Everton must beat Blackburn to keep top four dream alive

Blackburn/Everton, 8pm, Sky Sports 2, Free Bets, Best Odds

It was said that there was no way Everton could finish in the top four this season, especially without Yakubu and Mikel Arteta but the Toffees have taken advantage of Aston Villa and Arsenal’s recent stumbles and closed the gap. However last night’s unforeseen twist - Arsenal actually winning a game - has heaped pressure on David Moyes’ side who surely now need to win at Ewood Park to keep their hopes of Champions League qualification alive:

Worrying signs for Everton

» Everton haven’t tasted victory in any of their last four meetings with Blackburn, winning just one of the last seven.

» The Toffees have triumphed on just one of their last six visits to Ewood Park and haven’t even managed to score in the last two.

» The two sides have met twice already this season with struggling Blackburn winning on both occasions. Everton were therefore responsible for 33% of Paul Ince’s wins as Rovers manager.

Posted: March 4th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | 2 Comments

Bad omens for Blackburn

Manchester United/Blackburn Rovers, 8pm, Best Odds, Free Bets

Blackburn have impressed in the Carling Cup this season, taking out Everton and winning away at Sunderland but the minute they were drawn away to Manchester United, it was hard to see their journey continuing. Paul Ince has tried to boost morale by making the comparison with when his Macclesfield team were struggling in the relegation zone and won away at league leaders Walsall in the cup, kickstarting their season. Unfortunately for Ince and his team, Manchester United are a bit of a step-up from Walsall.

» Blackburn have already lost at home to Manchester United 2-0 this season and have lost all four of their games against top five sides under Paul Ince.

» Rovers got past two Premier League sides to reach last season’s quarter-finals where they were drawn at home to Arsenal and suffered elimination.

» Sir Alex Ferguson has lost just five of 51 encounters against teams managed by his former players.

Posted: December 3rd, 2008 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Make money on Wednesday’s Carling Cup matches

Liverpool seek revenge on their only conquerors so far this season

In a weird twist, it is the smaller of the two clubs who are talking about dropping the big guns and giving the reserves a run-out whereas there are rumours that Fernando Torres will return for Liverpool as they look to avenge their league defeat at White Hart Lane eleven days ago by knocking out the Carling Cup holders. Here’s our verdict on tonight’s games:

Click here to place your bets

Chelsea v Burnley
Burnley were 3-0 victors in the two sides’ last encounter but a lot has changed since then - for starters they were both battling relegation from the second-tier at the time. Burnley have won just one of their last five away games while Chelsea haven’t been eliminated at this stage in 32 years. The Blues trailed Leicester with three minutes to go at this stage last year before scrapping through 4-3.
Betting: Chelsea offer no value at 1/5 so a small bet on them having to come from behind to win at 6/1 with Boylesports may be worth the risk

Sunderland v Blackburn
It wasn’t until Boxing Day last year that Sunderland registered three home league defeats but it’s taken them just six games this season. This is former Manchester United players Roy Keane and Paul Ince’s first clash as managers and whereas Sunderland have never won a cup matches in ninety minutes under Keane, Ince took Macclesfield into the FA Cup third round then won the Football League Trophy with MK Dons last year. While Sunderland required penalties to beat Northampton in the last round, Blackburn beat last year’s semi-finalists Everton and Rovers have won on their last four meetings with the Mackems.
Betting: The away win at 21/10 with Paddy Power

Tottenham v Liverpool
Four of the last five Carling Cup holders have failed to reach the quarter-finals the following year, with Liverpool themselves suffering fourth round elimination at the hands of Bolton having won the cup in 2002-03, while Middlesbrough were beaten by Liverpool at this stage while defending the trophy they had lifted in 2003-04. Harry Redknapp has also been cursed in this competition ever since Mannygate prevented his West Ham side from reaching the semi-finals in 1999-00. Since then Redknapp has got past this stage just once (2004-05) and on that occasion he had left Portsmouth by the time the quarter-final arrived.
Betting: Nothing is predictable with Spurs at the moment but the 17/10 on Liverpool from Ladbrokes and Bet365 is generous considering the curse of the holders

Posted: November 12th, 2008 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment