprise to me when you consider the quality of player Hodgson has at his disposable. The likes of Andy Johnson, Brede Hangeland, Danny Murphy and Clint Dempsey are all excellent players with superb individual talent. Hodgson has built his team around these players in the last 18 months and has fitted others such as Bobby Zamora, John Pantsil and Damien Duff around the quartet, thus making a formidable proposition for most teams. Fulham’s quality was never more evident than when dismantling the current Champions just before Christmas. Their 3-0 demolition of Manchester United at home was arguably their best result in recent times, and especially since their return to the EPL. Their home record is particularly impressive in the main with 6 wins and 2 draws from 10 matches. Their losses to two of the top 3 emphasises the difficulty in obtaining a positive result from the Cottage.

If Fulham are a smaller club on the up, Portsmouth are most definitely a smaller club on the way down. This week has been devastatingly bad for the southern club. Players not being paid their wages, a transfer embargo being enforced by the league and money they don’t even have being promised to other clubs. On top of all this, they have lost a handful of key players to the African Nations as well which leaves them with a squad so lightweight they will struggle to fill the bench with senior professionals. It’s a stark contrast to the glory days of Harry Redknapp, Jermaine Defoe, Peter Crouch et al. Ironically enough, when they were bringing the FA Cup and European football to Fratton Park, they were also bleeding it dry as well. Getting back to matters on the field and again it doesn’t make pleasant reading. Despite a good win over Liverpool last month, the club have went 3 games without a win, losing both their league games. Their away record is also extremely poor with just 1 win from 10 games – they have lost 7. Unsurprisingly they are the lowest scorers away from home as well, notching just 5 on the road.

Both sides will be depleted for Saturday’s match which makes betting on the game a little more dangerous than usual. The home side will be missing three key players in the shape of Hangeland, Pantsil and Zamora. All 3 have had good seasons so there’s no two ways about it, Fulham will miss their influence on the match. As for Pompey, those available is anyone’s guess. It’s unknown at this stage whether the loan players will be available for Saturday’s match but it is known who is definitely going to be absent. Hassan Yebda, Nadir Belhadj, Kanu and Aruna are all on International duty whilst David James is still injured.

Hodgson will be demanding a big performance from his side after a shambolic first half display on Wednesday night. Their 2^nd half performance was much more like the Fulham under the experienced manager. They have won 3 of their last 4 meetings with Portsmouth and with morale sure to be at an all time low for the away side, I’m taking them to comfortably make it 4 wins from their last 5 in this fixture.

My selections: Fulham to beat Portsmouth – available at 7/10 with extrabet

                            Fulham (-1) to beat Portsmouth – available at 7/4 with Coral

*THE ABOVE MATCH HAS NOW BEEN POSTPONED*

English Premier League

Wigan v Aston Villa

As things stand, this will be one of the few outdoor sporting events to take place in Britain over the weekend as Wigan confirmed they expect their match against Villa will be on tomorrow.

Wigan find themselves deep in trouble at the foot of the table as they currently sit in 16^th position – just a point of the relegation zone. It’s Roberto Martinez’s first season managing at this level so it’s no real surprise that he does suffer from naivety at times. His first XI is decent and more than capable of staying in the league this season, however tactics, team selections and lack of depth in the squad could yet lead them to the Championship. Wigan currently have the worst defensive record in the Premier League, conceding a staggering 44 goals in 19 matches. They have shipped 9 to Tottenham, 5 to Manchester United, 4 to Portsmouth and 4 to Arsenal. Granted, all 4 of these games came away from home. Their home record is not great either however, they are far too inconsistent at the DW Stadium. 3 wins, 3 draws and 3 defeats means you don’t know what to expect from Wigan. They have defeated Chelsea and drawn with Man City at home but at the same time, they’ve lost to Wolves and drawn with the likes of Blackburn. Martinez will need to address these inconsistencies in the 2^nd half of the season to stand any chance of staying up.

