SPL

Saturday 17th December

Scottish Premier League

Motherwell v St Mirren

Christmas is only eight days away but Motherwell will be in no mood to provide St Mirren with any festive cheer when the two sides meet at Fir Park.

Motherwell have surprised many this season with their form and currently sit best of the rest in the Scottish Premier League. There was ambitious talk earlier in the season that they may even be capable of splitting the two Glasgow sides but that seems like a fading possibility. They have, however, been very consistent and that is evidenced by the fact that they have lost just four game all season and three of them have been to Celtic and Rangers. St Johnstone are the only other side who have defeated them and they to have been impressive this season. Stuart McCall took over from Craig Brown last season and he managed to get the club to the Scottish Cup Final where they eventually lost out to Celtic but things are definitely on the up and the fans will be excited about what the future holds.

St Mirren’s manager Danny Lennon has been in the job for 18 months and it looks as though, slowly but surely, he is starting to mould his side into what he wants them to play like and what he set out at the start of last season. They look much more threatening this year and play a more attacking brand of football which the fans were crying out for. The other side of that story, however, is that they concede more goals as their defence is less protected than what it has been in previous season. It seems to be working though as the Buddies currently sit eighth which is unusual for them as they are normally in and around the relegation zone. Seven points clear of bottom placed Dunfermilne means that the first few months of the season have been a success but their is a long way to go between now and May so Lennon will be aware that the job is only half done.

Motherwell have one of the most exciting talents in Scotland in the shape of Jamie Murphy. The striker has been in and around the first team picture at Fir Park for a few years now but over the last couple of seasons he has really come to the fore and he is now one of the manager’s first picks every week. Along with Michael Hingdon he is the club’s top scorer with six league goals, but he’s also a provider of goals which makes him so important to the team. Having scored two goals in his side’s 3-0 win over St Johnstone last Saturday, Murphy heads into tomorrow’s fixture full of confidence.

St Mirren had spent a lot of money on wages by bringing in the likes of Paul McGowan, Steven Thompson and Gary Teale over the summer and all three are players who have contributed to their teams good form this season. Lennon will have been happy that his side came back from two goals down last Saturday against Aberdeen to earn a draw but they may well have won it as they were by far the better team in the second half and had plenty of chances. It means that St Mirren have went three games without a win and have won just one of their last five. Away from home they have won just one of their last six but they did manage a draw against Rangers at Ibrox so Fir Park should hold no fears for them.

Motherwell have won 10 of their 17 matches this season which is an excellent record in a league where so many of the sides are evenly matched. With Higdon and Murphy upfront they have two players capable of causing defences a lot of problems and scoring that vital goal which is often the difference in the SPL. They are too big a price to pass up tomorrow despite the fact that their home form is not as strong as their form on the road, they still remain the percentage and value call.

My Selection: Motherwell to beat St Mirren

Best price available: Evens available with William Hill

English Championship

Cardiff v Middlesbrough

Big match in the Championship as third placed Cardiff host fourth placed Middlesbrough – a win for either side could see them end up in an automatic promotion spot tomorrow evening.

Malky Mackay has worked wonders in truth since arriving at Cardiff. He has had to change so much of the squad which is often disruptive and results in a team having to gel before they can get to the level they were at previously. That’s not been the case here as the former Watford manager has seen the changes that he made pay off and the Bluebirds are just a couple of points off the top two positions. Their last defeat was way back in October and since that loss at Peterborough they have won six of their following nine games. It’s tremendous form and some of the wins have come against difficult teams and at notoriously hard venues such as Reading and at home to Birmingham. Overall they have lost just three games all season and only one of those has come at the Cardiff City stadium where they have won seven of their ten matches to date.

Tony Mowbray has got things right at Middlesbrough this season and they seem desitned to challenge for promotion this season after a couple of indifferent campaigns. Level on points with tomorrow’s opponents it’s no surprise that there is a lot of pressure on tomorrow’s match but for all the right reasons. They set themselves up perfectly with two 1-0 victories against Bristol City and Brighton in recent weeks. Those games have been par for the course this season as they may not be the prettiest team to watch but they are hard to beat and more often than not, are able to nick a goal and take the points. Their away form is particularly good with six wins from 10 matches – only West Ham can boast a better record than that in the division. Those defeats came against Nottingham Forest and Southampton, both of which were after their magnificent run of six straight away wins in all competitions between August and September.

Kenny Miller has been an inspired signed for Cardiff as he allows Mackay to set up a system which is both hard to break down, but also allows them great freedom going forward. Miller is very much a striker who likes to put defenders under pressure and never stops running for the whole time he’s on the pitch. This means that Cardiff can play a counter attacking style of play away from home but at the same time they can switch it and keep the ball for long periods with that extra midfielder thanks to Miller playing as a lone striker. The Scottish internationalist has six league goals to his name already but few would back against him adding to that in the next few weeks.

‘Boro are one of the lowest scorers in the top half of the Championship with 25 goals so it’s no surprise to read that they boast the best defensive record in the league as well. Their defences have been breached just 17 times this term which is their foundation for their success. They do need to do better against the sides in and around them in the table however as the loss to Southampton earlier in the season was coupled with a home defeat against West Ham. They have also drawn against the likes of Blackpool and Leicester. There is an argument to be made that the fixtures have been kind to them in the early part of the season but they do face a difficult programme of fixtures over the Christmas period so their credentials will be put to the test – starting tomorrow.

Cardiff, for my money, have been the most impressive Championship side in recent weeks. They are not conceding many goals and look dangerous on the break. The only criticism of them would be that they may not take as many chances as they should be and that could be key tomorrow against a resoulte Middlesbrough defence but I have a suspicion that Tony Mowbray’s men have been flattered somewhat by their league position and fancy the home side to come out on top here.

My Selection: Cardiff to beat Middlesbrough

Best odds available: 5/4 available with Victor Chandler

English League Two

Crewe v Crawley

Top of the table Crawley travel north to take on Crewe in a bid to extend their unbeaten run in all competitons to 15.

It was the end of an era when Dario Gradi finally stepped aside and allowed a new man to take on the role as Crewe’s manager. Gradi had been in the job for over 20 years so you could forgive the new manager, his assistant Steve Davis, of being a little worried that he was in a no win situation. His start as manager may not have been terrific but it’s not been terrible either. Crewe are currently sitting in mid-table and of the four games that Davis has been boss, they have won two, drawn one and lost the other one which was, incidentally, his first match in charge in the FA Cup so they remain unbeaten under his stewardship in the league. Tomorrow will be their hardest test yet as they face the league leaders and their home form is definitely something that needs to improve as they have already lost five games on their own patch.

Crawley were many people’s favourites to go up and earn consecutive promotions due to the amount of finances they have at their disposal. The form they are currently in has seen them climb to the top of the division with a three point lead heading into the festive period. Steve Evans is no strange to managing succesful sides in the Conference but it’s the first time that he has been in charge of a club at this level who have been doing so well. 14 games unbeaten for anyone is a massive achievment due to the competitive nature of football nowadays but even more so for a team who were playing in the division below last season. Their last defeat was in the middle of September and to date it’s only their third league reverse of the campaign so far.

Crewe will be hoping that their three game unbeaten run in the league can give them the confidence to compete against high flying Crawley and if they can produce their best form on the day then they well give their visitors problems. The key is consistency at Gresty Road though as they have such a young team and it’s inevitable that they are going to have some off days as they are on their learning curve at the moment.

Crawley will travel to Crewe full of confidence having won their last five scoring 16 in the process. Matt Tubbs was prolific last season in the Conference and he has carried on that kind of form this season. He’s scored four goals in his last two games after a run of five games without a goal so the chances are he is hitting a bit of form one again which is probably not great news for tomorrow’s opponents.

When a team is in the form that Crawley are it’s hard to oppose them and it’s certainly not going to be me that is the brave man who backs against them. I think they will have too much going forward for tomorrow’s hosts.

My Selection: Crawley to beat Crewe

Best odds available: 8/11 available with Bet365

Saturday 10th December

Scottish Premier League

Celtic v Hearts

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

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

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

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

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

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

My Selection: Celtic (-1) to beat Hearts

Best odds available: 21/20 available with Bet365

English Championship

Burnley v Portsmouth

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

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

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

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

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

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

My Selection: Burnley to beat Portsmouth

Best odds available: 21/20 available with William Hill

English League One

Walsall v Charlton

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

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

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

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

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

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

My Selection: Charlton to beat Walsall

Best odds available: 5/6 available with Coral

Saturday 15th October 2011
English Premier League

Stoke v Fulham

Top flight domestic action returns after the International break and we are off to the Britannia as Stoke host Fulham.

Stoke have had a tremendous start to the new season both at home and in Europe. Tony Pulis will be delighted with how his side have coped with so many fixtures at the start of the season but will also understand that there is a long way to go between now and the end of the campaign. They have stuttered slightly of late in the league as they have failed to win any of their last three matches. Both their defeats have come away from home against Swansea and Sunderland, and both, incidentally, have come the weekend directly after competing in Europe which shows how difficult juggling the two competitions can be. Having brought in the likes of Peter Crouch and Cameron Jerome, there are far more options upfront which was a position they have struggled in the last 12 months. Associated with route one football, the acquisition of Crouch will not do that much to dispel such claims but no matter what way you look at it, it’s a massive coup and shows you the ambition of the Stoke board.

Fulham started the domestic season rather slowly under Martin Jol with their first win of the season alluding them until the last set of fixtures before the International break. The win was worth waiting for, however, as they demolished QPR 6-0 at Craven Cottage which will hopefully, for Jol, be the start of a run of positive results and performances. Missed opportunites against Blackburn and Aston Villa at home when they were the better side by far would have been a source of concern for the Dutch boss has stuck to his guns and continued to play attractive football which paid off in their last home game. Fulham will have to improve on the road though if they wish to stay clear of the relegation zone as they have a deplorable record on their travels in the Premier League.

