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:

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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

Coventry look to cause an upset away from the cameras

Previews of Tuesday and Wednesday’s FA Cup fifth round replays

Anyone who saw the initial West Ham/Middlesbrough game will be baffled by ITV’s decision to televise that replay over Blackburn’s potentially dangerous trip to Coventry. Even the clubs were caught off-guard by the decision to move the match for the public’s pleasure, judging by West Ham’s failure to warn fans the date could change and Middlesbrough’s decision to send tickets out saying the game was on Tuesday. Here are all the key statistics about the first three replays:

Coventry v Blackburn (Tuesday 7.45pm)
ITV’s decision to ignore this tie could prove wise however as only one goal has been scored over the course of Blackburn’s last four away games. Paddy Power and Ladbrokes offer 23/10 on the game requiring extra-time and that looks enticing. Sam Allardyce’s side have won just one of their last eight away games - and that was away to Blyth Spartans - but at the same time they unbeaten in four, with three of those finishing 0-0. Coventry have lost just one of their last nine home games and knocked Blackburn out of the FA Cup last season.

Fulham v Swansea (Tuesday, 8pm)

Posted: February 24th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Statistics on all four televised FA Cup fifth round games

Will we see more Tic Tac adverts than goals this time around?

Fulham, Chelsea and Manchester United may be under pressure to avoid FA Cup giantkillings but that is nothing compared to the scrutiny ITV’s coverage will suffer following their Merseyside derby blunder. Here’s our guide to the four games that will be shown on TV, subject to further “technical problems”:

Swansea v Fulham (12.45pm, Saturday, ITV1)
The last time these two sides met in 1997, they were both competing in the fourth tier of English football. Despite not winning away from home in the league all season, Fulham have won on the road in the last two rounds of the FA Cup. However, Swansea are unbeaten in fifteen games, nine of which have been draws, so Fulham’s best chance might be to take the game to a replay. Three of the last five meetings between the two sides in Wales have finished 2-2, which is 16/1 on 888sport, while both sides won one each 2-1.

Watford v Chelsea (5.30pm, Saturday, Setanta Sports 1)
It’s Lampard versus Lampard at Vicarage Road this weekend as the Chelsea midfielder comes up against the team where his dad works as a football consultant for former Blues reserve manager Brendan Rodgers. Chelsea have failed to win either of their two previous FA Cup away games against Watford, drawing one and losing one. Even if that record ends, it could be worth betting on the visitors conceding for the eighth straight cup match. The Hornets have lost just three of their last ten home games and have only failed to fire in one of those. Bet365 offer evens on both teams scoring.

Everton v Aston Villa (2.30pm, Sunday, Setanta Sports 1)

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

Liverpool are 4/5 to pile more misery on poor Tony Adams

Portsmouth/Liverpool, Sat 5.30pm, Set S1, Free Bets, Best Odds

Even Tottenham fans could be forgiven for feeling some sympathy towards former Arsenal captain Tony Adams as he struggles to adapt to life as a Premier League manager. Portsmouth’s terrible form has left them just one point above the relegation zone and while Liverpool have been ordinary recently, the 4/5 on offer from Bet365 and 888sport on them leaving with three points does look hard to resist:

» Portsmouth haven’t won any of their last eight Premier League games, taking one point from their last available 21.

» Tony Adams’ side have lost three successive home league games - against Newcastle, West Ham and Aston Villa - as well as losing at Fratton Park to Swansea in the FA Cup.

Posted: February 6th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | 1 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

Five stats about West Ham’s daunting trip to Hartlepool

Hartlepool/West Ham, Sat 12.40pm, ITV1, Free Bets, Best Odds

Nottingham Forest, Luton, Bolton, Grimsby, Stockport, Wrexham, Swansea, Northampton, Tranmere, Sheffield Wednesday, Reading, Oldham, Chesterfield and Watford. That is the expansive list of lower league teams West Ham have bowed out of either the FA or League Cup to over the course of their thirteen-and-a-half years in the Premier League. It’s no wonder Hartlepool are best-priced at 4/1 with Bet365 and 888sport to win tomorrow lunchtime:

1. West Ham have won four and drawn one of their last five games, their longest unbeaten streak since November 2007.

2. Carlton Cole has scored in each of those five games but in none of those matches has he been the first goalscorer. The striker is 13/8 with Boylesports to score at any time.

Posted: January 23rd, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment