Federer goes into the final as favourite against Nadal

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After five sets and over five hours on court, Rafael Nadal overcame compatriot Fernando Verdasco to reach his first Australian Open final. However, it’s his nemesis Roger Federer who starts as favourite:

Roger Federer [1.68]

» On all three occasions that Federer has reached the Australian Open final he has triumphed.

» Andre Agassi is the only man since 1962 to have won four times at Melbourne Park. Federer is a three-time champion.

Rafael Nadal [2.46]

» Nadal boasts a 12-6 record over the world number two and won each of their four clashes last year. They haven’t met since the Wimbledon final.

» However, the Spaniard has got one stage further every year in Australia, reaching the third round on his first visit. Since then he has reached the fourth, the quarters and then the semis. That indicates that this year he will be the runner-up.

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Posted: January 30th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | 1 Comment

Five reasons why Sunderland won’t do the derby double

Newcastle/Sunderland, 1.30pm, Sky Spts 1, Free Bets, Best Odds

Newcastle are missing Joey Barton and Michael Owen while Joe Kinnear has upset well-known winger Charles Insomnia but they can’t afford to lose on Sunday. The Magpies finished third bottom the last time Sunderland did the double over them. Here’s why they won’t suffer more humiliation:

1. Sunderland haven’t done the derby double over Newcastle since 1966-67, which was 42 seasons ago.

2. Newcastle have lost just one of their eight home league games under Joe Kinnear and that was against Liverpool, who topped the league at the time.

3. The Magpies have won their last three home games against their fierce rivals and haven’t lost against them at St. James’ Park in over eight years.

4. Ricky Sbragia’s side have won just one in five league games, against Fulham in midweek, and they haven’t won consecutive league matches since last April. Six of their last eight league wins have been followed by defeat.

5. Sunderland haven’t done the double over anyone in the Premier League since March 2002, when they picked up their second win of that season over Bolton. They haven’t beaten anyone twice in their last three campaigns.

Posted: January 30th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | 2 Comments

Everton’s unbeaten run is likely to end at Old Trafford

Man Utd/Everton, Sat 5.30pm, Setanta S1, Free Bets, Best Odds

Everton’s draw against Manchester United at Goodison Park proved the turning point in their season and only Aston Villa and the champions have taken more points than David Moyes’ side from that day onwards. However, while it’s possible to get the better of Sir Alex Ferguson once, it rarely happens twice in a season:

» Last season Manchester United dropped points against ten teams but they beat everybody except Manchester City at least once.

» Everton have managed to get through both league fixtures with against the Red Devils without defeat in just one of the last eighteen seasons - 2004-05.

» Manchester United haven’t been beaten at home by Everton since the first ever Premier League season and have been victorious in each of the last two.

» The Toffees may be unbeaten in six away games but that won’t unnerve United, who dispatched of Chelsea 3-0 when they hadn’t lost away from home all season.

» And of course there’s the small matter of Manchester United going eleven months without a home league defeat, winning nine league games on the spin at Old Trafford and going eleven without conceding.

Posted: January 30th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Five reasons why Stoke and Man City may share the spoils

Stoke/Man City, 12.45pm, Sky Sports 1, Free Bets, Best Odds

It looks like Manchester City are started to turn the corner while Stoke’s early season dominance at the Britannia Stadium has started to dwindle. However, they should still be capable of taking a point off the billionaires:

1. Manchester City are on a four match unbeaten run in the league - the first time they have gone more than two games without defeat in over a year - but still haven’t won a domestic away game since August.

2. Mark Hughes’ side have drawn three of their last four league matches on the road.

3. Last season Manchester City failed to do the double over any of last season’s bottom five. They won 3-0 against the Potters earlier this season.

4. Stoke have lost just one of their last eight league home games and have only been beaten at the Britannia Stadium by clubs in the top six.

5. However, they have gone nine league games without a win and have drawn three of their last four home games.

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Posted: January 30th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | 4 Comments

The New Football Pools are giving away another £260,000 this weekend

Just predict the outcome of fifteen matches to win big

A fortnight ago chickendinner told you about The New Football Pools’ Footy 15 competition, whereby you could win a big cash jackpot by correctly identifying the winners of fifteen matches.

This week the jackpot is a massive £260,000 while prizes are available to everyone who gets eleven or more right. To help out those of you who would like to enter but don’t follow the Championship, here is a stat on each of the five games you have to pick a winner for in that league:

Bristol City v Barnsley
The away side haven’t won any of the last seven encounters between these teams. Bristol City have won their last two home games against Barnsley.

QPR v Reading

Posted: January 30th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Six reasons why the Cardinals will win the Super Bowl

The underdogs are 3.3 to beat the Pittsburgh Steelers on Betfair

Photo Credit: Ross D. Franklin, AP Photo

The Pittsburgh Steelers [1.43] are clear favourites to win their sixth Super Bowl against first-time challengers the Arizona Cardinals. However, here’s why the Cardinals will become the latest outsiders to triumph:

1. In each of the last three seasons, the team who won fewer regular season games triumphed at the Super Bowl. This year the Cardinals won nine to the Steelers’ twelve.

2. Cardinals head coach Ken Whisenhunt worked for the Steelers behind 2001 and 2006 so his insider knowledge of their set-up could prove pivotal. Six years ago the Tampa Bay Buccaneers beat the Oakland Raiders, who their coach Jon Gruden had left at the start of the season.

3. The two sides last met in September 2007 shortly after Whisenhunt has taken charge of the Cardinals, who picked up a surprise 21-14 win. The Steelers had gone into that match with a 3-0 record.

Posted: January 29th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment