Tag Archives: places

Five automatic places on offer

Posted on by
Reply

Five automatic Euro 2012 finals berths, including four for group winners, and the race for places in the play-off draw will be settled on Tuesday when the nine groups conclude a final round of fixtures.

England made it through to Poland and Ukraine next summer with a 2-2 draw against Montenegro in Group G and will join reigning European and world champions Spain, as well as Germany, Italy and the Netherlands, in the automatic places.

The race is on for other nations to book their places at next summer’s showpiece tournament on what promises to be a night of nerves and drama.

Group A:

Belgium must match or better Turkey’s result against Azerbaijan when they take on group winners Germany to secure a play-off berth. If they end level, Turkey have the superior head-to-head.

Group B:

Russia only need a point at home to Andorra to make sure of top spot even if Republic of Ireland beat Armenia, who cannot qualify automatically. Even if Russia lose, they could still be best runners-up.

Group C:

Estonia moved into second place on Friday with a 2-1 win over Northern Ireland, who are now eliminated, but have now completed their fixtures so Serbia can still snatch the play-off position by winning in Slovenia.

Group D:

The Paris showdown between leaders France and Bosnia and Herzegovina will decide this group, so the nation which loses this encounter will be in the play-offs.

Group E

Victory for Sweden over the already-qualified Netherlands would mean automatic qualification as best runners-up.

Group F

A draw for Greece in Georgia would ensure the leaders first place regardless of Croatia’s result against Latvia – but the Croats still have the possibility of finishing as best runners-up on goal difference with victory, depending on results elsewhere.

Group G

England secured qualification with a 2-2 draw and Montenegro guaranteed a first-ever play-off because Switzerland lost to Wales.

Group H

Denmark must beat Portugal in Copenhagen to win the group having lost away in Porto and Norway face Cyprus with a hope of second place on goal difference should the Danes win.

Group I

The Czech Republic, with a better head-to-head record, could secure a play-off berth by picking up more points in Lithuania than Scotland manage away to already-qualified Spain.

Want £200 Free? Click here to visit Bet365 and claim your free money.

Race heats up for play-off places

Posted on by
Reply

A resurgent Hull City welcome Burnley to the KC Stadium on Tuesday night in a clash between two sides gunning for Championship play-off places (Hull 11/8, draw 9/4, Burnley 9/5 – match betting).

The Yorkshire-Lancashire battle between seventh and eighth place should be an exciting contest between two sides desperate to get back into the Premier League.

Hull will be full of confidence going into this game off the back of a gutsy 1-0 victory over Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

Not many teams pick up away wins against Forest and Nigel Pearson’s side are pushing the top six clubs hard for the play-off places.

Burnley are in an excellent position and could leapfrog both Leeds United and Forest if they can win their two games in hand and other results go their way.

Both these teams are in good form but Hull might just edge this one in front of their home fans.

Norwich City travel to the Walkers Stadium to take on Leicester City in another big game in and around the playoff positions (Leicester 10/11, draw 12/5, Norwich 11/4 – match betting).

The Canaries were left frustrated at Carrow Road in their last outing, as they were held to a 1-1 draw against bottom of the table Preston.

Goal-machine Grant Holt admitted after the game that Preston were hard to break down because they put bodies behind the ball to battle out a crucial point in terms of their Championship survival.

The Foxes on the other hand will play a much more open game and will believe they can pick up all three points.

There should be plenty of goals in this game between two attacking sides but the Canaries could just get one over on the Foxes.

Sheffield United are having a torrid time in the Championship this season and are without a win in their last 14 games.

Manager Micky Adams is still looking for his first win with the South Yorkshire side but he might have to wait a bit longer, as they take on Forest at Bramall Lane on Tuesday (United 23/10, draw 23/10, Forest 11/10 – match betting).

Forest could go into the automatic positions if they can compound United’s misery and other results go for them and Billy Davies’ players will want to keep the pressure on QPR and Swansea at the top of the table.

With the type of form the Blades are in, it’s hard to see them winning this game and they may have to wait longer still for that elusive victory, with games against Watford and Leeds to come.

Want £200 Free? Click here to visit Bet365 and claim your free money.

Forest eye automatic places

Posted on by
Reply

Nottingham Forest are looking to extend their six-game unbeaten run in the Championship when they take on Bristol City on Tuesday (Nottingham 4/7, draw 5/2, Bristol 21/5).

Forest have won their last four games in all competitions but it has not come easily for Billy Davies and his men.

Luke Chambers netted in the 89th minute to give his side a 2-1 win over Preston in the FA Cup which was followed by another 2-1 victory over Portsmouth the following week, thanks to two goals in the 87th and 94th minute.

Despite leaving things pretty late, Forest have been playing some of the best football in the Championship and, after having a slow start to their Championship campaign, they have now got themselves into a great position in the table.

The Reds currently sit in sixth but they could sneak into the automatic places if they win their games in hand over the teams above which include Leeds United, Swansea, Norwich and Cardiff.

Bristol City will have their work cut out as Forest will be full of confidence after beating local rivals Derby County last week, thanks to a late goal from Welsh striker Robert Earnshaw.

Notts should come out on top in this one, as they eye those automatic places and promotion back to the Premier League.

There is a juicy South Yorkshire derby as Doncaster Rovers host Barnsley in what should be an exciting encounter (Doncaster 10/11, draw 23/10, Barnsley 5/2).

Both teams play attractive, attacking football so there should be goals in this one. Barnsley played out a draw against high-flying Swansea on Saturday and were unlucky not to pick up all three points.

There were concerns that the Tykes would struggle without their star man Adam Hammill, who moved to Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers, but Barnsley are an improved outfit from last season and they sit eight points clear of the relegation zone and find themselves looking upwards.

As for Doncaster, they have suffered a recent dip in form and have failed to win in their last five outings in all competitions.

Rovers will be determined to get their season back on track and in front of their home fans, against their local rivals, they may well just grab all three points.

In the other game from the Championship on Tuesday, Portsmouth take on Burnley at Fratton Park (Portsmouth 7/5, draw 11/5, Burnley 8/5).

Both these sides have enjoyed their time in the limelight of the Premier League but now it’s back to the toil of the Championship.

This should be a very close game as Burnley, who are still finding their feet under new boss Eddie Howe, have struggled to secure wins in recent weeks while Portsmouth  have failed to win in their last six so a draw looks a good option down on the south coast.

Want £200 Free? Click here to visit Bet365 and claim your free money.