(Crystal Palace keeper Julian Speroni can help the see off Portsmouth)
Selhurst Park is the setting for our Tuesday selection where Crystal Palace take on Portsmouth, a clash which pits 3rd vs 18th. Dougie Freedman's Eagles find themselves in the playoff places courtesy of a good run having last been defeated back in September, since then they've won five & drawn two to propel themselves up the league. Portsmouth sit just 3 points outside the relegation zone with a modest recent run - away from Fratton Park they've managed to secure just two points all season. Palace have no new injury worries going into the match & are therefore likely to stick with the lineup that earned a weekend point against improving Reading. Opponents Portsmouth have a couple of decsions to make over slight doubts Greg Halford & Benjani, the former was forced off against Derby & the latter has been recovering from a hamstring injury. We think Benjani is likely to remain on the bench for this one but Halford should be ok to start - if not Joel Ward is likely to fill the void. The loss of manager Steve Cotterill to Championship rivals Nottingham Forest also won't help the south coast club's cause. Palace can prove they deserve to be riding high in the table by winning this one, they are available at 23/20 with Victor Chandler to collect maximum points. Of the other Championship matches on Tuesday Southampton (8/15) & West Ham (2/5) look most likely to also win but they're skinny odds to do so & Palace definitely offer the best value.
On to Wednesday & staying with the Championship we like the look of Leeds United at home to Blackpool, purely on a stats basis they look outstanding value to beat the Seasiders. Leeds have lost just once at home in the league & that was their first home game against Middlesbrough, they've won four & drawn two at Elland Road in their other games & the weekend's draw was no disgrace against a very well organised Cardiff side. Blackpool on the other hand have won just once away from home this season & that was their first away game, recently they've taken beatings by West Ham & Burnley, they've lost 3 of their last 4 & their last two wins have come against bottom pair Bristol City & Doncaster, you have to go back to 10th September since their victory against Ipswich. Blackpool have conceded 13 goals in their 7 away games & they'll struggle to keep out Leeds & the league's joint top scorer Ross McCormack, at odds of 11/10 Leeds must be backed.
On Thursday night it's the dreaded Europa League with the early kick off in Russia between Rubin Kazan & Tottenham Hotspur. It's a competition which is dragged out for far too long in its current format & can be a betting nightmare with so many variables to weigh up but we believe the current price of 3/4 for Rubin Kazan is too good to ignore. Spurs main target this season is a top four league spot & regular stars won't be seen until the latter stages, if at all in the Europa League. So Spurs have used the competition to blood their youngsters & give fringe players action with only regular right back Kyle Walker playing Thursday Sunday. Spurs have two wins & one draw so far in this league format & with fixtures against PAOK (h) & Shamrock (a) left after this game, qualification seems comfortable even with a defeat in Russia. Rubin Kazan who have played Champions League football in the last two seasons, will see this home fixture as a must win game because they won't want to be travelling to Greek side PAOK needing a victory on the final round of fixtures for qualification (as PAOK currently sit in 2nd spot with one more point than them). The game at White Hart Lane saw Spurs gain three points thanks to a stunning free kick from Roman Pavlyuchenko. But the Russians where the better side & Spurs keeper Heurelho Gomes made a string of excellent saves as Spurs hung on at the end. After the game Harry Redknapp said about this fixture that 'it's a horrendous journey before you play on the Sunday. It's not what you want. It will be a good experience for some of the young players to go & I can save the senior ones for the game on the Sunday'. So it means you can place your bet early, safe in the knowledge that Spurs star players won't be on the plane, & take advantage of the current 3/4 price before it's hammered into during the week to maximise your winnings.
Selections:
Crystal Palace to beat Portsmouth at 23/20 with Victor Chandler
Leeds United to beat Blackpool at 11/10 with Coral
Rubin Kazan to beat Spurs at 3/4 (Victor Chandler & Paddy Power)
On to Wednesday & staying with the Championship we like the look of Leeds United at home to Blackpool, purely on a stats basis they look outstanding value to beat the Seasiders. Leeds have lost just once at home in the league & that was their first home game against Middlesbrough, they've won four & drawn two at Elland Road in their other games & the weekend's draw was no disgrace against a very well organised Cardiff side. Blackpool on the other hand have won just once away from home this season & that was their first away game, recently they've taken beatings by West Ham & Burnley, they've lost 3 of their last 4 & their last two wins have come against bottom pair Bristol City & Doncaster, you have to go back to 10th September since their victory against Ipswich. Blackpool have conceded 13 goals in their 7 away games & they'll struggle to keep out Leeds & the league's joint top scorer Ross McCormack, at odds of 11/10 Leeds must be backed.
(Andros Townsend may be one of the youngsters getting a runout for Spurs on Thursday night)
On Thursday night it's the dreaded Europa League with the early kick off in Russia between Rubin Kazan & Tottenham Hotspur. It's a competition which is dragged out for far too long in its current format & can be a betting nightmare with so many variables to weigh up but we believe the current price of 3/4 for Rubin Kazan is too good to ignore. Spurs main target this season is a top four league spot & regular stars won't be seen until the latter stages, if at all in the Europa League. So Spurs have used the competition to blood their youngsters & give fringe players action with only regular right back Kyle Walker playing Thursday Sunday. Spurs have two wins & one draw so far in this league format & with fixtures against PAOK (h) & Shamrock (a) left after this game, qualification seems comfortable even with a defeat in Russia. Rubin Kazan who have played Champions League football in the last two seasons, will see this home fixture as a must win game because they won't want to be travelling to Greek side PAOK needing a victory on the final round of fixtures for qualification (as PAOK currently sit in 2nd spot with one more point than them). The game at White Hart Lane saw Spurs gain three points thanks to a stunning free kick from Roman Pavlyuchenko. But the Russians where the better side & Spurs keeper Heurelho Gomes made a string of excellent saves as Spurs hung on at the end. After the game Harry Redknapp said about this fixture that 'it's a horrendous journey before you play on the Sunday. It's not what you want. It will be a good experience for some of the young players to go & I can save the senior ones for the game on the Sunday'. So it means you can place your bet early, safe in the knowledge that Spurs star players won't be on the plane, & take advantage of the current 3/4 price before it's hammered into during the week to maximise your winnings.
Selections:
Crystal Palace to beat Portsmouth at 23/20 with Victor Chandler
Leeds United to beat Blackpool at 11/10 with Coral
Rubin Kazan to beat Spurs at 3/4 (Victor Chandler & Paddy Power)
Football is really an exciting game. It is much more fun when you bet on your favourite team. With online football betting, wagering on this exciting sports game is a lot easier and convenient since there’s no need to go out of the house every time there is a game.
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