Football Betting
Premier League Betting
Arsene Wenger must be scratching his head after Arsenal’s late capitulation to West Ham on Sunday afternoon. Rarely have I seen a side dominate an away match so comprehensively without escaping with the three points and it must worry the Arsenal manager that his team failed to put Gianfranco Zola’s side to the sword.
Arsenal host North London rivals Spurs on Saturday lunchtime in a match they should win comfortably. After a promising start Spurs have suddenly started to look vulnerable and were beaten at home by Glenn Whelan’s late winner for Stoke last time out. Even at 4/7 I’d be siding with Arsenal to win this one.
To say that Man Utd were out of sorts in their defeat to Liverpool last time out would be something of an understatement. Alex Ferguson’s side are firing on no cylinders at the moment and have failed to put in a convincing performance in any of their recent matches. Saying that, if Fergie had to pick a fixture to repair the Red Devils’ brittle form and confidence, a home tie with Blackburn Rovers would have been high on the list and it’s about time that United clicked and produced a performance to remind their rivals they remain a force to be reckoned with.
Birmingham City have adapted well to life back in the Premier League so far, and Alex McLeish’s men are producing some competent performances and results. They deserved their 2-1 win over an improving Sunderland side last time out but face a much tougher challenge when Man City are the visitors to St Andrews on Sunday.
Mark Hughes men have stuttered in recent matches after a good start with consecutive draws against Aston Villa, Wigan and Fulham. It’s not title winning form and the 4/5 on them winning at St Andrews is far too skinny for my liking.
In the Midlands derby, Stoke look terrific value at 10/11 to see off Wolves. Tony Pulis’ side have yet again fallen under the radar in Premier League terms and with recent good results against Everton, Spurs and West Ham I expect them to grind out yet another home win.
Premier League Betting
Championship Betting
Leicester City have adapted to life back in the Championship well under the careful stewardship of Nigel Pearson and have risen to within three points of the top of the table without anyone really noticing.
The Foxes travel to a QPR side who have scored four times in each of their last three league games, most recently in a terrific fight-back from 2-0 down to beat Derby County at Pride Park. Leicester’s away form is good having beaten Middlesbrough and Reading so far this season but with QPR in great goalscoring form I fancy the home side at 10/11.
Cardiff City face the division’s form side Nottingham Forest in front of the BBC cameras on Sunday teatime with both sides desperate to consolidate their place at the top end of the table. Forest are the only league side yet to lose away from home but with Cardiff’s firepower this could be a tricky afternoon for Billy Davies’ side. The Bluebirds are 10/11 to triumph at home which looks like excellent value.
Monday night’s fixture sees Sheffield United host Newcastle United. The Blades have struggled in recent weeks and have conceded eighteen goals in their last seven league games. The Magpies scraped a win over Doncaster last time out and are 11/8 to pile more pressure on beleaguered United manager Kevin Blackwell.
Championship Betting
Scottish Premier Betting
Whilst Celtic and Rangers have stuttered and stumbled in recent weeks to find any kind of form whatsoever, the chasing pack have quietly closed to within just four points of the ‘big two’. Rangers travel to fourth place Dundee United on Sunday and a win for Craig Levein’s side would take them level on points with their more illustrious opponents.
Rangers have struggled for goals in recent weeks with just five goals in their last six Premier League outings whereas the Tannadice side had a good 2-0 win at Aberdeen last time out. At 7/2 there might be some value in backing the Terrors to further increase Rangers woes.
Scottish Premier Betting
La Liga Betting
Barcelona continued their imperious recent form on Sunday with a 6-1 thumping of Real Zaragoza at the Nou Camp. They travel to the Reyno de Navarra on Saturday to face an Osasuna side who were unfortunate not to register a good away win at Santander last time out. Even at 4/9 Barcelona should have enough to register an away win.
We thought that Real Madrid would find life tough at El Molinon last weekend and an injury depleted Madrid side could only draw 0-0 with an improving Sporting Gijon. Real face Getafe at the Bernabeu on Saturday and will need a win to keep the pressure on their Catalan rivals.
Life gets no easier for Atletico Madrid and after a terrible start to the season they parted company with coach Abel Resino last week. They conceded a last minute equaliser to Mallorca at the Vincente Calderon on Saturday after striker Diego Forlan had earlier missed a penalty and the 1-1 draw left them just outside the bottom three.
Athletic Bilbao’s home form has been poor this season so far even though they sit comfortably in mid table. Atletico’s form has got to turn sooner or later and at 8/5 the San Mames could be the place where their season finally starts.
La Liga Betting
