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Pain in Spain for Bayer

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Barcelona offer scant value in the outright markets to book a place in the Champions League quarter-finals and their excellent home form in Europe makes it difficult to build a case for Bayer Leverkusen – and APOEL, the first Cypriot side to reach the knockout stage, will look to keep the fairytale alive against Lyon.

Barcelona v Bayer Leverkusen

Bayer Leverkusen’s traditionally poor away form in the Champions League makes it difficult to predict anything other than a comfortable passage into the quarter-finals for Barcelona.

The Germans have gone 12 matches without an away win on the road in Europe, while the Catalan giants, who lead 3-1 from the first leg, have been in imperious form domestically since the last encounter, and are unbeaten in 14 home games in the Champions League.

At 20/1 (match prices), it’d be unwise to back Bayer Leverkusen to win at Camp Nou, while there is little value to be gained from backing Barca at 1/7.

But the Germans, for whom striker Stefan Kiessling is good form, have scored eight goals in their last three Bundesliga matches and haven’t failed to score in Europe since September. At 4/1 to score anytime, 28-year-old Kiessling is certainly worth consideration.

Barca have scored 30 goals in their last 10 home Champions League matches and should be expected to continue that attacking form, particularly with the reassurance of a two-goal cushion heading into the match.

It’s likely that the irrepressible Lionel Messi will be at the centre of any action in the final third, and for him to score first in another 3-1 Barcelona win is not beyond the realms of probability. At 16/1, that particular score-cast is definitely worth a look at.

APOEL v Lyon

It is more difficult to predict a winner in Cyprus, where APOEL will look to overturn a 1-0 first-leg deficit when they host Lyon on Wednesday.

The Cypriots have been strong at home in Europe of late, with a group match defeat to Shakhtar Donetsk this season their only home reverse in seven home Champions League fixtures.

Lyon, meanwhile, have been in poor form since their first-leg win over APOEL, conceding six goals in two Ligue 1 matches. That’s worth bearing in mind, particularly when you consider that you can get 11/4 on four or more goals being scored on the night.

“It’s hugely disappointing, but we have to stand right behind the team…we need to bounce back mentally,” said Lyon chairman Jean-Michel Aulas, after the embarrassing 2-0 defeat to Nancy.

The Cypriots, on the other hand, are doing well domestically, and represent good value at 2/1 to beat their French opponents after 90 minutes.

APOEL rarely concede more than once at home so it’d be wise to avoid a correct score selection in favour of Lyon of anything other than 1-0. At 5/1, that particular correct score selection isn’t a bad option for those who fancy the French outfit to steal a win.

Bafetimbi Gomis has already netted five times in the Champions League this season, and is decent value at 5/1 to score first. If Gomis does find the net for Lyon then they are at 20/1 to defend that lead.

For APOEL, expect Brazilian striker Ailton to be on the end of a few searching balls. He’s worth considering at 7/4 to convert at least one of them into a goal and add to the three he’s already grabbed in Europe so far this season.

If Ailton does find his form, then expect more goals to follow. Ailton’s goal being the first of a 2-2 draw on the night can be bought at 75/1 and, though Remi Garde’s men are favourites to win the win the match, a 3-1 victory for APOEL following an Ailton opener is still great value at 100/1.

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Spurs’ class to tell at Lane

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Bet on the FA CupTottenham take on Stevenage in an FA Cup fifth round replay on Wednesday night looking to book a clash with Bolton in the last eight. The sides drew a blank at Broadhall Way on February 19 but the home side are strong favourites to take care of business this time around (Spurs 1/5, Stevenage 14/1, draw 5/1 – Match Prices).

Spurs have enjoyed a superb season and had just beaten Newcastle United 5-0, but they were unable to get past an inspired Stevenage side in the first match, who deserved the draw and earned the right to play at White Hart Lane.

Spurs were not at the best, with the north London derby possibly on their mind, and it showed as they were kept at bay by a hard-working Hertfordshire side.

If the tie follows the rule book then the hosts should triumph comfortably in midweek as it is widely regarded that the minnows will only get one crack at victory, with the bigger teams not taking them so lightly next time around.