Martin O’Neill’s Villa responded well in the FA  Cup last week after a couple of successive defeats to Arsenal and Liverpool in the league. The midlands club are still bang in the shout for a top 4 finish as they are only 2 points off 4^th placed Spurs. There is plenty of rumours surrounding the club at present in the midst of the January transfer window so it will be interesting to see how O’Neill views his squad. Emile Heskey is at the centre of most and in my opinion; he’s too similar to John Carew. Villa need something a little bit different up top with Gabby Agbonlahor and his pace. A Robbie Keane type player would almost certainly improve their chances of Champions League football next season. As it stands, Villa know they will need to win these kind of games if they are to push on in the 2^nd half of the season. They fell away badly after Christmas last year so O’Neill will be under no illusions as to how important a win tomorrow will be. They have won 4 away from home already this season, drawing 3 and losing 3. Their defeat to Arsenal was their first away reverse in 4 so they certainly have the form to win tomorrow. They have won at the Stadium of Light, St Andrews, Anfield and Old Trafford so tomorrow’s game should not phase them.  

Wigan have no new injuries to report and welcome Serbian goalkeeper Vladimir Stojkovic to the fold as their reserve keeper Richard Kingson is on African Cup of Nations duty.  Villa should be able to call on both James Milner and Luke Young who had been carrying knocks. Milner especially will be a big boost as the former Newcastle and Leeds man has been in excellent form of late. Alongside Stan Petrov in the middle of the park, he’s scored goals, made goals and put in a massive shift for the team.

Aston Villa have won on their last 2 visits to the DW Stadium. They are in desperate need of a victory after a run of two defeats so I fully expect them to be wound up. Wigan are in as much of a need but for very different reasons. They are struggling at the bottom but if they are being honest, anything they get from this sort of fixture is a bonus. Their season will be affected by games against teams in and around them at the foot of the table. I think there will be goals in this match but I fully expect the away side to emerge victorious.

My selections: Aston Villa to beat Wigan – best odds available: 7/5 at William Hill

                            Over 2.5 goals – best odds available: 21/20 at Totesport

Good Luck and Happy punting!

Saturday 26^th December

English Premier League

Sunderland v Everton

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

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

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

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

My selection: Everton to beat Sunderland

Best odds available: 11/5 available with Victor Chandler

English Championship

Sheffield Wednesday v Newcastle United (12.45)

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

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

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

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

My selection: Newcastle to beat Sheffield Wednesday

Best odds available: 5/6 available with Victor Chandler

Scottish Premier League

Celtic v Hamilton

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Saturday 12^th December

English Championship

Watford v Derby County

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

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

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

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

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

My selection: Watford to beat Derby County

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

English Premier League

Manchester United v Aston Villa

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

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

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

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

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

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

English League one

Huddersfield v Gillingham

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

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

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

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

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

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

Saturday 5^th December

English Premier League

Manchester City v Chelsea

Money meets even more money as Mark Hughes’ City look to end their run of 7 successive league draws when they take on all conquering Chelsea who sit 5 points clear at the top of the table.

Man City have been something of an enigma all season long. They have flattered to deceive on occasions but at other times have been scintillating and shown glimpses of a side capable of matching the best. They’ve brushed Arsenal aside twice already this term, once in the league and once in the cup, whilst they have put in credible performances away to Liverpool and city rivals United but have come away with just one point from those two games. Their defeat in the derby game is, to date, their only loss in the league thus far which proves them as being one of the toughest nuts to crack in the EPL this season. They have, however, been let down with draws against the likes of Burnley, Fulham and Hull at home along with poor performance on the road at places such as Birmingham and Wigan. Even if they had won 3 of those games they would have been in a much healthier position than their current standing of 7^th, 3 points off 4^th placed Arsenal.

Chelsea have been very impressive all season. Not only have they been impressive, they’ve been extremely consistent for much of it as well. Apart from 2 slip up’s away to Wigan and Aston Villa, they have a flawless record with 12 wins from 14 matches. The ease of some of their wins has also caught the eye. Since losing 2-1 to Villa in October, they have won 6 in a row in the league, scored 17 and conceded 0. It is breathtaking form and it’s even more impressive when you take into account the fact that they have played Arsenal and Manchester United in that run of fixtures. These are two sides who lie 2^nd and 4^th in the league at this point in time so it’s safe to say that Carlo Ancelotti’s charges are sitting top because they are purely the best team in the country currently. Last week’s London derby at the Emirates was so comfortably for the away side it was scary. They were under very little pressure throughout the game but were quite willing to allow Arsenal to have the ball for much of the match, confident in their defensive ability to withstand the quick passing as they kept them 30 yards from goal. It was the footballing equivalent of keeping a midget at arm’s length if we’re being honest. Going forward they were powerful, clinical and precise. Didier Drogba and Nicholas Anelka have been excellent all season and they caused the Gunners all sorts of problems.