Stoke are notoriously strong at home and they play a brand of football which is extremely hard to combat and opposition teams must be ready for a battle. Fulham have a decent record when away to Stoke as they have won on two of their last five visits, once in the league and once in the cup. Stoke have won two of their last three in the fixture though, so it’s a bit of a mixed bag.

Fulham’s away record in the last two and a bit seasons does not make for pretty reading. From 41 matches, they have been victorious just four times. With a record such as that the biggest surprise is that Fulham are still in the Premier League so it’s definitely testament to their home form as to why they are still competing in the top flight.

Stoke have been undone after playing in Europe then travelling away in their next league game. This week they have had to contend with some of their players playing in vital matches for their countries but the big difference is the fact they will be playing at home – I think that will be the deciding factor on Saturday afternoon. They have already held Chelsea and Manchester United at the Britannia so they certainly know how to get a result.

My Selection: Stoke City to beat Fulham

Best odds available: 6/5 available with Bet365

English Championship

Middlesbrough v Millwall

The Championship was also on sabbatical last weekend and the action resumes with second top Middlesbrough at home to second bottom Millwall.

Tony Mowbray will be pleased enough with the fact his side are sitting in one of the automatic promotion places, two points off top, just a game away from a quarter of the season gone. He will be disappointed, however, with the home form as they have won just one of five games. They do remain undefeated at the Riverside with four draws but their best performances have come on the road. The draws already gathered may well prove to be crucial come the end of the season but Mowbray will know that he needs to start turning one point into three if they wish to sustain their title and promotion charge. Saturday’s match against Millwall will be another won where ‘Boro are expected to win so it’s also a test of mettle of the players as they need to prove they can handle the expectation and demand from fans.

Millwall started the season with a win and a draw but it’s been downhill since then in what is proving to be difficult season. Many expected the Lions to struggle this year for several reasons, not least the sale of Steve Morison to Norwich as he was their top scorer in the last two season. Teams also tend to struggle a little bit more in their ‘second season’. With so much enthusiasm and belief after a promotion campaign, the following season can prove to be successful as well – it’s the proceeding year that can be dangerous, and that seems to be the case here. Four consecutive defeats in all compeitions, five from their last six, has meant they have tumbled out of the League Cup and find themselves just one spot off the bottom of the table. Kenny Jackett will know just how tight the division is though and one win could see Millwall climb up to 18th in the table.

The one criticism of ‘Boro this year has been their inability to break down sides who come and look to hit on the break at the Riverside. It can be the difference between success and failure so they will have another chance to rectify things on Saturday.

Millwall have yet to win on the road this season so will be looking to put that right as soon as possible. With just five goals to their names, and only two more conceded, it doesn’t take long to figure out where they need to improve.

You could argue that the draw would be a decent bet in this game as ‘Boro don’t score many at home whilst Millwall don’t concede or score many. However Middlesbrough have played well enough at home this season without getting their rewards and you get the sense that confidence is low within the Millwall squad so I think Tony Mowbray’s men can gain their second home win of the season.

My Selection: Middlesbrough to beat Millwall

Best odds available: 10/11 available with Victor Chandler

Scottish Premier League

Kilmarnock v Celtic (12.30)
Celtic are 10 points behind Rangers at the top of the table so another defeat to Kilmarnock at Rugby Park is basically unthinkable.

Kenny Shiels has done well since rebuilding the squad in the summer and has earned many plaudits for his side’s style of play. With so much debt and the loss of key players such as Craig Bryson and Connor Sammon in the last 12 months, it was a hard task for Shiels but he seems to have steadied the ship and Killie lie in mid-table. Shiels will be looking for some consistency now to go with the good football as three losses in a row have taken a little gloss of their start to the season. Last time out against St Johnstone would have been a sore one as they got back into the game after going behind only to lose a late goal. Their two wins thus far have both come at home, against Hibernian and Dunfermilne, but that last victory was over a month ago.

Neil Lennon has been under intense scrutiny since losing his third league match of the season. It means that even if Celtic win their game in hand, they will still be seven points behind their arch rivals before the turn of the year. Lennon has been unfortunate with injuries as a plethora of his top players have been, or are currently, out injured. But it’s the measure of a good manager to how they deal with such circumstances and unfortunately for Celtic, he has not come out of it with great credit. In their last match against Hearts it was yet another case of not being able take their chances and mistake after mistake at the back. Celtic supporters are becoming increasingly frustrated at Lennon’s blindspot with some players to Saturday’s team selection will be of great interest.

Despite some poor recent form, Celtic do have a fantastic record in Ayrshire against Kilmarnock. From the last 18 fixtures at Rugby Park, Celtic have won 17 of them with the exception being Robbie Keane’s debut in 2010 when Kilmarnock were successful 1-0. Most of the 17 victories were rather comfortable so if Celtic can get their act together then they have landed on their feet with regards to their opponents if history is anything to go by.

My Selection: Celtic (-1) to beat Kilmarnock

Best odds available: 11/10 available with BlueSquare

Sunday 28th August

English Premier League

Manchester United v Arsenal
The season has barely started yet there is a massive match in store at Old Trafford on Sunday as Champions Manchester United take on their old rivals Arsenal who have had a hectic start to the season.

United followed up their opening day victory against West Brom with an emphatic 3-0 success over Tottenham on Monday night. The second half especially was full of invention and craft from the youthful Red Devils. Danny Wellbeck especially came to the fore with a goal and an excellent assist which should cement his place in the side for tomorrow’s match. Wellbeck was one of several young players who have impressed in pre-season and the new Premier League season. Tom Cleverley, Phil Jones, Chris Smalling, Johnny Evans and Ashley Young all started on Monday night which bodes well for not only the coming season, but the long term future as well. Sir Alex Ferguson loves nothing better than bringing through young players so Monday’s result and performance will have given him immense pleasure.

Arsenal have sold two of their best players in the first fortnight of the season; taken just one point from their first two matches; they have lost several key players through injury; and failed to strengthen their squad sufficiently as yet. Is Arsene Wenger pancking? No! Wenger is as defiant as the day he took over and nothing will change that. He will have been delighted by his side’s performance on Wednesday night when they defeated Udinese 2-1 on the night to progress to the group stages of the Champions League. They came from behind that night and showed a fighting and determined spirit which has been lacking in recent seasons. Of course it’s just one game but Wenger will be hoping that it’s a catalyst for the coming weeks and months ahead. With just four days left of the transfer window, there is not much time for Arsenal to bring in a host of new players, which many fans believe they need, but there are few shrewder judges than the French Master so Gunners have no option other than to trust him.

United suffered a rare recent defeat against Arsenal the last time the two sides met in May but before then, they had won seven of their last nine encounters with their North London rivals. Arsenal have not won at Old Trafford since 2006 so they have it all to do tomorrow with such a depleted squad. Jack Wilshere is still out because of injury whilst the Gunners have three players suspended, including Gervinho and Alex Song.

It would have been difficult for Arsenal going to Manchester with a full strength squad but the fact they are missing so many players does not bode well for them. I cannot see anything other than a comfortable home win for United tomorrow.

My Selection: Manchester United(-1) to beat Arsenal

Best odds available: 7/5 available with Stan James

Scottish Premier League

Hearts v Hibernian

The first big derby of the SPL season takes place at Tynecastle on Sunday afternoon as Hearts entertain their city neighbours Hibs.

Paulo Sergio is due to experience his first taste of the Edinburgh derby as his side look to get their season back on track after a humiliating 5-0 home defeat to Tottenham 10 days ago. It will be their first match at Tynecastle since that match so they owe their supporters a performance and a result. Since then they have played out two goalless draws with Spurs and away to Kilmarnock last Sunday. With just one league victory to their name thus far, it’s been a disappointing start to the season for Hearts and their supporters. Of course, Sergio is the second manager to try his luck at Tynecastle this term after the sacking of Jim Jefferies at the beginning of the month. Hearts were, at one point last season, challenging the Old Firm for the league title so the quality is there, it’s now about finding a consistency to go with it.

Hibernian have also won just one match so far in the league so they too will be disappointed with the start to the season they’ve made. Colin Calderwood was the subject of much speculation before the start of the SPL season as he was being linked with jobs down South. As yet, he’s still the manager of Hibs but he is already under pressure to get results so he could yet find himself elsewhere soon enough. Last weekends home defeat to St Mirren after taking the lead was a sore one to take. They came back strong with a 5-0 rout of a lower league side in the League cup during the week but tomorrow’s match will be a different test altogether. Hibs will have some extra firepower to help their case tomorrow as they brought in Leigh Griffiths from Wolves on loan. The former Dundee and Livingston striker could go straight into the first XI to partner the Hibees top scorer, Gary O’Connor.

This match is normally explosive and there are often red cards galore. The fact that both sides have not done much in the new campaign will only add to the tension as they are both desperate to kick on and get some momentum going. Hearts will look to John Sutton to bully the fragile Hibs’ defence as the big striker is normally reserved for home matches where his physical nature is a real advantage. Hibs will have trouble dealing with him as they have been soft in the centre of defence for a while now. Sutton may be the key tomorrow.

Hearts have an excellent record against their rivals of late and with the game at Tynecastle, I am backing them to edge it. I wouldn’t put anyone off backing there to be a red card tomorrow either such is the fiery nature of fixture.

My Selection: Hearts to beat Hibernian

Best odds available: 5/6 available with Coral

Saturday 13th August

English Championship

Ipswich v Hull City

The Premier League takes centre stage this weekend as it stages it’s first round of fixtures but our first stop takes us into the Championship which started last week.

