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Depleted United face French test

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Injury-hit Manchester United will have their work cut out Bet on the Premier Leagueon Wednesday night when they travel to France to take on Marseille in the Champions League knockout stages (Marseille 5/2,draw 23/10,United 11/10).

Admittedly, the draw has been a favourable one for the Red Devils considering London rivals Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur have been pitted against Barcelona and AC Milan respectively.

However, United will have to do without five players for the game in the south of France.

The major losses are central defender Rio Ferdinand, who has still not recovered from a calf injury, and Anderson who was forced off the field during United’s 1-0 win over Crawley Town in the FA Cup.

Jonny Evans would be the go-to man in the absence of Ferdinand but the Northern Irishman is also on the injury list with an ankle problem.

Add to this the injuries suffered by Ryan Giggs and Michael Owen, and you’re left with some tough decisions for Sir Alex Ferguson to make on Wednesday night.

Fortunately for United they still have firepower up front with Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov fit and ready to go.

Meanwhile, playmaker Nani will be bursting forward from midfield to create chances and bag goals of his own.

Marseille will be no pushovers on home soil, as they currently sit in third place in Ligue 1, and have only suffered two defeats in their last 22 games.

United were lacklustre in their last outing in the FA Cup and they would probably be happy with a draw in Marseille, especially if they can bag themselves an away goal, so at 23/10, that looks appealing.

In Wednesday night’s other game, Inter Milan take on Bayern Munich at the San Siro in a replay of last year’s final (Inter 5/4, draw 9/4, Munich 11/5).

Under former boss Jose Mourinho, Inter were the side to come out on top at the Santiago Bernabeu to break German hearts.

There has been a change of manager at the San Siro as Leonardo has since taken the reins after former Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez struggled to find his feet in Milan.

Inter are not the same side that they were under the ’special one’ Mourinho, as they have shown a weakness at the back that has been exploited a few times this season.

Tottenham were able to exploit a lack of pace at the back, as Gareth Bale glided past Maicon on a number of occasions to bag himself a hat-trick in the group-stage clash.

Bayern do not have that same out-and-out pace in their ranks as Spurs do with Bale and Aaron Lennon, but they do boast technical players like Bastian Schweinsteiger and Frank Ribery who will pose problems for the Italian club.

With Inter on home soil they will be the favourites but Munich might be able to get something out of this mouth-watering clash and money on another draw, at 9/4, could be rewarded.

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Torres tipped to deliver in Denmark

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Cheslea have suffered another poor run of results in recent weeks but under-pressure manager Carlo Ancelotti has  new striker Fernando Torres to call upon for their clash with FC Copenhagen in the Champions League on Tuesday (Copenhagen 4/1, draw 12/5, Chelsea 7/10). Can the misfiring Spanish striker deliver in Denmark?

Torres has failed to score in the two appearances he has made for the Blues since his £50m move from Liverpool in the January transfer window.

The Spain international could not score past his former club or local rivals Fulham and will now have his next opportunity to open his Chelsea account at the Parken Stadoin on Tuesday night.

Chelsea are also likely to bring Michael Essien, Jose Bosingwa and Nicolas Anelka into the starting line-up for the game in Denmark.

The defending Premier League champions were given the most favourable draw of all the English teams left in Champions League and they will be expected to go into the second leg at Stamford bridge with a lead.

However, this game will not be easy considering Chelsea’s fragile confidence and inability to get results in recent weeks.

What is unclear is what shape FC Copenhagen will be in, as they have not played a competitive game for the last two months due to their winter break.

They are currently leading the Danish league but will they be rusty after the barren spell of games or will their fresh legs carry them through against the Blues? One thing is certain that they will be bang up for the contest and will make it difficult for Ancelotti’s men.

Despite their poor form, Chelsea should still have too much for Copenhagen to deal with, however, and don’t be surprised to see Torres (4/5 to score anytime) bag his first goal for his new club.

In Tuesday night’s other Champions League clash, Lyon host La Liga title-chasers Real Madrid (Lyon 16/5, draw 12/5, Real 5/6).

