Reading v Ipswich Town – Betting Tip

14th March 2009- 15.00pm
Reading v Ipswich Town

Whilst The Royals of Reading have been on the slide recently, which included the 2-2 draw with Charlton in midweek it’s fair to say they still possess one of the best squads within the championship and one of the best managers to boot in Steve Coppell.

Whilst acknowledged above they have been on an indifferent run of late, a home record of twelve wins, three draws and three defeats from eighteen games is one of the best in the country, add to this the fact they have only conceded eleven at home and the fact they are averaging nearly two goals a game at The Madejski Stadium it all add ups to when they’re on song they pose a big threat to any team within this division. Solid through the heart of the team with Hahneman in goal (although Federici played in midweek) Duberry and Pearce commanding at the back Cisse and Matejovsky the midfield generals and of course Kevin Doyle leading from the front, allow for the flair of Stephen Hunt and the recently re-signing winger of Glen Little and that’s looks pretty special for this level of football. More options up front arrived in midweek with Dave Kitson re-signing on loan until the end of the season and looking to fire Reading back in to the elite.

Ipswich are no mugs themselves though and have already won seven times away from home this season and a midweek 0 – 0 at Wolves will have done much to inspire Jim Magilton’s players as the run-in takes shape. However I’ve got to admit im not a huge fan of The Tractor Boys and whilst I acknowledge the fact they’ve won seven away from home I see them as no more than a midtable club In their current situation and with their current squad.

The rumour mill is doing the rounds and if you believe the stories Magilton is under pressure from the club’s board and may find himself adding to the sizeable queue’s down at the local job centre soon.

A recent record of only one win in seven games is slightly concerning however I fancy Reading to overcome their dodgy spell and let their undoubted class rise to the surface and can see them back in The Premiership next season, they can start off with a home defeat of Ipswich Town and Victor Chandler go a stand alone price. If you can’t get on with Victor then snap up some of the general 8/11 available.

Reading to beat Ipswich Town
3pts Win @ 3/4 (Victor Chandler)

Crystal Palace v Preston – Betting Tip

7th March 2009- 15.00pm

15th Crystal Palace host 6th place Preston on which might not be the game of the day in The Championship but looks to have a bit of value knocking around it.

Palace lie 15th and are twelve points of a play off spot currently and from the looks of it, it is highly unlikely they will be contesting at the end of the season, however a home record of seven wins, five draws and five defeats is nothing to frown at. The only thing that is concerning is their lack of goals at Selhurst Park having scored only eleven goals in seventeen games so far.

Preston on the other hand lie in 6th and look to have every chance of being in with the shake up come the end of the season and an improvement to their poor away form would surely see them in. They’ve won only three, drawing six times and losing nine times on their travels away from Deepdale this season both Neil Mellor and big Jon Parkin scoring seven times and pushing for the clubs top scorer award.

I think this one should be a good game and can see it going the side of the home team. Whilst only eleven goals worries me slightly a leaky Preston defence (conceded 30 on the road so far this season) might just be what the Palace side need to boost their confidence in front of goal and the recent loan signing of Anthony Stokes from Sunderland could create more opportunities.

Crystal Palace to beat Preston
1pt Win @ 11/8 (Ladbrokes)

Hull FC v Huddersfield Giants – Betting Tips

6th March 2009- 20.00pm

Friday’s Live Super League game sees Huddersfield Giants entertain Hull FC. Both sides have made solid starts to the season and the game should be a cracker!!

Huddersfield under new coach Nathan Brown have won two our of their opening three league games including victories in France at Catalan and also at Odsal against the Bradford Bulls, and ran close St Helens at The Galpharm also. Brown has appointed experienced Australian Brett Hodgson as captain and his experience and class seems to be having a steadying effect on a relatively young giants side.

Kevin Brown and Luke Robinson at Halfbacks have been on fire and maybe Huddersfield won’t miss Todd Carney half as much as was expected when his Visa application failed recently.

Hull FC have won three out of three and coach Richard Agar predicting a bright future at the end of last season doesn’t look at all wrong judging by the start made. They’ve beaten Wigan and Catalans at the KC Stadium and inflicted defeat on Celtic Crusaders in their first home game in Super League. The bad news in midweek is that they may have lost fullback Todd Byrne for the season due to injury but Agar has recruited young tongan Sam Moa to boost the numbers.

The game should be entertaining and I see it being settled in the forwards with the likes of Willie Manu, Ewan Dowes, Jamie Thackeray and Peter Cusack battling the Giants forwards of Paul Jackson, Keith Mason, Michael Korkidas and Danny Kirmond.

I think Hull might just have the edge and the forwards can lay the foundation for the backs to capitalise, I take Hull FC to prevail with the help of a two point handicap start.

Hull FC (+2) to beat Huddersfield Giants
1.1pt Win @ 10/11 (Ladbrokes)

Football Betting Tips – 20.02.09

The recent few weeks have been tough and I’ll be the first to admit it hasn’t worked out half as well as I’d planned, but these things are sent to try us and as the snow and poor weather clears a fresh period beckons. This weekend we pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off and kick on with making some points profit.

This weekend I was unable to split three selections and therefore all will be advised and as such the previews will be shorter, but don’t let make you think im any less confident.

21/02/2009- 15.00pm
Barnsley v Charlton

18th Place takes on bottom in this relegation battle and you could have guessed from my earlier selection of Norwich against Barnsley im not a fan of Simon Davey’s mediocre outfit at all, I feel without being offensive there full of second rate no mark foreigners.  A 2-0 victory over Plymouth is nothing to shout from the rooftops about but there have been signs in recent weeks that Phil Parkinon’s men might just be getting it together and having extended the loan OF Tom Soares from Stoke City for a further month, I feel Skybet’s offer of 11/4 for an Addicks win too tempting.

21/02/2009-15.00pm
Blackpool v Watford

A further bottom of the table clash sees 17th placed Blackpool take on Watford who currently site in 21st. Once again were plumping for any away victory in this game, the recent singings of Aleksandrs Cauna and Don Cowie seem to have lifted lowely Watford and the 2-0 defeat of Swansea in midweek will have done nothing wrong for their confidence at all (Anyone who saw Swansea play Fulham last weekend knows that has to be taken as a good result). Tomas Priskin is continuing to find the net on a regular basis and once again Skybet’s price of 9/4 for a Watford victory interests me.

21/02/2009-15.00pm
Hereford v Peterborough Utd

3rd placed Peterborough travel to lowly Hereford and are the selection to make it a hatrick of away victories. They boast a healthy away points tally so far this season and whilst a recent run of only two wins in seven games has dented their hopes of automatic promotion, I think with Craig Mackail- Smith George Boyd and Aaron McClean in their side Posh should have a good chance of coming away from Edgar Street with a victory under their belt. A 2-0 victory over Leeds in midweek has boosted Herefords’s chances of survival this season but I think Darren Ferguson’s men will have enough and with Hills going odds-on at 10/11, Corals stand alone price of 5/4 looks very interesting. But be quick it may not last until kick-off if they take serious money for Peterborough.

This weekends selections are…

Charlton Athletic to beat Barnsley
1pt Win @ 11/4 Skybet

Watford to beat Blackpool
1pt Win @ 9/4 Skybet

Peterborough to beat Hereford
3pts Win @ 5/4 Coral

Widnes Viking v Oldham – Rugby League

Widnes Viking v Oldham
13/02/2009- 19.30pm

A busy week of international football has passed by and not much caught our eye in the way of value so a quiet week all in all. If only we’d backed “dirty Leeds’s” Jermain Beckford to have launched a vicious attack on the harmless Millwall goalkeeper.

Super League re-appeared last weekend and The Rhinos got off to a winning start followed by Wakefield shocking Wigan at The JJB Stadium on Sunday, Unfortunately the snow caused all of the Northern Rail Cup games to be postponed but Friday night sees the start of this years competition.

Having missed out on getting a Super League franchise in the close season due to their previously fragile finances the Widnes Vikings have made a statement of intent of intent with their summer recruitment and have cleared the decks of some previous dead wood. Owner Steve O’Connor had maintained a full-time playing squad and has signalled his intentions to make sure the RFL have no cause to deny Widnes access to Super League when the next round of franchises are offered in three years time.

Points Machine Mick Nanyn has upped sticks and headed down to Harlequins to take his chance in Super League and Head coach Steve McCormack has used the St Helens contacts of his assistant John Stankevitch (Former Saints Forward) to bring in former stars of the saints youth side Stephen Bannister and Sam Thompson Who will bring significant force to the Widnes pack, long serving Featherstone fullback Loz Wildmore has joined and his experience of National League One is sure to bring stability to the backline of The Vikings. Long serving hooker Mark Smith has pledged his future to the club and will be looking to showcase his undoubted talent at this level once again, Anthony Thackeray has signed a permanent contract after finishing last season on loan at Widnes and is joined by former Hull FC and Hull KR legend James Webster in what looks to be the best half back pairing in the division by far. The likes of Toa-Kohe-Love, Richard Fletcher and John Duffy will add their experience to the ranks and Steve McCormack has probably assembled the best squad during his time with Widnes and must be excited about this forthcoming season.

It’s all change at Oldham as they look for promotion into National League One and they have appointed former Leigh coach Tony Benson for 2009. He’s a former junior Kiwi’s coach who gets big raps from coaches such as Daniel Anderson and Wayne Bennett. He’s added the experienced Paul Reilly to the ranks following his release by Wakefield and he is paired with former Huddersfield Giants team-mate Marcus St Hillaire. The forwards have been boosted by Jamie I’anson who has signed from Celtic Crusaders (You wouldn’t want to argue too long with him, he’s a giant) and Paul Highton joins after his release from Salford they are sure to be a big force in National League Two this season.

In summary im really confident this Widnes side is the best McCormack has assembled in recent years and whilst they now have three years kicking their heels and playing in National League One and The Northern Rail Cup I think with the squad he has available McCormack could quite easily do the double and I think Skybet’s offer of the Vikings to give Oldham ( A League below Widnes, in National League Two) a 16 point start and still come away victorious is one we should take note of and I take the Vikings to get our weekend off to a good start.

Widnes Vkings -16 to beat Oldham
2.2pts Win @ 10/11 (Skybet)

Nottingham Forest v QPR – Betting Tip

Nottingham Forest v QPR
Saturday 7th Feb 2009- 15.00pm

A late preview due to the effects of the severe weather conditions I was waiting to see if the game including our selection was going ahead and by the looks of it, it’s all go.

Since the recent appointment of Billy Davies, Forest who were struggling in the relegation places have been on a steady run of improved form. Davies can boast a run of four wins and one draw in his first seven games in charge and not many could argue with that start, he’s also won his first two games at The City Ground. Striker Nathan Tyson seems to have been rejuvenated by Davies’s style of play and has scored four times in the last seven games. They boast a home record of four wins, five draws and six losses.

QPR roll up in to town on a run of one defeat in ten games which was an extra time defeat at Burnley in The F.A Cup, they’re unbeaten in their last three. Looking at their bare away form it’s not too much to write home about – three wins, six draws and six defeats, scoring only ten times in fifteen away games so far.

However it finally looks to me like Paulo Sousa has got the team playing together and they sit one place outside the play off’s stalking and waiting to make their move. To add to an already solid squad and start to the season Rangers invested wisely in January and whilst most of their signings were undisclosed it’s fair to say it was an expensive January for them. The signings of Gary Borrowdale and Heidar Helguson and more importantly Wayne Routledge added Premier League class to their challenge for promotion and the loan move for Liam Miller (Sunderland) looks a shrewd deal.