Ipswich started the season in impressive fashion defeating Bristol City 3-0 away from home. It was the perfect start for Paul Jewell who begins his first new season at Portman Road since taking charge at the start of the year. Jewell has been relatively busy in the summer with players coming and going. Connor Wickham, Gareth McAuley, David Norris and Pablo Counago are the most notable departures from Portman Road whilst they have brought in Lee Bowyer, Ivar Ingimarsson, Jay Emmanuel Thomas and Michael Chopra, amongst others, in their quest for promotion. Despite losing a lot of their mainstays of recent seasons Ipswich look stronger this year and expectation is high amongst the fans. Jewell himself is no stranger to the league and has gained promotion with Bradford and Wigan from the Championship, so they certainly have the right man in charge.

Jewell has further strengthened his midfield with the loan signing of Keith Andrews from Blackburn, it’s another quality addition and he looks set to make his debut tomorrow.

Hull have stabilised since being relegated two seasons ago and Nigel Pearson has done well to bring in some much needed reinforcements. Matty Fryatt and Aaron McLean are two players who bring with them goals and have had a few months to get used to their new surroundings after signing last year, more will be expected from them this time around. Jack Hobbs was their most expensive purchase of the summer after signing from Pearson’s old club Leicester City. Pearson has also signed the likes of Kevin Kilbane, Dele Adebola and Paul McKenna which will bring much needed experience to what is a relatively young group of players. Hull were denied by Blackpool in their opening match of the season with the Seasiders pinching a late goal to take all three points at the KC Stadium. It was a reminded to all that the Championship is one of the most competitive leagues in English football.

Ipswich will be looking to Michael Chopra for a lot of their goals this season and the prolific striker got off to the best possible start with a double in last Saturday’s 3-0 success. He is used to scoring goals, it’s what he was bought for and his partnership with Nathan Ellington will be one of the most potent in the division.

Hull will be hoping they can secure their first points of the season after their sticky start last Friday so it would be no surprise to see them set out with a defence minded approach. Pearson likes to build from the back so will look to frustrate Ipswich who are at their best when allowed to dictate the pace of the game and get the likes of Bowyer and Lee Martin on the ball.

Success in this league revolves around a strong home record which Jewell will be well aware of. With so much attacking options in the team, the home side have the definite advantage and I think it will be enough for them to secure their second straight league victory.

My Selection: Ipswich to beat Hull

Best odds available: 21/20 available with William Hill

Scottish Premier League

Celtic v Dundee United

Celtic play their first home game of the season tomorrow, after two away matches, against a so far unbeaten Dundee United side who will be hoping they can repeat last years feat of taking a point from Celtic Park.

Neil Lennon and his Celtic side have enjoyed a 100% record thus far after two away matches at Hibernian and Aberdeen. They have yet to concede a goal either but have been struck down with numerous injuries so early in the season. Mark Wilson, Beram Kayal and Glenn Loovens all look set to miss out tomorrow but the biggest blow to Lennon is that last season’s player of the year, Emilio Izzaguirre will be out for up to six months with a broken leg sustained in the victory at Pittotdrie last Sunday. Charlie Mulgrew will deputise in his absence for now but it the little Honduran is a big player who will be missed. Scott Brown looks set to take the armband for the first time this season after missing the opening games through suspension, he picked up a knock whilst on international duty but should shake it off in time to lead out the Hoops tomorrow afternoon.

Dundee United have a different look to them this season after three of their best players have moved on in recent weeks. David Goodwillie followed Prince Buaben and Morgao Gomis out the door. Peter Houston is unable to delve into a massive transfer budget so the free transfers of John Rankin from Hibs and Willo Flood from Middlesbrough are decent alternatives in the midfield. Houston will be hoping that Johnny Russell can take a further step forward this season and attempt to fill the void that Goodwillie has left. Russell is certainly talented and will score goals, but it’s a matter of whether this will have come a little too soon for him, time will tell. United have one win and two draws from their first three games. Their only away game thus far resulted in a 1-0 victory at Tynecastle over Hearts so there will be a belief when they travel to the East end of Glasgow tomorrow that they can come away with something.

Celtic have not been the busiest of clubs in the transfer window this summer so the team looks very similar to last season with only Kelvin Wilson and Adam Matthews added to the starting XI for tomorrow’s match. It means that going forward they will rely on the likes of Anthony Stokes, who has already scored twice this term, Kris Commons and last years top scorer Gary Hooper. Hooper has failed to get off the mark yet this season but has scored several in pre-season and will be itching to get going in competitive football.

The odds on a home win are a little primivative to say the least and seeing as though United are no pushovers, I’m inclined to give the handicap a miss with this game. Instead, I see value in Gary Hooper to score at anytime during the match and for Celtic to be victorious. Four bookmakers carry odds for such bets with the best odds available with BlueSquare and 888Sport.

My Selection: Gary Hooper to score in 90 minutes and Celtic to win

Best odds available: 5/6 available with BlueSquare

Saturday 4^th March

English Premier League

Fulham v Blackburn Rovers

 Mark Hughes faces another one of his former clubs a week on from visiting the City of Manchester Stadium as Blackburn Rovers travel to Craven Cottage tomorrow.

Fulham have been this season’s draw specialists with 14 to their name already. There are two ways of looking at it; one would be the fact they are hard to beat and do not lose many games, whilst the other viewpoint is that they struggle to win games. Either or, the end result is the same, a low points total which means they are still in contention for the drop. In recent weeks there have been signs of improvement, however, as the Cottagers have remained unbeaten through a difficult set of fixtures against Aston Villa and Manchester City away, as well as Newcastle and Chelsea at home. Hughes would have been frustrated that his side never came away with more than six points from those games as Fulham missed a last minute penalty against Chelsea which would have won them all three points. As well as not losing many games (just eight from 28 games) they also have one of the best defensive records in the league. Their total of 28 goals conceded is only bettered by the top four sides in the division, which certainly shows where their main strengths lie.

Blackburn Rovers currently sit bottom of the form table in the Premier League with just one win from their last six matches. It’s testing times for their new boss Stewart Kean who was a surprise appointment when getting the job before Christmas. If history tells us anything in football it’s that new owners, especially one’s pumping millions into a club, are not the most patient of folk. Kean will be only too well aware of this and will be under no illusions as to what needs to change if he wishes to lead Rovers in the Premier League next season. Like Fulham, Rovers are very much involved in the relegation dogfight as the season moves into its final quarter. It’s been on their travels where Blackburn have really struggled as well as they have lost 10 of their 14 matches on the road – only Wolves have lost more games away from home in the league. They have, in actual fact, lost eight of their last nine games in all competitions away from home.

Fulham are beginning to get their key players back, Bobby Zamora withstanding, Hughes now has more depth to his squad then he has since taking the job. They have more goal scoring options which can only be a good thing as they fight against the drop. Zoltan Gera, Moussa Dembele, Andy Johnson and Eidur Gudjohnsen really need to start taking more responsibility when on the park and chip in with more goals to support top scorer Clint Dempsey. Rovers also have a plethora of options going forward but few of them chip in with enough goals to move Blackburn away from danger. When your top scorer is only on five goals, you need to worry.

Fulham have only lost three games at home all season, and whilst they have only won five, they remain strong opponents and difficult to get the better off at the Cottage. Their wins have also come against sides in and around them or below them in the table. With Rovers on such a bad run of form on the road, I fancy Fulham to take a big step to Premier League safety tomorrow.

My Selection: Fulham to beat Blackburn Rovers

Best odds available: 3/4 available with Paddypower

English Premier League

Newcastle United v Everton

Everton have to pick themselves up after being knocked out of the FA Cup by reading as Newcastle will prove stern opposition tomorrow as they get back to league business.

Life after Andy Carroll has been nothing but eventful at St James’ Park. The comeback from 4-0 down against Arsenal was unarguably the most entertaining and one of the all time greatest matches in Premier League history whilst they have gone four games unbeaten since losing to Fulham at the beginning of February. Alan Pardew will no doubt be pleased by the resilience shown by his players in the midst of a lot of media attention and fans criticism for the sale of their former number 9 to Liverpool on the last day of the January transfer window. One man who has certainly stepped up to the plate is Leon Best. Hardly given a chance since his move to the club over a year ago, Best has done well since coming into the team as a regular starter in January. He has scored five goals in nine league games including a hat trick against West Ham. Although not completely safe from relegation, Newcastle are still in a comfortable enough position heading into the latter months of the season. In ninth position with 36 points, another couple of wins should see them safe for another season and a chance to spend the £35m burning a hole in Mike Ashley’s pocket.

Everton have been this season’s biggest enigma by far and must be a source of great frustration for their manager Davie Moyes. Their season could be summed up by their FA Cup exploits in recent weeks. Despite knocking out Chelsea in replay on penalties, and looking every inch potential winners of the competition, they undone all their hard work during the week as they were knocked out by Championship side Reading at Goodison Park. So many times this season, you expect them to kick on and put together a strong run of form like they have in previous season, only for them to hit a brick wall. It’s the main reason as to why they are fighting against relegation as opposed to challenging for a European place. Moyes has openly admitted that he is disappointed with the lack of consistency and will demand that he and the supporters get a big performance tomorrow after the disappointment of midweek.

For me, Newcastle still lack some firepower upfront. As well as Best has done since taking over Carroll’s mantle, he’s still very much a novice at this level. Kevin Nolan remains a threat, especially at set-pieces but they can’t continue to rely on the former Bolton man for goals. Everton do a much better job of sharing goals around the side. Three players have scored at least five league goals this season with Tim Cahill their top scorer with 9 to his name, despite missing a month due to the Asian Cup.

