Carling Cup Final

Aston Villa V Manchester United

Sunday, 28^th February – 15:00 GMT(LIVE on BBC1)

Introduction

This isn’t a competition most clubs in England stick at the very top of their list of priorities for the season, more right at the very bottom in fact. However, it is still a momentous occasion, especially for Aston Villa, whom will be making their first appearance in a domestic cup final for the first time in nearly a decade, with their previous final appearance being a losing one in the 1999-2000 FA Cup final back at the old Wembley. However, you have to cast your minds back ever further for Villa’s last taste of cup success, back in 1996 when Aston Villa won this very competition beating Leeds United 3-0 in the final. Their opponents, however, Manchester United, need only stretch back a single year for their last piece of silverware, that being the Carling Cup as well as they beat Tottenham Hotspur via a penalty shoot-out last season.

The one defining factor every finalist needs is passion, and perhaps experience could be thrown into the equation as well, and while United certainly have bags of the latter, we feel Villa will have far more passion seeing as finals don’t crop all too often for them, very rarely in fact, so you’d have to feel they’ll have more hunger in their souls than their ready-made final opponents, Manchester United. Don’t be fooled into thinking United won’t be fired up to win on Sunday though, as the Mighty Red Devils rarely turn up to a final without that burning desire to complete a memorable cup run with a final victory.

Injuries to big stars in the United camp has levelled the playing field somewhat as Villa, despite picking up four points from their two meetings with Manchester United in the league this season, do have the weaker squad of the two. However, this Aston Villa side have shown on more than one occasion this season that they can be the real deal and that on their day they have the ability to beat anyone, regardless of their more glamour reputation. The problem is, however, very few in that Aston Villa squad have previous final experiences, which is crucial in a Wembley environment which can be a graveyard for young souls. It’s also a venue where stars are born, and with Villa boasting some of the country’s brightest talents, perhaps this is the scene of a beautiful Martin O’Neill masterpiece and the setting for a big future for some of Villa’s young hopefuls.

For Manchester United, this will just be one of many titles to brace the United trophy cabinet. That doesn’t mean they don’t give a care in the world about winning Sunday’s finale, as that’s far from the truth. In fact, they will be the favourites to snatch the Carling Cup crown from under Aston Villa’s noses as their team packs plenty of experience, maturity, quality and class. They also possess a starlet in the form of his life in Wayne Rooney. The England forwards displays this season has seen him rise through the ranks and join the likes of Ronaldo & Messi as some of the worlds greatest players. He’s in the form of his life at present and was the figurehead behind United’s two-legged victory over arch rivals Manchester City in the previous round. Can he steal the show on Sunday, stamp his mark on the sport from a worldwide perspective, or will he falter in United’s biggest game thus far and hand the initiative to one of Villa’s many rising stars? So many questions, all of which being asked by fans, pundits and punters alike, but the only way to find the answers is to watch Sunday’s final LIVE on the BBC from 02:00 GMT.

 ——————————————————

Aston Villa

Recommended Bet: To Score Two or More – 3.75 PaddyPower

Aston Villa football club has such a bright future but it’s all about fulfilling their potential and not crumbling in pressure-cooker moments. Last season, Villa were pushing for a top four finish after a strong run of form in the middle part of the season but fell apart in the latter stages of the season to finish well off Arsenal who eventually snapped up fourth place. Villa shown last season that they didn’t have the maturity nor the experience to keep their cool in their crucial games, but, nearly a year on, can Villa keep their composure in what is their first major final for almost fifteen years?

While finishing in fourth spot is their main prerogative this season, victory in the Carling Cup will certainly be up there now they’ve gotten this far. However, this is one of three objectives Villa are going all out to achieve and you would be forgiven for thinking Villa will become overwhelmed, exhausted and possibly distracted as their minds are concentrating on so many competitions and big fixtures. In Martin O’Neill, though, you have a focused man, a manager who knows how to get the very best out of this crop of potential stars and we have no doubt he will have this Aston Villa side fired up for this huge final encounter as O’Neill and the rest of the Villa squad aim to give their fans their first loyalty deposit bonus for their support down the years. 

Just like their final opponents, Manchester United, Aston Villa preparations ahead of the Wembley show-piece on Sunday have gone to plan and were boosted significantly with progression in the FA Cup. Villa were held to a 2-2 draw at Crystal Palace but finished the job at home with a 3-1 win. Those in Claret & Blue that are travelling to Wembley on Sunday will be hoping their goalscoring antics on Wednesday was a taster of things to come as they, as well as everyone else, know Villa need to score a few if they want to put United to the sword and lift the Carling Cup at somewhere around tea-time.  

Goals really should be a given though, considering the vast amounts of attacking quality Martin O’Neill has at his disposal, of which every single one of his star-studded forwards are playing sensational right now. James Milner & Ashley Young will look to make marauding runs down the flanks, with the aim being to supply their bulky forwards with some decent aerial balls. John Carew, whom scored twice in the FA Cup replay in midweek, Emile Heskey & Gabriel Agbonlahor, will all pose an understrength United defence all sorts of problems with their aerial prowess, strength and pace. The latter, Agbonlahor, will scare the United defence the most, not only because of his blistering pace and slick finishing but also because it was him who scored Villa’s winner in the 1-0 victory at Old Trafford earlier in the season.

Aston Villa fans, whom won’t be used to trips to Wembey, will be hoping Agbonlahor will be their saviour once again and a nightmare for Sir Alex Ferguson and Manchester United, although, we’re pretty sure they don’t care who scores on Sunday just as long as it’s the match winner.

Manchester United

Recommended Bet: Wayne Rooney to Score within 90 minutes – 2.40 PaddyPower

The Carling Cup, or the League Cup as it sometimes referred to, is about the only trophy Manchester United haven’t won as many times as any other English team. Their tally of just three League Cup wins puts them behind the likes of Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur and even Nottingham Forest, which just goes to show how insignificant the Carling Cup has been to United in recent years. However, their bright youngsters got them through some sticky openers, whilst the professionals, or their idols if you like, finished the job by ensuring the club booked their rightful place at Wembley for this Carling Cup final showdown with Aston Villa after coming through a two-legged Semi-Final cracker with Manchester City.

Manchester United, arguably the most glamorous team in England, will be gunning for yet more silverware, what could be one of many this season as they seek out their first ever back-to-back Carling Cup success. Sir Alex Ferguson, whom has lifted the trophy twice as the United manager, guided United to their second Carling Cup title in four seasons when beating Tottenham Hotspur in an enticing encounter at Wembley last season. Their opponents this year, Aston Villa, aren’t a whole lot dissimilar to the Tottenham team they faced nearly a year to the day ago.

United’s preparations ahead of this final showdown have gone to plan, with Ferguson’s side wiping their two game run without a league win swiftly under the carpet with a routine 3-0 victory over West Ham in midweek. It was an important win as not only did it provide them with three huge points in their title chasing cause but it also gave the dressing room a much needed winning morale boost after two shabby performances in the league beforehand. When you head into a game of this magnitude, a match where so much is at stake, well, some silverware anyway, you need some positive momentum to spearhead you into such a fixture. You also need your players on top of their game, on top form and in tip-top shape, and while United might have the first two with Wayne Rooney bang inform right now, the latter is something they don’t have the luxury of with some of their key players, unfortunately.

Alex Ferguson will be without a few key individuals for Sunday’s final, none more so than club captain Ryan Giggs, whom despite playing an instrumental part in United getting this far won’t be available due to breaking his wrist, ironically in a league game with Aston Villa earlier in the month. John O’Shea is of course out for some time, whereas Owen Hargreaves is no nearer to a first-time appearance. However, the questions are building up around the fitness of Rio Ferdinand, whom hasn’t featured a whole lot for United this season and was ruled out of the final through a recurrence of the back problem he’s been suffering all season. While Nemajna Vidic will look to be United’s rock on Sunday, the void left by Rio could be huge what with Villa possessing some very tricky forward customers. Jonny Evans will be Ferguson’s preferred centre back partner for Vidic but Evans has been found wanting on far too many occasions for United, especially in the big games, so naturally there will be doubts over not only his own respective performance but that of the Manchester United defence as a whole.

