Five stats about Sheffield Utd and Preston’s play-off clash

Sheff Utd/Preston NE, 7.45pm, Sky Sports 1, Free Bets, Best Odds

1. Preston haven’t won on any of their last 12 visits to Bramall Lane.

2. Neither Sheffield United’s home points tally or Preston’s away haul were worthy of the play-offs, therefore both sides should find this encounter harder than the first.

3. Alan Irvine’s side won just five of their 26 away games this season but significantly they won their most recent two.

4. Despite their struggles on the road this season, Preston won away to both automatically promoted sides - Wolves and Birmingham.

5. Ten of the last 13 clashes between the two sides finished with under 2.5 goals.

Posted: May 11th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Sheff Utd are 3.1 on Betfair to maintain their great away run

Burnley/Sheff Utd, 7.45pm, Sky Sports 1, Free Bets, Best Odds

Since January 31, Sheffield United and Burnley have averaged more points per game than any other teams in the Championship, making this match a clash between the division’s two form sides. It’s a massively important one too as Burnley need three points to extend their advantage over Swansea and Preston while Sheffield United need at least a point to realistically maintain their chances of automatic promotion. Here are five stats about tonight’s huge Championship match:

Click here to claim a free £25 bet when opening a Betfair account

1. Sheffield United are unbeaten in fifteen away league games.

2. However, Burnley are yet to lose a home game against a fellow top six side, having held Birmingham and Cardiff and beaten Reading and Wolves.

3. The Blades have the best away defence in the league, having conceded just 16 goals in 21 games on the road. They have conceded two or more on just three occasions.

Posted: April 20th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Statistics to help you bet on Merseyside derby goalscorers

Everton/Liverpool, 8.10pm, ITV1, Free Bets, Best Odds

Steven Gerrard has been Liverpool’s hero in the last two Merseyside derbies but is that run likely to continue tonight? chickendinner have examined the prospects of all the most likely goalscorers:

Tim Cahill - The Australian has scored four goals in eight Merseyside derbies and has fired nine times against Big Four opposition.

Mikel Arteta - The Spanish midfielder has notched three times in his last three appearances at Goodison Park but has only ever scored once against Big Four opposition (Chelsea in 2006).

Marouane Fellaini - Since a run of three goals in four games in October, Fellaini has fired just once in twelve.

Steven Gerrard - The England midfielder scored in each of the previous two Merseyside derbies this month, although he has only scored in three of his last twelve away games.

Posted: February 4th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

The New Football Pools are giving away another £260,000 this weekend

Just predict the outcome of fifteen matches to win big

A fortnight ago chickendinner told you about The New Football Pools’ Footy 15 competition, whereby you could win a big cash jackpot by correctly identifying the winners of fifteen matches.

This week the jackpot is a massive £260,000 while prizes are available to everyone who gets eleven or more right. To help out those of you who would like to enter but don’t follow the Championship, here is a stat on each of the five games you have to pick a winner for in that league:

Bristol City v Barnsley
The away side haven’t won any of the last seven encounters between these teams. Bristol City have won their last two home games against Barnsley.

QPR v Reading

Posted: January 30th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment