Saturday Football

Only three Premiership matches today, a full Championship programme and the FA Cup in England. I'll be looking at matches here and in the rest of Europe...

Premiership:
Sunderland v Newcastle

Newcastle travel to the Stadium of Light today off the back of a 1-4 home reverse against Portsmouth which saw their fickle fans walking out after just 15 minutes! They will be looking to bounce back, but this isn't the type of match they need today especially with their away form (losing their last 4). Sunderland meanwhile have been playing reasonably well, if not quite getting the results... they were hugely unlucky not to get a point on Monday at City and will look to get at least that return today.

Newcastle are the better side on paper, but with the support of their fans urging them on if Sunderland play like they did on Monday I think they'll get a draw at least.

1pt DRAW Sunderland v Newcastle @ 3.25


Derby v West Ham

Bottom of the league Derby, winless in six and surely doomed to relegation already host a West Ham side who will be eager to get back to winning ways after a couple of draws. It's a funny match to call, West Ham are riddled with injuries, especially up front while Derby just struggle to score (5 goals in 12 games). Derby's major problem is they concede... a lot! 26 goals against this season tells it's own story, although only 6 in their last 5 show they have tightened up somewhat. I think this will be a slow, drawn out death for those at the game but thankfully it isn't live on TV. A lot will depend on who (if anyone) returns for West Ham, but with Ljungberg and Ashton possibly back I think the Hammers may nick this by the single goal.

1pt West Ham to beat Derby @ 2.4


Liverpool v Fulham

In the space of a few days the noises from Anfield have changed from "Rafa out" to "Knight Rafa"... the poor bloke can't win. So which Liverpool will turn up today? The one which won 8-0 midweek, or the one that have drawn 4 out of 5 home league games? Sure Besiktas were awful on Tuesday but the win will have given Liverpool a huge confidence boost. If I was a Liverpool fan the main worry for me would be if Crouch was dropped again and Kuyt or Torres were brought it, although admittedly this game could be perfect for the flat track bully that is Torres.

Fulham have only lost once in the last eight games, a run that includes talking a point from Chelsea and they will come to park the proverbial bus. Liverpool won't find them as easy to break down as they did Besiktas but if they do, they could net a couple. However it's not a match to call at this time I feel, more one to watch to get the feel of with a view to playing in running.


Championship:
Three matches take my eye today in the Championship, Ipswich who have won their first 6 home league games this season (their last 10 overall in all competitions) play a Bristol City side who I feel are in a slightly false position of 3rd in the Championship. I feel Ipswich's attacking style of football will be too much for Bristol C and think a couple of goals will be the difference.
Secondly Palace host QPR with both teams struggling for form this season, Palace are win-less in eight games with 4 points from their last 6 matches while QPR are pulling things slightly around with 11 points in the same period. It won't be a pretty match, but I think QPR just have enough to get a result today.
Sheffield United travel to Stoke with both teams in indifferent form but I think the Blades can build on their home win against Ipswich with a victory against a Stoke side comprehensively turned over by Coventry in their last home game. It won't be easy and will be tightly contested so I'm taking the draw no bet option to be on the safe side.
2pts Ipswich to beat Bristol C @ 2.16
2pts LAY Palace v QPR @ 2.16
2.5pts Sheff Utd DNB v Stoke @ 2.25

FA Cup:
Lots of games today in this potential minefield so I've looked for a bit of value in three games. I'm taking Barrow to make the best of Bournemouth's mammoth journey to the North West coast and sneak a win. Also Harrogate Railways to beat the quite frankly rubbish Droylsden, and MK Dons to bridge the slight gap in League positions to knock out Crewe.
0.5pts Barrow to beat Bournemouth @ 6
1pt Harrogate Railways to beat Droylsden @ 4.4
2pts MK Dons to beat Crewe @ 3

Scotland:
One bet in Scotland today and Hibs look a cert against Gretna who will surely go straight back down this season. It shouldn't be a difficult win so hopefully they will bang a couple in and bring home the money against a Gretna side who just can't score...
4pts Hibs -1 to beat Gretna @ 1.86


I've also gone for a small 0.5pt utter mug accumulator on Darlington, West Ham, Hull, Charlton, Ipswich, Leicester and Oxford Utd
0.5pts Acca @ 134.72