  ——————————————————

Our Prediction: Aston Villa to WIN – 4.80 VCbet

How Manchester United are that short in price (1.87 totesport) is beyond me as Villa have been a constant thorn in United’s side this season, with the Reds’ failing in their bids to beat Aston Villa twice already this season, so why the odds on Villa completing a hat-trick are so big is bewildering.

We suppose it’s down to United’s two impressive wins on the trot; the 3-2 win at the San Siro against AC Milan, of which Wayne Rooney scored twice, as well as the 3-0 win at home to West Ham United on Tuesday, and well, Wayne Rooney was once again seen scoring a brace. England’s biggest hope this summer has been in scintillating form for the Red Devils this season and is arguably the only reason why Man Utd are a touch of odds-on to win within 90 minutes on Sunday. After all, it was the man of the moment, Rooney, who scored United’s winner in the Semi-Final with Man City, so do the bookies think lightening will strike twice, only this time at Wembley on Sunday.

Whereas United are heavily relying on the performance of one man, Villa have a whole host of players who can not only bring their A-game to Sunday’s final but could also win this game single-handily with one swift kick of the ball. The amount of creativity Villa will have on show is staggering; with James Milner, Ashley Young and a bang-in-form Stewart Downing all looking to upset the odds by carving open the United defence with some mazy runs, slickly through balls and some whizzing shots on goal. Moreover, we haven’t even mentioned the strength of their forward line, with Agbonlahor, Heskey & Carew all vying for a place on the starting line-up on Sunday, although only two will start from the off as O’Neill looks to pack that Villa midfield with hard-working, creative players.

Nevertheless, Villa look by far and away the best shout here, although you can never discount Manchester United. Still, at the prices you would have to consider Aston Villa as immense value (4.80 VCbet) but this final does have the makings of a tight fixture so Extra-Time could beckon.

 ——————————————————

Our Bet: Over 2.5 Goals – 2.00 Bet365

Finals often tend to be dull affairs because neither side wants to take any risks in case they concede a silly goal. However, we don’t expect either manager to leave a lot to the imagination, especially Martin O’Neill who will surely start with a very attacking minded side, filled to brim with creative midfielder and forward thinking players. Villa won’t hold back with their attempts on goal and an early strike from them would strike the touchpaper on what we feel will be a change in the wind as an entertaining final finally embraces our screens. Let’s not stop there though as Manchester United are more than capable of popping up with a few and are actually the favourites to land the first blow (To Score First 1.67 BetFred). Wayne Rooney is a man possessed right now, with his form sky-rocketing this season, with just about every defence failing to keep the Premiership’s leading goalscorer out. Villa have though, twice in fact, so perhaps Aston Villa are Rooney’s, and United’s for that matter, nemesis.

Goals for us, plenty of them if you would be so kind, in what should be a rip-roaring affair… Cue the 0-0 stalemate!

  ——————————————————

Match Odds:

Manchester United – 1.87 totesport

Draw – 3.50 Bet365

Aston Villa – 4.80 VCbet

Liverpool V Blackburn Rovers

Sunday, 28^th February – 15:00 GMT

Liverpool

League Position: 6th

Recent Form: DWWLD

The arrival of Blackburn Rovers on Sunday does present Liverpool with a routine fixture if truth be told in that the three points should be all but theirs if they apply themselves in the correct manner. While they haven’t exactly been doing that of late, failing to win in either of their last two league games, Liverpool are flying high at Anfield after a succession of wins -five in fact – and victory at home to Blackburn on Sunday would extend their winning run at home to six games. However, more importantly, it would see them snatch back fourth position if results go their way on Saturday, so the incentives are all laid out for Liverpool. It’s just a case of whether they grab them with both arms.

A 1-0 defeat at Arsenal accompanies a stalemate at Man City as Liverpool’s run without a league wins stretches to two games. That’s far from catastrophic but it’s a run which could have more of an adverse affect then you think considering that both were against two tough sides. They were the sort of games where you win and the confidence within the team oozes, while failure in those types of nitty-gritty affairs can often leave to a drowsy camp, and to players doubting their own ability’s. However, all the negatives that come with not winning games should be brushed under the carpet with a predicted victory this weekend.

Liverpool are very short in price and heavily fancied to do the business on Sunday, and rightly so in our eyes. While their opponents have been dragging their feet on the road this season, having won just once away from home all season, Liverpool have finally found a bit of ground back at Anfield to call their own after five wins on the bounce. Even their home form was looking patchy at around Christmas time but now Anfield is slowly moulding back into the fortress it was of last season, where Liverpool went the entire season without losing at home. Moreover, it’s the atmosphere at the stadium which is steadily improving because of these succession of wins. The fans are aware that the club have a serious fight on their hands for their ‘Top Four’ status and are right behind their players in the cause.

The Reds’s, aided by the euphoric support from their fans, should win this game at a cantor. However, Liverpool rarely win games comfortably nowadays, especially the ones they really should. Nevertheless, a home win still looks fairly assured and the odds on Liverpool winning (1.40 Boylesports) look far bigger then they should be in our honest opinion. Anfield is now a happy hunting ground for Liverpool, with points coming think and fast in their home fixtures. Their performance on Sunday lacked inspiration, that bit of spark or guile, but the return of Fernando Torres, who has been out of action for what seems an eternity for Liverpool, should make his long awaited start on Sunday, and we fancy the Spaniard to torment this Rovers back line and wouldn’t discourage anyone from backing Torres to score at Anfield, even if he is lacking in match fitness.

Blackburn Rovers

League Position: 12th

Recent Form: WDLWW

Blackburn Rovers put a more than healthy eleven point gap between them and the drop after victory over Bolton Wanderers last Sunday in a game which was had more of an Ice Hockey feel than football. It was blizzard like conditions in Lancashire, with the snow coming down at a rate of knots. It was Blackburn though who handle the bitter cold and low visibility conditions a whole lot better as they racked up their biggest marginal win of the season.

However, off the back of what proved to be an easy assignment for Sam Allardyce is a more thorough examination as he takes his Rovers squad up North to Liverpool where Anfield will be the setting for their next league fixture. It’s a venue where Blackburn haven’t exactly boasted a strong run of form, losing on three of their last four visits, but will the clubs recent good run of form – Winning four of their last six league games – aid them in their quest to end their losing streak at one of the most prestigious yet intimidating arenas in the land.

The problem for Blackburn is their produce the goods at home in front of a packed Ewood Park but they simply don’t cut it when out on their travels. In thirteen away outings thus far Blackburn have managed to win just one game, with even that coming against a Bolton Wanderers side struggling to fend off relegation. Rovers unwillingly claim the rights to a 69% losing ratio away from their beloved Ewood Park, losing nine away games in all, avoiding defeat on just four occasions. It’s a terrible statistic to have drummed into you, especially for a Blackburn player, but it does get worse when you hear Rovers have lost four of their last seven away fixtures in the Premier League and haven’t scored away from home in 250 minutes of away play.

The Blackburn cause really does look a lost one, and if Sam Allardyce is brutally honest he’ll say his players probably don’t stand much of a chance against any of the ‘Top Four’ teams on their own patch. However, Liverpool are rapidly losing their grasp on a top four stranglehold, while Liverpool’s performances on the whole this season haven’t been great and haven’t been ideal of late, either. Rovers, however, are enjoying a confidence beaming run of four wins from their last six games. Of course, it’s certainly worth remembering that all four did come at Ewood Park but wins breathe confidence into players, like we’ve mentioned a few times this week, and if Blackburn could somehow etch out the first goal then perhaps Rovers could sneak a shock point.

Match Verdict: Liverpool to WIN – 1.40 Boylesports

We’d be foolish to select anything other than a home win here considering the state of both teams respective home/away records. Liverpool have won nine of thirteen at home this season, which is in stark contrast to Blackburn away form of one win in thirteen, losing nine of them. Blackburn have lost the same amount of games away from home as Liverpool have won at home this season, which is a sure-fire sign that Liverpool will cruise for this fixture if I ever seen one. Moreover, Blackburn have a terrible record at Anfield of three defeats in their last four visits and we don’t envisage that getting any better on Sunday. Liverpool for us, although a sneaky bet on Fernando Torres as well.

Match Odds:

Liverpool – 1.40 Boylesports

Draw – 4.80 Bet365

Blackburn Rovers – 10.00 SkyBet

SoccerBetting Value Tip: Fernando Torres FGS – 4.30 Coral

Tottenham Hotspur V Everton

Sunday, 28^th February – 13:00 GMT (ESPN)

Tottenham Hotspur

League Position: 4th

Recent Form: WDDLW

Tottenham could count themselves rather fortunate to have won last Sunday after some poor officiating led to Jermain Defoe opening the scoring in what was a rather dull affair at The DW between themselves and Wigan Athletic. Spurs weren’t great but Harry Redknapp couldn’t care less about the performance of his players so long as they gain all three points when they don’t play particularly well and he could deploy a similar attitude on Sunday in a fixture Tottenham will have to battle tooth-and-nail in order to get anything from it, but an ugly one goal victory would be celebrated just as intensely as a 4-0 romp would be, so roll on the scrappy affair.

Tottenham’s 3-0 victory at Wigan Athletic on Sunday lifted them above both Man City & Liverpool into fourth position, leaving Tottenham with the initiative as this battle for fourth takes another interesting twist. However, they must avoid further drama by not allowing Everton to enter into this four team top four equation by beating them on Sunday and halting the Toffees firmly in their tracks after their recent influx of points. A win for Tottenham, however, would see them end the weekend in fourth position which would give the players a huge lift heading into some very tough fixtures in the following few weeks. Were they to lose, though, it would leave Tottenham exposed to a big fall down the table as wins could be hard to come by with some difficult fixtures just over the horizon. 

White Hart Lane has always been a tough place to visit and this has been the case for most teams this season when Tottenham are on top of their game. However, Spurs do have this knack of going to sleep in a rare few home games, with their three home defeats in thirteen backing up this statement, especially when you see that two of those loses were to Wolves & Stoke City – Teams you would expect Tottenham to beat every day of the week. Another flaw in Tottenham is their inability to get themselves fired up and motivated for the big games, with their 3-0 victory at home to Man City being their only real highlight against teams in the top six. They did beat Liverpool on the opening day of the season but that was when nothing was at stake. Now, though, there is plenty on the line and we are unsure as to whether the Tottenham players will handle the pressure and rise to the occasion.

Tottenham’s best performance this season came when they smashed Man City 3-0 at White Hart Lane. They were really at it that day, with some pacey attacks complimented by some slick finishing. However, while that win was impressive, it did come at a time when Mark Hughes was on the way out of Eastlands, and so perhaps the City players had their minds on matters elsewhere. Spurs were also very impressive when they took on Aston Villa at home earlier in the month. They did only draw 0-0 but Spurs were the better side and dominated proceedings from start to finish, creating plenty of chances but failing to convert any. If they can put in a similar high-tempo display like that then Tottenham will go close to a vital victory, but if they slack off for a second, they could get punished by one of the in-form teams in the league.

Everton

League Position: 8th

Recent Form: WWLWW

David Moyes will be praying for another stunning display from his juicy Toffees’ when he takes them down to London in a match up against top four hopefuls, Tottenham Hotspur, at White Hart Lane. Everton were put to the sword when the pair last met back at Goodison Park in early December, with the Goodison side having to score two late goals just to snatch a point, but will Everton’s superb victory over Manchester United at the weekend lead them onto another big scalp, that of Tottenham on their own patch?

Everton were sensational on Saturday, and they had to be to record their biggest win of the season. It wasn’t by the biggest margin, but it was against one of the leading players in the Premier League in the reigning Premiership champions, Manchester United. David Moyes got his tactics spot on as Everton pressed United whenever they got possession, while Everton were the more pleasing of the two on the eye in the final third, with their quick one-touch passing, slick interchanging and overlapping down the flanks. They were simply too hot for United to handle and their 3-1 victory was their just rewards for a stunning effort from every single Everton player. They will, however, need to replicate their effort on Saturday, and then some, if they are to make it three stunning victories on the bounce after wins over Chelsea and now Manchester United. 

The victory over Man Utd should have given the Everton players yet a further lift in confidence as that was their second win over a so called ‘Big Four’ side this month, with Everton beating Chelsea 2-1 at Goodison Park just ten days earlier. The only negative though, and it is a big one actually, is Everton lost in their last away outing against a team not too dissimilar to that of Tottenham, losing 1-0 at Liverpool. However, because of Everton’s recent wins, picking up two impressive sets of three points, they have risen significantly up the table and are now hot on the heels of the Champions League chasers. In fact, victory over Tottenham would see Everton go within two wins of Tottenham, although Everton would remain in 8^th position for the time being.

David Moyes hasn’t given up on a European finish and their recent form would suggest the players haven’t either. They had to work tremendously hard against both Chelsea & Manchester United to get a winning result, but their A-star efforts were rewarded with two huge wins. Their last away clash with one of the top four contenders didn’t go exactly to plan, however, when Everton lost 1-0 at Liverpool. They were far from disgraced though, and if they can somehow replicate their performance from the weekend then Everton would go close to securing all three points, what would be another huge set as the Toffees continue their climb back up the table and into European contention.

Match Verdict: Draw – 3.40 Coral

The stumbling block for us is White Hart Lane; as were this fixture at Goodison then Everton would definitely get our nod of approval as their last two performances at home have been nothing short of inspirational. Not many sides in the Premiership have what it takes to not only beat Chelsea & Man Utd, on current form the best two teams in the country, but also battering them into submission as Everton were dominant in both encounters; controlling the tempo of the game and carving out more goalscoring opportunities than their more glamorous opponents in both games. However, they had some loyal supporters roaring them home on both occasions, a bonus Everton won’t have on Sunday as it will be Tottenham who boast home advantage at a stadium where Spurs haven’t lost against any of the top four contenders this season.

Tottenham were at the races in their last encounter with a top four hopeful, with that being a fixture with Aston Villa. Tottenham created plenty of chances, carving out the sort of chances most top teams would have taken, but they failed to convert their superiority into a win and dropped two big points because of this. The question is: will they pay a similar price on Sunday, or will they record their second home victory over a team from Liverpool this season? We honestly don’t know the answer but feel Everton’s form is more than worthy of a point in this eagerly awaited contest.

Match Odds:

Tottenham Hotspur – 2.00 PaddyPower

Draw – 3.40 Coral

Everton – 4.00 SkyBet

SoccerBetting Value Tip: Both Teams to Score (Yes) – 1.80 WilliamHill

Sunderland V Fulham

Sunday, 28^th February – 15:00 GMT

Sunderland

League Position: 14th

Recent Form: LDDDL

It was yet another drab weekend for Steve Bruce and his Black Cats side as they crashed to their eleventh defeat of the season when losing 2-0 at The Emirates to Arsenal. It was a fixture no-one was giving them much hope in before kick-ff but Sunderland almost defied the odds and should of at least got on the score sheet after creating some glorious opportunities. However, their defence was at sixes and seven, so with every silver lining and all that, there’s a whacking great negative waiting at the end as far as Sunderland are concerned.

