Wales turn to Scotland for a bit of help catching Ireland

Key stats for the penultimate set of 2009 Six Nations fixtures

Wales’ hopes of retaining the Six Nations for the first time in thirty years were severely dented by defeat in France a fortnight ago and as a result they will be looking for favours from Scotland and England, who host Ireland and France respectively:

Italy v Wales (3pm, Saturday, BBC1)
Defeat is not an option for Wales but their last trip to Italy ended in a shock 23-20 loss while during their last Six Nations defence in 2006 they were held 18-18 at home by the Wooden Spoon regulars. Wales returned to form by thumping them 47-8 last year but the best price of 1/14 offered by Paddy Power on the away win isn’t good enough value for a team who have won just one of their last three against Italy. Another worry for Wales is that they have won just six of their last away games in the competition but they should still be too strong for a team who have lost eight of their last nine.

Scotland v Ireland (5pm, Saturday, BBC1)

Posted: March 13th, 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

Seven reasons why Chelsea won’t beat Aston Villa

Aston Villa/Chelsea, 12.45pm, Sky Sports 1, Free Bets, Best Odds

Guus Hiddink starts his stint as Chelsea manager on Saturday knowing that they can’t afford to lose, but the stats suggest there is no way that they can win either. Despite the form guide handing a clear advantage to Aston Villa, Chelsea have been installed as favourites. Ladbrokes offer 11/8 on Hiddink starting with a win but here are seven reasons why he will fail:

1. Since achieving a record eleven straight away league wins, Chelsea have failed to win any of their last four on the road.

2. The Blues have won just four of their last twelve league matches and three of those triumphs came at Stamford Bridge.

3. Chelsea haven’t won any of their last ten away games against Aston Villa, with their last triumph coming way back in 1999.

Posted: February 19th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | 1 Comment

Hull need to get back on track with another win in London

West Ham/Hull, 8pm, Sky Sports 2, Free Bets, Best Odds

West Ham have been in great form since Christmas while Hull have been in freefall. That should mean that the 4/5 odds on the home win is good value but the East London club have never been too well acquainted with the term “easy three points” in the past:

FORM GUIDE
West Ham are on their first four league match unbeaten run in fourteen months while Hull are bottom of the form league having lost their last five, the first time they have gone on such a run since 1998, when they were in League Two. Twenty years have passed since the Tigers last lost six league games in succession however.

WEST HAM VERSUS PROMOTED SIDES
Gianfranco Zola’s side have lost two of their three games against promoted sides this season although both of those came away from home. Last season West Ham won two and drew one of their three home games against newcomers but the year before they lost at home by Reading and Watford.

HULL VERSUS LONDONERS

Posted: January 28th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment