English Championship 2nd/3rd Jan

[Swooperman]

Championship, England
12:00 PM Luton Town 2.30 X 3.10 Watford 2.85

3:00 PM Coventry City 2.60 X 3.10 Wolverhampton Wanderers 2.50

3:00 PM Crystal Palace 1.70 X 3.30 Leicester City 4.50

3:00 PM Millwall 2.35 X 3.10 Derby County 2.75

3:00 PM Norwich City 1.90 X 3.20 Preston North End 3.70

3:00 PM Queens Park Rangers 2.35 X 3.10 Burnley 2.75

3:00 PM Reading 1.50 X 3.60 Cardiff City 6.00

3:00 PM Sheffield Wednesday 2.00 X 3.15 Crewe Alexandra 3.40

3:00 PM Southampton FC 1.65 X 3.30 Brighton 5.00

3:00 PM Stoke City 1.85 X 3.20 Ipswich Town 3.90

5:15 PM Plymouth Argyle 2.65 X 3.10 Leeds United 2.40

Tuesday, January 03, 2006
Championship, England
7:45 PM Hull FC 2.85 X 3.10 Sheffield United 2.30

all odds B&W

[Bigkegman]

Tempted with Wolves (again- even although the screwed me this weekend).

Might be tempted to LAY Reading at such low odds. Watched them last night and they didn't impress.

The 6/5 avail on Lads shop coupion might tempt me - game involving two shit teams but can the Owls follow up their good win against Burnley ? - shite game to punt on but .....


Southampton should beat Brighton but lost last 4 without Harry - ods on NO thanks you.

[rhys jones]

I watched Southampton at Cardiff on New Years eve. They were awful, Cardiff opened them up 4 times in the first 20 minutes. Each time they were split through the middle and were very fortunate to be only 2 down at that stage. The kid on the wing looked useful but lacked support from the others. Any team who is willing to play through the middle and mix it will trouble Southampton.
If i had to have a bet it would be a draw but will probably leave.

[Bigkegman]

Thanks ryhs !!! - Southampton are definately a no go for me.

Forgot to mention Leeds away to Plymouth. Plymouth are doing OK but Leeds seem to be on fire and the 6/4 from Skybet is really really doing my napper in.

I don't want to bet them that big but as the bevvy is flowing today and that the game is on live I think it is a MUST bet.

IM on.........

[keemanan]

wouldn't put you ogg leeds keg but it's a long way after a long week. Plymouth aint shyte but 6/4 is long enough to warrant a flutter , I rekon they'll give you a run for your money.

I may turn to Stoke this weekend , I got 2 from 4 on saturday , MP was right about Reading , they should have lost and would have if Derby hadn't gone down to 10 men.I wouldn't back against them yet though they still are a good team.

Yeah Stoke are back atthe vicoria after battering Leeds but still losing , I think they'll get far more chance against Ipswich though , I'll look into this a bit more. Sheff Utd and Derby need looking at too I rekon.

oh and 1 more thing . Fukin Burnley! wankers

[Swooperman]

Originally Posted by keemanan

oh and 1 more thing . Fukin Burnley! wankers

ditto that, I suppose they'd won us a bit before that though

[Hippy Dave]

Crystal Palace to beat Leicester 10pts @ 1.75 (betfair)
Palace win at home unless a) they are playing one of the top 6 or 7 b) they are playing rivals. Leicester are in disarray right now, and this price is just the start that we need for the new year.

[prinze]

News from the sites
Coventry (18) v Wolves (6)
Michael Doyle is back in the Coventry squad after a ban. Richard Duffy may also return after a broken nose and Stern John is pushing for a start. Kevin Thornton (foot) is a doubt but Stuart Giddings (knee), Stephen Hughes (Achilles) and Neil Wood (knee) are all out. Marcus Hall may start after calf trouble.
Rob Edwards could be back in the Wolves side after being rested for the game with Plymouth. Lee Naylor may return after a patella problem, while Gabor Gyepes (ankle) and Mark Kennedy (calf) both played against Argyle. Mark Davies (hernia) is back in contention. George Ndah (medial knee ligament) and Mark Clyde (hip) are out and new signing Denes Rosa is ineligible.
Last season: Coventry 2 Wolves 2, Wolves 0 Coventry 1
Last five league matches: Coventry W W L D L; Wolves D W L W D
Top scorers: Gary McSheffrey (Coventry) 9; Carl Cort (Wolves) 9

Crystal Palace (5) v Leicester (20)
Palace's Jon Macken serves the final game of a three-match ban. Ben Watson is pushing for a recall to the starting line-up while Michael Hughes should retain his place in midfield. German winger Marco Reich could make the squad if he passes a late fitness test but defender Danny Butterfield (foot) is still out.
City may have full-back Patrick Kisnorbo available again after illness and Danny Tiatto and Alan Sheehan could also return to the squad. Striker Elvis Hammond may be in line for a start but Patrick Gerrbrand (hamstring) is a doubt and James Wesolowski (broken leg) and Lee Morris (knee) are still missing.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Crystal Palace D L W W W; Leicester L D D L L
Top scorers: Clinton Morrison, Andrew Johnson (Crystal Palace) 8; Mark de Vries (Leicester) 8

Luton (10) v Watford (4)
Luton boss Mike Newell looks set to restore striker Steve Howard to the starting line-up with Warren Feeney likely to make way. Defender Chris Coyne is a major doubt after being forced off against Ipswich with an injury so Leon Barnett is standing by.
Watford's exciting forward Ashley Young is back from an ankle injury but Adrian Boothroyd has to decide whether he should start at Kenilworth Road. Anthony McNamee is likely to retain his place after passing a late fitness test on an injured knee before the 2-1 defeat to Crystal Palace.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Luton L L D W L; Watford D L W D L
Top scorers: Steve Howard (Luton) 8; Marlon King (Watford) 12

Millwall (23) v Derby (17)
Josh Simpson is in line to start for Millwall against Derby after impressing as a substitute in the 2-1 win at Brighton. Barry Cogan and Marvin Williams also impressed after coming off the bench. Marvin Elliott faces a late fitness test on a knee injury.
Derby striker Danny Graham has completed his loan spell at Pride Park and returned to Middlesbrough and Andrew Davies is suspended. Paul Peschisolido and Michael Johnson could come in, Adam Bolder and Lee Holmes should retain their places and Morten Bisgaard is pushing for a return to the squad.
Last season: Derby 0 Millwall 3, Millwall 3 Derby 1
Last five league matches: Millwall L L D D W; Derby D D D L D
Top scorers: Barry Hayles, Ben May (Millwall) 5; Inigo Idiakez (Derby) 7

Norwich (11) v Preston (7)
Norwich will be without the suspended Youssef Safri, Jurgen Colin is injured and youngster Rossi Jarvis could deputise. Leon McKenzie (ankle) is sidelined and Jason Shackell and Jim Brennan are doubtful.
Preston are without England Under-21 international David Jones, who has not extended his loan from Manchester United. Defender Callum Davidson (hamstring) and midfielder Paul McKenna (dead leg) are out and goalkeeper Andy Lonergan will miss the rest of the season with a serious knee injury.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Norwich W W W W W; Preston W D D D W
Top scorers: Dean Ashton (Norwich) 11; David Nugent (Preston) 5

Plymouth (19) v Leeds (3)
Plymouth midfielder David Norris is suspended so Hungarian playmaker Akos Buzsaky is set to return to the starting line-up. Midfielder Jason Jarrett's two-month loan spell from Norwich ends following the match.
Leeds strike duo Rob Hulse and David Healy could be recalled at the expense of Robbie Blake and Richard Cresswell. Left-back Dan Harding looks likely to miss out through injury with Stephen Crainey continuing in his absence. Icelandic midfielder Gylfi Einarsson (shoulder) is out.
Last season: Leeds 2 Plymouth 1, Plymouth 0 Leeds 1
Last five league matches: Plymouth L D W W D; Leeds L L W W W
Top scorers: Paul Wotton (Plymouth) 5; Rob Hulse, David Healy (Leeds) 8




QPR (13) v Burnley (9)
Veteran striker Paul Furlong could return to the starting line-up if manager Ian Holloway decides to rest either Shabazz Baidoo or Marc Nygaard, who has been hampered by hamstring and calf problems since joining from Italian club Brescia in the summer. Marc Bircham seems certain to miss out through injury.
Burnley's John Spicer is unlikely to feature because of shin trouble, John McGreal is doubtful through injury but Wayne Thomas is getting closer to full fitness after recovering from a serious knee problem.
Last season: Burnley 2 QPR 0, QPR 3 Burnley 0
Last five league matches: QPR D L L W W; Burnley L W W L L
Top scorers: Marc Nygaard, Paul Furlong, Gareth Ainsworth, Kevin Gallen (QPR) 4; Ade Akinbiyi (Burnley) 14

Reading (1) v Cardiff (8)
Reading could welcome back Dave Kitson after his recovery from a hamstring problem. Fellow frontman Leroy Lita has been sidelined since early December with an ankle complaint, and although he is still not fully recovered he is available. James Harper is still struggling for fitness so Iceland international Brynjar Gunnarsson is set to continue in midfield.
Cardiff have Darren Purse back from suspension and Rhys Weston is available following a hip injury. Ex-Watford star Neil Cox has stood in for Purse while former Wimbledon ace Neal Ardley has been deputising for Weston, the pair playing in the 1-0 defeat at QPR and the 2-1 home success against Southampton.
Last season: Cardiff 2 Reading 0, Reading 2 Cardiff 1
Last five league matches: Reading W W W W D; Cardiff W D L L W
Top scorers: Dave Kitson (Reading) 13; Cameron Jerome (Cardiff) 12




Sheff Wed (22) v Crewe (24)
Wednesday boss Paul Sturrock will be without winger Chris Eagles, who has completed his loan stint from Manchester United. Midfielder Glenn Whelan may be recalled to the starting line-up. Defender John Hills has picked up five yellow cards but is not suspended until the FA Cup clash with Charlton on January 7.
Crewe striker Michael Higdon looks set to miss his fourth successive game after tearing a muscle in his stomach. Richard Walker (ankle) and goalkeeper Ben Williams (wrist) are also major doubts and striker Juan Ugarte will definitely miss out with a knee injury.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Sheff Wed L L D L W; Crewe L D D D L
Top scorers: Chris Brunt (Sheff Wed) 5; Luke Varney, Billy Jones, Eddie Johnson (Crewe) 4




Southampton (15) v Brighton (21)
Saints hope to have influential midfielder Nigel Quashie back from a knee injury. Michael Svensson (knee), Kamil Kosowski (hamstring), Danny Higginbotham (groin) and Marian Pahars (knee) are definitely out and Claus Lundekvam (ribs and groin operation) is unlikely to feature, while Darren Powell (hamstring) and Nathan Dyer (dead leg) are doubts. Matt Oakley (calf) is highly unlikely to play.
Brighton will be missing the suspended Colin Kazim-Richards, Paul Reid and Dean Hammond. Argentinian striker Federico Turienzo (hamstring) and Alexis Nicholas (knee) are doubtful and Charlie Oatway is injured but Gary Hart (tonsillitis) could start.
Last season: No corresponding fixture
Last five league matches: Southampton W L L L L; Brighton L W W L L
Top scorers: Dexter Blackstock (Southampton) 5; Leon Knight (Brighton) 5




Stoke (12) v Ipswich (14)
Stoke defender John Halls misses out with an injured hamstring picked up in the 1-0 home defeat to Leeds. Defender Clint Hill (knee) should return to training in the next couple of weeks but midfielder John Eustace (knee) remains a long-term absentee.
Dean Bowditch (hip) and Castro Sito (ankle) are major doubts for Town after picking up knocks against Luton. Jason De Vos (dead leg) should be okay and Gavin Williams (bruised knee) could return but Nicky Forster is almost certainly out with a jarred knee.
Last season: Ipswich 1 Stoke 0, Stoke 3 Ipswich 2
Last five league matches: Stoke W W L L L; Ipswich D W L L W
Top scorers: Sambegou Bangoura (Stoke) 9; Sam Parkin (Ipswich) 5

[GETT1NLOTS]

First impressions.

Crystal Palace 1.70 X 3.30 Leicester City 4.50
Palace are in great form and Leicester simply stink at the moment. An obvious bet and the price isn't that bad either.

