Six reasons why Southend could stun Chelsea tonight

Southend/Chelsea, 8.10pm, ITV1, Free Bets, Best Odds

Rather than boring you with obvious reasons why Chelsea stand a decent chance of beating League One opposition, chickendinner sometimes likes to go against the grain and argue what others may consider a lost cause. Southend are available at 15/1 on Betfair to win at home to Luiz Felipe Scolari’s out-of-form side and here are six reasons why they stand a decent chance:

1. Southend masterminded a win over a Manchester United team including Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney in the Carling Cup two seasons ago and were robbed by an offside Jermain Defoe extra-time goal against Spurs in the next round.

2. Chelsea have won just one of their last six games and were knocked out the League Cup by Burnley in November.

3. The Blues aren’t used to playing away in the FA Cup and have won just two of their six games on the road in the competition, losing three.

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

The betting superfacts for Derby/Manchester United

Derby/Man Utd, 7.45pm, Sky Sports 1, Best Odds, Free Bets

If Derby didn’t already have a tough enough task on their hands overcoming Manchester United over two legs, they have taken a risk by confirming the appointment of Nigel Clough the day before the home leg. This means that caretaker boss Chris Hutchings, who was hoping to get the job full-time, is out of the picture and someone new, academy boss David Lowe, has been forced to take charge of this game at incredibly short notice. Here are the key statistics about tonight’s Pride Park collision:

» While Derby have won on two of their last seven trips to Old Trafford, they have yet taken just a point from their four meetings with them at Pride Park.

» The Rams last home win over the reigning Premier League champions came twenty years ago in August 1989 in a season where Derby did the double over United.

Posted: January 7th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | 1 Comment

Scolari cut from 33/1 to 10/1 to be the next boss axed

Odds on Sky Bet plummet after a “flurry of bets” on the Brazilian

Sky Bet are reporting that they have slashed the price on Luiz Felipe Scolari being the next Premier League manager to leave his post from 33/1 to 10/1 after a receiving it was heavily backed over the course of the day.

Chelsea’s unacceptable home form continued with a 1-1 draw with Southend in the FA Cup at the weekend but there have been no newspaper reports suggesting that the Brazilian was clinging onto his job as a result.

There have however been rumours circulating about how badly Roman Abramovich has been hit by the credit crunch so perhaps there is a suspicion that Scolari would resign if he was told the money raised by selling Wayne Bridge wouldn’t be reinvested, although this again seems unlikely. Scolari is also now just 7/4 to last the season as the Blues boss.

Let us know what you think the reason is behind the flurry of bets with a comment below.

UPDATE: Scolari’s price has dropped further to an alarmingly low 4/1, which is just behind joint favourites Mark Hughes and Tony Adams at 11/4. He is now just 5/4 to last the season.

Posted: January 5th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | 1 Comment

Redknapp hunts FA Cup win number four against Man Utd

Five stats about this weekend’s football

1. While Tottenham were knocked out against Manchester United in the FA Cup fourth round last season, they have a manager more than capable of causing an upset at Old Trafford. Harry Redknapp has won FA Cup games against the Red Devils with three of his four previous clubs. He won 2-0 at home to them with Bournemouth before enjoying 1-0 away wins while managing West Ham and Portsmouth.

2. If Chelsea see off Southend in their replay they will face Ipswich at home in the fourth round. This will be the ninth time in eleven third-to-fifth round draws that Chelsea have been given a home tie with a lower league club.

Posted: January 5th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Make money on Tuesday’s Carling Cup action

Arsenal’s youngsters bid to better 6-0 mauling of Sheffield United

In the last round Sky Sports got it all wrong, choosing to broadcast Swansea’s drab 1-0 victory over Cardiff and missing out on Arsenal’s youngsters ripping Sheffield United apart and hammering them 6-0. Sky have done their utmost to avoid making the same mistake twice and are currently wheeling their cameras down to the Emirates Stadium in anticipation of another masterclass, which probably means we’ll all end up disappointed. Here’s our verdict on tonight’s games:

Click here to place your bets

Arsenal v Wigan
Three seasons ago during Wigan’s fairytale first term in the Premier League they overcame Arsenal in the Carling Cup semi-finals but a repeat is unlikely tonight. Wigan have lost all four of their away games against the Gunners but may at least get on the scoresheet, as they have on three of their four visits, as well as their two away games against top-six teams this season.
Betting: Home win, available at a generous 4/6 with 888sport

Derby v Leeds
Leeds have lost four of their last five away games, after initially going unbeaten in their first five trips this season and have failed to score on their last three trips to Pride Park. Derby have gone six games without defeat at home but have kept just one clean sheet there since last September, so something has to give.
Betting: Derby to win at 23/20 with Bet365; if you’re feeling very brave they are 3/1 with Paddy Power to win to nil

Manchester United v Queens Park Rangers
United have lost to Championship opposition West Brom (2003-04) and Southend (2006-07) at this stage on two of the last three occasions they have met. However, QPR’s victory at Aston Villa in the last round was their only away win in six and the West London club haven’t reached the quarter-finals for twenty years.
Betting: Home win - Tevez has started two of United’s last nine so could play and is 9/2 with Bet365 to be first scorer

Posted: November 11th, 2008 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment