Check out Betfair’s Carling Cup Final Big Match Wizard

Man Utd/Spurs, Sunday 3pm, Sky Sports 1, Free Bets, Best Odds

chickendinner have teamed up with Betfair to produce this device which tells you what impact each player is likely to have on proceedings in the Carling Cup final. Click here to check it out now!

Posted: February 27th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Why Newcastle’s unbeaten run will be ended by Bolton

Bolton/Newcastle, Sunday 1pm, Setanta S1, Free Bets, Best Odds

Photo Credit: Dave Thompson/PA Wire

Three games without defeat might not impress Man United or Liverpool fans but for Newcastle a successful February has helped ease relegation fears significantly. However Bolton, who are 11/10 with 888sport and Ladbrokes, are likely to ensure a miserable start to March for the Magpies:

» Bolton have won five of their last six home games against Newcastle, with their only loss coming on the opening day of last season when they had Sammy Lee as manager.

» Gary Megson’s side have won their last two league home games against Tottenham and West Ham, who are both above Newcastle in the league.

» Wanderers are unbeaten in seven home games with teams outside the top eight - winning five and drawing two.

Posted: February 27th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | 1 Comment

Everton are 5/4 to beat West Brom to nil with Paddy Power

Everton/WBA, Saturday 12.45pm, Sky S1, Free Bets, Best Odds

Everton aren’t losing at home and West Brom aren’t winning away so it’s hard to see why this game has been televised. The home win is rather short at 1/2 so the best value bet on offer is the Paddy Power’s 5/4 on Tim Howard and co shutting the visitors out. Here’s why that should happen:

» Everton are unbeaten in five Premier League home games and over that period they have conceded just one goal, a last-gasp equaliser scored by Arsenal striker Robin van Persie.

» The Toffees have won three of their last four league games at Goodison Park while keeping clean sheets.

» All three of those wins have come against teams in the bottom-half of the table too: Sunderland (3-0), Hull (2-0) and Bolton (3-0).

Posted: February 27th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Five reasons why Tottenham could retain the Carling Cup

Man Utd/Spurs, Sunday 3pm, Sky Sports 1, Free Bets, Best Odds

We’re not pretending for a second that you spend your whole month’s wages betting on a Tottenham triumph but here are five reasons why a Manchester United victory isn’t the sure thing that many are suggesting:

1. Tottenham have a brilliant record against the Big Four and have only lost one of their seven meetings with them this season - the 2-1 FA Cup loss to Manchester United when they played their “mish-mash” side.

2. And Spurs have already got past the other three Big Four sides in this competition over the last fourteen months - beating Arsenal in last season’s semi-finals, Chelsea in the final and Liverpool in this year’s fourth round.

3. Both sides have contested six Carling Cup finals but Tottenham have a 67% win rate in them compared to Manchester United’s 33%. Spurs have triumphed on four occasions, with United lifting the cup just twice.

Posted: February 27th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Ireland look to capitalise as Wales face their toughest test

Key statistics for this weekend’s three Six Nations matches

Photo Credit: Dylan Martinez/WPA ROTA/PA

Ireland and Wales have won their opening two games but both face tough tests this weekend as Wales travel to France and Ireland host England. If one of the two slip up this weekend it will leave them at a massive disadvantage when they meet on the final weekend. Here are all the important statistics:

France v Wales (8.05pm, Friday, BBC2)
Wales have now won eight straight Six Nations matches but they lost 32-21 on their last trip to France two years ago. Even more worryingly for the tournament’s favourites is the fact that they have won just two of their last eight matches against Les Bleus. Since 2002, France have won seventeen of their nineteen Six Nations home games so the 2.46 that Betfair are offering on them triumphing shouldn’t be sniffed at.

Scotland v Italy (3pm, Friday, BBC1)

Posted: February 27th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Real Madrid look to make it ten in a row against Liverpool

Real Madrid/Liverpool, 7.45pm, Sky Sports 2, Offers, Best Odds

Juande Ramos took just two points from his last nine league matches as Tottenham manager but over at Real Madrid he has won each of his last nine. The Spaniard will be hoping to stretch his winning streak to double figures against Liverpool but the Reds are unbeaten in seventeen Champions League games (in 90 minutes). Here’s everything you need to know about this match:

EARLY KNOCKOUTS
Juventus, Arsenal, Bayern Munich and Roma. Those are the four sides responsible for the fact that Real Madrid, the the most successful team in the competition’s history, haven’t cleared this hurdle since 2004. Ramos’ La Liga performance might be enough to rebuild his reputation after being sacked by Tottenham but in order to earn a second season at the Bernabeu, he will probably need to come closer to ending the second-longest Champions League drought in Real Madrid’s history than his predecessor managed.

PREVIOUS ENCOUNTERS

Posted: February 24th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment