Pompey to Hold Chelsea
Best Bets: Portsmouth v Chelsea Draw 6/1 (Skybet)
Correct score bet Dundee United 1 v 0 Rangers 12/1 (Paddypower)
Chelsea are looking exposed away from home at the moment and can’t seem to finish teams off. They have only won one of their last six away games and despite playing bottom of the table Portsmouth and being as short as 2/7 (Ladbrokes) we don’t think they are certainties to get the three points. Portsmouth really do have nothing to lose and at 11/1 (Bet365) might be a bit too big a price. We’re predicting this game to end in a surprise draw 6/1 (Skybet) and we’re tipping a 1-1 correct score bet 10/1 (Coral).
If Everton do have an Achilles heel it’s their away form and with Manchester City unbeaten in 13 at home we suggest a bet on a home win for City at odds of 10/11 (Bet365). We expect Everton to make them fight every inch of the way for the points and we’re predicting a 2-1 result 15/2 (Skybet).
If Aston Villa can nab the three points at home to Sunderland then they are right back in contention for the fourth place spot. Sunderland have shown great improvement over the last four or five games and will give a good account of themselves. We expect this to be a very close match with few goals, so the under 2.5 goals bet at 4/5 (Paddypower) gets the nod along with the home win for Villa 4/7 (Ladbrokes). The 1-0 scoreline 6/1 (Coral) could also be a worthwhile bet.
Both Blackburn and Birmingham have great home records this season and so with Blackburn having home advantage here we have to side with them to get the win at Evens (Bet365). Our prediction is a 1-0 win for Rovers 7/1 (Paddypower) with Jason Roberts 13/2 (Bet365) our selection as first goalscorer.
Championship
It’s quite difficult to back against Reading at the moment as they are in such good form. We think they will manage to grab a point away at Leicester and so the draw 12/5 (Skybet) is where our money is going. Both teams to score at 4/5 (Coral) is another bet we will be having.
Our money is going on Cardiff Evens (Skybet) to get a home win over Sheffield United. We’re predicting a 1-0 win for Cardiff 6/1 (Ladbrokes) with Peter Whittingham our first goalscorer pick at 6/1 (Paddypower).
The draw looks the safest option to take in the Sheffield Wednesday versus Watford match. This is a real six pointer and with both teams finding wins rare, the draw 9/4 (Coral) is our selection.
Despite being in good form we don’t think Coventry will be able to match West Brom at the Hawthorns and we are selecting a home win 1/2 (Skybet).
Scottish Cup
Dundee United and Rangers meet in their Scottish Cup Quarter Final replay after the first game at Ibrox finished 3-3. Rangers have run out easy winners in the two league games between the teams this season, but cup games seem to bring the best out of United and we’re predicting they will cause a little bit of an upset and win the match at 7/2 (Coral). The correct score bet of 1-0 12/1 (Paddypower) could pay off.