Scottish Premier League

Sunday 2nd October

Scottish Premier League

Hearts v Celtic

The chances are Celtic will be ten points behind Rangers when they travel to Edinburgh to face Hearts so despite it only being October, it becomes a must win game for Neil Lennon’s men.

Paulo Sergio is not everyone’s cup of tea at Tynecastle and has work to do in order to win over the Hearts faithful. After replacing Jim Jefferies in August, the former Sporting Lisbon manager has failed to build on the success that Jefferies had last season. The odd good performance, mainly at home, has been undone by half hearted displays on the road, most recently against St Johnstone last weekend when they lost 2-0 in a match that they never looked likely to get anything from. It was the fifth away game in the league for them this season and they are still without a win on their travels. They’re still fourth in the table but with only three wins to their names it’s simply not good enough for the club who are supposed to be the third biggest in the country. That said, they have won three out of four at Tynecastle, including their last three without conceding a goal, so they are strong on their own patch.

Neil Lennon’s men had victory snatched from them on Thursday night in the Europa League when a late penatly denied them all three points against Udinese. Most fans consider tomorrow’s match to be the biggest game of the week however as last months defeat to Rangers, added to the fact that their will have played two league games since Celtic’s last match at home to Inverness, means there is little margin for error, even this early in the season. Celtic have stuttered at times this season even when winning matches. Last Saturday’s 2-0 win at home was not without a few scares as the centre of defence looks anything but solid. The Hoops have won every other away game apart from at Ibrox so they are strong on the road but they usually find it difficult in Edinburgh.

The last time these sides met back in May, Lennon was attacked by a Hearts supporter whilst celebrating Celtic’s second goal. It provided proof, if there was a need for it, that this game can bring the worst out in supporters as well as the staff. There is a poisonous element amongst the Hearts support when Celtic visit which does not seem to be prevelant against any other SPL team. Lennon will be the first to say that his concentration will be solely on his side gathering all the points as opposed to matters off the field.

Joe Ledley is a doubt for Celtic as he came off at half time against Udinese whilst Scott Brown still remains out due to injury. It means that even more responsbility will be heaped on the shoulders of Beram Kayal as the stand in captain looks to lead his players to a victory which would boost everyone in and around the club. Hearts may well look to John Sutton upfront despite the striker being out of favour for much of the season. Sergio has stated that he is not a fan of the Englishman but his strong style of play could unsettle a Celtic defence who have been exposed several times already this season.

Celtic ran out comfortable winners in May despite all the troubles and events off the park but they’re not playing as well at the moment. That being said, it really is a must win game for the Bhoys. If they lose then the minimum deficit would be seven points and that’s huge to claw back when the competition is so thin on the ground. I can’t see the title race being over in October so for that reason alone, I’m siding with the away team to take all three points.

My Selection: Celtic to beat Hearts

Best odds available: 8/11 available with PaddyPower

The early start of the Scottish Premier League season may be causing upset to many fans, managers and players, but it does signal the return of some great online football betting opportunities. Rangers are the defending champions, but Celtic are being tipped by many to wrestle the title away from them this season. The big two will be the prominent forces against this year, and while the action starts on the weekend, we need to look at some of the Scottish football betting promotions which you can pick up around the web.

Gary Hooper shone so well for Celtic last season and Celtic fans will be hoping that the deadly striker can fire them to glory this year. Celtic start their season away from home, but with Hibs showing poorly last season, there could be the opportunity for goals. If Gary Hooper scores the last goal of this match, then Boylesports will refund losing stakes placed on a host of markets. Refunds will be paid out on First Goalscorer, Last Goalscorer, Anytime Goalscorer, Score 2 or More, Hat Trick and Scorecast bets placed on the match, if Hooper is the last scorer of the game. Great value for your Hibs v Celtic betting, and Boylesports welcome their new customers with a £40 free bet when you place a first bet of £20 or more on a new account.

BetFred 5 Goals Special

If there are five goals or more scored during the Hibernian v Celtic, or Rangers v Hearts matches on the weekend, BetFred will refund all losing First and Last Goal Scorer, Correct Score and Scorecast bets placed on the match. The coverage on this is up to £200, so provides some great insurance. When new customers register an account with BetFred ,they can receive a free bet up to the value of £50. Place a first bet on a new account of £5 or more, and receive a free bet from BetFred, to the same value, up to that £50 limit!

