December 1st Football...

A slightly new direction on my Premiership write ups as any match that is a no bet game I won't be previewing... also the Villa v Arsenal match is an evening kick off so I'll preview that separately.

Chelsea v West Ham

On paper Chelsea should win this game, but they are missing a few players for the visit of West Ham with Essien, Cech, Ballack, Malouda, Carvalho and Ferreira all out. However the Hammers are missing their own fair share of players but will hopefully welcome Ashton and Bowyer back and they could cause Chelsea a few problems if they are on song. As a result I'm going to have a small play on the draw and hope that West Ham can frustrate for a while.

1pt Chelsea v West Ham to Draw @ 6


Blackburn v Newcastle

After going down 0-4 to Villa at Ewood Park midweek Blackburn will be hoping to bounce back against a Newcastle side that have been getting progressively worse as the season has unfolded. The fans have turned on Big Sam and there are rumours that the players are doing the same. To be fair Mark Hughes couldn't have really asked for a better fixture to get back on track and the home fans will be right behind their team as they look to beat a side that has scored three and won on each of their last two visits to Ewood. I think both teams will be looking to ensure there are no repeats of their last results so will hope to keep it tight at the back and as such the unders could be a decent place to start with a view to a possible trade

2.5pts Under 2.5 Goals @ 1.92


Sunderland v Derby

Sunderland were battered last time out (7-1 at Everton) while Derby have been hammered a few times this season, today's result depends on how Sunderland bounce back. Roy Keane is the key here, he has gone on record about the 7-1 and he will learn a lot from it. Results like that happen to the best of managers and teams but I think this game will be a testament to the spirit Keane has instilled in his team and they'll show him what they're made of. Derby haven't scored away from home yet this season and I don't expect much relief today

1pt Sunderland to win 3-0 @ 17


Wigan v Manchester City

City with poor away form, Wigan gritty at home, City missing their talisman Elano, Wigan with a new manager. So many variables today means this could go many ways. I see Wigan holding, frustrating, stifling City in the same way they did with Liverpool earlier this season and Arsenal last week, but City under Sven, as I've said before are a different team than last year and they'll need to grind these results out in order to keep in their position towards the top of the table. This could be where they show their mettle.

1pt HT/FT Draw/City @ 7.8


Championship
2pts West Brom to win at Crystal Palace @ 2.48
2pts Sheffield United to win at Coventry @ 2.82
2.5pts Double Watford & Ipswich @ 2.77

FA Cup
3pts Bury to beat Exeter @ 1.88
2pts Brighton to win at Torquay @ 2.42

Scotland
1pt Hearts to beat Celtic @ 4.8
2.5pts Dundee to win at Dunfermline @ 2.22


Update: Layed the draw back at 56 minutes and 0-0 in the Chelsea game for a 3pts profit if it comes in, no loss if it doesn't.


Will update everything at the end of the day, but on to the evening matches, firstly Arsenal travel to Villa looking to stay unbeaten so far this season, Villa are on form and will give Arsenal a game but I think Arsenal will be too strong and in the same way United and Liverpool have done, come away with the win. Both teams also have a few defenders who can get on the score sheet so I've had a small punt on a couple of them.

I've also had an opening bet on the Watford game with a coupld of correct scores, I think Watford will beat Bristol City today and they're a free scoring side, once the first has gone in it could easily be two, three or more. Will also look at over 2.5 goals in play as Bristol City can bang them in too...

1pt HT/FT Draw/Arsenal @ 6.2
0.25pts Gallas FGS @ 29
0.25pts Laursen FGS @ 38
0.5pts Watford to beat Bristol City 3-0 @ 15
0.5pts Watford to beat Bristol City 3-1 @ 15

Update: Aresnal 2-1 up but both in the 1st half unfortunately, Villa pressing at the end though so:
LAY Arsenal to lose 1pt @ 1.1


No point starting a new post for this little snippet (as I imagine it's a loser - but worth a punt). Hope were awful on X-Factor tonight, but the public have saved them before so I'm going to have a cheeky half point on who I see as the two other eviction contenders, Leon and Niki
0.25pts Leon to go @ 37.6
0.25pts Niki to go @ 42


1pt Chelsea v West Ham to Draw @ 6 - Traded for no loss
2.5pts Blackburn v Newcastle Under 2.5 Goals @ 1.92 - Lost -2.5pts
1pt Sunderland to win 3-0 @ 17 - Lost -1pt
1pt HT/FT Draw/City @ 7.8 - Lost -1pt
2pts West Brom to win at Crystal Palace @ 2.48 - Lost -2pts
2pts Sheffield United to win at Coventry @ 2.82 - Won +3.46pts
2.5pts Double Watford & Ipswich @ 2.77 - Lost -2.5pts
3pts Bury to beat Exeter @ 1.88 - Won +2.51pts
2pts Brighton to win at Torquay @ 2.42 - Won +2.7pts
1pt Hearts to beat Celtic @ 4.8 - Lost -1pt
2.5pts Dundee to win at Dunfermline @ 2.22 - Won +2.9pts
1pt HT/FT Draw/Arsenal @ 6.2 - Lost -1pt
0.25pts Gallas FGS @ 29 - Lost -0.25pts
0.25pts Laursen FGS @ 38 - Lost -0.25pts
0.5pts Watford to beat Bristol City 3-0 @ 15 - Lost -0.5pts
0.5pts Watford to beat Bristol City 3-1 @ 15 - Lost -0.5pts
LAY Arsenal to lose 1pt @ 1.1 - Lost -1pt
0.25pts Leon to go @ 37.6 - Lost -0.25pts
0.25pts Niki to go @ 42 - Lost -0.25pts

Total: -2.43pts
December so far: -2.43pts