And Harry Redknapp’s men will not want to slip up as they are now out of the title race following their hammering at the Emirates Stadium and loss to Manchester United, and will see the FA Cup as a good chance to land some silverware this term (Spurs 5/2 – FA Cup Outright).

It is likely that Redknapp will play a strong side, while resting a few stars, with the weekend’s Premier League clash with Everton in mind.

It remains to be seen whether the managerial situation surrounding Redknapp does affect Tottenham’s performances over the remainder of the season, but at least the former West Ham chief has ruled himself out of the running for the Chelsea job.

Stevenage boss Gary Smith has already made it known that he feels his charges can pull off  a major shock and beat Spurs on their own patch and it is true that he does have a decent set of players, who are currently seventh in League One.

But playing a side third in the Premier League away from home will be a tough ask for his men and class should tell in the end.

Smith insists there is an air of confidence among his squad that they can beat anyone on their day and he refused to rule out going through on penalties or in extra time. But they will have to face one of the hottest properties in English football, with Gareth Bale now recovered from illness and set to start.

The Welshman is being linked with several big foreign clubs and he will be tough to contain for the Boro rearguard.

Scott Parker is back from suspension and may play while William Gallas could feature after missing the last two months with a calf injury. Rafael van der Vaart faces a late fitness test but whatever side takes the pitch in north London, it will be confident of progression.

For the visitors, recent loan signing Jordan Slew is cup-tied, having played in Blackburn’s 2-1 loss at Newcastle earlier in the competition, while Chris Day is expected to start in goal, marking a return to the club where he began his career 17 years ago.

The FA Cup is a competition where dreams can come true but Smith will be hoping that this tie does not turn into a nightmare against one of the Premier League’s very best.

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Hammers out to avoid Hornets’ sting

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Midweek Championship matches usually throw up a few surprise results but with three of the four teams in action on Wednesday desperate for the three points in the battle for promotion surely there won’t be any shocks on the cards?

West Ham will fancy their chances against Watford, while Cardiff will be looking to bounce back from defeat to the Hammers against Brighton.

West Ham v Watford 7:45pm

Depending on how Tuesday night’s matches go West Ham could go top of the Championship with a win over Watford. The Hammers look to be building a head of steam for the final 13 matches of the season, losing just once in their last eight outings.

Sunday’s win in Cardiff was as professional a performance as you are likely to see in the Championship, West Ham taking full advantage of a demoralised Bluebirds team to pick up another three points. Away from home Sam Allardyce’s men have been performing well recently, the win in Wales coming after they had put Blackpool to the sword.

At home though West Ham have drawn the last two – against Southampton and Crystal Palace. Maybe the pressure placed on them by the expectant West Ham supporters is taking its toll? Whatever it is, it will give Watford hope of causing an upset.

The Hornets are what you would call a typical Championship team, unpredictable, and on their day capable of beating anyone. Before last Saturday’s remarkable 3-2 win over Burnley, Watford had been stuffed by Crystal Palace and Southampton. Manager Sean Dyche will hope the victory over the Clarets will have restored his team’s confidence and that they will at least put on a show at Upton Park.

West Ham are 4/7 to beat Watford , who have won just three times away from Vicarage Road all season. However, it won’t be easy and draw half-time/ West Ham full time result at 3/1 should appeal. Watford won on their last visit to Upton Park and if you expect them to cause another upset you can get them at 5/1.

Brighton v Cardiff City 7:45pm

Based on Sunday’s defeat to West Ham, Cardiff’s Carling Cup exploits could have a detrimental effect on their hopes of being promoted. The Bluebirds have lost four of the last five in the league, and rather than galvanise the squad their fine performance in the final against Liverpool appears to have taken a lot out of the players.

Malky Mackay has conceded a top-two finish is beyond Cardiff’s reach and has called on his team to get their act together or risk missing out on the play-offs. Victory for the Welsh side would lift them back into the play-off places but it won’t be easy at the Amex Stadium.

Brighton’s away form might be patchy but at home they are a tough nut to crack, losing just one of the last 11 on their own patch and keeping clean sheets in four of the last five on the south coast. The Seagulls could be in the play-offs had it not been for a late El Hadji Diouf penalty rescuing a point for Doncaster and they will be keen to make amends.

Brighton were excellent in their last outing at home against in-form Ipswich, beating the Tractor Boys 3-0. Gus Poyet seems to have rediscovered some of that gold dust which gave them such a flying start in the Championship and they will be confident of picking apart Cardiff.

Brighton are 11/8 to win at home and that looks a solid enough bet, as does Craig Mackail-Smith to score first at 13/2. The Scottish striker recently ended his goal drought and has got two in the last two, prompting thoughts he could be about to go on a run of finding the back of the net. You can get 40/1 on Mackail-Smith as first goalscorer and Brighton to win 2-0 if you are feeling extra brave.

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Forest to pull up more trees

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There is a full round of Championship fixtures on Tuesday night and Nottingham Forest look set to continue their resurgence with a win over fellow strugglers Doncaster Rovers.

After seeing off Coventry and Birmingham, Forest were held to a 1-1 draw at Barnsley last time out but they should be too strong for rock-bottom Donny on Tuesday night.  The South Yorkshire side are without a win in their last seven league fixtures and have managed just two wins and seven points on the road all season.

Doncaster are five points adrift of safety and appear to be heading into League One.  Forest are priced at 4/6 to secure the win and pile the pressure on the Rovers.  The draw is 11/4 and Doncaster are 4/1 to take all three points.

New Leeds United boss Neil Warnock couldn’t secure a win in his first game in charge as the Elland Road side suffered a 1-0 defeat at home to league-leaders Southampton.  Warnock’s second game in charge is a tricky trip to Hull City on Tuesday, with the Tigers a formidable side on home soil.

Nick Barmby’s men are unbeaten in their previous seven fixtures and can be backed at evens to see off Leeds, the draw is 12/5 and an away win can be backed at 11/4.

Derby County’s hopes of sneaking into the play-offs appear to be all but over, with the Rams currently 12 points adrift of a top six spot.  The Pride Park outfit seem set to finish mid-table as they’re 15 points clear of relegation, and pushing for as high a finish as possible remains their only realistic goal for the remainder of the campaign.

In contrast, Blackpool are involved in the battle for a top-six spot as they seek an immediate return to the top flight and the Seasiders could well take all three points when the two sides meet in Derby on Tuesday night.

Derby have been in shocking form of late and are without a win in seven, losing four and drawing three.  Blackpool have lost just once in their previous 10 league fixtures and have also won their last three away games.  The Seasiders can be backed at 11/8 to take all three points, while Derby are 15/8 to seal the win and the draw is priced at 12/5.

Ipswich have picked up of late with four wins in their last five games but they face a daunting trip to St Mary’s on Tuesday, where league leaders Southampton have won 13 of their 17 games to date.

Saints seem set to secure back-to-back promotions and should be too strong for the Tractor Boys, who are well clear of relegation but too far from the top six to mount a serious late promotion charge.  The home win can be backed at 8/13, while Ipswich are 9/2 and the draw is available at 14/5.

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Arsenal in search of a miracle

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Arsenal know they need a footballing miracle if they are to turn around a 4-0 deficit against AC Milan in the second leg of their Champions League knock-out tie at the Emirates on Tuesday (Arsenal 11/10, draw 5/2, AC Milan 5/2 – 90 Minute).

Brave punters can get odds of 25/1 for Arsenal to qualify after their first leg mauling at the San Siro last month. The Gunners were roundly criticised for their display in Italy, which saw goals from Kevin-Prince Boateng, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and a brace from Robinho inflict Arsenal’s heaviest ever defeat in European competition (AC Milan – 10/1 Champions League Outright).

With Arsene Wenger’s men following up that game with a limp display against Sunderland in the FA Cup, their hopes of silverware are all but dashed before the start of spring – yet again.