Paddy Power Money Back Special

If there are four or more goals scored during the weekend’s big matches of Hibs v Celtic and Rangers v Hearts (that’s four goals in the individual matches, not combined of course) then popular bookie Paddy Power will refund all losing First Goalscorer, Last Goalscorer, Correct Score and Scorecast singles placed on a match. The highly rated bookie welcomes new customers to their website with a £50 free bet as well. Sign up for a new account and the bookie will match your first stake, up to the value of £50 as a free bet!

Bet365 Bore Draw

Don’t forget that highly recommended online bookie Bet365 constantly run their 0-0 bore draw promotion. When you have a pre-match bet on any football match at Bet365, if the match finishes as a bore draw, then the bookie will refund any Correct Score, Half Time/Full Time, or Scorecast bets which have been placed on that match. This is great ongoing insurance for your football betting from one of the most highly rated bookies available. Bet365 offer a massive £200 free bet for new customers registering an account with them.

The Scottish Premier League, for all its criticism and discussions over change of format to a 10 team Premier League, it starts off the first serious domestic football betting opportunities. The English Premier League doesn’t start until August 13th, but the Scots are getting a good three week head start over most of Europe. This enraged Inverness boss Terry Butcher, who is livid at the short summer break the league has had, and questions whether the teams will really be ready for the early start of the new season. The limited time has affected the preparations of clubs bringing in new players, and getting new players fit into the squad. Most clubs have been vocal in their opposition to such an early start for the league, but regardless, for all the down sides of the league starting so early, it is here again, and the action starts on July 23rd. Naturally your Scottish Premier League outright betting is going towards the big Glasgow duo of Rangers and Celtic, but Hearts are drawing a lot of outsider bets, as they have assembled a decent squad who can challenge. But once again ,just a look at last year’s finishing table, where third placed Hearts finished a massive thirty points behind winners Rangers, suggests that the gap is really not as close as neutral fans, as well as Hearts supporters really want it to be. It is hard to see the 2011/12 Scottish Premier League title not going back to Glasgow. That means your betting options are limited a little bit, but because the two main sides here are so closely matched, there is still value on having a punt on either one. Here we take a look at the setups of the two clubs as the new season hits Scotland.

Glasgow Rangers

Rangers are the defending champions after beating Celtic to the finish post by a single point last season. There as been a big change at the top, with Ally McCoist stepping into the full managerial role. The big question is whether or not he can fill the immense boots of the departing Walter Smith, who brought the league title back to Ibrox for the past three seasons. Is McCoist ready? Well, there is no time like the present, and McCoist has been learning his trade for the past five years at Ibrox. The club was taken over by Craig Whyte in the summer, but there has not been a major influx of new players coming to the club despite the financial security. McCoist has had money at his disposal after being fully backed by the new man in charge, but actually spending that money on the players that they want has been far from easy. Rangers have had several bids for players rejected, and time is running out on them to get players signed before the Champions League deadline. But, McCoist is insistent that they are just not going to throw money around freely, they are going to do things the right way, even if that means being a little bit more patient. Rangers have lost a few free agents, but most of last season’s championship winning squad is there. With the rush to get back into the game, Rangers have not had the most impressive of pre season friendly result, as they failed to win any of their three tour matches out in Germany. They did respond a little bit better when they best Linfield and then Blackpool ahead of their season opener in the Scottish Premier League on Saturday. We are unlikely to see much difference between Rangers of last season and this. The style will be the same, as McCoist has been Walter Smith’s apprentice, and won’t see any drastic need to chance a winning formula. Things are pretty settled at Glasgow Rangers, but after only squeezing home by a point last year, Rangers know that Celtic will be gunning for them. The priority has to be the Scottish Premier League title against for the Gers, and getting back into the Champions League. The one question mark about Rangers, is whether or not they have the strength in depth compared to rivals Celtic. Rangers do roll out a good defence, and they are hard to break down, as Manchester United found in last year’s Champions League. If they can add to the depth in the squad, then Rangers should be in the hunt. This is a high pressure season for McCoist, as they are very much on a par with Celtic, and then it could come down to management decisions, so the heat will be on. A good start is crucial for McCoist and Rangers.
Prediction: 2nd

Glasgow Celtic

While rivals Rangers will be hoping that new boss Ally McCoist can pick up where the successful Walter Smith left off, Celtic will be hoping that boss Neil Lennon finally delivers. One advantage that Celtic do have over Rangers, is that they have a much stronger squad in terms of depth, ability and variety. Celtic have gone steadily through their pre season, most recently picking up a comfortable 1-0 away at English Premier League new boys Cardiff, in which Celtic’s goal was rarely threatened. That came off the back of a successful tour of Australia, as Celtic prepare to wrestle the Scottish Premier League title away from Rangers. Celtic are a good, creative threat going forward, and the youthful side plays with a great deal of tenacity and vigour. Neil Lennon really put up a good fight with Rangers last season, and Celtic did play with a lot of consistency. Their defence was really aided by their powerful attacking play, because teams couldn’t get near their back line. In many people’s eyes, Celtic, because they have a little more cut and thrust, a more complete and youthful squad than Rangers, are favourites to win the Scottish Premier League this time around. Although they ended up with the best defensive record last season, there is a small question mark of their defensive line when they get bombarded in physical games. However, you know that Celtic will score plenty as they push forward. After losing the league title and the League Cup final to Rangers, Celtic and Neil Lennon in particular need a bounce back season. Celtic, like Rangers have not been splashing the cash around much in the summer break, and will want to take as much fluency and consistency over from last season as possible.
Prediction: 1st

2011/12 Scottish Premier League Winner Odds

Celtic: 5/6 at SportingBet
Rangers: Events at Totesport
Hearts: 66/1 at BetFred

Saturday 30^th October

English Premier League

Everton v Stoke City – Betting Preview

Everton and Stoke are level on points going in to tomorrow’s match at Goodison, so both sides will be desperate for points in an attempt to climb the table.

Everton are notoriously slow starters to their league campaigns and this season was no different. Without a win in the league until the start of October, Davie Moyes’ side are now unbeaten in their last three league games, amassing seven points. The last three games have been difficult fixtures away to Birmingham and Spurs, as well as the derby match at home to Liverpool. What Everton have done differently is play in a more attacking manner with an out and out centre forward. Yakubu has acted as a target upfront in recent games and although not scoring, he’s bringing others into the game, being a nuisance and causing havoc for centre halves. Before he was deployed as a sole strike, Moyes tended to go with Tim Cahill as the furthest man up the park. His strength is coming from deep and arriving late into the box from midfield, which he has been doing to great effect in the last month.

Tony Pulis has done a remarkable job since returning to Stoke City for the second stint as manager in 2006. He, and the club, are now embarking on their third consecutive season in England’s top flight after comfortably securing their status in the league for the previous two seasons. This season has witnessed Stoke being a bit more adventurous both on and off the park. Kenwyne Jones was added to the squad for a club record £8m during the summer, whilst other new additions included Jonathan Walters from Ipswich, Jermaine Pennant from Real Zaragoza and arguably their most surprising signing, Eidur Gudjohnsen on loan from Monaco. Their points total is probably a bit less than their performances have deserved with 10 points from nine games. Their away record boasts one win and three defeats, with their sole success being a victory over Newcastle at the end of September.

Everton will be hoping Mikel Arteta has recovered from the injury which forced him out of last week’s draw at White Hart Lane. The Spaniard is arguably the Toffee’s most important player and when on form, is as good as anyone else in the Premier League. Stoke have doubts over both Jones and Pennant for tomorrow’s match. Both have been shrewd signings up until this point so Pulis will be desperate for them to make the trip North.

Stoke have not recorded a win of any kind over Everton for 28 years, whilst it’s been even longer since they were victorious at Goodison Park. Everton have won four of the last five meetings when they have been at home and with the run of form of late, added to their well known reputation as being a ‘streak team’, I believe they will have more than enough to see of tomorrow’ visitors.

My selection: Everton to beat Stoke City

Best odds available: 4/7 available with several bookmakers including Skybet

Scottish Premier League

Motherwell v Hamilton – Betting Preview

For those unaware, Motherwell and Hamilton have a fierce rivalry in Scottish football so tomorrow’s match at Fir Park has all the hallmarks of being a battle more than anything else.

Craig Brown has done a fantastic job since taking over the Motherwell manager’s role at Christmas last season; leading them from a relegation struggle to currently sitting in clear third place heading into November. Brown has only ever managed one side in Scottish football (20 years ago) before taking the hot seat at Fir Park in December 2009, so it was something of a risk for him to be given the reins at a club who had serious problems last term. He has, however, rebuilt an ailing side with a lot of younger and inexperienced players. One such addition is Nick Blackman who is on loan for the season from Blackburn Rovers. Just 22, Blackman has been a real gem of a signing with four goals already to his name. He’s linked up well with both John Sutton and Jamie Murphy, both of whom have benefited from the attributes that Blackman brings to the side with his pace, power and strength.

Hamilton have had to contend with the sale of their key players over the last couple of years. The likes of James McCarthy, James McArthur and Brian Easton have all departed for the English Premier League. Their loss has also been added to with injuries to Alex Neil and Mark McLaughlin, experienced campaigners who form the backbone of Accies team. Despite those losses and absences, Billy Reid has managed to keep his side competitive and in the SPL since 2008. This season has very much followed the previous one’s in terms of points and position in the table with six points out of a possible 27, and rooted to second point, just a point of bottom place. That being said, some of their performances have been pretty decent. They went ahead against Parkhead, lost out to Rangers in the very last minute and were 2-0 up away to St Mirren before only leaving with a point. Silly individual mistakes added to a lack of concentration are costly ingredients which Reid will have to expel from his players if they wish to survive in the SPL for another reason.

Motherwell have won two and drawn one of their last three home games, whilst their only defeat in the last eight games in all competitions was away to Rangers. They are in good form and they are difficult to beat. ‘Well also have the edge on their opponents in the derby games in recent years at Fir Park with 4 wins from their last 5 in all competitions. I think there will be goals in tomorrow’s game as Hamilton have managed to score at Parkhead and at home to Rangers, and both teams have scored in the last 6 matches involving Hamilton. I also believe Motherwell have the ammunition to gain all three points however, in their attempt to solidify third position.

My selection: Motherwell to beat Hamilton at a best priced 5/6 available with Victor Chandler

                           Both teams to score at a best priced 4/5 available with Stan James

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

Saturday 21^st August

English Championship

Burnley v Leicester

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

My selection: Burnley to beat Leicester City

Best odds available: 11/10 available at Bet365

Scottish Premier League

Hamilton v Hearts (12.00)

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

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

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

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

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

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

My selections: Hearts to beat Hamilton

Best odds available: 8/5 available with William Hill

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

Saturday 20^th March

English Premier League

Wigan v Burnley

Seems like every week there is a massive game at the bottom of the Premier League and this weekend is no different as Burnley make the short trip to the DW Stadium to take on Wigan.

Roberto Martinez is known for being a manager who likes to play attractive football and his Swansea team were prolific goalscorers, a team which included some fantastic footballers. His summer switch to Wigan, however, has witnessed a switch in his ethos, basically because he’s been forced to. He’s at a club who will perennially struggle in the top league and as such will have to battle. He has opted to go one up for most of their games recently and have decided to pack the midfield, especially away from home. Hugo Rodallega had led the line pretty well, and got the winning goal against Liverpool a fortnight ago. He’s been ably supported by James McCarthy and Charles N’Zogbia, two players who love getting forward and have proven to be real goal threats. Their most recent home game was a 2-1 defeat to 4^th placed chasing Aston Villa in midweek. It was a very close encounter and could easily have went either way, Wigan were probably unlucky losers and deserved a draw at least.

Burnley are losing ground fast on the pack above them after some crucial defeats in recent weeks. They lost to Portsmouth at home, which was followed by an expected defeat at the Emirates. Their two most recent games were home matches against Stoke and Wolves – they only managed a solitary point from these games which was surely a crushing blow for Brian Laws and his side. Owen Coyle had the same problems Laws has had on the road, i.e. no wins and losing a lot of goals, but his home form was so much better and it’s hard to see where Burnley will pick up the required points from in the coming weeks. They’ve not won a match since the beginning of February, which was in turn, their first success since the end of October. That makes it just one win in 14 league games, it really is a horrendous record and the only surprise is that they’re not cast adrift even more.

These sides met at Turf Moor back in October and Wigan notched a rare away success with a 2-1 victory. Martinez may have to do without one of his better players tomorrow however, with N’Zogbia really struggling after getting taken off in midweek. He was replaced by January signing Victor Moses so it’s likely he’ll get the nod again should the winger not make it. Moses has found the step up from Championship football to the Premier League, pretty hard thus far so if he does play tomorrow he must impress. Burnley will go with 2 from 3 upfront, with Steven Fletcher, David Nugent and Martin Paterson all looking to start. They must be tighter at the back though if they are to have any chance of winning tomorrow, they’ve lost an early goal far too many times in recent games which leaves them with an uphill battle, one they’ve lost many times before.

I think Wigan are decent at home whilst Burnley are terrible away so with that in mind, I think Wigan will do the double over the Lancashire rivals. They’ve shown against Liverpool and Villa that they’re a better side than their league position shows so I’m hoping they have the belief to continue this tomorrow.

