Author: Online Betting Pro

I am a punter that loves to follow the horse both in Australia and the United Kingdom. I enjoy writing about sports betting and also casino, poker and bingo. In my spare time I like to keep fit by playing football and going for long bike rides. I also like to travel the world and see amazing place s and meet wonderful people along the way.

Advocaat favourite to replace Poyet at Sunderland

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Sunderland have sacked coach Gus Poyet following Saturday’s embarrassing 4-0 home defeat by Aston Villa. The Black Cats now have just nine games left to avoid relegation and they currently sit just one point above the relegation zone.

Former Chelsea and Tottenham star Poyet had been in charge for 17 months at the Stadium of Light and had led them to safety last season following the departure of Paolo Di Canio. He also took them to the final of the Capital One Cup but crisis talks on Monday failed to convince the board that the Uruguayan should remain in charge.

There has been increasing unrest at the club and Poyet almost came to blows with Steve Bruce during the recent match with Hull. The sight of thousands of fans heading out of the stadium before half-time on Saturday proved the final straw. Poyet joins Bruce and Martin O’Neill on the list of recent Sunderland bosses that have failed to last the test of time. Remaining fixtures include trips to Everton, Arsenal and Chelsea.

Bookmakers have installed Dick Advocaat as even money favourite to replace Poyet. The former Rangers boss left his job as coach of the Serbian national team last year. Negotiations are already under way to bring in the 67-year-old on a short-term basis.

The youth academy pair of Paul Bracewell and Kevin Ball have also been linked with a temporary appointment, although odds vary wildly on the pair. Bracewell is 8-1 with Bet365 and only 4-1 with Ladbrokes while Ball is as high as 16-1 with BetVictor.

Sam Allardyce has seen a promising season at West Ham disintegrate in recent weeks, their 3-0 defeat at Arsenal being their fifth in eight matches with three draws. Their last victory came against Bristol City in the FA Cup in January. The Hammers have slid down the table to tenth place but are still comfortably clear of relegation. It is difficult to imagine Allardyce being enticed to the north-east at this stage of the season, especially with Sunderland due to visit the London club this coming Saturday. His price varies between 5-1 on Betfair and 9-1 on Betway.

Other more speculative candidates include Michael Laudrup (16-1), Mark Warburton (20-1) and Steve McLaren (25-1). The former England boss is as short as 7-1 with Ladbrokes.

Cricket World Cup Day 29 Recap

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The Cricket World Cup has officially reached knockout stages after the Pool games wrapped up yesterday.  The West Indies and Ireland sealed the final two quarterfinal spots in Pool B with effortless wins against UAE and Ireland respectively.

The quarterfinals are now confirmed as:

Sri Lanka v South Africa

India v Bangladesh

Australia v Pakistan

New Zealand v West Indies

Here’s how yesterday’s games panned out.

Day 29 Results

1. West Indies v UAE

The West Indies put their indifferent form and the threat of Cyclone Pam behind them to comfortably seal their place in the Cricket World Cup quarterfinals with a win over the UAE in Napier.

Needing to progress their net run rate and beat impending rain, the West Indies did everything right after winning the toss and dismissing the UAE quickly.  It could well have been even quicker after the associates were 6/46; Jason Holder doing most of the damage.

There was a slight recovery.  Amjad Javed and Nasir Aziz were the architects; the pair adding 107 for the 7th wicket and extending the match for the brave souls that did turn out to a rather grey McLean Park.  Aziz’s innings was particularly surprising given his highest first class score is just 4.  Both Aziz and Javed notched fifties, delaying the inevitable, and causing the West Indies to nervously glance skywards as the partnership progressed.

The West Indies easily reach the mediocre target.  They needed to chase it within 33 overs to ensure a playoff position (barring a tie on the later Adelaide game), and managed to do with 3 overs to spare.  The relatively unused extended squad members, Johnson Charles and Jonathan Carter, did the bulk of the scoring.  Charles looked frenetic, Carter composed as their fifties atoned for Chris Gayle’s absence.

The West Indies set a date with New Zealand in Wellington where they’ll believe anything can happen.

West Indies 176 for 4 (Charles 55, Carter 50*) beat UAE 175 (Aziz 60, Javed 56, Holder 4-27) by six wickets

2. Pakistan v Ireland

Ireland’s fairytale run in the Cricket World Cup came to an abrupt end when they were well-beaten by Pakistan in the final Pool game of the tournament.

After witnessing the West Indies dispatch the UAE, Ireland needed at least a tie to make it through to a knockout match but failed to summon the batting performance necessary to test a vulnerable Pakistan batting unit.  William Porterfield (107) fought bravely, but lacked support in a total that appeared to be 50 short of a competitive score based on the surface, and 80 short based on the Irish bowling attack.  What Riaz the best bowler with three wickets, with the other 7 shared amongst Sohail Khan and Rahat Ali, and others.