Aside from losing 2-0 to Bolton in February, Everton have done relatively well on the road recently. A narrow defeat to Arsenal was preceded by a very good derby draw with Liverpool. Their most recent away game was in the FA Cup replay at Stamford Bridge where they acquitted themselves really well. I like the balance Everton have, especially away from home. I also believe Moyes is an excellent manager and his players will be desperate to prove something to him after Tuesday night. Although you have to have a bit of faith and go against the form table a little, I think Everton are attractively priced to win all three points tomorrow.

My Selection: Everton to beat Newcastle United

Best odds available:  15/8 available with Victor Chandler

Scottish Premier League

Celtic v Hamilton

After an eventful Old Firm Scottish Cup replay, Celtic return to league action against Hamilton on Saturday hoping to stretch their league at the top of the table.

Three sending offs, fisticuffs in the tunnel, arguments between both benches…just another derby day in Glasgow. That was the case on Wednesday as Celtic kept their treble bid alive after defeating arch rivals Rangers 1-0 at Celtic Park. Neil Lennon’s side had been in tremendous form before crashing to a 2-0 defeat against Motherwell last Sunday. They responded with Wednesday success but know that the most important prize of all remains the SPL Championship. Currently five points clear but having played two more games than Rangers, anything but a win would be unwelcome, if not disastrous at this stage of the season. 10 wins from 14 home matches is good form but it certainly needs to continue with 11 games of the season left.

Hamilton are in big danger of being cast adrift of the rest at the bottom of the table Seven points behind and on level games with St Mirren, things look bleak for Billy Reid and his players. With just two wins all season, and none of those at home, it doesn’t take Columbo to see where they have to improve. You can sympathise with Reid and his plight as he has had to sell off his best players to doting admirers in recent seasons. James McCarthy, James MacArthur and Brian Easton have all left for England and have yet to be replaced with any real quality. Alex Neil is also a big miss as the captain has been injured for much of the season. All things considered, however, they don’t score enough goals, they concede too many and they are lacking in quality – there usually is only one outcome for those sort of traits.

Celtic have a big squad at their disposal and have the luxury of making changes ahead of tomorrow’s game. Anthony Stokes is likely to come back into the side after missing out on Wednesday, whilst Joe Ledley and Fraser Forster should also return after missing out through suspension. Stokes is the key one however as he is Celtic’s top scorer and the one capable of scoring from any situation. He has already netted against Hamilton this season and having not scored since the middle of February, will be keen to add to his tally of 12 league goals. Celtic have an exemplary home record against Hamilton in the Premier League having won four from four with 13 goals scored and just one conceded. I expect this to continue tomorrow.

My Selection: Celtic (-2) to beat Hamilton at a best priced 9/5 available with Coral

Anthony Stokes to score and Celtic to win available at a best priced 5/6 available with 888Sport

Saturday 19^th February

English FA Cup

Birmingham v Sheffield Wednesday

Both Birmingham and Sheffield Wednesday have not performed as well as they would have wished in the league this season so the Cup is proving a welcome distraction.

Alex McLeish’s side are looking forward to one cup final already as they take on Arsenal in the League cup at the end of the month at Wembley. With a home tie against lower league opposition in the FA Cup, things are looking good for an extended run in this competition as well. Currently in 14^th position in the league, the Blues have not hit the heights of last season but have put a decent enough run together. Before losing the Newcastle during the week, Birmingham had won four of their last five in all competitions. At home they remain hard to beat as the defeat to Newcastle was only their third all season. Their main problem has been the amount of draws they have accumulated with seven games already ending in stalemate.

Sheffield Wednesday have been desperately disappointing and look as though they could miss out n the play-off’s altogether in their current form. They currently sit in 16^th position and a massive 10 points off the final play-off position. Their current form is deplorable for a club of their size with just one win, in the last round of the cup, from their last eight matches. Gary Megson has been brought to the club to attempt to save their season but the impact has been slim to none. Players look as though they are lacking discipline and organisation. No club is too big to go down when players are not performing and Megson will be only too well aware of the fact that the Owls are just five points off the final relegation spot. The cup may well provide the distraction that is needed to get things back on track but the priority for Wednesday is most definitely the league, and staying in it at this point.

Birmingham seemed to have been rejuvenated in recent weeks with the signings of players such as David Bentley and Obafemi Martins. These signings have put pressure on the players currently there and one man who has risen to the challenge and proven he has a role to play is Nikola Zigic. The giant striker has scored three goals in his last four games including winning goals against both Stoke and West Ham. Often subject to criticism from his own fans, Zigic seems as though he’s proving the doubters wrong of late. A player of his size should always be a threat and it looks as though he’s finally matching the effort to stature.