My selection: Wigan to beat Burnley at a best priced 4/5 available with Skybet

Scottish Premier League

Celtic v St Johnstone

The league looks to be long gone for Celtic so some would argue that this is a dead rubber with St Johnstone safe from relegation – Celtic do not play meaningless games.

Tony Mowbray has been under huge amounts of pressure since becoming Celtic manager back in June, and that pressure has only increased in recent weeks as his side languish 13 points behind leaders, and arch rivals, Rangers. His main problem has been trying to find a settled 11 and his strongest possible side. There have been massive changes in the 9 months he’s been in charge and with a load of injuries as well, it’s not completely Mowbray’s fault. He was left with a stale side, a stale club infact, but he rejected the chance to overhaul the playing squad in the summer transfer window, choosing to see what he had to play with before chopping and changing in January – the gamble has not paid off. Since bringing in 8 new players 2 months ago, Celtic have won 5, lost 2 and drawn 1, with two of those wins coming in the Scottish Cup.

St Johnstone have had a fantastic season so far on their return to the SPL. Derek McInnes and his side won in midweek to move to within 3 points of the top six, with 2 games in hand. It’s a remarkable achievement for a newly promoted side and the most impressive thing is they’ve done it playing really attractive football. They have scored the 3^rd most goals in the league which is superb considering they have more potent attacks than clubs such as Hibs, Dundee United and Hearts. They still, however, have a negative goal difference as they have conceded 46 goals already this season. McInnes deserves huge credit for his style of play and also because he’s not made massive changes to the side that won promotion. He has brought in some new players over the season but he has, in the main, stayed loyal to those that put in all the hard work last season.

These sides have already met twice this season with Celtic coming out victorious on both occasions. They were 5-2 victors back in August at Parkhead and won 4-1 in Perth in January. Marc Antoine Fortune has enjoyed both games as the striker has scored four goals in total against the Super J’s. He’s proved really hard to handle for their defenders with his power and pace upfront. I expect Celtic to win and win comfortably but St Johnstone will create chances and it should be another open game. Robbie Keane has scored Celtic’s first goal in 3 of the last 4 Celtic’s games as well as claiming a hat-trick last time out. He’s in excellent form and won’t be far away from the scoresheet tomorrow.

My selection:  Marc Antoine Fortune to score anytime at a best priced 5/4 available with Bet365

                            Robbie Keane to score 1^st at a best priced 7/2 available with Bet365

                            Over 3.5 goals at a best priced 11/8 available with Boylesports

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

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

Apologies for the late post, I was holding off as much as possible to see which games will survive the horrific weather conditions in the country today.

 Saturday 19^th December

Scottish Premier League

St Johnstone v St Mirren

Gus McPherson takes his St Mirren side to MacDiarmid Park to take on St Johnstone in a match that will give the victors some much needed breathing space at the foot of the table.

The home side have earned many plaudits from other clubs managers and supporters for their exciting approach to the game. They have the 5^th highest goals for in the league which is no mean feat for a side who have just been promoted to the top league in Scotland. They have, however, conceded the most amount of goals in the league, with 29, 4 more than any other team. Their cause is not likely to be helped today with Derek McInnes’ missing at least 7 players for today’s match. One of those who is definitely out of the game is Collin Samuel. The striker is not only his teams top scorer, he’s also arguably their most important player. He leads the line well and gives them the option to go in behind with his pace.

St Mirren have struggled for wins off late, with none in their last 6 league matches. It’s a bit of surprise that they have struggled as much lately, especially after comfortable wins over Hearts and Falkirk in October. They have missed their talisman Andy Dorman in recent weeks as the Welsh International has picked up a long term injury. His absence has taken away a lot of the creativity from the St Mirren side. The emphasis for McPherson’s side is now more on getting the ball up earlier to their physical strikers, Michael Higdon and Billy Mehmet. Both were troublesome for the Falkirk defence last week, with the former netting a spectacular goal in the 1-1 draw.

The spoils were shared when these sides last met back in September. The parks were far better than what they are now, the players were fresher and there was still a surprise element to St Johnstone’s style of play. 3 month’s on, the parks are beginning to cut up, the  squads are  suffering from injuries and suspension and there is the suspicion that other teams are becoming wise to McInnes’ tactics. This is highlighted by a defeat to Kilmarnock in their last home match. Killie, much like St Mirren, were coming off the back of a poor run of form and their style of play is very similar to that of Gus McPherson’s side. With that in mind, and with the amount of key players the home side are missing, I just feel that St Mirren have the knack of winning against teams in and around them, especially when they’re not playing too well.