The Spanish giants have looked impressive in Europe this season despite being five points behind arch rivals Barcelona in their domestic league.

Real have only suffered one defeat in their last 11 outings in all competitions, though, and they will be full of confidence going into the game at the Stade Gerland.

However, Real have a poor record against Lyon and they will be tested again despite being determined to put their Champions League defeat against these opponents last season behind them.

Lyon will be difficult to beat at home but they will have to get something out of the game on Tuesday if they want to stand any chance of progressing in the tournament.

The French side are currently four points off top place in Ligue 1 and are themselves in good form, with only one loss in their last 17 games in all competition.

However with the likes of Ronaldo, Kaka, Angel Di Maria and former Lyon star Karim Benzema all  in good form, Real should have a lead going into the second leg at the Santiago Bernabeu.

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Foxes can add to Cardiff fears

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The Championship has entered the final run in, with matters at the top and the bottom far from resolved. The battle at the top is fascinating and Tuesday’s schedule could prove crucial, with the game of the night coming at the Cardiff City Stadium…

Cardiff v Leicester (7.45pm)

Dave Jones’ men have slipped to fourth in the table after defeat to Nottingham Forest on Saturday and there is every chance they will find themselves in sixth on Tuesday night. Despite an impressive array of strikers, goals seem to be the problem for Cardiff at present with just four goals in their last four games. They have also won just one of their last three home games and that was a late success over struggling Scunthorpe.

In contrast, the Foxes continue to go from strength to strength and have won their last five league games. Sven’s men have not lost on the road since mid-December and could do the double over Cardiff this season.

Match Bet: Leicester to win @ 9/5

Nottingham Forest v Preston (7.45pm)

It’s second against bottom at the City Ground and ordinarily you would have this down as a certain home win…..but don’t be so sure! Forest have been impressive of late, with just one defeat in their last 12 games, but their recent slip-up came against another struggling team – Scunthorpe.

Preston are improving, highlighted by draws with QPR and Watford, and having strengthened defensively are likely to prove a tough nut to crack.

Match Bet: Draw HT/Forest FT @ 3/1

Scunthorpe v Sheffield United (7.45pm)

This is a huge game at the bottom end of the table and a defeat will send the losers further towards League One. For that reason alone, there’s every chance this could be a draw.

Scunny are another side that have improved of late, with four points in their last two games. But a lack of firepower, coupled by the Blades’ need to stop the rot, could see a share of the spoils.

Match Bet: Draw @ 23/10

QPR v Ipswich (8pm)

The table toppers have stuttered slightly in the last fortnight, with draws against Forest and Preston, but are still firm favourites to go up. Neil Warnock’s men have lost just once at home this season, but they will face a tough test on Tuesday against arguably the in-form team in the division.

Ipswich have lost just one of their seven league games since Paul Jewell took charge and will welcome back Jimmy Bullard after he sat out the 1-1 draw with Hull on Saturday.

Match Bet: Draw @ 12/5

Leeds v Barnsley (7.45pm)

Leeds remain on an unbeaten run, which has now stretched to six league games, and Barnsley are highly unlikely to end that on Tuesday.

It’s a surprise that Simon Grayson’s men have lost four times at fortress Elland Road this season, but they should take the spoils in this Yorkshire derby against a Barnsley team who have won just three times away from Oakwell.

Match Bet: Leeds to win 2-1 @ 7-1

Derby v Hull (7.45pm)

Nigel Clough is under immense pressure at Pride Park and a fourth-straight home defeat may single the end of his tenure. The Rams are seven points outside the relegation zone, while their opponents are seven points off the play-offs.

The Tigers are on an eight-game unbeaten run and are looking for a double over Derby after defeating them 2-0 at the KC Stadium back in September.

Match Bet: Matt Fryatt to score at anytime for Hull @ 11/8

Norwich v Doncaster (7.45pm)

The Canaries secured a crucial point at Leeds on Saturday, highlighting their steel for a promotion battle. Paul Lambert’s have not lost at home in the league since December 11 and they are up against the most out-of-form side in the Championship.

Rovers have lost their last four games, failing to score in any of those matches and conceding 12 goals and couldn’t ask for a tougher midweek trip.

Match Bet: Norwich to win with -1 handicap @ 6/5

Reading v Millwall (8pm)

Both of these teams have play-off aspirations, but stuttering form over the last couple of months is likely to see both miss out on the top six.

These two are pretty evenly matched on paper, but home advantage should just give Reading the edge.

Match Bet: Reading to win @ Evens

Coventry v Swansea (7.45pm)

An away win looks the most likely result at the Ricoh Arena, with Coventry’s season fizzling out and the Swans firmly in the battle for a top-two spot.

The Sky Blues may have had the weekend off, but Swansea will be buoyed by their 3-0 drubbing off Doncaster.

Match Bet: Total Goals 2-3 @ 10/11

Portsmouth v Crystal Palace (7.45pm)

Pompey are unbeaten in their last three games and look to be safe from the drop, but their opponents are still battling for survival.

Palace are now five points above the drop zone, after a crucial win over Sheffield United, and a point at Fratton Park could be another step towards safety.

Match Bet: Draw @ 5/2

Watford v Bristol City (7.45pm)

Both of these teams still have something to play for, but both look like finishing in mid-table due to inconsistent form.

Home advantage is likely to see Watford edge the game, although the Robins are capable of snatching something on their best form.

Match Bet: A goal in both halves @ 4/7

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Burnley can force Hammers replay

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Bet on the Premier LeagueBurnley travel to Premier League West Ham on Monday evening in the fifth round of the FA Cup and they are more than capable of forcing a replay (West Ham 10/11, draw 5/2, Burnley 3/1 – Match Betting).

The Championship outfit have the better form of the two sides, having won five of their last nine games in all competitions, losing only once. This was a 1-0 defeat at Doncaster at the start of the month.

Since installing new manager Eddie Howe, the Clarets have lost just once in six games and are making a concerted assault on the  play-off places. This may still be their top priority for the rest of the season but there is clearly a winning mentality at Turf Moor and Howe will be desperate to keep the momentum he has built up.

Meanwhile, relegation threatened West Ham have only won two in their last seven but will be buoyed by their stunning second-half comeback against West Brom last weekend in which they overturned a three-goal deficit to draw 3-3 at The Hawthorns.

In fact, despite their lack of wins, it is clear that the Hammers have significantly improved in recent weeks. This is backed up by the fact that they have only lost once in their last five games.

One of the main reasons for this is a renewed spirit. Avram Grant’s side looked dead and buried before Christmas but inspirational captain Scott Parker has led by example on the pitch and his enthusiasm and appetite for the battle has now begun to spread to other players.

West Ham were unlucky to be knocked out at the semi-final stage of the Carling Cup to Birmingham City and will have a strong desire to go as far as possible in the FA Cup to avenge this defeat.

Goals could be guaranteed at Upton Park as the Hammers have scored three times in three of their last four games. Meanwhile, Burnley have netted six times in their last three fixtures, including grabbing three at Watford.

Chris Eagles is Burnley’s form player in the FA Cup as he has already scored three goals in the competition. He scored the third goal in the Clarets’ 4-2 defeat of Port Vale in the third round whilst he bagged a brace against Burton Albion in round four.

West Ham will be stiffer opposition than those two sides and Eagles will need to be on top form if Burnley are to sneak a win. However, he clearly likes this competition and 11/4 to score at any time against a defence which has conceded 48 goals in the Premier League looks good value.

Indeed, the Hammers’ defence is of significant concern as they have conceded 19 goals in all competitions in 2011 already. With no clean sheets in eight games, backing Burnley at 4/1 to score in both halves looks tempting.

West Ham played Championship opposition in the fourth round, scraping past Nottingham Forest 3-2 at Upton Park. A Victor Obinna hat-trick provided the goals and he is 40/1 to do the same again. Whilst this may seem unlikely, a small nibble on 8/1 for him to net a brace looks like a good option.

Burnley will not fear West Ham as many of their players have experience of playing against them in the Premier League last season. Furthermore, the Clarets are currently eighth in the Championship meaning there are few rungs between them and West Ham in the football pyramid.

Should the north west outfit force the Hammers back to Turf Moor, it will be seen as a real achievement, so the 5/2 on offer for the draw looks another strong bet.

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CL return whets appetite for more

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The Champions League returned with a bang last week and Arsenal’s victory against Barcelona could be the landmark victory Arsene Wenger has been looking for from his side, who are still chasing silverware on four fronts this year, while the defeat for Barca means their coach, Pep Guardiola, has the unenviable record of having not won an away tie in the knockout rounds of the competition.

Despite the loss, Barca remain favourites to win the Champions League overall (Barcelona 2/1 to win the Champions League outright) and, even though last Wednesday was a rare off day for the Catalans’ star man Lionel Messi, he remains the totesport favourite to be overall top goalscorer in the competition at 21/10. But, if he again fails to fire in the return leg, Barca will hope Wednesday’s goalscorer, David Villa, can inspire them to an overall victory in the tie.

Much praise must go to Arsenal though. In the first half, despite being dominated, they still looked confident and the young triumvirate of Jack Wilshere, Cesc Fabregas and Theo Walcott shone out and looked more than a match for Catalans, with Wilshere even arguably outplaying the little master Xavi in midfield.

It was also a fabulous week for Arsenal’s great north London rivals, Tottenham, who claimed an outstanding result, beating AC Milan 1-0 in the San Siro (Spurs now 14/1 to win CL Outright).

All the build up before the game was centred around the absence of Spurs’ flying winger Gareth Bale. However, Harry Redknapp’s side approached the Rossoneri with no fear, playing their natural attacking game and ably defending when under the cosh.

Spurs could be the surprise package of this year’s competition and will fear no-one at home after previously beating champions Inter 3-1 at White Hart Lane and they now look a safe bet to win the return leg against Massimilano Allegri’s men (Spurs 1/4 to beat Milan at home).

Looking ahead to this week’s fixtures and it’s hard to look past Chelsea, who face Danish Champions FC Copenhagen. The Blues have struggled in recent times and will be looking to get back on track after a string of disappointing results, including Saturday’s FA Cup defeat at home to Everton.

New signing Fernando Torres will be available for the Blues and it will be interesting to see who coach Carlo Ancelotti decides to leave out if he selects the Spanish striker.

The Danish side have impressed so far in the competition and will be looking to cause an upset as they aim to be the first Danish side to reach the quarter finals of the competition, but a win for Chelsea looks nailed on at 8/15), despite Copenhagen’s odds of claiming a draw (13/5 ) tempting during the Blues’ current malaise.

The other English team in action in the Champions League is, of course, Manchester United, who travel to France’s Mediterranean coast to take on French Champions Marseille on Wednesday (United 1/5 to qualify).

United have not always been at their imperious best this term but have only lost once in the league and have built their season on solid defensive performances rather than their usual attacking flair. The trip to the Stade Velodrome is tough, though, and they will need star defenders Rio Ferdinand (if fit) and Nemanja Vidic on form to see them through the tie safely.

But whatever happens in this week’s fixtures, if they’re anywhere near as entertaining as last week’s, then we’re all certainly in for a treat.

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Big Two set for FA Cup showdown

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The pick of the FA Cup quarter-final draw could well be Manchester United’s home tie against Arsenal, but the Gunners will have to see off Leyton Orient first after the in-form League One outfit secured a draw in Sunday’s fifth round match at Brisbane Road (Manchester United 12/5f to win the FA Cup).

Tomas Rosicky put Arsenal ahead early in the second half but Orient managed to earn a replay at the Emirates after substitute Jonathan Tehoue grabbed an 89th-minute equaliser.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger made a number of changes to the side that beat Barcelona on Wednesday and the Gunners could not manage to break Orient’s resistance, with Nicklas Bendtner and Marouane Chamakh in particular guilty of wasting some decent chances. Despite being held by the minnows, the Gunners should be too strong for the League One side in the replay at the Emirates and a huge Sixth Round game at Old Trafford still surely beckons (Arsenal 18/5 to win the FA Cup).

Manchester City destroyed League One side Notts County 5-0 in their fourth round replay and will now take on Aston Villa in the fifth round. The winner of City and Villa will face either Everton, who knocked holders Chelsea out of the competition on penalties on Saturday, or Championship side Reading.

Stoke booked their spot in the quarter-finals with a straightforward 3-0 victory over Brighton at the Britannia Stadium on Saturday.  The Potters will face either West Ham or Burnley, who face each other in the fifth round on Monday night (match betting – West Ham 10/11, draw 5/2, Burnley 3/1).

Bolton grabbed a 1-0 win over Fulham at Craven Cottage on Sunday, after seeing off Wigan 1-0 in the fourth round in midweek, and Ivan Klasnic was the Wanderers hero yet again with a first-half strike.  Klasnic has seen his opportunities limited this season with Johan Elmander and Kevin Davies ahead of him in the pecking order, while the arrival of Daniel Sturridge on loan from Chelsea has hampered his chances of Premier League football.

However, the Croatian has now grabbed two goals in two games and will have given boss Owen Coyle food for thought ahead of next weekend’s trip to Newcastle. The Wanderers will travel to Birmingham in the quarter-finals after the Blues proved too strong for League One strugglers Sheffield Wednesday at St Andrew’s on Saturday, securing a 3-0 win over the Owls.

Full Quarter-Final Draw (all odds – FA Cup outright):

Stoke City (11/1) V West Ham United (28/1) or Burnley (80/1)

Manchester City (7/2) or Aston Villa (18/1) V Everton (7/1) or Reading (150/1)

Birmingham City (11/1) V Bolton Wanderers (14/1)

Manchester United V Leyton Orient (750/1) or Arsenal.

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Black day for derby losers

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The FA Cup will take centre-stage this weekend, but the one Premier League clash on Sunday sees struggling Black Country rivals West Brom and Wolves go head-to-head at the Hawthorns in arguably one of the biggest derby games in their history (match markets).

Wolves (evens To Stay Up) travel to their neighbours currently sat at the foot of the table but could join the Baggies on 27 points with a win and drag their rivals further into the relegation battle (West Brom 11/8 Relegation) as we head towards the home straight this season.

Neither side is in particularly good form of late, hence their struggles at the wrong end of the table, but the outcome of this match could make-or-break their respective seasons.

To add extra spice to the occasion Roy Hodgson will take charge of his first game in charge of West Brom following Roberto Di Matteo’s dismissal and he will hope the new manager factor can help give them a precious win (10/11 Home Win).

Striker Peter Odemwingie revealed that Hodgson has been focusing on tightening up the leakiest defence in the Premier League after watching from the stands as they threw away a three-goal lead against West Ham to draw 3-3 last Saturday.

Albion, who have endured a run of seven defeats and just four points from nine games, will face Wolves without influential midfielder Youssouf Mulumbu, but have no other fresh injury problems.

Wolves, who have only won on their travels once all season, should have Kevin Foley returning at full-back, while midfielder Dave Edwards should also be back following a leg knock. Stephen Hunt faces a late fitness test to see if he can shake off a calf injury in time to feature.

Wolves boss Mick McCarthy admitted that he “can’t articulate how big it is” when asked his thoughts on the game. And, while he is confident that his side can go and see off West Brom in their back-yard, the statistics do not back him up.

Wolves have lost their last four Premier League away fixtures and, having scored just nine goals in 13 matches on the road.

Taking everything into account the arrival of Hodgson should give West Brom the edge to shade what will be a tense clash as the home players look to impress.

By his own admission Hodgson has not had long enough to get his ideas across to the Albion players so I can see both sides managing to score (8/13 Both Teams To Score), but Wolves ending up pointless.

Prediction: West Brom To Score In Both Halves @ 19/10

Value Bet: Peter Odemwingie 1st Scorer & West Brom 2-1 Wolves @ 25/1

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Sunday’s FA Cup preview

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The FA Cup has thrown up a few big surprises this year and on paper Sunday’s fixtures could provide a few more. However, those of us who don’t let their hearts rule their heads will look at the three cup matches as a chance to recoup some of the loses the magic of cup has cost them. We take a look at the best bets for all of the clashes (FA Cup – outright and match markets).

Manchester City v Notts County

This clash at Eastlands is a fourth-round replay as the two clubs failed to squeeze in the match before what is suppose to be fifth-round weekend. Those of you who casts their minds back to the first game at Meadow Lane will remember City fans sweating bullets until Edin Dzeko saved their blushes in the last ten minutes.

On a pitch carved up by hefty rugby players City struggled but on their own patch the League One club shouldn’t pose too much of a threat. City to win at 8/15 with a minus one handicap is the best bet if you are looking to back Roberto Mancini’s men to win outright. For some value you will have to look at some of the other markets and stick your neck out a bit. While Notts have predominately struggled for goals on the road this season with Lee Hughes in the side they pose a genuine threat up top.

For that reason a look at the correct score market and City to win 3-1 at 10/1 could be your best bet for what should be a comfortable afternoon for the Premier League title hopefuls.

Fulham v Bolton

Having got through the early rounds of the competition these two sides might be starting to dream of a trip to Wembley. Both sides should avoid a relegation dog fight this season and as such can turn their attentions to the chance of claiming some silverware. The Trotters haven’t won a major tournament since the FA Cup in 1958, while the Cottagers have never lifted any silverware in their 132-year history.

However, Fulham came close last year in the Europa League and it should be Mark Hughes’ side who march into the quarter-finals. Craven Cottage is once again becoming a fortress for the west London outfit and five wins in the last six at home justifies Hughes’ men being slight favourites.

Fulham are 11/10 to beat Bolton and should take advantage of Owen Coyle’s injury-hit squad. Without the cup-tied Daniel Sturridge the Trotters lack their in-form hitman and could struggle. Having seen off Tottenham inside the first half in the fourth round Fulham to win at half-time/full-time at 5/2 should be worth a look.

Leyton Orient v Arsenal

Having beaten Barcelona in midweek Arsenal will probably feel like they can get the better of anyone as they get set to head to Brisbane Road. The Gunners gave everything on Wednesday night against the Champions League favourites but will be in for another cup test against Leyton Orient. So far in the FA Cup Arsenal have squeezed past Leeds after a replay and were on the rack against Huddersfield when they were reduced to 10 men before a late rally.

Expect Arsene Wenger to make a whole host of changes for the short trip across the capital but it will still be a strong side that takes to the field on Sunday. Given their fantastic comeback against Barcelona it might be tough for Wenger to get his players up for the challenge of Orient. Russel Slade’s side aren’t to be underestimated either, avoiding defeat in their last 11 in all competitions and winning their last three.

As far as betting is concerned it is tough to look beyond the Gunners to come out on top but given Orient’s recent form, and of course the magic of the cup, it should be a tight encounter. Draw half-time and Arsenal full-time at 16/5 looks a good price but if you are feeling really brave the draw at 9/2 could be as close as we get to an upset.

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Battle of the Red Devils

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Crawley Town could record one of the biggest upsets in FA Cup history if the Red Devils can beat the slightly more famous Manchester United Red Devils at Old Trafford on Saturday (United 1/16, draw 8/1, Crawley 28/1).

It was a dream draw for the non league side who have nothing to lose against the Premier League giants and everything to gain.

Not only will this be a great day for the club financially but a real chance to make some FA Cup history.

Crawley captain Pablo Mills has said that they will be taking on United as if they were a Conference team.

This might not be the best approach considering United’s potentially star studded line-up.

Sir Alex Ferguson is bound to ring the changes for this game with a midweek Champions League game against Marseille on the horizon.

