Man United host a Porto side who hate travelling to the UK

Manchester United/Porto, 7.45pm, ITV1, Free Bets, Best Odds

Manchester United have been granted the best draw they could have asked for in their quest to retain the Champions League but recent defensive frailties threaten to end their run of seven straight clean sheets in two-legged European ties. However, Porto’s dreadful record in the UK means that an upset (9/1 with Ladbrokes) remains incredibly unlikely:

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Manchester United’s domestic invincibility may have worn off but there are some pretty significant stats which make them the team to fear in Europe. The holders haven’t lost a Champions League home game since February 2005 and are unbeaten in 21 games in total in the competition. However, while they won all six of their European games at Old Trafford last season, they haven’t been quite as convincing this season. They beat Celtic (3-0) and Inter (2-0) but they failed to find a way past potential quarter-final opponents Villarreal (0-0) or the fifth-best team in Denmark, Aalborg (2-2).

Posted: April 7th, 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

Five reasons why Manchester United won’t beat Tottenham

Spurs/Man Utd, 5.30pm Sat, Setanta Spts 1, Best Odds, Free Bets

(Photo Credit: Martin Rickett, PA Wire)

There is more at stake for Tottenham’s players than the chance to earn the crowds’ adulation by giving Dimitar Berbatov a kick or two - they are defending an unbeaten record against the Big Four this season. Manchester United have their own proud seven-and-a-half year unbeaten streak over Spurs to protect. Of course the only way to maintain both sequences would be with a draw, which is 13/5 with 888sport and Boylesports. Here are five reasons why Spurs won’t be beaten:

1. Tottenham are unbeaten against the Big Four this season having drawn away to Arsenal and Chelsea and picked up home wins over Liverpool in both the Premier League and the Carling Cup.

2. The champions have won just one of their last eight away games in London. Besides a win against Fulham, the Red Devils have drawn twice and lost once at Chelsea, drawn and lost at Arsenal, drawn at Tottenham and lost to West Ham over the last nineteen months.

Posted: December 12th, 2008 by Michael Lintorn | 1 Comment