My selection: St Mirren to beat St Johnstone

Best odds available: 9/4 available with several bookmakers including Coral

English League 1

Norwich v Huddersfield

A match between these two sides at this time of year has all the makings of a Christmas cracker as Paul Lambert’s 3^rd placed City play host to 5^th placed Town.

Paul Lambert has transformed the fortunes of the Carrow road side since his appointment in August. He has got the team playing exciting and productive football which has catapulted them up the league table, sitting comfortably within the play-off positions and with a real chance of automatic promotion. He has built his side around his captain, Grant Holt. The prolific striker has already notched 13 goals this season since his move from Shrewsbury in the summer. It’s not just goals which Holt brings to the side; he is an excellent team player. He holds the ball up, he links up well with the midfield and is always willing to work back to help out his defenders. His performances, coupled with the consistent displays by his team-mates, have resulted in only 1 defeat in 16 league matches. This is a staggering run of form at any time in any league, but it’s even more impressive when it’s a new manager in such a fiercely competitive league.

I’ve previewed Huddersfield several times already this season so I think we all know what I think of them. I am a big fan of their attacking philosophy both home and away and I fully expect them to be in the promotion shake-up at the end of the season. Lee Clark will know that these games will be the true test of how far his team has come this season as Norwich have only lost 1 game at home all season, and that was under former manager Bryan Gunn. Town have let themselves down on the road this season, picking up just 8 points from a possible 30. They will know that they have to improve on their travels, sooner rather than later.

Having watched both sides on a couple of occasions this term, I think this will be an open match with more than a couple of goals and both sides scoring. The managers are attacking by nature and set their teams up to win games. Huddersfield showed a couple of weeks ago when drawing 2-2 at Elland Road that they are able to give anyone a game, home or away. Norwich, however, are very strong at home and I just think that Holt and Chris Martin will pose too much of a threat to a porous Huddersfield defence.

My selection:  Norwich to beat Huddersfield

Best odds available: 11/10 available with several bookmakers including Bet365

Sunday 20^th December

Scottish Premier League

Hearts v Celtic

This fixture has proved to be problematic for Celtic in recent times as they never get it easy when travelling to Tynecastle to take on suspension and injury ravaged Hearts.

Hearts have had a disastrous start to the season and currently find themselves in 8^th position, 6 points off of the bottom and 20 points off top spot. Their discipline has once again let them down, especially recently. They have had 3 red cards in the last 4 matches which has been extremely detrimental to their fortunes and results. They have only picked up 1 win in 9 league games which is basically relegation form in any league. For tomorrow’s match, they will be missing Ian Black and Suso Santana who are both suspended whilst Christian Nade is also set to miss out due to injury. This will likely mean a start for fit again Calum Elliot upfront which will mean even more reliance on their midfielders to get forward in support.

Celtic have turned their season around in recent weeks with 5 games unbeaten and some very encouraging performances in the process. 3 home wins in a row was followed by a come from behind victory away to Motherwell and then most recently on Thursday night, they secured a morale boosting 3-3 draw in Europe, despite being 3-0 down inside 20 minutes. In all 5 of these matches they have demonstrated a strong resolve as well as a will to win which was sadly lacking in some games at the start of the season. A lot of this will be down to a settled team, especially in the centre of the pitch. Marc Crosas has formed a very decent partnership with Landry N’Guemo in midfield whilst Gary Caldwell and Glenn Loovens are settled at the back as are Scott McDonald and Girgios Samaras upfront. This consistency has meant more impressive performances and improved confidence in the side. One man pushing for a start is Marc-Antoine Fortune. The £3.8m striker has scored 3 in his last 2 so will be hoping to dislodge Samaras, especially as the Greek is struggling with injury.

These games are very competitive and the midfield will play a big part for both sides. Aiden McGeady, despite being in danger of missing the derby match in January, will most likely play and he is in excellent form. He creates chances and has added goals in recent months, with 5 already in the league. Hearts have been very poor of late, but it would not be a surprise to anyone if they turn in a strong performance tomorrow. Even still, Celtic are in good form and will always score goals, with their increased confidence and key players finding form, I fancy them to win tomorrow.

My selection: Celtic to beat Hearts

Best odds available: 4/6 available with Totesport

Good Luck and Merry Christmas