Tag Archives: woes

Sociedad bid to end travel woes

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Real Sociedad travel to promoted Real Valladolid on Monday in La Liga aiming to pick up their first points on the road at the fifth attempt this season.

The two sides occupy positions in the middle ground of the relatively early league standings with Valladolid sitting one point ahead of Sociedad going into the game.

But, despite the fact the two sides have both won three of their opening eight games to date, it does not tell the full story going into this encounter at the Estadio Municipal Jose Zorilla.

Valladolid, who lost out at Malaga away from home last week thanks to a late goal for the hosts, have won two and drawn one of their four games on home soil so far, including a 6-1 thrashing of Rayo Vallecano at the end of September and can be backed at 11/10 to win this one.

However, the problem facing coach Miroslav Djukic is the loss of star striker Manucho Goncalves to suspension, while Lluis Sastre is set to miss out despite being near to a return after a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

Valladolid’s Basque visitors have stayed strong on their home patch with three successive wins before last Sunday’s 1-0 defeat against Atletico Madrid.

However, away from home has been a different story and coach Philippe Montanier will be desperate to find a formula to end a painful run of defeats against mainly lower league opposition in which they have only scored two goals and conceded 10.

Real Sociedad, 12/5 to win, have a host of injury doubts with Claudio Bravo, Ruben Pardo, Diego Irfan, Inigo Martinez and Liassine Cadamuro all looking to shake off respective problems to feature, while David Zurutuza and Gorka Elustondo are definitely out.

Past history is difficult to use to try and determine an outcome as the two sides have not met in La Liga since the 2003-04 campaign and that match ended all square in a 2-2 draw in Valladolid.

Sociedad have won almost twice as many meetings between the two clubs with 11 to six and there have been five draws.

On the basis that Valladolid will go into the game on the back of a moral denting defeat at Malaga, we feel Sociedad can finally stop the rot and secure a point in a low-scoring stale-mate.

Prediction: Draw 90 Minutes @ 9/4
Value Bet: 1-1 Correct Score @ 11/2

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Rovers to worsen Owls woes

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After all the action on Tuesday there is just one game in the Championship on Wednesday night and it will see Sheffield Wednesday make the trip to Ewood Park to take on Blackburn Rovers (Blackburn 10/11, draw 5/2, Sheff Wed 3/1 Match Betting).

The Owls might well need the extra day to recoup after the well-documented events of their last outing against Leeds United last Friday night at Hillsborough. But, putting aside the crowd trouble between the two sets of fans, from a footballing point of view Wednesday will be able to take plenty of positives from the Yorkshire derby, which they really should have claimed three points from.

The Owls dominated much of the first half and were able to keep hold of the ball much better than their previous games, which saw them record one draw and six defeats before the arrival of Leeds.

On-loan striker Jay Bothroyd had arguably his best game for Wednesday since joining the club after a disappointing spell at Queens Park Rangers in the Premier League. The 30-year-old former Cardiff City (4/1 Championship outright) man held the ball up well and was a threat throughout the evening and he will need to produce a similar performance on Wednesday night, if manager Dave Jones and his men are to get anything out of their trip across the Pennines.

As for Blackburn they are still in the hunt for a replacement manager following the departure of Steve Kean. Many names have been linked with the role at Ewood Park, with the likes of Ian Holloway at Blackpool and Fulham coach Billy McKinley having their names bounded about in the media. For the moment Eric Black is the caretaker boss and he will have been disappointed his side were not able to finish off Derby County on the weekend, as they were held to a 1-1 draw at Pride Park.

Having taken the lead through Jordan Rhodes, it was two minutes before time that the Rams were able to get an equaliser, which left Blackburn (8/1 Championship outright) no time to respond.  With four goals to his name this season for Blackburn, Rhodes has shown that he will certainly cope at this level, having made his name in League One with Huddersfield Town.

Wednesday, who have shipped in 22 goals in 11 games this season, will have to be on their guard if they are to keep the Scotland international quiet but it’s likely 22-year-old will get his name on the scoresheet against the Owls.

It’s crucial Blackburn bring in a new manager before they drop anymore important points but even with a caretaker in charge they should have enough to see of Wednesday.

Yes the Owls showed massive signs of improvement against Leeds but they were still unable to keep that all-important clean-sheet and against a Rovers side will plenty of attacking prowess, it’s hard to see Jones’ men coming away from Ewood Park with anything to show for their efforts (Rovers 2-0 correct score).

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Blues to deepen QPR woes

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After a fairly torrid international break for most of the home nations, the Premier League returns with a bumper Saturday to look forward to. The highlight of the day will be a fiery west London derby, while Manchester City, Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal will also be in action.

QPR v Chelsea – 3pm

All eyes are likely to be on Loftus Road for the pre-match build-up to this local derby as handshake gate part 3 looks as though it could take place. The fallout from the corresponding fixture last year still continues to dominate the build-up to this game, with the news John Terry is set to play likely to stoke the fire further.

Aside from all the tension there is still a game of football to be won and when it comes to the match there should be only one winner given the two club’s respective starts. Chelsea might have been embarrassed in their last outing in the European Super Cup but they have won three out of three in the league and look a sure thing at 5/6. QPR have only one point to show for their efforts thus far and Mark Hughes still has a lot of work to do to blend his raft of summer acquisitions into a team. Rangers are 7/2 for the win, with the draw priced at 13/5.

Manchester United v Wigan – 3pm

It’s fair to say United have stumbled out of the blocks this season, with the defeat to Everton being followed by less than convincing wins over Fulham and Southampton. The game against the Latics represents a great opportunity to get the season up and running, with United traditionally taking three points off their north west neighbours. Last season’s 1-0 defeat at the DW aside, United have won 14 of their 15 meetings and have an aggregate score of 24-1 in games at Old Trafford.

While Wigan have started the season brightly United are likely to have too much fire power for them, with Robin van Persie a good bet to score first at 9/4. United are 1/4 to win the game, with the Latics 12/1 and the draw 5/1.

Arsenal v Southampton – 3pm

The Gunners looked good when they scored their first goals and registered their first win of the season at Liverpool before the international break. Arsene Wenger will hope the recent World Cup qualifiers haven’t interrupted the momentum Arsenal were trying to build, especially with the start of the Champions League around the corner.

Arsenal have yet to concede a goal this season but in Ricky Lambert the Saints have the kind of striker Wenger’s men hate coming up against. Lambert is 11/4 to score anytime and might be worth a punt. However, Lambert’s goal could be the only bit of joy the travelling fans get, with the Gunners 4/11 to win the match and 10/1 to win 3-1.

Stoke City v Manchester City – 3pm

Some of the City players might be forgiven for being distracted heading to the Britannia Stadium on Saturday, with a trip to Real Madrid to come early next week. The Potters will hope to take advantage of City’s state of mind and record their first win of the season after three draws on the bounce.

Tony Pulis may include Charlie Adam and Michael Owen in his Stoke squad for the game, two players who can add that extra bit of quality the Potters have been lacking this season. City have their own new recruits to call on, with Scott Sinclair, Javi Garcia, Maicon and Matija Nastasic likely to be part of the travelling party. Much like rivals United, City have been far from convincing so far this season and Stoke may get something out of this one. Another draw for the Potters can be backed at 11/4 and that is the best they can hope for. City are 8/11 to win, while Stoke are 4/1.

Elsewhere on Saturday, Liverpool could be in for another long afternoon when they visit the Stadium of Light to face Sunderland. The Black Cats have made a slow start to the season but with Steven Fletcher and Adam Johnson have more of a cutting edge which could make the difference against the toothless Reds. Under 2.5 goals is on offer at 8/11, with Sunderland 9/4 to come away with the win.

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Villa to put league woes aside

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The League Cup, rebranded as the Capital One Cup for the next four years, can be a difficult beast at this stage of the season. The second round fixtures take place on Tuesday night as most of the Premier League sides (except those involved in Europe) enter the competition, but many managers choose to field their fringe players and youngsters in the competition and as such there is plenty of potential for a few surprises.

However, there are a few teams desperate for victories to kick start their seasons, and one tie that stands out in this respect is Aston Villa’s home tie against League One side Tranmere Rovers.

Expectation levels have been raised at Villa Park following the arrival of Paul Lambert as manager but the Birmingham side are yet to secure a solitary point after two Premier League games. Lambert will be well aware that a home loss against Tranmere will not help matters and the Villa boss may resist fielding a weakened team in order to pick up a first win of the season.

A win for the hosts is priced at 4/9 and given the importance of registering a result it is hard to see anything other than a win for the Premier League side, the draw is 10/3 and a Tranmere victory is 6/1.