The fact they’ve only scored ten away from home all season has to worry me but I’ve been sweet on QPR all week since I first saw the early prices and odds of 9/5 with Ladbrokes are reward enough.

QPR to beat Nottingham Forest
1pt Win @ 9/5 (Ladbrokes)

Burnley v West Brom Betting Tip

Burnley v West Brom
3rd February 2009- 17.45pm

After a 2-2 draw at The Hawthorns ten days ago these two teams clash once again in the replay at Turf Moor. The game is subject to a pitch inspection although the ground does have under-soil heating so one would assume any decision to call the game off would be in the interests of “fans safety“

The home side go into the game on the back of a 2-1  home victory over Charlton at the weekend, coming from 1-0 down to sneak victory in the 94th minute. Out of the 46 points they have accumulated so far this season 28 have been won at Turf Moor not to mention their excellent run in the Carling Cup and their recent victory over Spurs although Pavlychenko’s late goal saw Spurs to Wembley.

Their form has tailed off slightly and they show a recent record of just three wins in their last eleven games and have lost four of their last eight in all competitions. This would seem to suggest the strong cup run in the aforementioned cup has taken it’s toll on the small squad they possess, they have already played 40 games so far this season and have nearly a third of the season still to play, veteran right back Graham Alexander has played in all 40 so far and five of the squad have played 35+ games. Martin Patterson remains their top scorer with 16 goals in all competitions so far.

The visitors turn up at Turf Moor with a horrendous injury list which includes ten of their first team squad and they bookies have reacted accordingly making them outsiders to progress to the next round. They came from behind to take a point away at Hull on Saturday with Chris Brunt keeping his cool to equalise from the penalty spot late on, but in the process lost playmaker Koren aswell as record signing Borja Valero for the cup replay. It is likely Pele and Kim will have to deputise at Turf Moor.

Although they prop up the Premiership table they can boast only three defeats in their last 10 games in all competitions, a run which includes four victories along the way and the recent loan signing of Jay Simpson from Arsenal seems to have given them a real focal point in attack, his pace seems to be unsettling a lot of decent centre halves. Add to his recent signing the fact that Chris Brunt seems to be finding his best form for the baggies since his £3m move from Sheffield Wednesday and you could be forgiven for thinking the baggies may yet avoid relegation.

Due to the obvious injury worries of West Brom the bookies have cut their cloth accordingly and make the hosts favourite’s to progress but I like the way the baggies play their stuff and believe even with a weakened side they can progress at the expense of a recently tiring Burnley side and Coral’s 11/5 may just be a bit too generous.

West Brom to beat Burnley
1pt Win @ 11/5 (Coral)

Millwall v Scunthorpe Betting Tip

Saturday 31/01/2009- 15.00pm
Millwall v Scunthorpe

Once again I’ve plumped for an away side against a home side with a strong home record this season. Millwall have only been beaten at home once all season themselves and have won nine out of thirteen.

With plenty of fire power including top scorer Tresor Kandol, Gary Alexander and Izale Mcleod the den has been a fortress. However Scunthorpe beat Oldham in midweek and are looking like Millwall for automatic promotion to The Championship, top scorer  Gary Hooper is banging them in and so far has 14 for the season and will likely be playing up front again with experienced Paul Hayes if he passes a late fitness test.

If so it will be an unchanged Scunthorpe side for the third successive game and they are no mugs away from Glanford Park having won seven times on their travels already this season, I like them and I think there a good strong bit of value again.