For a team that hasn’t exactly excelled in front of goal of late, Sunderland performed very well from an attacking sense. It was mainly from the counter-attacks where Sunderland caused Arsenal problems. With Kieran Richardson’s keen vision and the pace of both Kenwyn Jones & Darren Bent round the back a nuisance to keep tabs of. However, true to form the pair fluffed the good few chances that did come their way. Sunderland really should of bolstered their goal tally last Saturday, but now their goalscoring form looks even more abysmal, with Sunderland scoring just two goals in 450 minutes of football. Moreover, just one of those was actually from open play, meaning while Sunderland do create very good goalscoring chances, they haven’t been creating anywhere near enough to actual have a good conversion rate.

However, while Sunderland did have their moments in attack at The Emirates, their defending was a complete mess. Arsenal just ran through their defence at will, even managing to walk past some of Sunderland’s lethargic defenders. Their was absolutely no organisation or positional discipline back there, next to no communication and their attempts at trying to jockey their opponents in a bid to hold up the play was terrible. What’s more alarming, perhaps even hilarious, is that Sunderland shown no signs that any homework had been done on the Arsenal forwards. Theo Walcott’s pace was battering them down the right, if there was a player charging down the right who was right footed they’d let him wander inside to have a pop. It was laughable at times to think that Sunderland should be a Premiership team but are currently defending like Durham City, a side who were given the worst team in England tag, but we feel we might be doing Durham a discredit as Sunderland were that bad.

We personally couldn’t touch Sunderland right now, not even if our Irish friend Paddy wiped a £100 Bob in our face, such is the pointless act in backing Steve Bruce’s men at this moment in time. Their forwards aren’t taking their chances while their defence is gifting them up on a plate for the opponent. They’ve not won in thirteen league games after that defeat to Arsenal, with Sunderland having gone more than three months without a Premiership victory on Sunday. Ouch!

Fulham

League Position: 9th

Recent Form: LWDWW

A Fulham side with one of the worst away records in the league try their luck against a Sunderland side who couldn’t buy a win right now, although Steve Bruce could do with buying a few new defenders right now a whole lot more than one solitary victory. Sunderland’s poor defensive form gets Fulham through the door on Tyneside, but can they go the whole nine-yards by recording just their second away win of the season, what would be their first since the opening day of the season, over half-a-year ago.

There are a few fixtures on the calendar where Roy Hodgeson will give an honest assessment and say those few games are definitely winnable. They are a of these fixtures around for Fulham these days but not too many away ones. This trip to Sunderland, however, does present the Cottagers with a fabulous chance to end their baron away run in the league of twelve games without any away success. Lowly Portsmouth, a side rock-bottom of the Premier League, are the only team Fulham have beaten on the road this season, which is hardly a confidence booster heading into yet another away fixture. Fulham’s form away from Crave Cottage this season isn’t good, far from good in fact, with an away record of 1-5-7. With their shy looking away record in mind, surely Fulham can’t afford to pass up what appears to be their best opportunity to win an away fixture to date. Since their win at Portsmouth back in August last year.

Fulham have always had somewhat of an away voodoo hanging over them ever since they joined the Premiership in their first ever season. Their solid home form has been the only reason why Fulham haven’t been relegated from the Premiership, and their form at Craven Cottage this season is what’s keeping them alive at the moment because their away form is their Achilles heel. The Cottagers have lost just one of their last eleven games at Craven Cottage in the league, a staggering statistic for a small club like Fulham, but it’s in stark contrast to the five defeats they suffered in seven on the road. For one reason or another, Fulham just cop out when playing away from home, with their shy away attitude costing them so many points and possibly a big push for another season of European football. Their poor away form is holding the club back from challenging for honours further up the league table, and while Roy Hodgeson has been wracking his brain for sometime over how to squash this away curse of theirs, he just hasn’t found any answers.

The goods news is that Fulham do have a win under their belts after beating Birmingham City 2-1 last Sunday. However, as you’ve probably already guess that was at Craven Cottage. Still, a win is a win and that was their third on the spin at home. A run which should breathe confidence into the side. In their last away venture, though, Fulham could only manage a 0-0 draw at Bolton. However, while draws aren’t particularly pleasing, Roy Hodgeson probably won’t be too disgruntled with a point at The Stadium of Light as he knows his Fulham side don’t perform to the high standard he expects away from London and will be fully aware that Sunderland are scraping near the bottom of the table and will put up a fight for the three points on offer in Sunday’s contest.

Match Verdict: Draw – 3.30 WilliamHill

We wouldn’t feel right nor have much confidence in backing any of these two teams in this fixture, with Sunderland not winning a league game in twelve games and Fulham going the exact same length of games without an away victory. Fulham can’t win away from home while Sunderland simply cannot win a game of football, so surely the draw is a stunning bet. Moreover, Fulham did end their three match losing streak on the road with a draw at Bolton in their last outing, while Sunderland have drawn their last thee fixtures at The Stadium of Light. Yet more evidence to back up my case for a stalemate up North. I’ll faint if either team manages to win this affair.

Match Odds:

Sunderland – 2.25 Boylesports

Draw – 3.30 WilliamHill

Fulham – 3.50 Expekt

SoccerBetting Value Tip: Under 1.5 Goals – 3.00 WilliamHill

Chelsea V Manchester City

Saturday, 27^th February – 12:45 GMT (Sky Sports 1)

Chelsea

League Position: 1st

Recent Form: WDWLW

Chelsea were nursing an Everton hangover at the weekend, with their groggy and largely shabby performance at Molineux evidence of a tough outing earlier in the week at Goodison. However, like true Champions do, Chelsea bounced back with an important win, a 2-0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers, and that win not only kept Chelsea at the top of the table but it also sent them four points clear at the top in the process. So, all in all it was a very good weekend for Chelsea but can they go one better by gaining revenge for their loss at The City of Manchester by beating an overvalued Manchester City in the weekend’s kick-start fixture.  

While their weekend went to plan when beating Wolves 2-0 at Molineux, Chelsea’s bid for that elusive first Champions League title was dealt a blow when falling to a 2-1 defeat in Milan on Wednesday night. Despite a rare goal from Salomoun Kalou, a Chelsea side which clearly wasn’t at the races had only a solitary away goal to celebrate in what was a poor first leg defeat to Inter Milan. That loss leaves Chelsea chasing the tie and needing to beat Inter in the reverse leg at Stamford Bridge. Ancelotti will still have every belief that his side will overhaul the deficit when the two teams met for the second time in a fortnights time, but there are growing concerns over this Chelsea side which simply isn’t performing to the high standard we all come to expect. 

It’s back to business now though for Carlo Ancelotti and Chelsea as he aims to drag this below par Chelsea side back to winning ways with a win at home to Manchester City at the weekend. He may have his work cut out mind after watching his main man between the sticks limp off in agony on Wednesday night. Cech is certain to miss this fixture with City, whilst his entire season could well be over as his injury looked a drastic one. We are yet to hear just how extensive the injury his but his absence will have a huge impact on the Chelsea results as his saves have kept Chelsea in some of their recent encounters, none more than at the weekend when he pulled off two miraculous stops against Wolves. The time of his injury has come at the worst time for Ancelotti, whom has had to deal with the off-pitch antics of both John Terry & Ashley Cole, whilst the latter will miss the remainder of the season with a broken ankle.

The positives though, if you’re looking to have a punt on the home side this Saturday is Chelsea’s superb form at Stamford Bridge this season, having dropped points on just one occasions. Only Everton have gone to Stamford Bridge and taken a share of the spoils in thirteen games, whilst no-one has had the audacity to actually beat Chelsea at home thus far. However, the concerns are in the defence as Chelsea have looked a right mess at the back in recent outings. They will need a solid, inspirational performance from their club captain, John Terry, on Saturday as he’s been well below par of late. Chelsea have, however, kept two successive clean sheets at home in the league, but will that run come to end in the absence of Petr Cech?

