Four reasons why Liverpool could still eliminate Chelsea

Chelsea/Liverpool, ITV1, 7.45pm, Free Bets, Best Odds

chickendinner wouldn’t suggest robbing a bank or breaking into your life savings to bet on Liverpool progressing but at 12/1 with Bet365 and Boylesports, it may be worth neutrals putting a few quid on them to provoke interest in tonight’s clash. Here’s our attempt to justify such a long shot:

1. Liverpool have won four of their last six matches by a margin of three goals or greater.

2. Chelsea conceded three goals in just nine minutes against Bolton, who had scored just once in six hours and 35 minutes of away football prior to that.

3. The Blues have shipped three or more at home on four separate occasions in the last 26 months - against Spurs, Leicester, Aston Villa and now Bolton.

4. Liverpool have scored three or more goals in six away games this season.

Posted: April 14th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

The Heineken Cup quarter-finals take place this weekend

Our pals at spread betting firm extrabet.com preview the rugby

“It’s Easter weekend and the egg-chasing gets serious as the Heineken Cup enters its quarter-final stage.  Holders Munster remain in the competition and are strongest favourites in the four weekend games with a supremacy quote of 6-9 over the Ospreys with extrabet.com ahead of the Welsh side’s visit to Thomond Park.

Tie of the weekend however threatens to be Cardiff against Toulouse, a repeat of the inaugural tournament final played out at Cardiff Arms Park in January 1996 when a tightly fought contest saw Toulouse come away with the honours after extra-time had been played.  Another close game is expected this weekend although home advantage and a six-from-six strike rate in the pool stages means Cardiff get the nod as far as extrabet.com are concerned with the Welsh outfit 1-4  point favourites for the clash.  Elsewhere Leicester are 3-6 favourites over Bath and Harlequins 1-4 over Leinster.  Could be a happy Easter come Sunday – Quins no. 8 Nick that is!“

Posted: April 9th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Jose Mourinho falls short and Fulham lose at home again

Five stats about Wednesday night’s football

1. Roberto Mancini had no problem winning Serie A so the main reason Jose Mourinho was brought in to replace him as Inter boss was to achieve European success. However, Mourinho went out last night at the same stage the Italian champions fell in each of Mancini’s last two seasons.

2. And there has been no domestic improvement either. Inter are a point worse off than they were at this stage last season, despite last year’s runners-up Roma struggling down in sixth.

3. Fulham have gone from losing just one home game in ten-and-a-half months to being beaten three times in the space of eight days at Craven Cottage.

Posted: March 13th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

The form side of the Football League continue their run

Five stats about last night’s Football League action

1. While Wolves, Leicester and Wycombe, the teams who led the three divisions at Christmas, have all endured blips since, the team with the best form in the Football League were bottom of the Championship on December 25. Doncaster won just four of their first 24 games in the division but since Yuletide have won seven and drawn one of their eight league games. That run has seen them climb to 15th, where they are eight points clear of the relegation zone.

2. Of course Leicester’s blip has been very minor, with the Foxes still sixteen points clear of Peterborough in third despite three successive draws. Nigel Pearson’s side endured a trio of ties earlier this season before losing away to Brighton which bodes well for in-form Bristol Rovers, who the league leaders visit on Saturday.

Posted: February 18th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Struggling Portsmouth look to end Villa’s run of away wins

Portsmouth/Aston Villa, 8pm, Sky Sports 2, Free Bets, Best Odds

Photo Credit: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire

Last season just three points separated these two sides but with sixteen to play, Portsmouth are already twenty short of Aston Villa this year. Both sides failed to impress against Championship opposition in the FA Cup but Martin O’Neill’s side are unbeaten in ten league games, although this is the first time this season they have been without their “genius” Ashley Young:

VILLA’S AWAY RECORD
Aston Villa have won five consecutive away games, something they had last achieved in May 1998. If they win tonight it will be the first time in Premier League history that they have won six in succession. Villa are one of only two clubs, the other being Bolton, who are yet to experience an away draw, which is odd considering they, alongside Liverpool, have drawn more home games than anyone else (five). Overall, Villa have won eight and lost three of their eleven on the road and they are 2.34 on Betfair to triumph again.

PORTSMOUTH’S WINLESS RUN
Pompey have gone six Premier League games without a win, although the last time they went longer than that without picking up three points was at the start of 2006 when Harry Redknapp led them through an eight game winless streak. The South Coast side have won just two of thirteen league games under Tony Adams.

VILLA AT FRATTON PARK

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

Who will be this season’s Havant and Waterlooville?

Bet on which Blue Square team get the furthest this year

888sport and Blue Square have opened markets on which team from the Blue Square Premier, South and North will go furthest in this year’s FA Cup.

Torquay, who are second in the Premier and on an eleven match unbeaten run, are worthy favourites at 9/2. They reached the FA Trophy final last season and knocked League One Yeovil out of the FA Cup. They have a good first round draw too, at home to Evesham, a team who are struggling two divisions below without an away win.

However, don’t be put off backing a team just because they have a tough first round clash because whoever goes the furthest is going to have to beat someone bigger than them; Havant beat Notts County and Swansea to earn their fourth round trip to Anfield last season.

Posted: November 4th, 2008 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment