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Reds to rule Merseyside

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Saturday brings us the first of two big derby matches in the Premier League this weekend as Liverpool make the short trip across Stanley Park to neighbours Everton in the lunchtime kick-off. There are also five 3pm kick-offs including Manchester United playing host to Norwich.

Everton v Liverpool (12:45pm)

The last time the Reds went to Goodison Park they had Roy Hodgson in charge and lost 2-0, a result which dropped them into the relegation zone.

Less than a year on and Liverpool are looking up, rather than over their shoulders, after the return of Kenny Dalglish and a spending spree that would make most clubs jealous.

While Dalglish’s new recruits haven’t completely gelled yet there are signs the Reds will challenge for top honours this season.

In contrast to Liverpool’s spending spree Everton haven’t had two coins to rub together recently.

David Moyes has done the best he can with the tools on offer and while the Toffees have made a good start you get the sense injuries will begin to take their toll.

Already Moyes is waiting on news over whether or not Tim Cahill will be fit to start. If he doesn’t you can’t see the Blues threatening Liverpool too often.

The Reds have a good squad at their disposal and should have too much strength in depth for their local rivals.

Match Bet – Draw HT/Liverpool FT @ 9/2.

Manchester United v Norwich

Could United’s near-perfect start to the season be coming to an end?

Back-to-back draws might have brought the Old Trafford faithful back down to earth a bit after flying out of the blocks, especially after throwing away a 2-0 lead against Basel.

They now welcome a Norwich side who have won their last two matches, making up for a rocky start to the season.

The Canaries have already shown their quality against the top teams in the division, giving Chelsea a bloody nose before eventually losing 3-1.

A similar result at Old Trafford looks to be on the cards, and with Wayne Rooney back Sir Alex Ferguson’s men look to have too much for Norwich.

Match Bet – United with a -1 handicap @ 1/2 and United to score in both halves @ 8/11.

Aston Villa v Wigan

Alarm bells should be ringing at Wigan already given recent performances, four straight defeats in all competitions sending them towards the wrong end of the table.

Roberto Martinez says he doesn’t regret turning down the Villa job in the summer but if his charges don’t pick up their games soon then he might start.

The Latics have looked poor recently and while Villa haven’t been pulling up trees they should be too good for Wigan.

Alex McLeish’s men were dreadful in the first half against QPR but improved after the break to keep their unbeaten start to the season going.

It will be tight at Villa Park but the home side should once again just do enough to secure maximum points.

Match Bet – Villa to keep a clean sheet @ 11/10.

Blackburn v Man City

All is not well at Eastlands and Roberto Mancini will probably be glad for the distraction of this game, rather than having to answer more questions about Carlos Tevez.

The Argentine has been suspended and as such won’t be able to disrupt City’s preparations for the trip to Ewood Park.

City’s excellent start to the season is over after the defeat to Bayern Munich but they should keep their Premier League title campaign on track against Blackburn.

If City were poor on Tuesday night then Blackburn were worse when meekly losing to Newcastle last week.

Steve Kean’s time in the Ewood Park hot seat could soon be coming to an end and this game will only hasten his exit.

Match Bet – Man City with a -1 handicap @ 11/8.

Sunderland v West Brom

Both teams have failed to get into their stride this season and are in desperate need of a win to kickstart their campaigns.

Sunderland have struggled for consistency, following up their 4-0 win over Stoke by losing to Norwich.

Steve Bruce has also had to deal with off-field problems involving Titus Bramble so, like Mancini, will be glad of the distraction of a game.

The Black Cats’ record against West Brom isn’t great, losing the last three, while Bruce has never beaten a side managed by Roy Hodgson.

However, given both teams have been struggling a draw looks to be the obvious choice.

The Baggies will take a point but the result is unlikely to relieve the pressure that is building on Bruce at the Stadium of Light.

Match Bet – Draw @ 12/5.

Wolves v Newcastle

The Toon have probably been the surprise package of the season so far, lifting themselves into fourth with three wins out of six.

Alan Pardew looks to have recruited well and with Hatem Ben Arfa fully fit Newcastle should have no fears over relegation.

At times the Toon have struggled on the road but this season they have won three out of five away from St James’ Park in all competitions.

With Wolves struggling for goals in the league recently a Newcastle win seems the obvious choice, the Toon having conceded just three goals in the league.

Mick McCarthy’s men made a bright start to the campaign but three straight defeats have given Wolves fans a dose of reality.

Match Bet – Newcastle win @ 2/1.

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Di Canio to build on good form

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There are two fixtures in League Two on Friday evening as Swindon travel to the Moss Rose to take on Macclesfeild, whilst Southend host Shrewsbury at Roots Hall.

Macclesfield v Swindon (7.45pm)
Swindon are one of the bets of the weekend at 5/4, as Paulo Di Canio takes his side to the North West to take on a Macclesfield side who prefer to be playing their football away from their beloved Moss Road.

The Robins will be buoyed by their recent 4-0 win over Barnet and seem to have got their season back on track with four wins coming from their last five league games.

The Italian, given his first shot at management at Swindon, had made a slow start to his campaign as boss at the County Ground, however, things seem to be moving in the right direction for the club now, and they are be expected to be in the mix come the end of the season.

Their 3-0 win over league favourites Crawley at the Broadfield Stadium proved they are capable of beating anyone in this league on their day.

Macclesfield on the other hand are going to struggle to progress further than the bottom quarter of the table this season. They were the first side to lose to a struggling Plymouth side last weekend and have only had one win in their last five games.

Macc will struggle to match the class of Di Canio’s side and may just suffer another embarrassing defeat, this time on their home turf, as they go may go down 3-0 to the Robins, the correct score can be backed at 9/1.

Southend v Shrewsbury (7.45pm)
Second takes on third on Friday evening at Roots Hall, as two of the league’s early season fliers have the opportunity of moving up to first place in the league, until Saturday at the least.

There is not much to separate these two sides, and both managers will settle for a draw that can be backed at 12/5.

The Shrimpers have lost just one game at Roots Hall so far this season, after making an unexpected flying start to their campaign.

Shrewsbury travel down to the south coast on the back of their 2-0 win over Torquay.  The Shrews have been pushing for promotion in the past 2-3 seasons now and must have every opportunity of doing so this season. They have experienced the disappointment of the play-offs, therefore the aim for Graham Turner’s side this season is automatic promotion into League One.

The Shropshire side will be boosted by the news that defender Shane Cansdell-Sherriff is fit to return to the side. The Australian has a wealth of experience at this level and will offer support at the back, following his hamstring injury.

However, Reuben Hazel is out of the side and must visit a specialist to find out the extent of his knee injury.

If this fixture was played last season, the visitors would be warm favourites, but Southend are playing with confidence, and manager Paul Sturrock has made a remarkable turnaround with the club.

Both teams will probably find the scoresheet in a 1-1 draw which is a price of 6/1.

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Home comforts for English duo

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Stoke and Tottenham round off English interest in the Europa League on Thursday night with seemingly winnable home clashes against Besiktas and Shamrock Rovers. Having both drawn their opening group matches the two Premier League teams will feel a win is a must if they are to make it out of their respective groups.

Stoke v Besiktas

The Potters made a good start to their European adventure with a respectable 1-1 draw against Dynamo Kiev in the Ukraine two weeks ago.

Manager Tony Pulis felt his side could have won that game having conceded a last-minute equaliser and will see the visit of Turkish giants Besiktas as a great chance to announce themselves on the European stage.

Stoke put in a good performance against Manchester United at the weekend, halting the champions’ run of victories with a 1-1 draw at raucous Britannia Stadium.

Stoke will need their supporters to be right behind them again for the visit of the 13-time Turkish champions, who have made a good start to the season with three wins out of four domestically.

Carlos Carvalhal’s side also enjoyed a fantastic start to their Europa League campaign with a 5-1 victory over Maccabi Tel-Aviv FC on matchday one.

Their Portuguese coach has recruited heavily from his home country to strengthen Besiktas, with the likes of Ricardo Quaresma, Simao and Hugo Almedia all likely to be involved, while former Real Madrid and Spain star Guti could also get a run out.

Stoke’s team might not have as many star names but, as they proved at the weekend, their work ethic can close the gap in quality.

Besiktas might have won on two of their five trips to England but this is the night a lot of Stoke fans have been waiting for and they should spur Pulis’ men on to victory.

Match Bet – Stoke to win @ 4/5 and under 2.5 goals @ 4/6.

Tottenham v Shamrock Rovers

While Stoke welcome one of Europe’s more well-known sides Tottenham face a different prospect entirely when they play host to Irish Premier League outfit Shamrock Rovers.

The visitors to White Hart Lane will certainly need a huge slice of luck to avoid anything but a drubbing here, even with Spurs boss Harry Redknapp admitting he will rest the majority of his first-team squad.

The semi-professional Irish outfit qualified for the Europa League thanks to a startling win over Partizan Belgrade but have since been brought back down to earth after a 3-0 home defeat to Rubin Kazan on matchday one.

Rovers are 20/1 to win at Tottenham, a price which seems too short when you take everything into consideration.

Spurs seem to have hit their stride after a poor start to the season and even with the regulars watching from the stands they should dismantle Shamrock Rovers without breaking a sweat.

Tottenham have, unsurprisingly, never lost to an Irish team and haven’t even conceded a goal, a record which won’t change on Thursday night.

Match Bet – Tottenham to win 4-0 @ 40/1.

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Bhoys to upset Udinese’s men

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After some dramatic action in the Champions League so far this week, it’s time for the Europa League to take centre stage on Thursday.

With Birmingham, Fulham and Celtic among the British teams in action, here we assess their chances in part one of our Europa preview.

NK Maribor v Birmingham

Birmingham’s first proper away trip in Europe has captured the imagination of the club’s followers, even if the visit to Slovenia to face the relatively-unknown Maribor looks like a low-key affair to outsiders.

Both sides need a win in Group H after they were beaten on Matchday One – Birmingham at home to Braga and Maribor at Bruges – but Blues are likely to find it tough going in the Stadion Ljudski Vrt.

Rangers were beaten 2-1 in a Europa League play-off here in August and the Slovenians have lost in six games at home in Europe. Chris Hughton is again likely to use a side mixed with youth and experience and, all things considered, the best he can hope for from this game is a draw.

Prediction: draw at 9/4.

Odense v Fulham

Martin Jol, unlike some of his fellow Premier League managers, has been fielding a virtually full-strength side so far in Europe and he is again set to play plenty of his big guns in Denmark.

A 1-1 draw against FC Twente at Craven Cottage last time out means a win is important if the Londoners are to qualify but, again, it looks like being a difficult night for Fulham.

Odense have yet to win against English opposition in Europe in six games and we cannot see that changing on Thursday but the draw looks another tempting bet.

Prediction: draw at 11/5.

Celtic v Udinese

Celtic’s return to the Europa League in place of Sion, who were expelled for fielding ineligible players, did not begin well with a 2-0 defeat against Atletico Madrid a fortnight ago.

They have home advantage against Udinese on Thursday but will not face an easy night after the Italians impressively saw off Rennes 2-0 on Matchday One.

Antonio Di Natale is their star man and he was on target in the Group I opener so the Bhoys will have to keep him quiet at Parkhead. Udinese will fancy their chances of getting something from the game but, with strong vocal backing from the home fans, we expect Neil Lennon’s side to rise to the occasion and secure what could prove to be a vital win.

Prediction – Celtic win at 5/4.

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Bluebirds out to halt marching Saints

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malky mackaySouthampton have once again proved how important momentum can be at the start of the Championship season, and they will hope to continue their impressive form so far when they cross the border to take on Cardiff City on Wednesday night (Cardiff 13/8, draw 23/10, Southampton 13/8).

Cardiff v Southampton

The Saints are competing at the top of the table following promotion from League One last term – continuing the trend of teams who have recently done well after coming up from the third tier.

Last season, it was the likes of Norwich City, Millwall and Leeds United who were battling near the top end early on, with the Canaries ultimately securing back-to-back promotions.

Southampton will be looking to imitate that success under manager Nigel Adkins, who has worked wonders at St Mary’s since he joined from Scunthorpe United, but his side face a tough test against a highly-respected Cardiff in midweek.

The Saints will be boosted by the return of trio Dan Harding, Radhi Jaidi and Lee Barnard (7/1 first goalscorer) who have all recovered from injuries.

Getting the first goal could be key for Southampton, as the men from the south coast have won all five games where they have taken the lead and a victory against the Bluebirds would make it their best start in the league for 58 years.

Cardiff have been on a great run of form, however, and haven’t tasted defeat in their last seven league and cup outings and will be a tough proposition – especially on their home turf.

With the way the Saints have been playing, they have the ability to get something out of this game, though, and Adkins’ side should come away from Wales with a point.

Middlesbrough v Leicester

In the only other game in the Championship on Wednesday, two title contenders – Middlesbrough and Leicester City – go head-to-head at the Riverside (Middlesbrough 5/4, draw 12/5, Leicester 21/10).

Both games between these two sides ended in draws last season with six goals being scored in the last game at the Riverside.

You can expect goals in this upcoming clash, too, with attacking threats all over the park for both clubs.

The Foxes (7/1 Championship outright) welcome back David Nugent, who has managed to recover from a hamstring injury which has ruled him out of action in the Championship for the last month.

Boro have looked strong in defence this term but, with the likes of Nugent, Darius Vassell and Jermaine Beckford in their ranks, Leicester will fancy their chances of getting on the scoresheet.

It is tough to call a winner in this one between two fairly evenly-matched sides but, based on current form, Middlesbrough should just edge it to keep the pressure on the Saints at the top of the table.

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Marseille can take Group F control

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Aside from the Chelsea and Arsenal fixtures, there are some intriguing Champions League matches on Wednesday. The pick of the ties sees Marseille entertain German champions Borussia Dortmund in Group F, with the French side looking to make it two wins out of two in the tournament.

Marseille v Borussia Dortmund (7:45pm)

Didier Deschamps’ team picked up an impressive 1-0 away win in Greece on Matchday One and it’s normally at home where they pose the biggest threat. The Stade Velodrome is an intimidating place to play and they conceded just one goal at home en route to the last 16 last season, before being eventually knocked out by Manchester United.

Dortmund looked good in spells in their group opener against Arsenal, but only secured a point after a dramatic late equaliser. They look like a tough side to beat at home, but their inexperienced squad may struggle on their travels.

The German side have not scored in their last three visits to France and will struggle to break down a well organised Marseille.

Suggested Bet: Under 2.5 goals @ 4/6.

BATE Borisov v Barcelona (7:45pm)

The 2011 champions made a stuttering start to their defence, being held to a 2-2 draw at the Nou Camp by AC Milan. That could well inspire Pep Guardiola’s squad to response in their usual comprehensive fashion so, with that in mind, watch out BATE!

The Belarusians will have a sell-out 39,600 crowd behind them and will go into the match full of confidence, after a club record nine-match unbeaten run in Europe which stretches back to last December. BATE are also 16 games unbeaten at home in all competitions, although they have lost both their previous meetings when hosting Spanish opposition.

Suggested Bet: Barca to win (-1 Handicap) @ 1/3.

AC Milan v Plzen (7:45pm)

Milan have started the season well, losing just one of their first five domestic and European games, including a 2-2 draw at Barcelona a fortnight ago. Goals have been a problem, though, in recent weeks for an injury-ravaged squad, so don’t expect a glut of scoring in this game.

Plzen have already gone through three rounds to get to this stage and the Czech champions have won three successive away games en route to the group stage.

There are no overseas players in their whole squad, who secured a 1-1 home draw with BATE Borisov last time out.

Suggested Bet: Draw HT / Milan FT @ 7/2.

Zenit St Petersburg v FC Porto (5pm)

Having slipped up to APOEL on Matchday One, expect a backlash from Zenit when they return home on Wednesday. Three-quarters of their way through the Russian Premier League, Zenit have not lost at the Petrovsky Stadium.

Portuguese sides are notoriously bad travellers in Europe and although Porto have genuine quality in their side, with the likes of Hulk and Joao Moutinho, they may find a trip to Russia too tough.

Suggested Bet: Zenit to win @ 2/1.

Bayer Leverkusen v Genk (7:45pm)

Last season’s Bundesliga runners-up started their group campaign with defeat at Chelsea, but they will prove to be a much tougher nut to crack on home soil. Leverkusen are looking to continue a three-match unbeaten run against Belgian opposition, although their league form does give Genk hope.

The Germans have lost their last three matches, scoring just one goal and conceding nine and scoring just one, including a 4-1 home drubbing to Koln. Genk will look to build on a useful draw at home to Valencia in their first Group E clash.

Suggested Bet: Draw @ 4/1.

Shakhtar Donetsk v Apoel Nicosia (7:45pm)

Shakhtar started Group G with the formidable task of a trip to Porto, and were predictably beaten 2-1. But the Ukrainians achieved four straight home wins in last season’s UEFA Champions League, before losing to Barcelona in the quarter finals.

Apoel won 2-1 against FC Zenit St Petersburg in their opening game and enjoyed a decent record away from home in the Champions League two years ago. On that occasion they earned draws at Atletico Madrid and Chelsea, while losing 2-1 at Porto.

Suggested Bet: Shakhtar HT/FT @ 5/6.

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Londoners looking for Euro boost

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There are two Champions League matches involving English teams on Wednesday with Arsenal hosting Olympiakos and Chelsea travelling to Spain to take on Valencia. Both sides won in the Premier League at the weekend so can they repeat the dose in Europe?

Arsenal v  Olympiakos

The Gunners were desperately in need of a win at the weekend and it duly came against Bolton, with the 3-0 success lifting spirits around the Emirates and moving the club further away from the bottom of the table.

But now attentions turn back to Europe, with Arsene Wenger’s men looking to build on their encouraging 1-1 draw at Borussia Dortmund in the opening round of matches.

And the fixture schedule has been kind to the Frenchman as the side that look like being the weakest in Group F are the visitors in mid-week.

The Greeks lost 1-0 to Marseille in their opener and, despite being unbeaten in their domestic league after just two games, should not prove too much of an obstacle for the north Londoners.

Robin van Persie remains key to Arsenal’s chances and, as the news that Jack Wilshere has been ruled out for the majority of the season left a cloud over the Emirates, Wenger will look to his Dutch striker to lead by example and lift the gloom.

He may be stalling on new contract talks to see where the club is in 12 months’ time, but the former Feyenoord star gives nothing less than 100 per cent for his side and, with a superb goalscoring record, is a good bet to add to the 100 goals he has scored for the club to date.

Defensive problems have haunted the Gunners in recent times but Per Mertesacker has hinted that Wenger’s rearguard have been working overtime to sort things out and he feels that their performance against Bolton proved that they are on the right track.

Mikel Arteta and Yossi Benayoun have made solid, if unspectacular, starts to their Arsenal careers and it is time one or both stepped up to provide something extra in the goal column.

Arsenal still have plenty of work to do both domestically and in Europe but the signs are there that things might be starting to click into place and a resounding Champions League victory could be just the tonic they need.

Odds: Arsenal 4/11, Olympiakos 8/1, draw 4/1

Valencia v Chelsea

Valencia were unbeaten and second in the La Liga standings until Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at Sevilla and they have now dropped to seventh in a very tight table.

They will be looking to get back on track and record their first Champions League win of the season on Wednesday but will face a Chelsea side who are full of confidence following their 4-1 victory over Swansea.

Fernando Torres seems to have found his touch in front of goal at long last for the Blues and, while he will be out of action in the Premier League due to Saturday’s red card, the Spaniard is eligible to play in Europe and will surely want to pay back his team-mates for Saturday’s indiscretion with a goal or two.

The west Londoners opened their European campaign with a solid 2-0 victory over Bayer Leverkusen and it remains to be seen whether boss Andre Villas-Boas goes to Spain with three points in mind or sets his side up to be hard to beat.

The man they will have to stop is Roberto Soldado, who has already bagged five goals in just three La Liga appearances and he will be Los Che’s biggest goal threat at the Mestalla.

But they have quality throughout the side and are tipped as one of the sides that could break the duopoly at the top of Spanish football this season.

Chelsea are good enough to win the match but, with Valencia enjoying home advantage and desperate to get back on track, it would be no surprise to see this one end in a draw.

Odds: Valencia 2/1, Chelsea 6/4, draw 9/4

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Manchester duo eye Euro wins

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The second round of Champions League matches begin on Tuesday with both Manchester clubs in action. The duo are sweeping all before them in the Premier League so can they both do the business in Europe this week? (United 13/2, City 10/1 Champs League Outright)

Manchester United v Basle

A glance at the league tables from England and Switzerland, plus a look at the respective squads and most people would point towards a huge United win on Tuesday evening at Old Trafford, but just who will Sir Alex Ferguson have in his starting XI? (United 1/6, Basle 18/1, draw 13/2 – match prices).

Reports suggest that the veteran tactician might be missing as many as eight senior players when Basle come calling, with star striker Wayne Rooney certain to miss out.

He has been the lifeblood of the side so far this term and is in the form of his life and his absence will certainly be felt at the Theatre of Dreams.

Javier Hernandez limped off early in the Stoke game with a dead leg and he is rated as doubtful while central defenders Jonny Evans, Chris Smalling and Nemanja Vidic were all absent from training on Monday morning.