However, despite their woes in cup competitions the Gunners’ Premier League form has actually improved, with boss Arsene Wenger picking up the Manager of the Month Award for February after three wins from three during the month, including a 5-2 demolition of local rivals Spurs.

They then began March with a narrow 2-1 victory against Liverpool at Anfield, meaning they now hold a crucial three-point advantage over fifth-placed Chelsea in the race for a Champions League spot (Arsenal 4/7 – Top-Four Finish).

Robin van Persie grabbed his 30th and 31st goals of the campaign so far at Anfield on Saturday and now has 10 in 11 games across all competitions. The generous odds of 4/1 for the flying Dutchman to score first therefore are too good to be overlooked.

This upturn in form may have come too late to save their Champion League chances this term but it perhaps needs to be noted that they have scored 12 goals in successive home league games, and six of their last 19 home wins in Europe have been won by four or more goals.

A four-goal deficit has never been overturned in the Champions League, though Milan did concede a 4-1 first leg lead when they lost 4-0 to Deportivo La Coruna in the quarter-finals back in 2004.

But while Arsenal will steam forward with the intent to fire themselves back into the tie they have to be mindful that one slip at the back and the tie will be finished off for good. And with the attacking quartet of Robinho, Antonio Nocerino, Boateng and Ibrahimovic all set to start for the Rossoneri, it is hard to see Arsenal keeping a clean sheet.

Massimiliano Allegri’s men are unbeaten in their last five games and are now five points clear at the top of Serie A following last weekend’s 4-0 win against Palermo. After four successive defeats at this stage of the competition, the Serie A giants will not want to let their advantage slip this time around.

With the amount of quality permeating the Milan ranks Arsenal have simply given themselves too much to do in order to qualify. However, a determination to go down fighting and build on their promising league form should ensure goals – but sadly for Arsenal fans they will come at both ends.

A 2-1 Arsenal victory is the pick, priced at 7/1, while a van Persie 2-1 scorecast is priced at 22/1.

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Terrors set for Caley clash

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Monday night sees Dundee United host Highland outfit Inverness Caledonian Thistle at Tannadice Park looking to continue their fine form in the Scottish Premier League (Dundee United 8/11, draw 11/4, Inverness 7/2).

The Terrors have not tasted defeat in the league in their last five outings, as they have managed to climb the table into 6th spot, with the club closing in on St Johnstone in fourth.

United’s fine displays in recent weeks have not gone unnoticed, as winger Gary MacKay-Steven was awarded the Clydesdale Bank Young Player of the Month for February. The 21-year-old has impressed many at Tannadice since his move from Airdrie United and the Scotland under-21 star has been a key figure in helping Dundee on their recent unbeaten run.

MacKay-Steven will be a potent attacking threat on Monday night and the Inverness defense will have to be wary of the danger he poses down the flanks.

United boss Peter Houston will be delighted with the winger’s input, as the club secured 10 points from a possible 12 last month. The manager has seen his side score six goals in their last two outings, with victories over Kilmarnock and Hearts coming with relative ease.

Striker Jon Daly remains the SPL’s second-highest goalscorer behind Celtic’s goal machine Gary Hooper, having bagged 14 goals in the top flight north of the border. The skipper has really led from the front this season and could be a decent bet for first goalscorer on Monday night (Daly 7/2 first goalscorer).

Dundee have also been impressive with their performances at the back, as they only conceded one goal in February having scored 11 at the other end. It looks like Inverness will have their work cut out for them when they make the trip from the gateway to the Highlands to central Lowlands having gone four games without a win.

Manager Terry Butcher saw his side thumped by an out-of-form Rangers side 4-1 in their last game at the Caledonian Stadium last weekend. Caley will be starting to look over their shoulder at the teams below them, with just Hibernian and Dunfermline propping up the table.

Butcher slammed his side’s performance against the defending SPL champions in their last outing and will be demanding much more for Monday’s clash with United.

Goals have been hard to come by for Inverness, as they have failed to score more than one goal in an SPL game since Christmas Eve. Andrew Shinnie and Gregory Tade (9/1 first goalscorer) both have eight goals to their name this season and Butcher will be looking to the duo for inspiration at Tannadice.

Eight points stand between Inverness and the bottom of the table but Caley do have three games in hand over Dunfermline. ICT will be desperate to make those extra games count but they might have to wait a little longer for a win, as Dundee are full of confidence at the moment and should have enough to secure the home win.

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Pace the difference for Los Beticos

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After another superb weekend of La Liga action, round 25 finishes on Monday with a mouthwatering tie between Levante and Real Betis at the Estadi Ciutat de Valencia.

Despite their contrasting league positions, the teams currently sit only five points apart and it’s sure to be a brilliant match (Levante 11/8, draw 9/4, Betis 19/10 – Match Betting).

Levante have been the surprise package of the season so far and having previously been one of the favourites to be relegated, they have astounded both fans and pundits alike and currently sit just a single point outside the European places in fifth.

Where other sides have sought success by buying big, the Granotas have built their squad by bringing in solid players on free transfers and have a number of familiar names to regular followers of La Liga football, with the likes of former Spanish internationals Juanfran and Asier Del Horno in their squad.

However, their ageing stars’ legs look to have started to catch up with them in the last month or so, but they got back on track last Saturday with a 2-1 win against Espanyol. If they continue to show fatigue for the rest of the campaign, they will have to rely heavily on striker Arouna Kone, the Ivorian who is on a season-long deal from Sevilla where he has continuously failed to deliver but looks to have found his feet at a smaller club.

He is sure to be sniffing around the penalty area and with the experience in defence that Juan Ignacio Martinez’s side possess, he could well pop up with a decisive winner (Levante 6/1 to win 1-0).

Betis themselves started the season in fine style, topping the table after four fixtures, but quickly slipped down to near the relegation places and at one point looked as if they could well return to the Segunda after their promotion last term.

However, they have found their form in recent games and now look as if they could sail clear of the drop zone after wins against both Bilbao and Zaragoza as well as last week’s draw with Getafe.

Much of their success is down to strike duo Ruben Castro and Jorge Molina who fired them to success last season and have had a similar effect this. Their pace could trouble the sluggish Levante central defenders and the duo’s combination will certainly have a huge say on the outcome of what otherwise looks a tight match (11/2 for a 0-0 draw).

As already mentioned, Levante’s ageing rearguard appears to be starting to struggle and with the pace Los Beticos possess up front, the visitors will be confident of sneaking a tight victory, most likely by a single goal (Betis 11/1 to win 2-1).

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Mourinho can salvage dream

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Andre Villas-Boas has become the sixth managerial casualty in eight years at Chelsea (4/1 – FA Cup Winners) as the ruthless search for Champions League success continues apace at Stamford Bridge.

The Portuguese paid the price for a string of poor displays at home and in Europe and now the hunt for another new manager begins, so who are the contenders for the Chelsea hotseat?

Jose Mourinho

The ex-Blues messiah still looks the most likely man to bring the European Cup to Stamford Bridge for the first time, but can Chelsea persuade Mourinho to return to the club?

The Real Madrid (5/2 – Champions League Outright) boss has recently hinted about a future return to England and was even spotted in London this month, reportedly searching for property.

Although many were tipping him to replace Harry Redknapp at Tottenham, the lure of a return to Chelsea may tempt him to west rather than north London.

Whether Roman Abramovich is keen to look to Mourinho again is another question, but the 49-year-old still seems the best option among the experienced runners and riders for the post.

Rafa Benitez

The Spaniard is among the favourites to succeed AVB, having been out of work since leaving Inter Milan in 2012 and his European pedigree is why he is near the top of the list of potential candidates.

Benitez led Liverpool to Champions League success in 2005, beating Chelsea in the semi-finals, and also took the Reds to the final in 2007. On top of that, the 51-year-old lifted the UEFA Cup during his time in charge of Valencia (7/1 – Europa League Winners).

Although Benitez is desperate to get back into management, the rivalry was fierce with Chelsea during his reign at Anfield and that may work against him.

Pep Guardiola

The Barcelona boss has indicated that he will step down from his post at the Nou Camp over the next couple of years, as he seeks a new challenge.

A two-time Champions League winner, Guardiola wants his team to play good football whilst being successful. The 41-year-old speaks fluent English and would demand the respect of the high-profile players at Stamford Bridge.

Barca (5/4f – Champions League Outright) would be loathe to lose him and would Chelsea’s owner be willing to give him time to build a Blues revolution?

Fabio Capello

The Italian is out of work following his decision to step down as England boss – a return to Italy is his preffered choice – but could he be tempted to give the Premier League a go?

The ex-AC Milan chief has enjoyed European and domestic success on several occasions during his time at both the San Siro and during his reign at Real Madrid. His relationship with Chelsea’s England (8/1 – Euro 2012 Outright) contingent may also tempt Blues officials to consider the 65-year-old.

Capello has had his run ins with star players during previous stints with big clubs and his strict regime has often frustrated today’s high-profile players.

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Spurs to rewrite history

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Sunday’s action in the Premier League brings us two mouth-watering fixtures, with a north-east derby and a top-four clash all in store. Don’t forget the small matter of Wolves‘ fight against the drop as they take on Fulham as well. With an action-packed day in store we look into whether we can have it a profitable afternoon.

Newcastle v Sunderland 12pm

The day begins at St James’ Park with these two rivals looking to bounce back from disappointing results last weekend. Martin O’Neill’s honeymoon period at Sunderland is well and truly over after last weekend’s 4-0 hammering at West Brom and now he takes his team to Newcastle, a scene of one too many nightmares if you are a Black Cats fan.

Sunderland’s last win at St James’ came 12 years ago in 2000 and since then Newcastle have won four of the six meetings on Tyneside, including last season’s 5-1 hammering of their rivals. The Toon though will have been worried by how they let a two-goal lead slip last weekend – perhaps they thought they were good enough to hold off relegation-threatened Wolves playing in second gear. However, this Newcastle squad isn’t good enough to do that and Alan Pardew will have reminded his team they will have to work hard if are to secure a European spot.

However, with Demba Ba and Papiss Cisse up front Newcastle have two outstanding goal threats and that is what should give them the edge over Sunderland. The Senegalese duo will relish the chance to test a defence that conceded four last weekend. Ba is 5/1 to score two or more, while Cisse is 13/2, and if anyone is going to win what should be a pulsating derby for Newcastle it should be these two. Newcastle are 11/10, with Sunderland 13/5 and the draw 12/5 in the match betting.

Fulham v Wolves 2:05pm

You might look at this fixture as the chance to fit in your Sunday lunch before the main event later in the day but do not underestimate what this game could offer. Under Roy Hodgson and Mark Hughes, Fulham were not great to watch but Martin Jol has them playing a much more pleasing brand of the beautiful game. What hasn’t changed under Jol though is how strong the Cottagers are at home. Fulham have lost just three matches at home all season, taking points off Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal and Newcastle.

Fulham are 8/13 to beat Wolves this weekend and you would expect the game to go that way. However, Wolves are unbeaten in their last six away and proved last week at Newcastle they are not going to slip into the Championship without a fight. Terry Connor might have been a bizarre choice as manager but if he can continue to galvanise the team as he did last weekend then who knows what will happen. Wolves are 11/4 to pick up a point and that would be a great result for them.

Tottenham v Manchester United 4:10pm

Having been humbled by Arsenal last weekend, the last name Tottenham fans would want to see on their fixture list is Manchester United’s. Spurs haven’t beaten the Red Devils in 25 meetings, their last win over Sir Alex Ferguson’s men coming in May 2001. Harry Redknapp’s charges will be desperate to forget about last week’s north London derby and bounce back against United, which will certainly be easier said than done.

Despite last Sunday’s loss, there are still plenty of positives for Tottenham heading into this week’s game, not least their fantastic form at home. Redknapp’s men ripped apart Newcastle in their last outing at White Hart Lane and, given United’s sometimes-fragile defence, will feel they can finally get a win over the Red Devils under their belts. With Gareth Bale also expected to play, it could be a long afternoon for whoever Ferguson’s starts at right-back.

However, this is traditionally United’s time to shine and last weekend’s win at Norwich was typical of how Ferguson’s men perform when the chips are down. United have also been given a boost with the news Wayne Rooney is fit and given the way Tottenham’s backline crumbled last week the England striker will be licking his lips at the prospect of playing on Sunday.

Given the way these two teams have defended at times this season, as well as the attacking talent on show, over 2.5 goals at 8/11 should be a safe bet. As for the result, if Redknapp has moved his team on from last week then there is no reason they can’t put a dent in United’s title hopes. Spurs are 15/8 to win in the match betting, with the draw 23/10 and United 6/4.

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West Brom to deepen AVB gloom

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It’s fair to say Andre Villas-Boas’ rebuilding project at Chelsea hasn’t gone to plan so far and the Portuguese tactician is currently teetering on the brink. On Saturday they face a West Brom side flying after some recent big victories. We look ahead to the clash at the Hawthorns and a number of other 3pm kick offs.

West Brom v Chelsea 3pm

Believe it or not, last Saturday’s 3-0 win over Bolton was Chelsea’s first in six matches and temporarily gave Villas-Boas some breathing space after recent reports linking him with the chop. However, Arsenal’s remarkable win over Tottenham the next day pushed the Blues back down to fifth, and Chelsea could find themselves three points off fourth should the Gunners win at Liverpool on Saturday lunchtime.

History shows us that Saturday’s game with West Brom should be a foregone conclusion, the west London outfit winning the last 15 matches between the two. The Baggies last win over the Blues came way back in 1979 and they’ll be desperate to set the record straight.

The 5-1 win over Wolves was followed up by a 4-0 thrashing of Sunderland, a rare success at home for Roy Hodgson’s men. West Brom are likely to field a similar team to the one that beat the Black Cats, with Jerome Thomas their only injury concern. As for Chelsea, trying to second guess Villas-Boas team selection has been nearly as tricky as trying to guess the Lotto numbers this year. Even so you’d expect Frank Lampard, Michael Essien and Didier Drogba to start again.

West Brom are 3/1 to beat the Blues, with Chelsea 20/21 and the draw 5/2. At those prices the Baggies have to be worth a few quid.

Stoke v Norwich 3pm

Stoke’s European exit proved to be the perfect tonic to their recent struggles when it comes to winning games, comfortably beating Swansea 2-0 last Sunday. Before then the Potters hadn’t won a Premier League match since they beat Blackburn on January 2. However, without the Europa League to distract them, Stoke did what they have done best over the last three years, which is beating the teams they are expected to at home.

As for Norwich questions are beginning to emerge over whether the Canaries’ bubble has finally burst after back-to-back defeats. Granted last week they were narrowly beaten by Manchester United but the sucker punch of conceding such a late goal is bound to affect the team’s morale. Injuries are also beginning to mount up for Paul Lambert, with at least three players ruled out of the trip to the Britannia Stadium.

While the Canaries won’t shy away from the physical challenge Stoke present, the extra quality in the Potters team should give them an edge.Stoke are 10/11 to beat Norwich but a better bet might be for Stoke to be winning at HT/FT at 15/8.

Blackburn v Aston Villa 3pm

The news that Darren Bent will miss the next three months must be a hammer blow to Alex McLeish and Villa. The Villains have managed just one goal in the last three matches and, with Bent out injured and Robbie Keane back in America, options are thin on the ground. Emile Heskey and Gabriel Agbonlahor will have to be McLeish’s main threats, a frightening proposition given neither have had good seasons so far.

As for Blackburn, this is a game they will feel they must win if they are to scramble out of the bottom three. Rovers didn’t put up much of a fight against Manchester City last week but have been better at home recently, beating QPR 3-2 last time out at Ewood Park. That result made it two wins from three on home soil and that improved run of form should continue against Rovers.

Blackburn are 13/10 for the win, with a 2-0 win and Yakubu to score first priced at 33/1 if you are feeling adventurous.

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