Manchester City

League Position: 5th

Recent Form: WLWDD

After a lousy display on Sunday in a game City fans were hyping up as the fixture they really announce themselves as the top contender for a fourth place finish, Manchester City go in search of back-to-back wins over Chelsea by earning what would be a shock victory at Stamford Bridge. Roberto Mancini wasn’t at the helm at the time City beat Chelsea 2-1 at The City of Manchester stadium in December, so has he done his homework on the current leaders, and, if so, will even some light-hearted research be enough to overhaul the Premiership title favourites on their own patch?

If you want an honest answer to that question from us then it’s a firm NO! This City squad is proving all the critics right in that City are jam packed with Mercenary’s. Most of the players at Eastlands are only there because City’s mega rich owners dangled bags-a-plenty of cash in front of their noses. Gareth Barry, Joeleon Lescott, Roque Santa Cruz, heck even Emmanuel Adebayor have all failed to meet the high expectations enforced on them due to their hefty price tags. Only Craig Bellamy & Carlos Tevez have actually been players worth mentioning as they’ve been the only two who’ve shown bags of spirit and determination, with the pair pouring their heart and soul into this City cause. However, neither have been available for action it would seem, with Tevez flying back to Argentina on compassionate leave while Craig Bellamy’s war of words with Mancini has cost him a place in the starting eleven – Bad times!

Roberto Mancini will know the importance of setting a marker at the club, installing some discipline into the City ranks, but he really does need to swallow his pride by selecting Craig Bellamy for Saturday’s fixture. He has been the stand out player in that City squad for a long time now, with his model like work ethic and his marauding runs down the flanks. Not only has he led by example in regards to raising the effort level in matches with his never give up attitude but he’s also been arguably City’s biggest danger in the final third, often being the creator in an artistic City forward move. They struggled dearly without the Wales international on Sunday in a match where City shown next to nothing in the final third, with City becoming far too predictable in an attacking sense.

The likes of Bellamy and Tevez give opposing defenders something to think about as City’s tireless strikers just don’t stop running, always closing the opposition down and forcing their opponents into mistakes. Without them, City will struggle, and have done in recent outings, failing to win in either of their last two league games now, whilst also playing out a frustrating 1-1 draw at home to Stoke City in the FA Cup. City will now have to play a replay on Wednesday night, one which will hamper their preparations head of such a daunting weekend fixture. If they do somehow escape The Brittania with a win on Wednesday night then perhaps that will give the City players a much needed boost in confidence. However, defeat and City could crumble in their upcoming fixtures starting with defeat at Stamford Bridge.

Match Verdict: Chelsea to WIN – 1.50 PaddyPower

We know Chelsea haven’t been as consistent and reliable at the back as we would have liked, mainly because we’ve been one of their biggest critics of late, but their opponents have been far too negative of late and will be reeling after their FA Cup demise on Wednesday, getting knocked out by Stoke City. The Chelsea defence will need to improve, greatly in our eyes, but even with their recent lapses in defence, Chelsea should be far too strong for City at Stamford Bridge, a venue where only Everton have walked away from unscathed. We don’t fancy City to leave London without any lasting scars, so Chelsea get our seal of approval to make an instant return to winning ways after a disappointing result in midweek.

Match Odds:

Chelsea – 1.50 PaddyPower

Draw – 4.30 Bet365

Manchester City – 8.00 Coral

SoccerBetting Value Tip: Chelsea/Chelsea (HT/FT Betting) – 2.30 Boylesports

Stoke City V Arsenal

Saturday, 27^th February – 17:30 GMT (Sky Sports 1)

Stoke City

League Position: 11th

Recent Form: DWDDW

Tony Pulis must feel he’s the best manager in the world as he just can’t stop beating Arsenal at The Brittania. The Potters may have lost both their encounters with Arsenal at The Emirates, one coming earlier in the season in the form of a 2-0 lose, but Stoke boast a 100% home record against Arsenal in all competitions, even earning another surprise victory against The Gunners earlier in the year in the FA Cup. Tony Pulis really does know how to throw a spanner in the Arsenal works with his tactiful genius, but will he be able to produce another masterpiece by making it three from from against Arsenal at The Brittania this Saturday?

We’re sure Tony Pulis will keep muttering that old adage ‘If it’s not broke, don’t fix it’ as he looks to set Stoke up in the same formation and set up that has beaten Arsenal two games on the spin at home. If this is to be the case then Stoke will get in their faces, closing Arsenal down at every opportunity whilst playing for set-plays when they do stride forward. Pulis doesn’t even need to do his homework as he knows just where to hurt Arsenal, and that’s in their defence from crosses. William Gallas isn’t a certainty to feature on Saturday so an unconvincing Sol Campbell, at the ripe old age of 35 (Yikes!) will probably start in the heart of the Arsenal defence alongside Thomas Vermealen, whom has actually been a very good signing for The Gunners this season. However, both managed to thwart Stoke’s aerial prowess when the two teams last met in a competitive fixture, that being Stoke’s 3-1 victory in the FA Cup, so Stoke will look to capitalise on an exposed defence frailties.

Stoke couldn’t of gone into this exciting fixture with better form after extending their unbeaten run in the league to seven after their flabbergasting win at Fratton Park last weekend. Stoke won a surprisingly exciting encounter with Portsmouth 2-1 by virtue of a last gasp Salif Diao strike. The Senegalese first goal in somewhere around seven years. That goal typified just how Stoke work in that every single one of them chip in with a match winning effort or goal. Diao’s winners down on the South coast was Stoke’s twelfth different goalscorer this season, with no-one in the Stoke squad even close to surpassing the five goal marker et alone reaching double figures.

We expect more of the same from Stoke, strong tackles, plenty of balls over the top and yet more danger from set-pieces. They are the most awkward team to play against in the league, perhaps even England, and you won’t find manager in the land that enjoys facing a robust and resilient Stoke City. Even the likes of Chelsea and Man Utd have struggled at The Brittania this season, although the defining difference being the pair both scraped out vital victories. Can Arsenal be the third ‘Top Four’ side this season to break Stoke hearts or will The Potters voodoo over The Gunners live on with another home win?

Arsenal

League Position: 3rd

Recent Form: DLLWW

This really is a fixture Arsene Wenger must dread nowadays on the football calender; a trip to The Brittania. Recently alone, Arsenal have been foiled by The Potters on Stoke territory, with Stoke producing one of the shocks of the season last year to win 2-0 in an encounter which really shook the Gunners, while more recently, Arsenal swiftly exited the FA Cup at the hands of Stoke City when losing 3-1 at The Brittania only last month. It’s a fixture The Gunners have drawn blanks in on recent attempts but it’s one Arsenal have no option but to win as anything else could leave them further trailing to leading duo at the top of the Premier League table. 

There is no getting away from it, this, as well as every fixture from now till the end of the season, is a must win game if Arsenal want to keep their name in the frame for the league title. Arsenal simply cannot afford to fall yet more points off the pace currently set by Chelsea. The Gunners, whom have now won back-to-back games in the league after two successive home victories over Liverpool and Sunderland, are six points behind Chelsea and could fall a further three if they don’t earn a well earned set of three points at The Brittania this Saturday.

Arsene Wenger won’t contemplate defeat as he knows it would prove costly, but he’s also aware that victory at The Brittania isn’t impossible especially as both Chelsea and Manchester United have won there this season. However, every side has a ‘bogey’ team and Arsenal’s is definitely Stoke City because the Gunners just can’t handle the ‘rustle & approach’ from Stoke. This Arsenal squad boasts some technically gifted players, some of the sleekest players on the planet, but the one thing they do lack is players with an abundance of strength and height, with Sol Campbell being about the only candidate with both and yet he’s nearly past it. It’s a major concern as it’s a proven fact that Arsenal cannot handle Stoke’s physical approach to games, it just rubs them up the wrong way and it’s even more alarming that one of the smartest tacticians in the game, Arsene Wenger, hasn’t come across a tactic or method to nullify Stoke’s main asset; their aerial prowess.

On the plus side on things, Arsenal should be in a confident mood when travelling to The Brittania stadium after two wins on the bounce. Victories over Liverpool (1-0) and Sunderland (2-0) were both made more impressive by two clean sheets and this should breathe some new found belief into an Arsenal defence which has not only struggled to compete with Stoke’s physical style in recent meetings but also against all the other teams in the league, with The Gunners defence not as strong and reliable as it once was. However, this is their first away outing since losing 2-0 at Chelsea so it remains to be seen how Arsenal will fare in their very next away outing, which is this trip to Stoke. The return of Nicklas Bendtner is a huge boost for Wenger as Arsenal were severely lacking numbers up front, although Cesc Fabregas has gone off the boil in recent weeks so perhaps a big performance is needed from their little Spanish maestro if Arsenal are to end their Brittania voodoo this Saturday.

Match Verdict: Stoke City to WIN – 5.50 SkyBet

Arsene Wenger still doesn’t have the players at his disposal to deal with Stoke’s aerial threat; tall, strong and good in the air, the attributes a defender needs to nullify Stoke’s aerial prowess – How can we back Arsenal when they look so exposed at the back? Moreover, they haven’t been playing great of late and were somewhat fortunate that Sunderland fluffed their lines on Saturday, else Arsene Wenger could have been left ruing yet more dropped points. Fortunately for Arsenal fans, your team got lucky, but we don’t think they’ll be as fortunate at The Brittania, a venue where Arsenal have lost on their previous two visits. The Potters have built up an impressive seven match unbeaten run, albeit just three were victories, but they know Arsenal’s flaws and have shown us on two occasions that they know how to exploit these weak spots in the Arsenal side. We have every faith in Tony Pulis and fancy Stoke to expose then exploit Arsenal#s weaknesses once again on Saturday as they set out to complete a stunning hat-trick of home wins against the Gunners.

Match Odds:

Stoke City – 5.50 SkyBet

Draw – 3.60 Bet365

Arsenal – 1.73 PaddyPower

SoccerBetting Value Tip: Stoke City to Score Two or More – 3.60 PaddyPower

Birmingham City V Wigan Athletic

Saturday, 27^th February – 15:00 GMT

Birmingham City

League Position: 10th

Recent Form: LDWLL

Alex McLeish will be hoping Birmingham’s superb home form will stand his players in good stead as the take on a hapless Wigan Athletic on Saturday afternoon at St. Andrews, with the aim being to extend their unbeaten run at home to ten games. Not since September 26^th have Birmingham lost a home fixture – a streak stretching nearly five months – and they’ll surely feel supremely confident of at least reaching double figures with the visit of Wigan this Saturday in a fixture most punters will make them worthy match favourites.

The Premiership’s most improved team have been punching well above their weight in terms of results and their league position for a while now, but finally, Birmingham are starting to show signs of complacency, something we did predict would happen once their euphoric fifteen game unbeaten run came to end. On Saturday, Birmingham fell to their ninth defeat of the season, which does sound an awful lot for a side that went almost half of the current season without losing a game, when losing at Craven Cottage to a very solid Fulham side. It was a game Birmingham played very well in parts and actually went in at half-time with a lead. However, some stunning strikes from Fulham put Birmingham to the sword and the travellers that day eventually left the capital with nothing to show for their spirited efforts.

The defeat at the weekend to Fulham was their second on the bounce after losing eleven days earlier at West Ham. It was, however, yet another away defeat and they can take comfort from the fact they’ve been far more solid and consistent in front of their home fans than opposing supporters this term. Six of their ten league wins this season have come at St. Andrews, while the difference between the amounts lost at home and away is huge, with Birmingham losing just twice at home compared to the seven defeats they’ve suffered on the road. We wouldn’t go as far as to say St. Andrews has become a fortress, as Birmingham don’t exactly play enthralling football there, nor do they put teams to the sword. They are, however, an extremely tough side to beat at home, with only Aston Villa and Bolton managing such a feat this season. Even the likes of Chelsea & Arsenal have failed to get the better of a resilient Birmingham on their own patch, so what chance do their opponents, whom are having to fend off a relegation battle, have of joining this VIP list if you like of rare sides to have beaten Birmingham at home this season?

Alex McLeish will certainly pinpoint this fixture as one his team should secure all three points in; simply because Birmingham are very strong at home, while their opponents are pretty much useless all around. The small downer is that Birmingham have won just one of their previous four home games, with even that solitary and lonely victory coming against lowly Wolves by virtue of a late Kevin Philip’s double. But, however, along this run are creditable draws with Chelsea, Man Utd & Tottenham Hotspur, and so, if Birmingham can hold their own against those sort of sides, some of the best in the country, then they should surely make mince meat of a Wigan side that were comfortably beaten by Tottenham Hotspur over the weekend.

Wigan Athletic

League Position: 15th

Recent Form: LDDDL

While Birmingham are boasting a strong run of form at home, unbeaten in their last four, Wigan unwillingly have the very opposite in that they can’t buy a win wherever they go and are getting beaten by just about everyone, with even League Two’s very own Notts County getting in on the act this year. Their 3-0 home defeat at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday afternoon was their thirteenth defeat of the season, four more than their match day opponents, but add this to the fact Wigan did lose the reverse meeting at The DW stadium and they really look a terrible betting proposition. Surprises do happen though, but you’d have to feel a minor miracle is perhaps required in order to drive Wigan towards their first league win since the middle of January.

Wigan were resoundingly beaten at the weekend when losing 3-0 to Tottenham, although it could have been a different story had Defoe’s first goal been chalked off rightly for off-side. However, the dubious goal stood and that typified Wigan’s season in that everything is going against them right now. To be fair, they rarely threatened Gomes in the Spurs goal and didn’t look as though they would snatch a point in a contest we didn’t fancy them did get much out of if truth be told. That is now the sixth game in a row where the Latics haven’t managed a win, and these pointless games are beginning to drag Wigan closer to the bottom three. 

The strange thing is Wigan might actually appreciate this trip away from The DW as the condition of their DW pitch is terrible due to both themselves and their local Rugby team using the pitch at alternating times. How any side can get the ball down and play football on that farm like ground is beyond me. This Wigan side, whom under the silky Guidance of a Spanish manager who desperately wants his players to play attractive on-the-ground football, will perhaps take to a much better surface at St. Andrews and could actually turn a few heads with a half-decent performance if they apply themselves correctly.

Wigan are a team which play their football completely on the ground, with slick inter-changing and slick through balls. They don’t have the height or aerial experience up front to really make use of the long ball tactic and it was the main reason why they didn’t compete on Saturday as they rarely got a shot in on goal. However, they should take to the St. Andrews surface quite nicely. While it’s not the best footballing surface in the world, it’s a whole lot better than theirs at current and we think Wigan might finally come out to play on Saturday. After all, they’ve scored slightly more goals away from The DW this season, and have won just as many games.

Match Verdict: Birmingham to WIN – 2.00 Bet365

It’s hard to oppose a Birmingham side with plenty of solid home form and momentum, so we haven’t. They don’t give the opposition any time or space on the bal, they force you to make costly mistakes and they punish you in the game defining moments. They’ll get a few chances on Saturday and we’re banking on them taking at least one of them, as, in reality, one goal would probably be enough considering how poor Wigan have been of late. However, the danger is Wigan will be playing on a smoother surface now, with no bumpy pitch of mole hills getting in their way. If they can somehow return to their free-flowing selves then perhaps a surprise could be on the cards. However, their form isn’t great, it’s actually very poor, while the confidence levels of the players must be at an all time low as the relegation looms over them after a six game run without a win, and so preference is for a more consistent Birmingham City.

Match Odds:

Birmingham City – 2.00 Bet365

Draw – 3.40 SkyBet

Wigan Athletic – 4.30 Boylesports

SoccerBetting Value Tip: Birmingham City to WIN by 1 Goal – 3.75 Bet365

Bolton Wanderers V Wolverhampton Wanderers

Saturday, 27^th February – 15:00 GMT

Bolton Wanderers

League Position: 18th

Recent Form: LDLDL

Relegation threatened Bolton go hunting for their first win six games when they entertain Wolverhampton Wanderers at The Reebok stadium in a fixture they have every chance of winning. Their form, though, heading into this meeting with Mick McCarthy’s Wolves isn’t great, not winning in five games, but four of their last five league games have been away fixtures, while Bolton have lost just one of their last six at home in the league, so don’t be too disheartened by their poor recent form and perhaps we should be more encouraged by their more cent efforts back at The Reebok.

It’s fair to say that Bolton are in a sticky situation in regards to their position in the Premier League table and their recent lapse in form. Not since the end of January have Bolton won a league game, while they’ve only managed five wins all season. With so few wins it’s unsurprising that the club are so far down the table, while only time will tell if the appointment of Owen Coyle was a correct one. They are playing much better under Coyle, and by that we mean they’re more attractive on the eye – something the fans demanded after years of torment under Gary Megson, the fans description of events at Bolton and not ours. However, whereas Gary Megson’s aggressive style of play with Bolton sometimes forced his way into the points jar, Owen Coyle’s graceful preference doesn’t seem to be getting Bolton very far, with just one win under his belt thus far.  

Since Coyle took over the reigns from Gary Megson, Bolton have picked up just five points from a possible thirty. They have had some tough fixtures mind, most of them away from home in fact, but while we could excuse them for not picking up as many points as they perhaps should of, the fact remains that defeats can have huge implications and the morale of any dressing room and that’s a big concern for Bolton who haven’t won any of their last five in the league. It’s a run which will only get worse with every bad result,. On Saturday, though, Bolton have a golden opportunity to end their drought with a home against an average Wolverhampton Wanderers side. If Bolton are to build up ahead of steam then they need a quick victory and the arrival of Mick McCarthy’s Wolves’ represents the perfect opportunity to jump straight on the road to redemption.

If we’re brutally honest, Bolton simply cannot afford to drop a single point in this fixture. This looks to be one of their easiest games left to play as they have some tough remaining fixtures left to play. Wolves have an average squad, with very few players standing out as Premiership quality, so Bolton need to put them to the sword on Saturday. Victory on Saturday could do wonders for team morale and it could be the platform for a survival push. However, lose this fixture and Bolton must surely be serious relegation candidates.

Wolverhampton Wanderers

League Position: 16th

Recent Form: DDLWL

Last week Mick McCarthy and the unenviable task of somehow getting a result against the current Premiership leaders, Chelsea. It was a game where most, us included, thought Wolves were no-hopers, that Chelsea would steamroller their way past Mick McCarthy’s side at Molineux, although that was far from the case. Wolves took Chelsea apart at the back and actually found good goalscoring opportunities fairly easy to come by. However, their flaw on Saturday, what has been their Achilles hell for the entire season, was their inability to convert the many chances they did create, with some appearing clear cut. Nevertheless, the performance, against what is the best team in England judging the league table, was very pleasing for Mick McCarthy and he and Wolves will now try their luck against a team more on their level in Bolton Wanderers.

Considering Wolves have won just two away games all season, it’s hard to imagine thembeing victorious on Saturday, despite Bolton shaping up as a more feasible challenge. However, the slim two victories Wolves have enjoyed this season are two more than some teams have managed this season, so perhaps somewhere in their locker there is a match winning performance waiting to be found. On the same token, though, Wolves have fallen to three defeats in their last four away ventures; losing at Liverpool (2-0), Manchester United (3-0) and Birmingham City (2-1). The latter game, however, was yet another encounter where Wolves deserved far more than the zilch they got, with Wolves actually sitting on a 1-0 lead for the majority of that game before two late strikes from Kevin Philips. That was the last occasion Wolves went travelling in the league and it remains to be seen how the players will respond to that bitter defeat.

To our dismay, this Wolves side, one which doesn’t boast too many quality players at first glance, do actually know how to create chances, decent ones as well. However, actually sticking that round we like to call a ball through those white sticks is an art Wolves haven’t exactly mastered as of yet. Their tally of eleven away goals isn’t the worst, but it’s far from ideal. But, like music to the ears of Wolves supporters, their team have scored three goals in their last two away outings,so perhaps Wolves are slowly beginning to get into their stride and perhaps we should expect a few more goals from Wolves in their upcoming outings.

Credit where credits due; Wolves have faired so much better in this league then we could ever of imagined at the start of the season. They’ve been a match for most teams this season, which really shouldn’t be the case when you breeze through their list of squad members as neither stand out as anything special. However, the problem with Wolves is they just don’t know how to win a game of football. It’s a terrible trait, the worst in fact, and one which will scare all the punters away from backing them. The plus point is they have already won a league fixture in February, that being a sublime 1-0 win at home to Tottenham Hotspur, but they’ve now gone over three months without a win on the road and we’re having difficulties believing that Wolves will end their poor run this Saturday by beating a desperate Bolton side at The Reebok.

Match Verdict: Bolton Wanderers to WIN – 1.95 Boylesports

In the battle of the Wanderers, will Wolves be found ‘wandering’ once again? Well, we certainly think so, or would like to think so. We won’t be touching the game if we’re completely honest, but if we had to have a wager on either side then it would be Bolton purely because they have the potential, match winners if you like, in their squad to win a game of this magnitude and should come on strong at The Reebok. While Bolton have only played at The Reebok once this month; home is certainly where the heart is as far as Bolton are concerned, with the vast majority of their 23 points coming from home games. So, surely, just surely, they will bolster their tally on Saturday, boost their cause, with a much needed win over a Wolves side in close proximity to themselves.

Match Odds:

Bolton Wanderers – 1.95 Boylesports

Draw – 3.40 SkyBet

Wolverhampton Wanderers – 4.50 SkyBet

SoccerBetting Value Tip: Bolton Wanderers to WIN to NIL – 3.25 BlueSquare

Burnley V Portsmouth

Saturday, 27^th February – 15:00 GMT

Burnley

League Position: 19th

Recent Form: LLWLL

Possibly a season defining period for Burnley as their upcoming fixtures are all against sides either in and around them or in the bottom half of the table. However, their first task looks the easiest of the lot on paper as they set out to compile Portsmouth’s woes by adding three points to their own cause at Pompey’s expense. Defeat, however, could prove costly as not only would it have been a missed opportunity for The Clarets but it would also allow Portsmouth to narrow the gap on them and leave Burnley stranded in 19^th.

Burnley are this seasons version of Hull City because; after a sensational start, with the highlight being the 1-0 victory at home to Manchester United before a number of home wins, they have gone completely off the boil and have nosedived down the table into relegation territory. Their fall from grace has not only been emphatic but also hard felt as it’s clearly had an adverse effect on the confidence levels of the entire squad. We have the evidence to back this statement up as Burnley have only won one of their last fifteen in the league and have lost a staggering six of their last seven games. All this is a far cry from the form they were enjoying at the very start of the season and why Burnley are serious relegation candidates.

To rub salt in the wound, Burnley were given yet another spanking at the weekend when Aston Villa rolled five past them at Villa Park in a 5-2 defeat for Burnley. That was Burnley’s thirteenth away defeat of the campaign, so they can count themselves lucky they don’t have to travel again this Saturday as they stay put at home, at Turf Moor. It has, though, been a venue where Burnley have been far better in both the performance and results area. It has been the setting where Burnley come out of their shell more, with the players often rising to the occasion in front of a packed home support, often playing on the front foot and with an all out attacking mindset. Their more aggressive manner at home has seen them pick up a creditable twenty-two points out of a possible thirty-six at home, which is a million miles better than their one point from a possible forty-two away from home.