With Rafael, Tom Cleverley and Darron Gibson long-term absentees, the United physio’s couch is certain to be a busy place and Ferguson will have to look to his fringe players to do the business in Europe this week.

Michael Owen did his chances no harm at all with a mid-week Carling Cup brace last week and he could start alongside forgotten man Dimitar Berbatov, who was scoring goals for fun this time last year.

Danny Welbeck is also an option while Rio Ferdinand and Phil Jones look set to be paired in the centre of defence with Antonio Valencia again being used as an emergency right-back.

United certainly have injury problems at the moment but, such is the strength of their squad with the likes of Michael Carrick, Ryan Giggs, Park Ji-Sung and Darren Fletcher able to fill the midfield berths, that they should have more than enough to beat a Basle side who are already eight points behind leaders Lucerne in the Swiss top flight.

And they need all three points having managed just a draw at Benfica in their opening match.

Bayern Munich v Man City

City also kicked off their debut season in the Champions League with a 1-1 home draw against Napoli but, unlike their neighbours, will probably be happy to come away with a point against Bayern Munich (Bayern Evens, City 11/4, draw 13/5 – match prices).

The Bavarians have won nine games in a row, are top of the Bundesliga and are playing some superb football both home and away.

Add to that the fact that they have scored 26 goals and not conceded during that run and it all points to a tricky night for Roberto Mancini’s men.

Indeed the Italian tactician has stated that he feels the current Bayern team is the best he has ever seen and it would be no surprise to see him set up his side with defence in mind at the Allainz Arena.

The City rearguard showed a vulnerability against Fulham and now they will have to contend with the likes of Arjen Robben, Franck Ribery and Mario Gomez, while the German side’s defence has conceded just one goal at home in the top flight this term.

City will not be overawed by their task, however, as they possess quality throughout their squad and have plenty of options up front to try and do what has been virtually impossible in Munich this season – score a  goal.

David Silva, Yaya Toure and Samir Nasri have been on fire in midfield, while Sergio Aguero and Edin Dzeko will always provide a threat up front and will be hoping to find the back of the net on Tuesday evening.

Mancini was criticised for being too defensive in the early part of his City tenure but now his Italian attitude of keeping a clean sheet might be just what the doctor ordered in week two of the Champions League.

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Forest can add to Howe woes

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There’s almost a full fixture list in the Championship on Tuesday, with some crunch games at the top and bottom end of the table. Two former top-flight clubs go head-to-head at Turf Moor, with Burnley and Nottingham Forest expected to be doing better than they are at present. Here’s our take on how Tuesday’s matches (all 7:45pm kick offs) might pan out…

Burnley v Nottingham Forest

Both these teams have endured a tough start to the season and the pressure has been mounting on Eddie Howe and Steve McClaren. Being at home, the onus will be on the Clarets to take the game to Forest and that may play into the visitors’ hands.

Burnley have won only one league game so far this term, but the biggest worry will be their form at Turf Moor. Howe’s men have collected just three points from a possible 12 at home and were denied a win on Saturday by a late Southampton equaliser.

Forest on the other hand picked up a useful win, if a bit scrappy, at Watford and their away form has been better than that home, where they are yet to win.

Suggested Bet: Draw HT / Forest FT @ 5/1

Derby v Barnsley

The Rams go into Tuesday’s game sitting third in the table after a crushing win over Millwall at the weekend. Nigel Clough has turned Derby from relegation candidates into promotion hopefuls, but they face a stiff test in midweek.

Barnsley have started to turn around their fortunes and Keith Hill’s men are unbeaten in their last five games. Ok, four of those games have been draws but they have made themselves tough to beat.

Suggested Bet: Draw @ 5/2

West Ham v Ipswich

Sam Allardyce is still trying to make Upton Park a fortress, but it is proving harder than he probably thought.

Saturday’s narrow win over Peterborough was their second home success of the season, but the boss will be concerned with a lack of goals in the last couple of games.

Meanwhile, Ipswich continue to sum up the division – unpredictable and inconsistent! Paul Jewell’s team are good enough to beat anyone in the division, but they are also capable of losing to anyone.

Suggested Bet: West Ham to win 1-0 @ 6/1

Doncaster v Hull

Dean Saunders secured the perfect start to his spell in charge at the Keepmoat, with a 1-0 win over Crystal Palace – Rovers’ first win of the season. He may find it tougher to build on that though on Tuesday, when he faces the prospect of his first Yorkshire derby.