Norwich City 1.90 X 3.20 Preston North End 3.70
Two tema running into form. I would suggest that people leave this alone.

Reading 1.50 X 3.60 Cardiff City 6.00
Should be a home win but their is no value at 1.50

Southampton FC 1.65 X 3.30 Brighton 5.00
I might be tempted to lay Southampton on the exchanges here. Anyone who backs Southampton at 1.65 against one of the hardest teams to beat on their travels needs their head testing.

I'll definately take some of the 1.75 on C. Palace at Betfair that Dave mentions. I might lay Southampton whilst I'm at it but I need to look into this a bit more.

[mrmuzeman]

My lay system highlights Southampton as the only Championship lay tomorrow, so im in agreement with what has been said At odds on its too short and a draw looks a real chance

[fasteddy]

Reading vs Cardiff

Reading at home!...say no more.

League leaders have been imperious on home soil with a run of 11-1-1 of results and only conceded 9 in that time, while scoring 32: quality.
Cardiff are 4-3-6 on the road , scoring 14 and conceding 14: average stuff.

Reading are 9-1-0 26:5 for the last 10
Cardiff : 4-2-4 10:11

Huge gap in quality and results , therefore this should be an easy enough win for Reading and the AH of -1.25 covered.

Team news:soccernet.com

Reading :
Reading boss Steve Coppell could welcome leading goalscorer Dave Kitson back into his squad for the home clash with Cardiff.

The 25-year-old striker missed the New Year's Eve draw at Derby with cramp in his hamstring, but is expected to recover in time to play some part against the Bluebirds.

Fellow frontman Leroy Lita has been sidelined since early December with an ankle complaint and, although he is still not fully recovered, he is available if needed.

James Harper is still struggling for fitness so Iceland international Brynjar Gunnarsson is set to continue in midfield.

Cardiff:
Cardiff will have to change a winning formula if skipper Darren Purse and Rhys Weston are to return to the team.
Both have sat out the last two Championship games, Purse through suspension and Wales international Weston with a hip injury.

Ex-Watford star Neil Cox has stood in for Purse while former Wimbledon ace Neal Ardley has been deputising for Weston, the pair playing in the 1-0 defeat at QPR and the 2-1 home success against Southampton.

Cardiff will run the rule over several walking wounded before confirming the starting XI.

The visitors have selection worries ahead of this match and it would seem only commonsense to place the advantage, on all fronts, with the home side.
The key difference between these two sides is the consistency of goal scoring: Reading do it week in week out, while Cardiff struggle to find the net.

With Kitson looking to be back in the game we should expect them to do so again, while the defence is solid enough to deal with any attacks from the visitors.

There are no 'positives' that I can find to sway me into thinking that reading will lose, not at all. Regards covering this handicap..well, I don't see Cardiff scoring, while Reading should be able to find at least two, as they are averaging 2.5 a game , while conceding at a rate of only 0.7.
It's a very tempting price on a side with so much in its favour: take it

[zonker84]

Originally Posted by keemanan

Yeah Stoke are back atthe vicoria after battering Leeds but still losing , I think they'll get far more chance against Ipswich though

Showing your age there keema, Stoke have played at the Britannia Stadium since 1997

I wouldn't put you off Leeds either Keg, they had the luxury of resting a couple of their strikers for the last game. Looks a probably low-scoring game

[MickeyPaul]

Cor, I reckon I'll have to be on Sheff Utd @ 2.3 - As I've said a few times recently, I don't think Hull have much in their locker and although their home record looks ok on paper, I think they've had their fair share of luck and could easily have lost a few more there.

[johnnybgood]

I am also on wolves today.As much as I understand their problem this season are injuries,and it seems it is getting better.Last game they played well but not efficient enough.My lokal offer 2,6 what I find realy generous.

[PTDSEI]

Ive a very very strong gut feeling that Leeds are going to stuff Plymouth today. (Live on d`telly too )

Ive backed Plymouths opposition in their last 2 games (against Wolves and Cardiff) & lost both times.

Leeds have a decent squad this season.

I like their strikers (Rob Hulse,David Healy, Robbie Blake and Richard Cresswell) they can all do a job at this level.

Can anybody put me off Leeds?

Leeds won both meetings last season and are hot on the tail of Sheff Utd.