Top flight newcomers Southampton impressed despite defeat in their opening weekend contest with champions Manchester City but were dealt a Premier League reality check at the weekend as they slumped to a home defeat to Wigan. Saints boss Nigel Adkins is an astute manager and, like Lambert, will be aware of the importance of securing that first result. The St Mary’s side travel to League One high-fliers Stevenage on Tuesday and look good value at 11/10 to secure the win, despite the fact Stevenage are unbeaten in the league so far.

A double on Southampton and Aston Villa pays out at around 2/1 and this could well be worth some consideration ahead of Tuesday’s ties.

Potential upsets

As mentioned previously there is plenty of potential for a few upsets in this stage of the competition so here are a few games where the underdogs could come out on top.  Obviously, by definition an upset is a result that is hard to predict but hopefully these selections will provide food for thought for your Capital One Cup betting plans!

Sheffield Wednesday remain unbeaten after three Championship games following their promotion last season and the Owls host Fulham on Tuesday night.

Wednesday have won both their games at Hillsborough so far and will be backed by a big, vocal crowd when they take on Premier League opposition in the shape of the Cottagers. It remains to be seen what kind of team Fulham boss Martin Jol will field of course but after a relatively solid start (a big win over Norwich and a narrow defeat at Manchester United) the Dutchman could be tempted to make some changes for the trip to South Yorkshire and Wednesday will be keen to demonstrate their promotion credentials by impressing against the west Londoners. Wednesday are 15/8 to see off Fulham, the draw is 12/5 and a win for the visitors is priced at 11/8.

Nottingham Forest impressed at Bolton on Friday night and they welcome Wigan Athletic to the City Ground on Tuesday. Wigan boss Roberto Martinez saw his side lose to League Two opposition last season in the shape of Swindon Town and will be wary of Forest, but may still be tempted to make changes following the win over Southampton at the weekend. Forest remain unbeaten, winning their only home game so far, in the Championship and are certainly capable of beating the Latics, especially if Martinez tinkers with his side. A win for Forest is priced at 6/4, the draw is 12/5 and Wigan are 17/10 to secure victory.

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Saints to add to Pompey’s woes

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Saturday promises to be a crucial day in the Championship, both at the top and the bottom of the league. Let’s take a look at the key fixtures in the promotion race.

Southampton v Portsmouth

Both of these bitter rivals need the three points in Saturday’s lunchtime fixture, albeit for different reasons. The Saints are currently riding high at the top of the Championship while second from bottom Pompey will be hoping to stave off the very real threat of relegation.

The return of Saints’ top scorer Rickie Lambert, who missed last weekend’s 3-0 defeat to Blackpool, is ominous for a Portsmouth side that have conceded 48 goals this season. They are coming into this match after shipping five goals at home against Burnley so back Lambert at 11/4 to score the first goal.

Despite the Saints’ drubbing last time out, they have kept three clean sheets in their last six games and will be determined to get their promotion push back on track against their local adversaries. Pompey have only scored 41 goals this season so Southampton could easily win this game to nil.

A scorecast of Lambert first goalscorer and a Saints 3-0 win at 18/1 looks tempting.

Birmingham City v Crystal Palace

The Midlands side are firmly ensconced in the play-off places and will be hoping to consolidate this position against mid-table Palace.

The St Andrew’s outfit will hope to welcome back midfielder Keith Fahey, who has missed the last three games through injury, but boss Chris Hughton may have one eye on the match against promotion rivals West Ham on Monday and could rest players.

With defenders Stephen Carr (knee), Jonathan Spector (thigh) and Pablo Ibanez (hamstring) all unavailable, the 11/2 on Palace looks a good price. However, they are coming into this game on the back of a 3-0 home defeat to lowly Nottingham Forest and Birmingham are on a run of successive 3-1 wins. Totesport pay 10/1 on this result being repeated.

Middlesbrough v Cardiff City

This clash at the Riverside is a battle between two teams on the fringes of the play-off places. Only two points separate seventh-placed Boro and eighth-placed Cardiff in the league standings.

If recent form is anything to go by, expect a draw at 12/5 in this one. Cardiff travel to the North-East on the back of four straight stalemates, while Boro have remarkably been held to 1-1 draws in each of their last four games. 11/2 on the same scoreline is tempting.

The return of midfielder Faris Haroun is set to boost Tony Mowbray’s side and the 9/4 for him to score anytime is a good punt as he is a player who makes things happen.

Meanwhile, the Bluebirds have no new injury or suspension worries, although boss Malky Mackay will have to decide whether to drop misfiring striker Kenny Miller who has not scored in any of his last 14 outings.

Both sides have faltered of late and will be desperate to get their play-off push back on track. Expect a result that will benefit no-one – a fifth successive draw for both sides.

Millwall v Hull City

The Tigers currently sit in ninth place in the Championship, five points off the play-off places, and will be targeting this game as a must-win if they are to keep their faint hopes of promotion alive.

Four straight defeats, including to lowly Portsmouth and Coventry in the last two, has derailed Hull’s promotion bid and, even though Millwall are facing a midfield injury crisis, this is the sort of game the Tigers have been losing.

Skipper Jack Hobbs and fellow defenders James Chester and Joe Dudgeon will all be absent meaning the relatively inexperienced duo of Liam Cooper and Sonny Bradley will form the heart of the defence. Hull have shipped two goals in each of their last four games so a 2-0 success for Millwall in this one at 9/1 looks the stand-out pick.

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Lions to add to Bolton woes

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The FA Cup returns this weekend with a host of intriguing fifth round fixtures to look forward to. Could we finally have a couple of upsets in what has been an FA Cup where shocks have been few and far between thus far?

Chelsea v Birmingham City 12:30pm

Depending on which Blues you support you are either rather depressed or pretty optimistic about what the rest of the season could bring. For Chelsea fans you’ve seen your team win just two of the last ten in the Premier League and are perhaps considering a season without Champions League football next year.

If you are a Birmingham fan then a 13-match unbeaten run has given you hope of bouncing back at the first time of asking and maybe causing another FA Cup upset. Blues have already claimed one Premier League scalp, when defeating Wolves at Molineux, and are now setting their sights on another.

Chelsea look to be a team in turmoil, with manager Andre Villas-Boas hinting this week that not everyone is happy with his plans for the future at Stamford Bridge. A player revolt is the last thing Villas-Boas needs and as such Birmingham fans might feel as though they have chance.

Chelsea will be without John Terry, Didier Drogba, Ashley Cole and Salomon Kalou, while Villas-Boas could rest some players with the midweek trip to Napoli in mind. Birmingham are without their main goal threats in Marlon King and Nikola Zigic, so one goal is about as much as they are likely to manage.

A Chelsea win is priced at 2/7, with a Birmingham upset 9/1. However, the draw looks to be as close as we will get to an upset, which is available at 9/2. No matter the result Frank Lampard has a good record against lower league opposition and can be backed at 5/1 to score first.

Millwall v Bolton 3pm

After last week’s disastrous defeat to Wigan the last thing Bolton would want is a tough FA Cup tie at the New Den. Given the Trotters current position in the bottom three, the FA Cup might be seen as something of a distraction and as such you’d expect Coyle to rotate his squad for the clash.

Millwall had found themselves in a similar position to Bolton recently, but a run of just two defeats in the last eight has seen them make steady progress away from the relegation zone. They caused something of an upset in the last round when they won at Southampton and at 7/4 are worth a punt to make it through to the quarter-finals.

Lions manager Kenny Jackett has promised to attack from the off and he will hope to have topscorer Darius Henderson fit after a number of weeks out. Over 2.5 goals at even money could also be worth a look given Bolton’s poor defensive record.

Sunderland v Arsenal 5:15pm

The Black Cats should be licking their lips at the prospect of Arsenal coming to visit on Saturday. They might have lost the Premier League encounter between these two last week but after the Gunners took a beating at AC Milan they look right for the picking.

The last few seasons for Arsenal have followed a familiar pattern, with everything going wrong in February. Last season they started February in four cup competitions and ended it with no hope of any silverware. This season could be a similar story, with Sunderland boss Martin O’Neill desperate for his team to go on a run in the FA Cup.

The Gunners once again have defensive problems with Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker sidelined, meaning the unreliable Johan Djourou could get a run out. Sunderland have been boosted by the news that Lee Cattermole is fit to return and on his day he could prove to be a thorn in Arsenal’s side.

Sunderland are 15/8 to defeat Arsenal, with the Gunners 7/5 and the draw 12/5.

Elsewhere, Everton host Blackpool in what should be an intriguing clash in which the Toffees should come out on top. Everton are struggling defensively while Blackpool score for fun so over 2.5 goals at 4/5 could be worth a few quid.

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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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Cottagers can add to Kean woes

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The two Premier League matches on Sunday don’t instantly stand out as ‘must-see’ games but, even at this early stage of the campaign, they could be crucial for the clubs involved. Norwich and West Brom are still seeking their first wins of the season, while Fulham and Blackburn have just one point between them…..who will prevail?

Norwich v West Brom (1.30pm)

Norwich have impressed many onlookers with their performances in the opening three games, but they could do with a win to further bolster confidence (Norwich 8/5, Draw 9/4, West Brom 15/8 – Match Betting).

The Canaries looked like securing three points in their first home match, but a late Stoke equaliser denied Paul Lambert’s men and the longer they go without a home win, the more anxious the Norwich fans will get.

This fixture is likely to have been targeted by Lambert as a game they should be looking to win, but they face a Baggies side who have performed better than results suggest.

The fixture list was unkind to Roy Hodgson’s men, who started with back-to-back games against Manchester United and Chelsea. They should have got something from those games, but a disappointing late home defeat to Stoke has left West Brom pointless and in the bottom three.

The return to fitness of Peter Odemwingie (6/1 First Goalscorer) will be a major plus for the visitors and the Nigerian looks likely to form a good partnership with Shane Long, who has already got two goals to his name this season.

This looks a tough one to call on paper and there may be a thought that this is a game that neither team will want to lose, rather than a game they need to win.

Suggested Bet – Draw @ 9/4

Fulham v Blackburn (4pm)

The pressure is mounting on Steve Kean and Craven Cottage is not normally a place you want to go if you are desperately seeking a victory (Fulham 8/11, Draw 5/2, Blackburn 9/2 – Match Betting).

Rovers have made their worst start since 1947-48, when they were relegated, and many pundits are predicting a season of struggle for Blackburn. Even lady luck seems to have deserted Kean’s men, who missed two penalties against Everton last time out and conceded a late spot-kick to lose a third game on the bounce.

The omens don’t look good either for Blackburn, who have been beaten on their last two trips to Craven Cottage, conceding a total of six goals.

Fulham though are hardly pulling up tress, with just one point from their opening three matches with the Cottagers hit hard by injuries. Simon Davies is a long-term absentee, while Bobby Zamora (11/8 to score at anytime) has also had a spell on the sidelines.

The deadline day capture of Brian Ruiz though looks an excellent addition to Martin Jol’s ranks and Fulham should be moving up the table soon. The home side look too strong for a Blackburn squad lacking in confidence and are likely to seal their opening success of the season.

Suggested Bet – Fulham to win @ 8/11

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Bologna need to solve defensive woes

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Harold Wilson once said a week was a long time in politics. But it is a short time in football, particularly when you’re Bologna coach Alberto Malesani (Bologna 10/3 to beat Parma) .

Before last week’s game against AC Milan, the Rossoblu had looked like being able to pull away from the foot of the Serie A table, with three wins in four games.

But even Malesani was forced to admit the 3-0 defeat to Milan was a “defensive disaster”, and the question is whether he will have been able to do anything about that by the time they visit Parma on Sunday.

The Rossoblu are 14th in the table, just four points outside the relegation zone, and Malesani said about the Milan game: “I had demanded that my players put more pressure on the ball but they didn’t do it.

“We have to be more focused and remain humble if we are to avoid the drop this season.”

Problem for Malesani is that his team are poor travellers. While at home they only average 0.75 goals conceded per game, on the road it is 2.12.

One of the things that could come to Bologna’s rescue is that their defeats have come against quality teams.

The Rossoblu have not lost to a team below 11th in the table (in fact their 1-1 draw against Catania is the only time they have not won such a game), so they aim to keep that run going against a Parma side who are currently 16th.

Parma have an extra bounce in their step after beating Fiorentina 2-1 in midweek to make it through to the quarter finals of the Coppa Italia (Parma 3/ 4 to beat Bologna).

Parma coach Pasquale Marino hopes the victory will help erase the memory of last weekend’s 3-1 defeat at Palermo – the club’s second in three games.

“The victory against Fiorentina was important for the morale of my players,” said Marino.

“The Coppa Italia is one of our aims. We now have a very important game against Bologna.We have to ride the wave of enthusiasm and take three points on Sunday.”

The visitors will be without midfielder Gaby Mundigayi, who is suspended.

Only one of Parma’s defeats so far this season has come at home – the 1-0 defeat to AC Milan on October 2.

Atletico Madrid can forget all about the Europa League and concentrate on qualifying for the Champions League when they take on lowly Malaga (Atletico 23/20 to beat Malaga).

Atletico’s hopes of defending their Europa League crown ended on Thursday when a 1-1 draw at Bayer Leverkusen saw them exit at the group stage.

It was their previous match, at home to Aris Thessaloniki, that was key to their downfall as they conceded twice in the second half to lose 3-2.

Now they  travel to third-bottom Malaga, where a victory could help them close the five-point gap to Espanyol in the fourth Champions League spot.

Atletico coach Quique Sanchez Flores said: “Now the only thing that we have to do is accept the consequences and forget about it as soon as possible. We hope that the return to Europe will be through the front door and into Champions League.”

Atletico bounced back from successive league defeats to beat Deportivo La Coruna 2-0 last weekend, lifting them up to sixth.

Malaga, under new coach Manuel Pellegrini, have won their last two home Primera Liga games including a 4-1 win over Racing Santander (Malaga 23/10 to beat Atletico).

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Bougherra adds to Rangers’ woes

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Rangers are sitting pretty at the top of the Scottish Premier League but Walter Smith is struggling with an injury crisis ahead of the trip to Kilmarnock (7/1 in the match betting).

The champions bounced back from their first defeat of the season to Hibernian earlier in the month by beating Aberdeen, but now they have to add Madjid Bougherra to an injury list that already includes Maurice Edu, Sasa Papac, Nikica Jelavic, James Beattie, Andy Webster, Steven Naismith and Steven Whittaker.

Rangers are 2/5 to win this weekend but could have one eye on their forthcoming Champions League game against Manchester United, and that could be their downfall as they face a Killie side that are unbeaten in their last four matches and have scored 10 goals in the process.

Dundee United were always going to face a daunting challenge travelling to Celtic Park, but they are not being helped by the number of injuries they are struggling with.

Peter Houston is without Craig Conway, Darren Dods, Scott Severin and Mihael Kovacevic for the clash, so is hoping that Danny Swanson and Jon Daly are available to come back into the side.

Celtic (1/4 to beat Dundee United) have stuttered since their staggering 9-0 win over Aberdeen, but their home goalscoring record has been impressive this term and the Terrors have only mustered 9 goals on their travels all season.

Hearts (1/2 to continue the winning run) have consolidated their third place with an impressive three wins in a row, in which they have scored six goals without conceding. That run included a victory over Celtic at Tynecastle only ten days ago and they have no new injury worries so can rely on the same side that have done them so well in recent weeks.

Hamilton (11/2 to win, 14/5 the draw) probably stand more chance on the road that at home, as they have won eight of their nine points on their travels. The facts suggest though that it will not be a goal-packed game, as Hearts have scored eight goals at Tynecastle and the Accies have scored six away from home all season, but Jim Jeffries knows a win for his side can see them further secure their third place standing.

Inverness CT (5/4 to win) have struggled at home this season and Hibernian (2/1 to win, draw 23/10) have not excelled on their travels, suggesting a draw could be the way forward. However both sides are currently chasing a third successive Clydesdale Bank Premier League victory, and Terry Butcher will be looking for the Highland side to continue their strong start that sees them sitting fifth in the table.

Derek Riordan will be looking to go out on a high before starting a suspension and help Hibernian get a third win on the bounce, but Colin Calderwood, who is recovering from a poor start as Hibs boss, goes into the game with David Wotherspoon, Daryl Duffy, Graham Stack and Merouane Zemmama all injured.

St Mirren (19/10 in the match betting) have struggled so far this season but Danny Lennon is finally getting an almost full squad available after seeing his side decimated by injuries in recent weeks. Motherwell (13/10 favourites to win) have had an up-and-down time of late but will want to keep the pressure on third-place Hearts win a win at New St Mirren Park.

Things have all been a struggle at Aberdeen recently. The Dons sit second bottom of the SPL and have only won two of their home games. Things have not been much better for St Johnstone, with five successive losses seeing them only one point and one place ahead of Saturday’s opposition.

Both teams are desperate for a result to go their way (Aberdeen 6/5 to win, St Johnstone 21/10) so they can climb away from the bottom reaches of the league, so it is likely there will be a war of attrition at Pittodrie this weekend.

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