Preston can make it make it four successive League One wins on the bounce when they welcome Yeovil to Deepdale in leg one of Friday’s football treble.

North End have responded well from their shock home defeat to Colchester on the opening day of the new campaign – and first in the third tier of English football since relegation last season – by clocking up 10 points in four games.

By contrast, Yeovil have managed just one win in League One so far this season – at home to Oldham nearly a month ago – and are priced accordingly at 4/1 in the match betting for what would be a shock away win.

More encouraging for PNE manager Phil Brown, who revealed free agent El Hadji Diouf is training with the club this week, is the that fact his promotion-contenders have not conceded a league goal in 270 minutes.

His only worry is goalkeeper Iain Turner, who scored with a huge goal-kick in Preston’s last outing against Notts County on August 27, because of an elbow injury.

Yeovil boss Terry Skiverton was delighted with the way his side battled to a goalless draw against Tranmere at Prenton Park – the club first clean sheet of the new season – but it is difficult to make a case for the Glovers heading back North on Friday night.

Skiverton, who admitted “my players are going through the pain barrier for me at the moment” last week, has lost strikers Jon Obika and Andy Williams to injury and that can only blunt the Green and Whites as an attacking unit.

North End can be backed at 4/7 to beat Yeovil and are 2/1 to win promotion from League 1 this season, and it is difficult to envisage them flopping on Friday.

In Serie A, AC Milan drew twice in the league against Lazio (Milan 8/13, draw 12/5, Lazio 4/1 – Match Betting) last term – but only lost twice at home all season.

The defending champions are a short price to win on Friday at the San Siro in the opening game of the delayed Italian season, but they look too strong for the Rome outfit.

Finally, Augsburg have failed to win a match in Bundesliga in four attempts since promotion to the German top flight last season – and have not scored in 180 minutes – and on Friday entertain shot-shy Bayer Leverkusen.

The visitors have only netted twice in four games since the start of the new season and it may pay to side with a low goals projection at SGL Arena (Augsburg 3/1, draw 5/2, Bayer Leverkusen 8/11 – Match Betting).

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Sir Alex Ferguson

Throw the battle for the play-offs into the mix and there is still the potential for over half of the division to find themselves in the Premier League Promised Land come the end of May.

The Championship is hailed for its unpredictability so I have the difficult task of assessing which sides are capable of breaking into the big time as we embark on the second half of the season.

QPR

Neil Warnock’s side have led from the front in the first half of the campaign and were unbeaten right up until the middle of December.

However, some cracks have started to appear in the Hoops’ armour with a reverse at the hands of Watford at Loftus Road starting a run of three defeats in five games, while Bristol City snatched a late draw on Monday.

Despite dropping points, the inability of QPR’s (20/23 Championship Outright) rivals to capitalise leaves them five points clear at the top and teams that lead at this stage of the season usually have enough to make it all the way to the top-flight.

Cardiff

Dave Jones’s men just missed out on promotion last term when Blackpool defeated them 3-2 in the play-off final and they looked a good bet to achieve their ambitions this time around.

With a potent forward line, including Jay Bothroyd and Michael Chopra, being added to with Premier League-class in Craig Bellamy on loan, it was hard to look past the Bluebirds for the title (4/1 Outright), let alone promotion.

However, following a strong start, the Welshmen have endured a rough spell of three wins in 11 league games, before defeating promotion rivals Leeds 2-1 on Tuesday evening.

If Cardiff can tighten up at the back and rediscover that early season form, they could make it to the Premier League without the need of the play-offs.

Leeds United

Simon Grayson’s side were promoted from League One last term and the aim was to consolidate in the Championship this season.

However, following an inconsistent start, they responded to a 4-0 home defeat against Cardiff in late October by embarking on a 12-match unbeaten run which ironically ended against the same time in South Wales on Tuesday.

Despite that setback, the Whites have improved on their home form and still look impressive away from Elland Road so a play-off place (7/2 Championship Promotion) is certainly not beyond them.

Norwich

The Canaries won League One last term but, like Leeds, they have adapted to Championship football like a duck to water. Their away form – the joint best in the division – has fired them into automatic promotion contention (13/5 Promotion).

Paul Lambert’s side have only lost one of their last 11 outings and defeated league leaders QPR on Saturday. They are level on points with second-placed Cardiff and could push the Welshmen all the way for Premier League football.

Swansea

Cardiff’s south Wales rivals suffered the agony of missing out on the play-offs by the skin of their teeth last season, having occupied a top-six spot for most of the campaign.

However, a late run of poor form saw them miss out as Blackpool stole the final place and the rest is history!

Under Brendan Rodgers, the Swans have responded well to that disappointment and they have added more wins away from home – five so far – to complement their strong record at the Liberty Stadium to put them right in the mix (3/1 Promotion).

Regarded as one of the best footballing teams in the division, Swansea need to keep picking up points on the road – they have lost their last three in succession – or face more promotion heartache.

Nottingham Forest

Forest made it to the play-offs last season under Billy Davies and were expected to be amongst the frontrunners again this term.

Their home form has never deserted them – they are unbeaten at the City Ground in 31 matches – although their fans could argue they have drawn too many games this term (six wins and six draws).

Away from home, they started shakily but have improved, with Forest’s win at Ipswich on Monday their second in the last three. They are now two points off the play-off places with games in hand on all the sides above them so only a fool would rule Forest out of the running (14/5 Promotion).

(Surprise Package) Watford

Malky Mackay is developing a team spirit at Vicarage Road which mirrors what Ian Holloway successfully generated at Blackpool last season.

The Scot has no funds to play with but has blended youth with experienced heads and loan players to get the Hornets buzzing.

They are unbeaten in seven and have won five successive matches, including convincing victories at QPR and at home to Cardiff and Portsmouth, before grinding out a win at lowly Scunthorpe on Monday.

Striker Danny Graham has been an inspiration in attack for Watford and he could fire them into the play-offs.

The only thing standing in their way would be injuries and suspensions to key players as the season drags on. But if Mackay gets an element of luck in keeping his main men in the side on a regular basis then who knows where they could go (8/1 Promotion).

(Dark Horses) Hull and Leicester

There was an element of uncertainty over both of these clubs before the season started in August.

Hull had financial problems to deal with following relegation from the Premier League, while Leicester had to deal with losing to Cardiff in the play-offs followed by Nigel Pearson’s shock departure to Hull.

However, following disappointingly slow starts, there have been signs of life from both camps to suggest a rally is possible in the second half of the season.

Both clubs have new owners willing to fund some signings in this January transfer window which could help them mount respective promotion pushes.

Former England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson is in charge at Leicester and he has helped drag them up to 12th spot – just four points off the top-six places thanks to two successive wins.

However, the main problem is that they have lost nine on the road to date. But if the Swede can remedy that away form, the Foxes (13/2 Promotion) could well be in the hunt for play-off glory.

Meanwhile Pearson’s Tigers bounced back from defeat against Leicester with an impressive 3-2 win at Portsmouth on Monday.

Hull looked in danger of being in a relegation battle at one point, but they are now just six points of the top-six.

And, with the prolific Matty Fryatt already on board and more cash to spend on players this month, could Hull (14/1 Promotion) be the side that comes from nowhere to sneak into the play-offs at the death?

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The Reds agreed on Friday to send the unsettled Mascherano to Barcelona, ending a difficult period for the club with the player making his feelings known through the media.

But boss Roy Hodgson has moved swiftly to bolster his squad by landing Meireles on a four-year deal.

The player, who has played 38 times for Portugal including all four of their games at the World Cup in South Africa, has cost the Anfield club around £11.5million.
Meireles, who operates in the centre of midfield, has won four league titles in his home country.

Meireles said: “Roy Hodgson was key to me coming here because he worked so hard to sign me. I am Meireles and not Mascherano and that will be clear to the fans. I hope one day the Liverpool fans will remember me for being successful.”

Alberto Aquilani’s loan departure to Juventus, ending an injury-hit spell in the city, had also left Liverpool (25/1 to win the Premier League) short of numbers and Hodgson now seems keen to add at least one more new face to his squad before the transfer window ends on Tuesday.

Christian Poulsen from Juve and Joe Cole from Chelsea have been the big names to have joined the club since the summer, but Hodgson reportedly wants to bring in Carlton Cole from West Ham while Paul Konchesky is expected to join in the next few days from his old club Fulham.

Hodgson wanted to sign Peter Crouch from Spurs, but Harry Redknapp has warned him that the striker is not for sale.

A target man is the Liverpool boss’ main priority, though, and he is reportedly considering offering Ryan Babel plus cash to West Ham in exchange for Cole.

Reports in Sunday newspapers have also linked PSV forward Ola Toivonen with the Anfield club, although the Dutch outfit apparently want more than £13million for the Swede.

Stoke City have already failed with two bids, believed to be up to £9million, for Cole, but sources say Liverpool are ready to table an offer of £10million for the player.

However, with West Ham struggling themselves near the foot of the Premier League, Avram Grant knows that selling any of his players would cause uproar with the Upton Park faithful and he has officially told potential buyers that Cole is not available at any price.

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West Ham

But the Hammers’ chances of landing Juventus’ David Trezeguet look to be over.

West Ham boss Avram Grant, looking to give himself more strength in his problematic right-back spot before the transfer window closes, has reportedly bid just under £2million for Ivory Coast international Demel.

Demel’s agent, Saif Rubie, says the Hammers have firmed their bid for the former Arsenal defender, currently playing for Hamburg.

“West Ham have made an offer on Friday of 2million euros for Guy,” Rubie told skysports.com.

“However, whether it will be enough for Hamburg to do business with just three days of the transfer window left remains to be seen.

