Portsmouth flop is expected to take the Southampton job

Tony Adams is Sky Bet’s 8/11 favourite to be named Saints’ boss

Photo Credit: Chris Ison/PA Wire

After months of bad news, things seemed to be looking up for Southampton last week: the club were saved from going instinct and star player Kelvin Davis spurned West Ham’s advances to stay at St Mary’s.

However, any Saints fans who were getting their hopes up about a brighter future will have been disappointed to hear that after much talk of Gordon Strachan - the man who took them to the 2003 FA Cup Final - returning, Tony Adams is Sky Bet’s 8/11 favourite for the job.

Adams spent three-and-a-half months in charge of Portsmouth last season before being sacked and the last man to take charge of Southampton shortly after leaving Pompey - Harry Redknapp - got them relegated and deserted

Posted: July 13th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | 1 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

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

Stats for all of tonight’s FA Cup games (Part Two)

The games at Histon, Leyton Orient, Norwich and Peterborough

Photo Credit: Chris Radburn/PA Wire

chickendinner have already told you why we think that Bristol City will eliminate Portsmouth but here are a few stats to help you bet on the other eight games taking place tonight:

Histon v Swansea
The Welsh side will feel like proving a point after the Histon players reacted underwhelming to being drawn against them in the third round. Histon haven’t lost at home in the league or FA Cup since August while Swansea are unbeaten in nine. However, at this stage last year Swansea were eliminated by non-league side, Havant and Waterlooville.

Leyton Orient v Sheffield United
Leyton Orient are winless in six while Sheffield United are unbeaten over the same number of games so an away win appears the most likely outcome. Another impressive statistic in the Yorkshire side’s favour is that they are unbeaten in seven away games since losing to their rivals Sheffield Wednesday while Orient have won just one of their last ten at home.

Norwich v Charlton (replay)

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