GuinnessPunter
12-08-2006, 01:31 PM
:p -v-
Blackburn Rovers v Newcastle Utd
Blackburn have struggled to just two wins from their last 10 games, a run which includes six defeats in the Premiership, Newcastle are unbeaten in seven having taken eight of the last 12 Barclays Premiership points they have contested.
Newcastle also have a good recent record at Ewood Park, losing only once in their last eight visits and that may appeal to most punters at 11/4.
Francis Jeffers' hopes of making a comeback from injury have been dashed after the striker broke down in training he missed the midweek defeat at Charlton and had hoped to have recovered from a groin injury but suffered a recurrence.
Tugay is expected to be restored to the starting line-up but Brett Emerton (hamstring), Zurab Khizanishvili (groin), and long-term absentees Steven Reid, Jason Roberts and Ryan Nelsen are all out as well.
Meanwhile the Newcastle manager has warned his players they cannot afford to relax if they are to drag themselves clear of the relegation dogfight.Roeder will have little option but to go into the game at Ewood Park with the same 11 men who started on Wednesday night.
However, Damien Duff is back in light training after knee surgery, while Kieron Dyer, who has been sidelined by a badly gashed thigh, could be back in the fold for next weekend's home clash with Watford.
Blackburn need to get points on board quickly as they have been dropping down the league for 2 months although I don’t think their good run in the UEFA cup has helped any. Newcastle are grinding out results and I fancy for them to take a point back to St James Park.
Farbets Prediction: Get on the DRAW @ 3.25 Bet365/Betway/SkyBet/VCBet/BetFred/StanJames/Totesport.
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Manchester United v Manchester City
Manchester Utd prepare to entertain Manchester City at Old Trafford at lunchtime on Saturday, and hold the advantage on previous meetings between the two. Of the 73 games played, Utd have recorded 33 wins, and Man City have come away with 14 victories.
The most recent encounter between these two sides at Old Trafford was just last season, in September 2005, where the two sides shared the points courtesy of a 1-1 final score.
Man Citys home form is quite impressive but on the road tells a entire different story altogether conceding 16 goals with 1 win 1 draw and losing 6.
French defender Patrice Evra is a major doubt for United after picking up a calf injury against Benfica.
If Evra does not make it, Gabriel Heinze will almost certainly earn a recall as United look to maintain a 32-year unbeaten home record against City.
Utd old boy Andy Cole came desperately close to ending City’s drought last season, only for Edwin van der Sar to pull off a miraculous save near the end of a 1-1 draw.
Now Pearce, no stranger to success at the Theatre of Dreams himself, is hoping his team can go one better to end the City fans' enduring misery.
United can and will win this, but they offer no appeal at 4/11.
They have been excellent home and away all season, and can turn the screw on Chelsea here by winning another three points and bragging rights along the way. But Manchester City can keep it tight and under 2.5 goals looks a solid bet as they can keep things tight and have a decent recent record.
Giggs will move alongside Bill Foulkes in second on the list when he turns out in the Manchester derby at Old Trafford.
It will be the 688th time Giggs has played for United, leaving him 71 behind Sir Bobby Charlton's club best. Not only is Giggs still appearing for United on a regular basis, he is also having a major influence on the outcome of their games.Don’t be to surprised to see him named as MOM tomorrow PaddyPower have him @ 10’s
Farbets Prediction: Get on the under 2.5 goals with Bet365/Coral/Stanjames @ 2.00
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Bolton v West Ham
Both teams are going through a lean patch and would look forward to the game hoping to find some form and points.
Bolton, who started their season in a brilliant fashion, have struggled lately. Barring the sensational victory over Arsenal, Bolton have failed to show the kind of form which made them one of the contenders for Europe at the start of the season. The Trotters have managed just one victory in their last eight games in all competitions.
Another disappointing display in the midweek loss against Wigan saw Hammers dropping into the relegation zone. West Ham, following a great season last year, and with some star signings in the summer transfer market, started the season with high expectations and hopes but since then have failed to live up to those hopes and expectations.