Wednesday have impressed with comprehensive wins over Bristol City and Hereford thus far in the competition but this is by far their biggest test to date. Megson will no doubt look to frustrate the home side with a resolute, dogged display. Birmingham will be used to it by now and although they may have struggled previously, there seems to be more creativity in the side nowadays. With that in mind, I fully expect the home side to advance to the quarter finals of another cup competition.

My Selection: Birmingham to beat Sheffield Wednesday

Best odds available: 7/10 available with William Hill

English Championship

Millwall v Middlesbrough

These two sides need points for very different reasons as Millwall attempt to chase down a play-off position whilst Middlesbrough are desperate to move further away from the relegation zone.

I have previewed a couple of Millwall games in the last couple of months and most of the analysis still applies. They are a hard side to beat, especially at home; their style of play is very effective, especially at home; and they continue to accumulate points, especially at home. Currently on a run of six straight home wins in the league, Millwall are still a serious contender for promotion. Kenny Jackett’s side have shown a tremendous attitude in their first season back in the Championship since winning the League One play-off final last season. This attitude has been reinforced in recent weeks with three points from a possible six being rescued with goals in the last minute. The man who has notched both times is Kevin Lisbie who was scoring only his second and third goals of the season, and first since August. This is testament to the team morale and spirit within the camp as Lisbie has had to contend with a place on the bench more often than not. However he has continued to work hard and has got his rewards in recent weeks.

Tony Mowbray was welcome like a prodigal son when taking the reins earlier this season. The former ‘Boro defender has probably not had the impact he wished to have by now but things are slowly beginning to turn for the better. That was the case until recently as after a run of six matches unbeaten in the league came to a halt with back to back defeats. They were on the wrong end of reverse in a seven goal thriller at home to Swansea last Saturday which followed on from a narrow defeat away to Crystal Palace. Those losses have pushed Middlesbrough back into the relegation mix as they sit four points off the drop zone. Mowbray has attempted to be more cavalier in recent weeks by going three upfront. The formation has meant more chances created and goals scored but also leaves them open at the back. This was of course highlighted in the goals fest last Saturday.

The rule of three applies in this fixture as Millwall have lost just three games from a total of 15 games played at the New Den this season whilst ‘Boro have won just three on the road from the same number of games. It really does underline the difference between the two sides. I’m always a fan of Millwall at home and even more so in this match up.

My Selections: Millwall to beat Middlesbrough

Best odds available: 11/10 available with Skybet

Scottish Premier League

Aberdeen v Kilmarnock

Thirteen points separate these two sides but incredibly, it’s Kilmarnock who are streets ahead of tomorrow’s hosts, Aberdeen, as we approach the SPL split.

Craig Brown had an instant impact when replacing Mark McGhee as manager towards the end of last year. Confidence was high, results were noticeably better and performances definitely improved. Things have unravelled a little of late, however, and the Dons are currently on a run of three defeats in four games in all competitions. Granted, two of those defeats were against league leaders and the form side of the division – Celtic. However they turned in a very lacklustre performance on Tuesday when losing 2-1 at home to Motherwell. Even before losing Paul Hartley to a red card, it wasn’t the Aberdeen we came to expect under Brown, who was certainly not shy in telling his players that displays such as Tuesdays will not be tolerated in future. The positive thing for all concerned at Aberdeen is that they have a chance to quickly rectify things tomorrow.

Kilmarnock have enjoyed a terrific season to date and have earned many plaudits for the style of play. One man who was key to their success was Connor Sammon who has since departed to pastures new in the form of Wigan. It’s hard not to underestimate how important the tall striker was as he is still the second top scorer with 15 league goals. It was an incredible return for a striker playing with one of the lesser sides in the SPL and since he left, Kilmarnock have found it hard to kill off teams like they were with him in the side.  Despite taking the lead in several matches, Killie have won just once in seven matches. Last time out they were very poor as they lost to Hibs at Easter Road.

I’m a big fan of Craig Brown and believe he is one of the best managers in the SPL. Having watched them several times recently, Aberdeen have decent quality, especially going forward but need to shore up defensively. I was also a great admirer of Connor Sammon this season as he had everything you would look for in a striker – pace, strength, good finisher and good in the air. Without him Kilmarnock are a much weaker side and I can see them struggling without him in the closing months of the season. Aberdeen are too big a price tomorrow to resist and the value definitely lies with the Dandy Dons.

My Selection: Aberdeen to beat Kilmarnock

Best odds available: 13/8 available with PaddyPower

Saturday 15^th January

English Premier League

Stoke City v Bolton Wanderers

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

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

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

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

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

My Selection: Stoke City to beat Bolton

Best odds available: 6/5 available with Boylesports

English Championship

Nottingham Forest v Portsmouth

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

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

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

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

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

My Selections: Nottingham Forest to beat Portsmouth

Best odds available: 8/11 available with Betfred

Scottish Premier League

Aberdeen v St Mirren

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

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

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

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

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

My Selection: Aberdeen to beat St Mirren

Best odds available: 10/11 available with William Hill