If Burnley are to survive their inaugural season in the Premiership then it will be solely down to their decent form at Turf Moor. However, they still require plenty more points, probably somewhere around the 37 marker, and so Burnley will need to pick up far more points than they’ve been doing of late if they are to have a fighting chance of avoiding the drop. The concern surrounding Burnley, though, is that even results at home are beginning to dry up, with Burnley only managing one win from their last six home fixtures. They were on the winning side in their last home encounter with West Ham, but that was against a Hammers side who hadn’t yet gelled after a number of new signings, whereas Portsmouth, although they aren’t playing particularly well, are working as a team and fighting for their desperate cause, but Pompey could be down and out after their bitter home defeat to Stoke City last Saturday so perhaps a Burnley win should be a formality providing the players don’t get overconfident.

Portsmouth

League Position: 20th

Recent Form: LLLDL 

Portsmouth are a club in ruin and already look destined for the drop, what with a potential 9-point penalty hanging over them. The reports are that the club find themselves in a £70,000,000 debt predicament, one they have no idea how to solve. Their money issues is an unwanted distraction from the main task at hand of avoiding relegation, but, more importantly, it’s piling yet more pressure onto those currently on the front-line at the club, the ones paid to actually get a result each Saturday – The players. Defeat this Saturday for the South coast side, accompanied by a couple more in the following few weeks, and Portsmouth could find themselves dead and buried before the FA even gets started on them.

When you’re down the bottom, at the very pit of the table, everything seems to go against you. That was definitely the case on Saturday as Portsmouth succumbed to their eighteenth defeat of the season when losing 2-1 to Stoke City at Fratton Park. It was a game Portsmouth pressed and pressed, troubling a usually sterdy Stoke defence with their attacks and attempts on goal. However, when Piquionne scored a perfectly legit goal just minutes into the game, only to see his effort ruled out wrongly for off-side, you just knew it wasn’t going to be there day, and that the football Gods certainly weren’t watching over the cash-strapped club. They did, however, take the lead through Piquionne ten minutes before half-time, but Portsmouth threw away their lead, three crucial points the drain and a potential lifeline of a win when some poor marking from a corner led to Roberth Huth heading in an unchallenged equaliser. However, the worst was still yet to come as in the 90^th minute, Salif Diao, slid home to leave the once jubilant Pompey crowd close to tears as the final outcome was yet another defeat.

With myself coming from the South, although I have no direct connection with Portsmouth FC, it was heartbreaking to see such a turnaround at Fratton Park on Saturday as that bitter defeat really could be the nail in the coffin as far as keeping the spirit at the club at a reasonable level. That late blow will have felt like daggers to the heart for Portsmouth and it’s players, to see their valiant efforts go in vein. Losing isn’t unfamiliar with Pompey, so the players won’t have been too disheartened with that part of the game, but the manner in which they lost could have huge implications in that the players might now start feeling sorry for themselves and feel a league win is impossible, no matter how hard they try.

To be honest, it was always going to be a mammoth task lifting Portsmouth out of the relegation zone and into safety as their squad is full of Championship players, with the exception being just a few African contingents and Jamie O’Hara. Pompey just don’t have the players in their squad capable of mounting a serious safety push so their decline was somewhat inevitable. The defeat on Saturday was the straw that broke the camels back and it really would take some exceptional motivational speech from Avram Grant to lift his troops after such a demoralising result in their last fixture.

Match Verdict: Burnley to WIN – 2.25 Bet365

The Portsmouth players were battling on stoutly despite all their money issues, but their recent setback, that of a 2-1 home defeat to Stoke, we feel will have knocked the stuffing out of the players and it’s hard to see them coming back from that. Burnley were given a lesson in how to play the beautiful game on Sunday when losing their thirteenth away game of the season at Aston Villa, but they did still manage to score twice at Villa Park and they did score two goals in their previous home outing in a 2-1 win over West Ham. Burnley’s form at home is what will keep them in the league and so a home fixture with Portsmouth is like gold-dust to them and for their cause.

Match Odds:

Burnley – 2.25 Bet365

Draw – 3.40 SkyBet

Portsmouth – 3.40 Boylesports

SoccerBetting Value Tip: Burnley/Burnley (HT/FT Betting) – 4.00 StanJames

UEFA Champions League – Last-Sixteen

Tuesday, 23^rd February, 2010

19:45 GMT – Olympiakos V Bordeaux

19:45 GMT – VFB Stuttgart V Barcelona

Wednesday, 24^th February, 2010

17:30 GMT – CSKA Moscow V Sevilla

19:45 GMT – Inter Milan V Chelsea

Matt’s Selections

Olympiakos V Bordeaux – Under 2.5 Goals @ 1.57 Boylesports

We don’t think an awful lot will separate the two come the final whistle in a game which could quite easily dwindle into a stalemate. Olympiakos will look to score goals as they need to make home advantage count, but their opponents won’t want to concede very many, if any, and will instead set up in a more conservative manner, with the aim being to keep a clean sheet and possibly nicking a goal on the counter. If Olympiakos do land the first blow then Bordeaux will need to come out of their defensive shell, which is a concern for us if the Greek side do get their goal early on. However, if the French side take the lead then they are more than capable of sitting on a one goal advantage and consolidating. This doesn’t have the makings of a classic, nor does it shape up as an open contest, so a small wager on there being no more than two goals could be worthwhile.

VFB Stuttgart V Barcelona – Over 2.5 Goals @1.80 Gamebookers

These two sides will play on the front foot in Germany and it could provide us with a thrilling encounter at the Mercedes-Benz Arena in Stuttgart. The home side know the importance of getting a result in Germany but ideally know they have to win in order to stand any chance of causing a shock by progressing to the next stage of the competition. Barcelona will go in search of a crucial away goal, one that could perhaps be a killer, so we expect nothing less than some swift attacking play from them. Both these two sides were enjoying themselves in front of goal at the weekend and we’re banking on there being more of the same as we plump for 3 Goals or More.

CSKA Moscow V Sevilla – Sevilla to Score 2 Goals or More @ 2.62 PaddyPower

With the Russian side looking to score as many as possible in order to enhance their chances of bypassing this tough last-sixteen tie, with a trip to Sevilla just around the corner, they could be left exposed at the back if they do commit too many men forward. They have to win, anything but would leave them vulnerable for an early knock-out  stage exit as Sevilla should win comfortably back in Spain, so the pressure is on CSKA to ask questions of the Sevilla defence, one which hasn’t kept an away clean sheet in the competition as of yet, but will they push their luck when trying to do so? Well, we certainly think so as Sevilla are the masters at tearing away from defence and scoring with a quick-fire counter. The break at a considerable pace and have the talent up front to finish off their accelerated breakaways, with the likes of Kanoute, Negredo & Fabiano poised and waiting up front to prod home. Sevilla’s slick counter-attacking style looks destined to expose a ragged CSKA defence in Moscow, providing they warm up beforehand as the conditions will be cold.

Inter Milan V Chelsea – Didier Drogba to Score Anytime @ 3.20 Coral

The Ivorian has been the stand out player for Chelsea this season, scoring goals a plenty whilst scaring the living daylights out of every single defence that has dared to oppose him. Drogba is enjoying arguably his best spell at the club and can’t stop scoring of late and has notched up four goals since returning from Africa, with his two at the weekend sending Chelsea four points clear at the top of the Premiership and boosting his self-belief and confidence even further. He’s a player currently on top of his game, at his peak despite reaching his thirties, and from a punters point of view we’d rather have money on him then not as he seems to score in just about every game he features in for Chelsea this season.