Like their rivals Bolton, the major problem for West Ham has been the lack of goals. West Ham have failed to register a victory away from home this season and even Alan Pardew would admit that they would have to come up with something special to grind out a result at the Reebok Stadium this Saturday.
Both teams desperately need three points for different reasons.West Ham have struggled against ‘physical’ sides and are likely to face their biggest ‘physical’ challenge at the Reebok. It seems highly unlikely to me that Hammers can get anything out of it.
Farbets Prediction: Home win for Big Sam's men. 1.833 with Betterbet 1.80 with BlueSq/PaddyPower/SportingOdds/StanJames/VCBet/Betway
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Chelsea v Arsenal
In their past seven meetings Arsenal have not managed a win against The Blues, while Chelsea did the double on the North Londoners last season on the way to a second successive Premiership title.
Arsenal's main problem this season has been their fragile away form, where the recent back-to-back defeats from the hands of Bolton Wanderers and Fulham is not encouraging as they take on second placed Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
In the absence of France international striker and Arsenal captain Thierry Henry due to neck injury, the Gunners chances of landing a blow on their local rivals will be furthered hampered and now the upfront task of scoring goals will shouldered on Emmanuel Adebayor and Robin van Persie.
All eyes will be on Ashley Cole who is bracing himself for verbal abuse and hostility from the travelling Gooners at Stamford Bridge following his acrimonious transfer to Chelsea in the summer, a move that followed Cole's indignation at being offered "only" £55,000 a week by Arsenal.
Chelsea could find themselves nine points behind leaders Manchester United by the time they meet Arsenal in this Sunday showdown.
The Blues have a 10-point advantage over Arsenal but are playing a secondary role to Manchester United in most other areas. Going into the weekend, they've won 11 top League games to United's 13, lost two to the Red Devils' one and dropped 10 points to the leaders' seven. Both top two clubs have conceded eight goals.
Chelsea beat Arsenal 1-0 in this corresponding fixture last season and Chelsea, more to the point Ashley Cole can have the last laugh with all 3points come Sunday tea-time.
Farbets Prediction: Chelsea to make it a blue day for Arsenal by taking the win and all 3 points. Best price is with Bet365/StanJames/Totesport @ 1.72
Blackburn Rovers v Newcastle Utd
Blackburn have struggled to just two wins from their last 10 games, a run which includes six defeats in the Premiership, Newcastle are unbeaten in seven having taken eight of the last 12 Barclays Premiership points they have contested.
Newcastle also have a good recent record at Ewood Park, losing only once in their last eight visits and that may appeal to most punters at 11/4.
Francis Jeffers' hopes of making a comeback from injury have been dashed after the striker broke down in training he missed the midweek defeat at Charlton and had hoped to have recovered from a groin injury but suffered a recurrence.
Tugay is expected to be restored to the starting line-up but Brett Emerton (hamstring), Zurab Khizanishvili (groin), and long-term absentees Steven Reid, Jason Roberts and Ryan Nelsen are all out as well.
Meanwhile the Newcastle manager has warned his players they cannot afford to relax if they are to drag themselves clear of the relegation dogfight.Roeder will have little option but to go into the game at Ewood Park with the same 11 men who started on Wednesday night.
However, Damien Duff is back in light training after knee surgery, while Kieron Dyer, who has been sidelined by a badly gashed thigh, could be back in the fold for next weekend's home clash with Watford.
Blackburn need to get points on board quickly as they have been dropping down the league for 2 months although I don’t think their good run in the UEFA cup has helped any. Newcastle are grinding out results and I fancy for them to take a point back to St James Park.
Farbets Prediction: Get on the DRAW @ 3.25 Bet365/Betway/SkyBet/VCBet/BetFred/StanJames/Totesport.
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Manchester United v Manchester City
Manchester Utd prepare to entertain Manchester City at Old Trafford at lunchtime on Saturday, and hold the advantage on previous meetings between the two. Of the 73 games played, Utd have recorded 33 wins, and Man City have come away with 14 victories.
The most recent encounter between these two sides at Old Trafford was just last season, in September 2005, where the two sides shared the points courtesy of a 1-1 final score.
Man Citys home form is quite impressive but on the road tells a entire different story altogether conceding 16 goals with 1 win 1 draw and losing 6.
French defender Patrice Evra is a major doubt for United after picking up a calf injury against Benfica.
If Evra does not make it, Gabriel Heinze will almost certainly earn a recall as United look to maintain a 32-year unbeaten home record against City.
Utd old boy Andy Cole came desperately close to ending City’s drought last season, only for Edwin van der Sar to pull off a miraculous save near the end of a 1-1 draw.
Now Pearce, no stranger to success at the Theatre of Dreams himself, is hoping his team can go one better to end the City fans' enduring misery.
United can and will win this, but they offer no appeal at 4/11.
They have been excellent home and away all season, and can turn the screw on Chelsea here by winning another three points and bragging rights along the way. But Manchester City can keep it tight and under 2.5 goals looks a solid bet as they can keep things tight and have a decent recent record.
Giggs will move alongside Bill Foulkes in second on the list when he turns out in the Manchester derby at Old Trafford.
It will be the 688th time Giggs has played for United, leaving him 71 behind Sir Bobby Charlton's club best. Not only is Giggs still appearing for United on a regular basis, he is also having a major influence on the outcome of their games.Don’t be to surprised to see him named as MOM tomorrow PaddyPower have him @ 10’s
Farbets Prediction: Get on the under 2.5 goals with Bet365/Coral/Stanjames @ 2.00
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Bolton v West Ham
Both teams are going through a lean patch and would look forward to the game hoping to find some form and points.
Bolton, who started their season in a brilliant fashion, have struggled lately. Barring the sensational victory over Arsenal, Bolton have failed to show the kind of form which made them one of the contenders for Europe at the start of the season. The Trotters have managed just one victory in their last eight games in all competitions.
Another disappointing display in the midweek loss against Wigan saw Hammers dropping into the relegation zone. West Ham, following a great season last year, and with some star signings in the summer transfer market, started the season with high expectations and hopes but since then have failed to live up to those hopes and expectations.
Like their rivals Bolton, the major problem for West Ham has been the lack of goals. West Ham have failed to register a victory away from home this season and even Alan Pardew would admit that they would have to come up with something special to grind out a result at the Reebok Stadium this Saturday.
Both teams desperately need three points for different reasons.West Ham have struggled against ‘physical’ sides and are likely to face their biggest ‘physical’ challenge at the Reebok. It seems highly unlikely to me that Hammers can get anything out of it.
Farbets Prediction: Home win for Big Sam's men. 1.833 with Betterbet 1.80 with BlueSq/PaddyPower/SportingOdds/StanJames/VCBet/Betway
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Chelsea v Arsenal
In their past seven meetings Arsenal have not managed a win against The Blues, while Chelsea did the double on the North Londoners last season on the way to a second successive Premiership title.
Arsenal's main problem this season has been their fragile away form, where the recent back-to-back defeats from the hands of Bolton Wanderers and Fulham is not encouraging as they take on second placed Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
In the absence of France international striker and Arsenal captain Thierry Henry due to neck injury, the Gunners chances of landing a blow on their local rivals will be furthered hampered and now the upfront task of scoring goals will shouldered on Emmanuel Adebayor and Robin van Persie.
All eyes will be on Ashley Cole who is bracing himself for verbal abuse and hostility from the travelling Gooners at Stamford Bridge following his acrimonious transfer to Chelsea in the summer, a move that followed Cole's indignation at being offered "only" £55,000 a week by Arsenal.
Chelsea could find themselves nine points behind leaders Manchester United by the time they meet Arsenal in this Sunday showdown.
The Blues have a 10-point advantage over Arsenal but are playing a secondary role to Manchester United in most other areas. Going into the weekend, they've won 11 top League games to United's 13, lost two to the Red Devils' one and dropped 10 points to the leaders' seven. Both top two clubs have conceded eight goals.
Chelsea beat Arsenal 1-0 in this corresponding fixture last season and Chelsea, more to the point Ashley Cole can have the last laugh with all 3points come Sunday tea-time.
Farbets Prediction: Chelsea to make it a blue day for Arsenal by taking the win and all 3 points. Best price is with Bet365/StanJames/Totesport @ 1.72