City proved earlier in the season that they can compete with the top four sides. They have not been embarrassed by any of Arsenal, Man United or Liverpool, far from it. The thing they have to do now is not only do they have to compete; they have to better them on a regular basis. They won’t get a much stiffer task than that of Chelsea in their current form. Emmanuel Adebayor will be their focal point in attack with Carlos Tevez almost certain to partner him after his goal in midweek. It will be interesting to see who operates on the left. Will Craig Bellamy, who turned in a man of the match performance in that game, be preferred to the now fit again Robinho? It’s difficult to say, Bellamy will certainly be more efficient in terms of the shape of the team and tracking back, but he doesn’t have the same ability as the little Brazilian.

Chelsea will line up very similar to that of last Sunday’s team with Drogba and Anelka supported by Joe Cole upfront. Their midfield trio of Lampard, Essien and the returning Michael Ballack is so strong it’s difficult to imagine City’s midfield dominating them.

People will tell you that the value pick is to go with City as they have lost just once all season and will be on a high after Wednesday’s win over Arsenal. However, there’s not many, if any, teams in World football at the moment who would get the better of Chelsea on form so I don’t see any other result other than an away win to make it 5 wins in a row for Chelsea at Eastlands.

My selection: Chelsea to beat Manchester City

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

English League 1

Swindon Town v Leyton Orient

Just a slightly less affluent fixture as we delve back into reality football when Danny Wilson’s inform Swindon entertain poor travellers Leyton Orient at the County ground.

Swindon have struck 3 wins together in the league on the bounce after a run of poor form which as seen them climb to 10^th and just 3 points off of the last play-off spot in a tightly congested league. They have had excellent wins over Tranmere Rovers and Carlisle away as well as a very decent win over highflying Huddersfield at home last time out in the league. They have lost just once at home and just the 3 in total so it’s no surprise that they have the promotion in their sights. They are arguably strongest in the midfield where they have a plethora of good players at this level. Simon Ferry is on loan from Celtic and has been a stand-out for Wilson’s men this season alongside Jonathan Douglas who joined from Leeds in the summer. These two make the side tick in the middle of the park so it’s important Douglas will be fit to take his place in the side.

Orient are sitting relatively safe with a 5 point cushion over 21^st placed Brighton but know they will have to start to improve their away form to make sure of their survival later in the season. Their home form is good with 7 points from a possible 9 most recent but they have failed to pick up a point away from home in the league since the beginning of October. In total, they have lost 6 on the road this season with their two successes coming against Wycombe and Bristol Rovers as well as a point against Yeovil. They have lost, amongst others, at Leeds, Huddersfield and Norwich.

Although Swindon are not quite at the level of the three teams mentioned above, they are still good and I think they’ll be too classy in the midfield for an Orient side who haven’t even managed a goal in their last 3 away reverses.

My selection: Swindon to beat Leyton Orient

Best price available: 4/5 available with several bookmakers including Coral

Scottish Premier League

Celtic v Aberdeen

Third and final preview takes us North to Scotland as league leaders Celtic will be looking to stay top as they take on a buoyant Dons side who defeated the other team from Glasgow last weekend when they were victorious against Rangers at Pittodrie.

Celtic have been strong at home this season with 4 wins and 2 draws from their 6 matches. They have been inconsistent away from home but still remain hard to get the better of when they are infront of their home fans. In the last week they have beaten St Mirren 3-1 and won 2-0 in Europe against Tel Aviv, both at Parkhead. In both those games, the winning margin could have been much greater with missed chances aplenty. It is likely Tony Mowbray will line up with Scott McDonald and Giorgios Samaras in attack for the 3^rd successive match with big money signing Marc Antoine Fortune once again on the bench. It’s midfield where Celtic create most of their opportunities with Aiden McGeady in fine form of late and the midfield partnership of Landry N’Guemo and Marc Crosas beginning to show signs of blossoming.

Aberdeen have been mean on the road and have the 2^nd best away defensive record. Mark McGhee has attempted to build from the back and has worked to an extent. They will be on a high following their 1-0 win over Rangers last weekend but will have to do without their captain Mark Kerr for Saturday’s visit as he was sent off in that game. They have already kept two clean sheets against Rangers this season but that does not really tell the story. Rangers missed chance after chance in both games and let Aberdeen off the hook on so many occasions.

I don’t envisage this being too much of a test for Celtic other than their own poor finishing. Aberdeen worked so hard last week, especially when down to 10 men and they’ll find it hard to reach those same levels again so soon after, especially away from home. Celtic will create chances, there is nothing surer so providing their strikers are in form, and I think they’re due a big home win, I can see them winning starting minus a goal.

My selection: Celtic (-1) to beat Aberdeen

Best odds available: 11/10 available with Skybet

Good luck and happy punting

Saturday 28^th November

English Premier League

Fulham v Bolton Wanderers

Fulham play their 3^rd match in 7 days when they come up against Gary Megson’s Bolton Wanderers who will be determined to halt their recent run of bad form having lost their last 3 matches in the league.

Roy Hodgson’s charges have had a hectic season to date having already played 22 games in all competitions thanks to their involvement in the Europa League. They have also had to contend with key personnel being injured with the likes of Danny Murphy, Andy Johnson and Diomansay Kamara missing large chunks of the season to date. All that considered, they are in decent enough shape in the league at the moment as they currently sit in 10^th position, 4 points off of 5^th place. They have gathered most of their points at Craven Cottage, amassing 4 wins from 6 matches. They have defeated the likes of Liverpool, Everton and most recently triumphed over Blackburn in midweek. Their only two defeats at the Cottage this term have been against Arsenal and Chelsea which is no disgrace at all. Hodgson has turned their home ground into something of a fortress and any visitor knows they’ll have to be at the top of their game to come away with anything.

Bolton, after a decent run of form at the end of September and beginning of October have started to slide down the table. Currently in 18^th position, they have conceded 11 in their last 3 matches, scoring just once and gaining zero points. Their latest match against Blackburn was arguably the poorest of their season thus far as they never looked capable of getting much from the game from the first few minutes. Rovers, who were searching for their first away win of the season, dominated large parts of the game and as soon as they opened the scoring they never looked in any real danger. One of Bolton’s problems is the main striker position. They have tried several players in the position but no-one has made it their own and this results in a lack of fluency going forward. Unfortunately for Megson and his side, the other main problem is that they give the opposition too many chances throughout the 90 minutes making them more likely to concede. It’s not often a trait you associate with Gary Megson’s side’s, they are normally hard to beat and stubborn but this season they have shipped 26 goals in 12 games, which equates to more than two goals a game.

Despite key injuries in the last 3^rd of the part for the Cottagers, they still have a lot of options available for Saturday and good ones at that. Erik Nevland and Clint Dempsey both got on the scoresheet on Wednesday night against Rovers so they have staked their claim ahead of Saturday’s match. Hodgson also has the likes of Damien Duff, Jonathan Greening and Zoltan Gera whilst Johnson should be fit enough for the bench on his comeback from injury. Duff and Dempsey especially will cause immense problems for most teams in the league so Bolton’s porous defence will be under pressure from the off. Their movement and ability to make telling contributions at vital stages of the game is crucial to Fulham’s style of play and with a predator like Nevland lurking, they are liable to score goals from the first minute to the last.

Bolton have actually won more games on the road this season than they have at home which is surprising considering the amount of teams which used to struggle at the Reebok. Their wins, however, have come against Birmingham and Portsmouth who, no disrespect, are not as potent at home as Fulham are.

Fulham have had the better of this fixture in recent years having won 3 of the last 4 meetings at the Cottage in the league. Bolton just give too many chances away for my liking and I think the home side’s attacking players will be too much for the visitors.

My selection: Fulham to beat Bolton Wanderers

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

English Championship

Newcastle v Swansea

First versus fourth at St James’ Park on Saturday as Paulo Sousa and his Swansea side travel north to take on league leaders Newcastle who are still unbeaten at home this season.