Hull are unbeaten in their last four games and their away record is impressive, picking up two wins and a draw in four away matches to date. Nigel Pearson has instilled some real steel into the Tigers and they look real promotion contenders.

Suggested Bet: Hull to win @ 8/5

Coventry v Blackpool

Six points already separate these two sides and they are likely to be at opposite end of the table come May. Coventry are in desperate need of striking reinforcements and goals continue to be their problem.

Goals are not normally a problem for the Tangerines, it’s leaking them that gives Ian Holloway cause for concern. Saturday’s late defeat at Portsmouth is likely to inspire them though to respond at the Ricoh Arena.

Suggested Bet: Blackpool to win @ 6/4

Brighton v Crystal Palace

A third home game in seven days for Brighton, with Gus Poyet hoping to make it third time lucky. Carling Cup defeat to Liverpool was followed by a draw with Leeds on Friday, leaking five goals in the process.

The Seagulls bright start to the season may well have been derailed in recent weeks and Palace are a dangerous team to face at this time. The Eagles are sat in mid-table and have already secured a win at Hull on their travels this season.

Suggested Bet: Draw @ 11/4

Bristol City v Reading

Both of these teams have disappointed so far this term, with both the Robins and the Royals sitting in the bottom half.

Bristol City are yet to win at home this season and Reading have the attacking threat to pile on the woes for the Ashton Gate faithful.

Suggested Bet: Simon Church to score at anytime @ 13/8

Portsmouth v Peterborough

Peterborough’s good start has turned sour in recent weeks, with Darren Ferguson’s men losing four of their last five games.

Pompey will have been buoyed by their late win over Blackpool on Saturday and can grind out another three points in midweek.

Suggested Bet: Portsmouth to win @ 11/10

Watford v Millwall

These two teams are struggling badly, with a lack of confidence and a lack of goals in recent weeks.

The Hornets have failed to find the net in four league games this term, while the Lions have not scored in their last five matches – don?t expect many goals here!

Suggested Bet: 0-0 draw @ 5/2

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Getafe to succumb to Betis form

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Bet on La LigaAfter another weekend of wonderful La Liga action, round five comes to a close with a mouth-watering clash at the Coliseum Alfonso Perez where Getafe host this year’s surprise package Real Betis (Getafe 6/4, Draw 11/5, Betis 9/5).

In recent times, Getafe have been the darlings of Spanish football, often seen as the little brother of their neighbours Real Madrid. The Azulones have become many people’s second team after a number of plucky performances both home and abroad.

However, they have struggled in recent times and have become relegation candidates due to being forced to sell their best players in order to stay afloat.

This season has been no different and they currently sit in the relegation zone, having only picked up one point so far this term. However, they do have hope as a glance at their squad should be more than enough to convince their fans that they will stay in the top-flight once again.

Their star man is striker Dani Guiza (11/8 to score anytime) who has returned to the club after spells at both Mallorca and Fenerbahce. Once upon a time, Guiza was a regular in the Spain squad and after scoring 27 goals in the 2007-8 season, was one of Europe’s most wanted frontmen. However, he has since struggled due to a number of problems both on and off the pitch and will see his return to Getafe as his chance to prove he still has what it takes.

His performance could depend on the service provided by winger Jaime Gavilan, who is often Luis Garcia Plaza’s side’s main source of inspiration as he has the ability and talent to unlock any defence.

Betis have had a majestic return to La Liga, winning all four of their opening fixtures so far. They have regularly upset the odds against much stronger teams. The Andalucians have done some smart business over the summer and look like they will survive comfortably.

Unfortunately for them, striker Ruben Castro is likely to miss the match but don’t expect them to be short on goals with the likes of Jorge Molina and Roque Santa Cruz (7/4 to score anytime) still available to lead their frontline.

However, much of their success this term has been down to their strong defending and after being sent off earlier this season, rugged centre-half Mario will take it on himself to prove he can be trusted to keep his head. So expect him to be the man to cancel out any threat from Guiza.

This game could be a classic with both teams looking to play open attacking football and it’s almost too tough to call. However, Getafe’s defensive frailties are too much to ignore and although it will be tight, Betis could just sneak it by a single goal (Betis 13/2 to win 1-0).

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