“Guy is very happy at Hamburg and committed to doing the very best he can for the club.”

The Upton Park outfit (40/1 – FA Cup outright) are also in the market for Portsmouth captain Wilson, who can play at the back or in midfield.

Wilson looks set to leave Fratton Park before the transfer deadline, and three clubs are now battling for his signature.

West Brom have bid more than £2.5million for the player, after having a lower bid rejected.

Stoke City are believed to have valued the player at just over £3million, which would be made up of a combination of cash plus players, with out-of-favour striker Dave Kitson and midfielder Liam Lawrence the makeweights.

However, West Ham have now entered the race though they have yet to make a formal offer for the player. Pompey’s administrators may look more kindly on a Hammers cash bid rather than the player exchanges offered by Stoke.

Meanwhile, West Ham look to have failed with a bid to sign former France international Trezeguet.

The Juventus ace, 32, looks set to leave the Italian club and has been linked with a number of Premier League clubs including Birmingham and Liverpool, but he now looks set to join Spanish side Hercules.

A Hammers insider told Soccernet: “West Ham tried, but they were told he’s going to Spain.”

Asked about the situation on Friday, boss Avram Grant said: “I cannot answer about Trezeguet or others. There are a few areas that we don’t have players at all so this is our first priority, but in any position if there are players that can be good for us because we have a long season.”

West Ham are still looking to add another striker to the side despite the arrival of Victor Obinna on loan from Inter.

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It has been a busy week for Holloway, who has drafted in six new players, and the Seasiders boss will be hoping and praying he can put together a side capable of competing in the top flight.

Holloway worked miracles last season as the Seasiders won promotion from the Championship via the play-offs but this challenge is even bigger and they face a huge battle to beat the drop.

Blackpool fans could only dream of the Premier League this time last year but now they have made it, Holloway is determined to keep them there. It is an experience that should be enjoyed but Holloway says Blackpool are not there to make the numbers up and he wants a side that can compete.

Holloway has had his difficulties in the transfer market as well as he has struggled to match the kind of wages other clubs pay but at least he has got some bodies in this week and in Basham he has landed a very highly-rated young midfielder.

Basham may have struggled for a game at the Reebok Stadium but was being kept out of the side by Engalnd under-21 star Fabrice Muamba and Trotters boss Owen Coyle felt it was only fair to let him move on.

“Chris is a great lad but unfortunately there is plenty of competition here in the position that he plays,” Coyle revealed. “As a young, enthusiastic player making his way in the game then it wouldn’t have been fair for us to keep him as he wouldn’t have got as many chances to play as he would have liked.

“I wish him nothing but good luck at Blackpool because it is a fantastic opportunity for him to play in the Premier League.”

Craig Cathcart, Ludovic Sylvestre, Elliot Grandin, Malaury Martin and Marlon Harewood have also arrived this week and could all figure against Wigan at the DW Stadium tomorrow.

Every game in the Premier League is going to be tough but Holloway will feel they have a chance of taking something from a Wigan side, who could also be facing a battle to beat the drop.

The Seasiders are 3/1 to win at Wigan, who are the 5/6 favourites, while the draw is 5/2. Holloway would undoubtedly want to take something from the game as next up will be a trip to the Emirates Stadium to take on Arsenal.

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Arsenal

The Gunners are hanging on to the Spain midfielder with their fingernails as Barca step up their pursuit of the player and Laporta says it is only a matter of time before they land their man.

The words of Laporta are sure to infuriate Gunners officials but you cannot help but agree with him because Fabregas has made his mind up that he wants to return to his former club and player power usually wins day.

No matter how hard Arsenal fight to keep hold if Fabregas sticks by his guns and asks to leave a deal is more than likely to go through if the price is right.

Agreeing a fee could be easier said than done. Barca are already thought to have failed with one bid in the region of £29million and Arsenal will probably want closer to double that if they are to sell.

They will say Cristiano Ronaldo went to Real Madrid for £80million last summer and Fabregas is worth £60million, but Barca will argue they are completely different players and are unlikely to go that high.

Fabregas has always maintained how happy he is at the Emirates Stadium and it is hard to see him kicking up a fuss but if Arsenal block the move over the fee they could have an unhappy player on their hands which will no good to anybody.

Either way Laporta says it is only a matter of time before they land their man and believes it will happen this summer, eventually.

“Arsenal will end up giving in, but I don’t know when that will be. We will have to wait and let the professionals who are taking care of it do their work,” he revealed.

Laporta is set to leave office at the end of the month but if he cannot wrap up a deal in that time, he believes his replacement Sandro Rosell will.

“If it’s not us, it will be up to the new board, if they consider if appropriate, to carry on along this road,” he added.

Arsenal now have some tough decisions to make but nothing will be sorted until after the World Cup. However the time Fabregas is spending with Spain will not help matters as the Barcelona players will no doubt be in his ear everyday urging him to return to the Nou Camp and that looks the most likely outcome.

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