Newcastle have dusted themselves down and got on with the job at hand after their relegation at the end of last season. They have managed to retain most of their squad with a couple of exceptions but look all the better for it. Chris Houghton has been appointed as manager until the end of the season and this has had a massive, positive effect on the club and its players. One of the most noticeable things about Newcastle this season is they don’t have that one superstar in their team this season that they have had in the last decade or so. It used to be Alan Shearer for so long and he passed the torch to the injury ravaged Michael Owen. Nowadays, they are much more of a team and unit.

Swansea City, after a pretty slow start under their new manager, have rejuvenated their season with a run of 11 games unbeaten in the league which has propelled them right up the table. Sousa has built from the back and made them stuffy, resilient and hard to score against. They currently have the 2^nd best defensive record (Newcastle have the best) conceding just 12 goals. Their defence on the road is the best, losing just 5 goals in 8 games. Scoring goals has proved problematic however as they are the lowest scorers in the division with Craig Beattie their top scorer on a measly 3 strikes.

Watching Newcastle on Monday night away to Preston was interesting due to the fact that it was almost inevitable that they were going to win the game no matter how much North End threw at them, you always felt United would nick a goal and take all 3 points. It of course did happen and proves yet again that the better teams in the division win games despite not playing all that well. They will create chances at home and have proven even harder to beat at St James’ with 6 wins and 2 draws from 8 games.

I can’t see the game being pretty or having a plethora of goals (cue a 3-3 draw) with such good defences on show. I can, however, see the home side creating a couple of really good opportunities and taking at least one of them such is the form they’re on at the moment. Swansea, I feel, will have to score to get something from the match, at least once, which I think is debatable given their poor scoring record. As a result I think Newcastle will take all 3 points and strengthen their position at the top of the league.

My selection: Newcastle to beat Swansea

Best price available: 5/6 available with Bet365

English Championship

Sheffield Wednesday v West Brom

Sheffield Wednesday, searching for their first win in 6, look to have it all to do against 2^nd placed West Bromwich Albion at Hillsborough.

I tipped against Wednesday last week when opting to go for Ipswich, and but for a masterclass in goalkeeping by Lee Grant, I would have been right. As it was, the keeper had a day out and saved his side, earning a good point in the process. Their home record is better than their form on the road so their fans will be expecting them to be more threatening and adventurous on Saturday. They have already defeated Coventry, Cardiff and Scunthorpe on their own patch this season but they’ll be up against one of, if not the best, side in the Championship when West Brom come calling.

Roberto Di Matteo has fitted in really well with WBA’s footballing philosophy since joining as Manager from MK Dons in July. His side play the best football in the division and have proved too much for so many teams already this season. They are currently the highest scorers in the division, averaging more than two goals a game. They have lost the one game in their last 7, a run which has included thumping wins against Watford and Bristol City and an excellent away victory over Leicester City.

Simon Cox has taken a while to get fully fit after an injury at the start of the season but the £2m signing from Swindon is beginning to find his feet leading the line for the Baggies. Cox has scored twice in his last 3 matches and will fancy of notching against Wednesday who have shipped 4 goals in their last two home games. Cox doesn’t just bring goals to the team, his overall play has made a big difference to West Brom who at times lacked a potent attacking threat up top.

West Brom have brushed aside better teams than Sheffield Wednesday already this season and I for one can’t see Brian Laws’ men getting anything from Saturday’s match. This one is easy enough for me anyway, away win.

My selection: West Brom to beat Sheffield Wednesday

Best odds available: 23/20 available with 888Sport

Good luck and happy punting

Saturday 21^st November

English Championship

Watford v Scunthorpe

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

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

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

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

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

My selection: Watford to beat Scunthorpe

Best odds available: 5/6 with Victor Chandler

English Championship

Ipswich Town v Sheffield Wednesday

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

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

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

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

My selection: Ipswich to beat Sheffield Wednesday

Best odds available: Evens with several bookmakers including Skybet

English League 1

Millwall v Wycombe

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

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

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

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

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

Best odds available: 13/10 at Sportingbet

Good lucky and Happy punting

Saturday 14^th November (12.05)

English League 1

Huddersfield v Wycombe Wanderers

As there is no Premier League or Championship matches this week we delve into League 1 for our first selection of the week as promotion hopefuls Huddersfield entertain bottom of the table Wanderers in the lunchtime kick off live on Sky Sports.

‘Field’s manager Lee Clark strengthened his pack throughout the summer knowing that big things were expected of his side after their strong end to last season. Amongst his signings were Jordan Rhodes, a young striker who plied his trade with Brentford last season. Rhodes has made the step up remarkably well, scoring 9 goals already this term. He has been ably assisted by Theo Robinsons who joined from Southend and has 5 goals to his name this season. Their partnership upfront has been the cornerstone for Huddersfield’s strong current form which has seen them win 4 of their last 5 games, scoring 16 goals in the process.

Wycombe find themselves cast adrift at the foot of the table, with 1 league win all season and on to their 2^nd manager of the season with Gary Waddock taking over from Peter Taylor. Wanderers main problem before the change in manager was their inability to score goals. Waddock has attempted to rectify that problem and in their last 5 matches in all competitions, they have scored 10 which is a massive improvement. The problem now lies in trying to keep them out at the back, in the same run of games they have shipped 13 which has meant results have not improved drastically. It’s no surprise that they have become more entertaining to watch under Waddock who has a reputation for neglecting the defensive record in favour of his teams going out for the win. It was the same when he was Aldershot manager and it has carried over to his new job.

Huddersfield have been particularly impressive at home this term, unbeaten on their own patch with 5 wins and 2 draws from their 7 league matches, scoring 20 and conceding a measly 3 goals at home all season. Wycombe’s away form is the polar opposite, no wins from 7 and just a total of 3 points on the road all season.

Leeds look likely to runaway with the League 1 Championship this term so it’s a fight for the 2^nd automatic promotion spot and the 4 play-off places. 9 points currently separate the faltering Charlton in 2^nd place and Oldham in 13^th. That gap is next to nothing in this league and Huddersfield will know that they must keep winning to remain in the promotion picture, especially these matches which are at home against struggling opposition. They have had no problems of late achieving this feat with Brentford and Exeter brushed aside with considerable ease.

Waddock looks incapable of changing his style and attacking nature, so with that in mind I’m going to select a couple of bets in favour of the home side in this match. First off, Huddersfield have scored in both halves of their matches at home in 4 of their wins. That bet is a 5/6 chance with William Hill. The other bet I like is Huddersfield on the handicap minus a goal.

They have dismantled the last 3 visitors to their stadium and I can see this being a similar story tomorrow.

My selections: Huddersfield to score in both halves against Wycombe

Best odds available: 5/6 with William Hilll

Huddersfield (-1) to beat Wycombe

Best odds available: 13/10 available with Bet365

Walsall v Stockport County

Another match up in League 1 see’s inform Walsall at home to struggling Stockport County who are in desperate trouble at the wrong end of the table with 3 points from their last 6 games.

Walsall have improved of late and find themselves well in the promotion picture in League 1, just 4 points of the last play-off position. Chris Hutchings brought in 10 players over the summer, with 5 going out. Two of these players are veterans of the lower leagues, Darren Byfield and Steve Jones. The attackers have a total of 9 goals between them this season whilst Jones has scored in each of his last 3 matches. They have been hard to beat at the Bescott, losing only once in the league, however up until the last month, their problem was drawing too many games at home. 4 of their 7 home games have resulted in stalemates this season but their last 3 home games; they have accumulated 7 points from a possible 9.  

Stockport have had massive financial problems to deal with over the last year and it’s been no surprise that these problems have transcended on to the playing and coaching staff resulting in County losing more matches than they’ve been winning. The biggest surprise has actually been that there is currently 3 teams below them in the league, even with Southampton’s 10 points deduction. There has been no less than 16 player departures in the last year with 7 new arrivals in that time .There was no other option available other than to drastically slash the wage bill and the task facing manager Gary Ablett is an unenviable one. They started the season in an adequate fashion with 4 defeats from their opening 11 matches in all competitions. The problem has been with such a small squad, injuries, suspensions and player fatigue hurts even more. Their last 6 league matches have been damaging with 5 defeats from 6, their only success coming against a side below them in the league, Tranmere Rovers.

Walsall have found the knack of turning draws into wins at home whilst Stockport are finding it hard to cope with the demands of Cup football mixed with league matches. With that in mind and the fact Steve Jones is in such good form for the home side means I’m siding with Walsall.

My selection: Walsall to beat Stockport

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