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

Six reasons why Bristol City could knock the holders out

Bristol City/Portsmouth, 7.45pm, SetantaS1, Free Bets, Best Odds

It’s only eight months since Portsmouth lifted the FA Cup but almost everything has changed since then. After being tipped by some pundits to be the best of the rest this season, they have lost their manager Harry Redknapp, their star midfielder Lassana Diarra and striker Jermain Defoe while the owner is eager to sell up. Tony Adams, who got Wycombe relegated from the third tier in his previous managerial stint is in charge and a relegation battle is looming. Here are six reasons why Bristol City could make things even worse tonight:

1. Portsmouth have won just three of sixteen games in all competitions under Tony Adams.

2. The former Arsenal captain has never beaten Bristol City in his managerial career. As Wycombe manager he drew once and lost once (in a cup match) with them prior to Portsmouth’s 0-0 draw with them at Fratton Park.

3. Portsmouth’s record against Gary Johnson’s side is even worse. They have failed to win any of their last nine meetings with the meetings, their last win coming in 1992.

Posted: January 13th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | 1 Comment

Who will be this season’s Havant and Waterlooville?

Bet on which Blue Square team get the furthest this year

888sport and Blue Square have opened markets on which team from the Blue Square Premier, South and North will go furthest in this year’s FA Cup.

Torquay, who are second in the Premier and on an eleven match unbeaten run, are worthy favourites at 9/2. They reached the FA Trophy final last season and knocked League One Yeovil out of the FA Cup. They have a good first round draw too, at home to Evesham, a team who are struggling two divisions below without an away win.

However, don’t be put off backing a team just because they have a tough first round clash because whoever goes the furthest is going to have to beat someone bigger than them; Havant beat Notts County and Swansea to earn their fourth round trip to Anfield last season.

Posted: November 4th, 2008 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment