Saturday 26th Feb Accumulator Clues.

After a disappointing week of betting on the whole, Saturday is here again and the day to put everything right. The Premier League is as difficult as ever to work out but there may be a couple of value bets knocking around.
Blackburn have lost 9 of 14 away this season and have failed to keep a clean sheet away from Ewood all season. Villa have only won 5 of their 13 home games but did beat Blackburn 3-1 in the FA Cup just 4 weeks ago. Neither team have won since then but I expect Villa to edge this one by the odd goal. They are best priced 4/5 (SkyBet).
In form Bolton make the trip to the North East to face Newcastle who bagged their first win in 7 last time out. Without Andy Carroll they still seem to be finding the net but Bolton have been flying recently. Having said that, Botlon have only 2 wins on the road this season and no clean sheets. I can see Newcastle coming out attacking but their defensive frailties may again be exposed so I will go for the draw at 12/5 (SkyBet).
The third game I will look at is Wolves vs Blackpool. Both these teams are more unpredictible that the Middle East at the moment and all I can say about this one is there is going to be goals, I don't know who for, or who will score or when they will score, but expect goals. For this reason I will go for over 2.5 goals at 4/5 (VC). There may be some value is backing Blackpool for the brave soles amongst us as 7/2 is a very good price for a team who are scoring goals for fun.
Taking a quick look at the Championship, there are a couple of teams I think represent good value and would give a healthy boost to any accumulator bets this weekend. Firstly Leicester play Coventry at the Walkers Stadium and after their 2-0 defeat to Cardiff last week I expect them to bounce back and win this one at 8/15. The other team I fancy is Norwich, their form has been a bit patchy of late but coming to the real business end of the season they should rediscover there best form and leave Barnsley with all 3 points. They are best priced 8/5.

Aston Villa WIN, Bolton v Newcastle DRAW, Leicester WIN, Norwich WIN 4-fold pays around 23/1
Add Blackpool WIN for a 100/1 5-fold.

Good Luck
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Wednesday 23rd Matches

With Rafa Benitez no longer at the helm Inter have started playing some decent stuff and finding some form. They have lost just once in 12 games since he left, winning 10 and drawing 1. That is impressive form in anyones book. Saying that, Bayern have an identical record in their last 12 outings, that also, is impressive form in anyones book. These 2 met in the final last year and it was decided by 2 Milito goals in the 2nd half. I expect this one to be a lot more cagey with Bayern knowing they can only lose the tie in this first leg. Without the knowhow of Mourinho Inter don't look the same side as last year so I will go for a 1-1 draw.

Moving on to Marseille who have only been beaten at home twice this season and beat Chelsea there in their final group game back in December. That shows they will be no pushover for United but I expect Fergie's big guns to be fresh from a weekend off and do a thoroughly proffessional job. Manchester United are very backable at 11/8 (Bet365). Back them to win 2-0.

The one Premier League game tonight sees Arsenal entertain Stoke. I think Arsenal have enough to win this but Stoke will get in their faces and make it a scrap. I also fancy stoke to nick a goal from a set piece so I'm going to goin for a 2-1 home victory. The 9/1 with Skybet is a very decent price. The other bet that stands out in this one is the Draw HT Arsenal FT available at best priced 7/2 with Betfred.

Good Luck
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Tuesday 22nd's Action (CL and Championship)

After a mixed wekend of betting comes an immediate chance to get back on track. The 2 Champions League games are as unpredictable as ever. Firstly the Lyon vs Real Madrid game looks sure to give goals. Lyon have scored 4 in each of their last 2 games and are sure to attack in the home leg. Real Madrid averaged 2.29 goals per game this season in La Liga and Ronaldo's 24 in 24 games have reminded everyone at Old Trafford how good he actually is. Lyon have averaged 1.58 goals per game in Liga 1 and for them reasons I'm going for Over 2.5 goals (11/10 Bet365 11/9Betfair) in this one.
Chelsea travel to Denmark to meet FC Copenhagen who have not played a competative game since their last Champions League Game on 8th December. Copenhagan are usually ruthless at home and are 19 points clear in their home league. On top of this they held Barcelona to a 1-1 draw earlier this season. Chelsea will be tested to the maximum tonight and after 120 minutes on Saturday I wouldn't be suprised to see them going back to the Bridge with a lot of work to do. For that reason I will back FC Copenhagan and the Draw at 19/20 (WilliamHill).

Moving on to the Championship and after a few suprise results in tight games at the weekend, hopefully tonight is a little kinder to the punters amongst us. Cardiff (8/5) were beaten at The 'Fortress' Forest Ground on Saturday but I can see them bouncing back quickly to beat Leicester, who needed a last gasp winner on Friday night. Forest should overcome Preston at home and I also expect Leeds to overcome their Yorkshire neighbours Barnsley and at 8/11 they seem a little overpriced. QPR have been going through a sticky spell of late but with Neil Warnock at the helm I cannot forsee a home defeat against improving Ipswich. Even though they bagged 6 on their last away trip I can't see a repeat of this and expect QPR to come away with the win at 8/11. This Cardiff, Forest, Leeds and QPR 4-times pays about 11/1 and is certainly worth a punt.

Good Luck,
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A Trio of Value in the Championship

Looking closer at the Championship tomorrow has thrown up an interesting trio of home wins. Firstly Portsmouth who are finally finding some form. A 2-0 away win with 10 men followed a battling point at Derby 2 weeks ago. Barnsely scraped a point against Ipswich last weekend after getting a 4-1 hiding by Leicester the week before. For these reasons a Pompy home win at somewhere around evens will get any accumulator bets off to a flying start. The second team of the trio is stuttering Millwall. Three last miunte goals in as many games has seen them keep promotion hopes alive and I can see a rediscovery of form coming at the expense of Middlesborough. Unlucky against Swansea last week they will make the journey south ratlled by that experience and give Millwall every chance to regain that promotion winning form at around 11/10 (William Hill). Another team I expect to win are Reading. No win in the Chamionship since 15th Jan is a worry but they have a great chance to bounce back to winning ways at the expense of Watford. Home advantage should be enough to see them over the line. Reading have been unlucky to concede late in their last 2 games and I expect it will be 3rd time lucky at the Madjeski. Watford have no win in 6 and their is little cause for optimism surrounding the Hornets so at 19/20 Reading will conclude this winning trio on offer at around 8.39 (William Hill).

Good Luck
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The FA Cup Weekend

F.A Cup weekend is upto us once again, and its a mess. 4th Round replays on the same day as 5th Round? Stop being ridiculous.
I'de love to say my top bet for the weekend is a home win at Old Trafford but we all know that won't make us rich. To be honest the 4 games on Saturday look to easy to call. The 4 home wins pays just over 3/1 and that does not represent a lot of value. Having said that, Chelsea were less than convincing against Fulham on Monday but Everton hardly lit the Reebok up on a not so Super Sunday for the Toffees. That game would be the only banana skin on the way to a simple 3/1 winning 4-fold.

On Sunday the fixtures are arguably just as easy to predict. Its hard to see past City and Arsenal for sure. The hardest game of the weekend to predict is at the Cottage where Fulham entertain Bolton, decent results for both at the weekend and a battling replay win for Bolton at Wigan will have their spirits sky high and for that reason I will go for a tight away win and at 13/5, could be the value of the weekend.

Good Luck
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