Scunthorpe to beat Millwall
1pt Win @ 12/5 (Stanjames)

Fulham v Portsmouth Betting Tip

Saturday 31/01/2009- 15.00pm
Fulham v Portsmouth

Well after looking through the weekends fixture list and assessing our options I narrowed the selection down to two possibilities and being unable to split the two were having our first double selection of the year. We’ll start in The Premiership

Fulham have been rock solid at Craven Cottage this season with only West Ham having come away with all 3 points. They’ve won six drawn three and lost only once as we’ve stated and have only conceded eight goals in the process, Roy Hodgson has put together a big strong athletic squad and with giants including Mark Schwarzer, Hangeeland and Etuhu allows only for a small bit of flair with the likes of Andy Johnson, Simon Davies and Danny Murphy.

Whilst I can’t put any complaints in about Fulham apart from the fact they’ve let Jimmy Bullard go to Hull which could leave them a bit short in the box to box midfielder role, I’ve got to say im sweet on Pompey this weekend at an outrageous price of 31/10

Having won only twice away all season and with only one win in eight in all competitions some might think I’ve cracked up (a bit like Benitez) but strip away all the form and look at the basics, on Tuesday night they lost 1-0 to Villa but played a back line of David James, Glen Johnson, Sol Campbell, Sylvan Distin and Herman Radisson (although Belhadj has been playing left back) a midfield consisting of Pennant, Mullins and Davis and Crouch upfront with Kanu.

That line up to me is one of a solid premiership side and if Pompey can put aside their recent form I think Tony Adams’ side could put up a much needed performance and as I’ve already said I find the price value and definitely worth getting involved with.

Portsmouth to beat Fulham
1pt Win @ 31/10 (Stanjames)

Southend v Yeovil Town – Betting Tip

Southend v Yeovil Town (24th January 2009 @ 3pm)

A great performance by the canaries of Norwich City last week and were off to a flying start for 2009.

This weekends focus is down at Roots Hall for Southend currently 15th in League One against a Yeovil Town side currently lying 19th.

The hosts are Even money favourites but looking beneath the surface have a fair few problems. They’ve won only 7 out of their last 21 league games and also are without a win in their last 5 games in all competitions, they scored a 96th minute equaliser earlier in the week to draw 1-1 at Leyton Orient however the result came at a cost with them losing striker Alex Revell for the season through injury and also further injuries to key men Anthony Grant and old war horse Dougie Freedman take into account strong centre half Peter Clarke suspension this weekend and it leaves them without 4 key players for the visit of Yeovil.

Yeovil themselves aren’t in the best form having won only once in 5, however the victory was on the road at lowly Swindon. Russell Slade has moulded an experienced unfashionable squad together and looks to players like Danny Schofield and Marc Bircham for his flair and their away record so far this season shows 3 victories 3 draws and 6 defeats which have included a couple of hidings losing 5-0 at Stockport in the F.A. Cup and 3-0 at Northampton Town in the league. Whilst it’s not too bad a record it does appear that Yeovil’s main problem is scoring goals with only 9 away goals all season and whilst top scorer Danny Schofield has 4 and will be looking to add to his tally at the weekend, I don’t believe the recent signing of the much travelled striker Luke Rodgers will dramatically alter their goalscoring form.

So what point of view are we going to take with the game? Well I acknowledge 4 key men are missing for Southend however I believe that top scorer Lee Barnard will continue his goal haul and with the experience of captain Adam Barrett and keeper Steve Mildenhall I believe the shrimpers still have plenty of quality at this level and im a fan of Franck Moussa in midfield. No win in 5 and 1 win in 9 for them but to be fair two of the games were against Premiership Chelsea so I can forgive them that also. Steve Tilson described himself as in a desperate position this week but Chairman Ron Martin has told him he will have time and funds to turn the side around however I think the best they’ll be looking for is a solid mid-table finish.

Most firms have gone odds/on for the home victory but Ladbrokes seem to have latched onto the problems of Southend and go out a stand alone Evens about the home side. Whilst many will not see the value I take the home side to prevail and come through against all odds.

Southend to beat Yeovil Town
1pt Win @ Evens- Ladbrokes