However, don’t be surprised to see some of United’s big guns on the bench just in case things don’t go according to plan.

This should be a comfortable victory with the home side winning by three or four goals, but with the FA Cup you never know what could happen.

Chelsea and Everton lock horns in the only all Premier League clash of the day at Stamford Bridge (Chelsea 1/2, draw 14/5, Everton 11/2).

The Toffees managed to battle for a draw at Goodison Park and they will be hoping to go one better on Saturday.

Chelsea have suffered another blip in the Premier League after a home defeat against Liverpool and an away draw against local rivals Fulham.

New signing Fernando Torres won’t have an opportunity to score his first Chelsea goal as he is cup tied, which means Didier Drogba is likely to start for the Blues.

The Ivory Coast international has a habit of scoring goals against the Toffees and he is likely to continue that in this cup clash, with Chelsea the probable winners.

League one high flyers Brighton Hove Albion travel to the noisy Britannia Stadium to take on Stoke City (Stoke 4/6, draw 5/2, Brighton 4/1).

The Potters are arguably one of the hardest teams to beat in the Premier League on their home turf, especially when backed by their fanatic support.

Brighton have produced some excellent football this season and fully deserve to be three points clear at the top of League One with two games in hand.

This could be one of the surprise results of the day if the Albion can cause an upset against their Premier League opponents.

Sheffield Wednesday will want to put their dreadful league form behind them as they take on Birmingham at St Andrews (Birmingham 8/13, draw 13/5, Sheff Wed 9/2).

The Owls lost 3-0 in their last outing in the league to Tranmere and face a tough challenge against the Blues, who are another side that are difficult to beat at home.

With Birmingham struggling in the Premier League, Alex McLeish may be tempted to rest some of his key player but even with this in mind, the Blues should win this one comfortably.

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Foxes promotion bid gaining pace

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Sven Goran Eriksson’s arrival at Leicester City back in October was greeted with some raised eyebrows as the former England boss’ return to club management in this country came on the back of short-lived and unsuccessful stints in charge of Mexico, Notts County and Ivory Coast. But the Swede has quietly overseen a real change in the Foxes’ fortunes and a charge up the Championship table. Ahead of Friday’s key home game with Bristol City, we look ahead to what could lie in store at the Walkers Stadium when the Robins visit.

If form is anything to go by then, surely, there is only one winner here when looking at the match odds. Leicester, at 2/5, are predictably short favourites such is their fine recent record. Eriksson’s side are on an 11-match unbeaten run in front of their own fans and we can’t see anything other than another three points for the home side in this one. Don’t be tempted by the visitors’ price of 15/2 to cause a surprise.

Such has been Eriksson’s impact at the club that Leicester have not lost at the Walkers since he took charge. They are now seeking their seventh win in eight Championship games and their fifth straight victory as they chase down Leeds in sixth place.

The Foxes remain four points off a play-off spot at the minute but are looking in great shape to challenge as we begin the countdown to the end of the season.

It is with that in mind that a bold prediction of 4-1 in the correct score market (16/1) is made as we envisage Eriksson’s men racing into an early lead, roared on by an expectant home crowd.

The Foxes’ boss has no fresh injury worries either ahead of the game, although Yuki Abe could be recalled in place of Matt Oakley. On-loan striker Yakubu has spoken about how much he is enjoying his time under Eriksson and he has clearly benefited from the drop down in a division, scoring three times so far. A good bet, then, at 4/1 to score first in this game.

Bristol City are aiming for their first league double over Leicester since 1915 but the 2-0 win at Ashton Gate earlier in the campaign seems extremely unlikely to be repeated here.

The 4-0 rout of Preston aside, Keith Millen’s men have bore all the hallmarks of a side lacking confidence in the past few months and have slipped further down the table as a run of just two wins in 11 has left the Robins, who could have striker Nicky Maynard back after a lengthy absence, staring worryingly at a relegation scrap.

Even a draw, on offer at 10/3, looks beyond them but Maynard to score at any time (9/4) could be worth a punt, even if it is only a consolation.

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