In reply, Pakistan never threatened to let nerves get the better of them.  They chased the total with remarkable ease to set up a quarterfinal against tournament favourites Australia.  Sarfraz was the star of the show.  He made a mature hundred to anchor the chase, after the bulk of the total was knocked off by him and Ahmed Shehzad (63).  Sarfraz has made an excellent contribution in the two games he has featured in, with both bat and gloves.  6 dismissals and 150 runs is an excellent return from two games, and he has likely secured a place in the starting team for the Australian match also in Adelaide.

Pakistan 241 for 3 (Sarfraz 101*, Shehzad 63) beat Ireland 237 (Porterfield 107, Wahab 3-54) by seven wickets

 

Sha Tin Tips Sunday 15th March

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Bet on Sha Tin races with Bet365!

HONG KONG RACING SUNDAY 15 March 1915

SHA TIN

Hong Kong Wrap Up

It’s another great days racing at Sha Tin today and yet more Group racing with the Hong Kong Derby over the 2000m and the Queens Silver Jubilee Cup over the 1400m. Both look to be sensational races and we have Able Friend going around today as well in the Cup which will be excitement plus as he is dropping back in distance to contest this race today. If he can win this he certainly is a real talent and all indications are that he can certainly do just that. The Derby does look to have some serious talent and a fair few chances which have to be proven over the 2000m and it does look like being a very exciting race. What I can tell you about today is that it does look open early in the card but there is a lot of value there as well if the on top selections get rolled and it may very well be a day of taking a few flexi boxed exacta’s on the side as if they hit they will result in nice dividends. We went well last week and have a bit in the kitty as a result of that with our best bet winning along with our best value selection at odds of 12/1 along with 6 exacta’s. On average the results are very good so enjoy the form and have great meet.

Track and Conditions: Turf A Course. Track currently rated as Good.

 

Expected Weather: Sunny intervals with coastal fog which may be present throughout the morning and day. Top temperature of 22 degrees and the wind will be from the east to south east which should give a slight tail wind down the straight assisting closers to some degree but overall it should be a fair playing ground.

 Best Bet: Race 6 No 4 Righteous

Best Value: Race 8 No 12 Super Talent

Best Exotic Races: Race No’s 7-8-9-10

Quaddie:-

Race 7: 1-2 Race 8: 4-12 Race 9: 1-4-2-6-3 Race 10: 2-14-5-1

 

Race 1: — Time: 5.00am GMT—Distance: 1650m—Class 5

Top Pick: No 1 Fortune Territory

Value Selection: No Opitimizational Star

Exotic Inclusions: No 2 Best Jade Triumph and No 9 Solar Boy

 

Race Overview

Well Joao just keeps getting the good mounts and no different today. Fortune Territory dropped back in class last start for the first time in a long while and looks to have made an instant improvement.  Ran a very nice close up third on that occasion and was closing off well with top weight from a very wide draw. Comes up with a much better draw today in gate 2 and has to be a strong consideration here. Optimizational Star has found himself in some good form lately winning two of his last three over this distance at this class hence the weight rise. He ran on well on both those occasions and there should be enough pace throughout this race to allow him to close off well once again today. Certainly appeals at current odds of 10/1 with Zac Purton in the saddle.

 

Race 2: — Time: 5.30am GMT—Distance: 1200m—Class 4

Top Pick: No 8 Tracker

Value Selection: No 1 Trendy World

Exotic Inclusions: No 2 Unique Joyful and No 10 Thunder Dash

 

Race Overview

This does look open and very hard to separate the form here so I would be taking it easy in this one. Tracker Just the one start in Hong Kong and that was over this distance at Sha Tin. Did not begin the best on that occasion but mustered to make up ground. His hoop on entering the straight lost his right rein and took some time to regather. All the same he fought on well on that occasion and should certainly strip fitter today. Trendy World raced very well first up in Hong Kong then put in a sub standard performance last start. Not quite sure where they are going with this one but I do have a feeling that he will race very much better today. Retains his usual hoop and I would not be surprised to see him go very close here from a good draw in gate 5.

 

Race 3: — Time: 6.00am GMT—Distance: 1400m—Class 4

Top Pick: No 3 Bear Rapper

Value Selection: No 1 Plenty Of Speed

Exotic Inclusions: No 6 Royal Elegance and No 14 Jade Pippo

 

Race Overview

Bear Rapper well he really was expected to win last start but looking at that race he really did not have much luck in the early stages and was left with too much ground to make up.  Retains Joao Moreira in the saddle and drawn well once again and if he gets away ok he is the one to beat and does deserve to break through on current form. Plenty Of Speed recently dropped back to this class and has gone close on both occasions since doing so. He crossed and sat on the speed on both those starts from gate 14 and it will be no surprise see him perform even better after coming up with a decent gate today. Weighted at his best but he does get a 7 Lb claim today as well. Appeals as value here at nice odds.

 

Race 4: — Time: 6.30am GMT—Distance: 1600m—Class 4

Top Pick: No 8 Gold Dragon

Value Selection: No 1 D’or Wongchoy

Exotic Inclusions: No 12 Rugby Ambassador and No 4 Vara Pearl

Race Overview

Gold Dragon Just the four starts in Hong Kong but all have been good and placed on three occasions. Has been closing off very well over the 1400m which does suggest that the extra 200m today may very well be what he is looking for. From Barrier four you would expect he will be well placed in the running and would not have to improve too much to be right in the finish once again. D’or Wongchoy won first up this season over this distance at this class then went up to class three and found it tuff going. Back to class four today and as a result back up in the weights but he has won at this class with only 1 Lb less so has to be a strong consideration today even from the wide gate. Vara Pearl I am going to throw this one in as my BOLTER of the day here as his form overall is certainly consistent enough to match up against these runners. Has drawn wide but there should not be enough early pace to prevent him getting across into a nice trail position. He has Bernard Fayd’Herbe in the saddle today and following in Douglas Whyte’s footsteps this South African rider from Durbin does have some class and will certainly be egar to display it in his first race in Hong Kong. Certainly looks over the odds here and is currently around the 30/1 mark.

 

Race 5: — Time: 7.00am GMT—Distance: 1800m—Class 3

Top Pick: No 4 Ensuring

Value Selection: No 5 Industrialist Way

Exotic Inclusions: No 8 Photon Willie and No 6 Top Act

 

Race Overview

Ensuring is a last start winner and has been much more consistent at this distance this season. Still just gets in ok at the weights on those performances and certainly has appeal at current odds as well. Industrialist Way is far too consistent to leave out here as he has really been on song at this class over these distances this season. Won and placed twice over this distance at this class this season and still retains the same weight as last start. All points for another very good performance once again today as he just has to hold form which you would expect he should do. Retains Brett Prebble in the saddle who is the master of the weave and a very good hoop in staying events. The other rated runners will all have their chances as well looking at this field

 

Race 6: — Time: 7.00am GMT—Distance: 1200m—Class 3

Top Pick: No 4 Righteous

Value Selection: No 10 Lucky Day

Exotic Inclusions: No 8 Sight Seeing and No 1 Chater Legend

 

Race Overview

Righteous Just the three starts in Hong Kong and all have been at Sha Tin over this distance. Won his first two in good style but certainly looked to have been robbed last start as he was hampered early on and to me looked to get into a pocket running into the straight and really never got out until very late. Looked to be a victim of the way the hoops ran that race. Should atone here and really does look the one to beat. Lucky Day has been bouncing up and down between class 3 and class 4 and has been consistent without winning this season. Up a touch in the weights but looking at this field he has another good chance today. Does come across as the value selection here.

 

Race 7: — Time: 8.00am GMT—Distance: 1400m—Class – Group One

Top Pick: No 1 Able Friend

Value Selection: No 2 Gold-Fun

Exotic Inclusions: No 6 Beauty Flame-No 5 Gordon Lord Byron / No 4

Ambitious Dragon

Race Overview

This is the first of two sensational group races today. If Able Friend can drop back in distance today he really is the real deal. I really do suspect he will do just that as he does look to be something right out of the box. From winning a Maiden at Wyong to winning G1’s in Hong Kong it certainly is a great story and I do believe it will only continue. Would love to see him on the world stage or even back in Australia for a tilt at something special but the owners love him and will have the final say but for me he has the class to win this especially at set weights. Gold –  Fun ran a sensational race last start over the 1200m and was closing off very hard late on that occasion to just get up in the shadows of the post. Looks even better suited today over the 1400m and under set weights looks right in this up to his neck. Retains his last start hoop and will certainly be in the firing line at some point. I must say I can certainly see some value in the rest of the field here so I have to include some at good odds but will need luck just the same but Beauty Flame is by far too consistent to leave out here and will certainly test this lot. Very nice 2nd at G1 last start over the mile. Has great early speed and is always close up in the running. Nothing should change today as he comes up with another good gate and retains his regular hoop as well. Has to go in as a very solid chance once again today.

 

Race 8: — Time: 8.35am GMT—Distance: 1400m—Class 3

Top Pick: No 4 King of Mongolia

Value Selection: No 12 Super Talent

Exotic Inclusions: No 13 Dashing Fellow and No 7 Divine Diya

 

Race Overview

King Of Mongolia Just the two starts in Hong Kong and both have been at Sha Tin over the 1200m. Improved a fair bit to record a nice win last start although helped a bit by the way things went in the straight. Never the less he did close off extremely well indicating that the extra 200m will certainly be in his favour today as he has won over 1600m prior to coming to Hong Kong and yes that was at Kembla Grange. :).  Will test this field over this distance. Super Talent is never very far away and in fact has only missed a place on one occasion since coming to Hong Kong and that was for a 4th at his first start. Has certainly came on since then and closed off very hard at his first attempt over this distance last start and in running 3rd he was continuing to make ground on the post. Goes around with the same weight as last start which is a bonus and Douglas Whyte sticks with him. Only query is the wide gate but he does like to close off and you would expect that is what they will do with him today.

 

Race 9: — Time: 9.10am GMT—Distance: 2000m—Class – HKG1

Top Pick: 1 Luger

Value Selection: No 4 Giant Treasure

Exotic Inclusions: No 2 Beauty Only and No 6 Redkirk Warrior / No 3 Thunder Fantasy

 

Race Overview

This looks like a great race and I reckon we can go close to getting the top four fairly close here but just the same there is some serious talent in this race. Set weights once again and that will certainly help the runners with a touch more class as they have displayed. I don’t think there is too much between Redkirk Warrior,Giant Treasure.Beauty Only,Luger and Thunder Fantasy. Luger has not drawn well but it should not affect things much over the 2000m . Had a setback but looks to have that behind him now after a very nice win over the Sha Tin mile last start. No real stayers in that race but it did have some very good quality runners just the same. Interesting to see that Douglas Whyte is off him and onto Giant Treasure but Zac Purton is the perfect replacement. Giant Treasure has been there about and obviously set for this race. Douglas Whyte sticks with him and he certainly looks very well placed over the extra distance today the way he has been finishing off his races since arriving in Hong Kong and does look suited at set weights.

 

 

Race 10: — Time: 9.50pm GMT—Distance: 1400m—Class 2

Top Pick: No: 2 Let Me Go

Value Selection: No 14 Travel First

Exotic Inclusions: No 5 Eroico and No 1 Formular One / No 9 Jazzy Feeling

 

                                                         Race Overview         

 

Let Me Go went up for the one start at Class two last start and performed very well . Back to class two today but does look well suited at this class after some very polished performances this season. Only has to produce that form today to be another very good chance once again. Looks fine at the weights and it is very good to see Tommy Berry back in town. Appeals as a solid chance here. Travel First has been a very consistent type at class three since arriving in Hong Kong without winning but the class rise and the drop in weight may certainly help today as he dose get a 15Lb weight drop today. Comes up with a nice draw in gate four and currently at each way odds appeals as value here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cricket World Cup: Day 28 Recap and Day 29 Preview

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Day 28 Results

1. India v Zimbabwe

Brendon Taylor’s final game for Zimbabwe almost followed the script.  The final innings hundred was there – an incredible collection of reverse sweeps, powerful lofts, and cheeky ramps – and at 93/4 the victory looked a possibility too.  Unfortunately, India’s powerful middle order covered over the top order cracks and completed victory by 6 wickets and 8 balls remaining.  The crux of the chase was an unbeaten 196 run partnership between Suresh Raina and MS Dhoni.  The pair rescuing a dire situation for the unbeaten Indian side, after the top order had collapsed to 93/4.

Earlier, Taylor had thrilled a large Auckland crowd with a final international innings of the highest quality. He scored 138, including 70 from his final 29 balls.  He was supported by Sean Williams in the most significant partnership of the innings, before Sikandar Raza added a quickfire 28 just as the momentum threatened to collapse.

Eden Park is always a difficult ground to defend totals on, and it proved too tricky for the Zimbabwe bowlers as Raina and Dhoni maturely saw India to their sixth World Cup win.

India 288 for 4 (Raina 110, Dhoni 85) beat Zimbabwe 287 (Taylor 138, Williams 50, Yadav 3-43, Mohit 3-48, Shami 3-48) by 6 wickets

 

2. Australia v Scotland

Australia comfortably beat Scotland and the rain to wrap up second spot in Pool A.

Opting to bowl first to beat the rain, Australia quickly gained the ascendancy with quick wickets to all of the bowlers.  In fairness, the Scottish batsman, who have struggled all tournament, contributed to their own demise with a host of rash shots and an unusually aggressive mindset.  In all, Scotland made just 130, with a brief break in the play for weather not able to save them from somewhat of a humiliation.

Mitchell Starc took 4 wickets to leap to the top of the wickettaker charts, Cummins had three, and Watson, Johnson and Maxwell all got in on the action.

Australia then used the chase to give Michael Clarke an extended bat.  He opened and made 47, and Finch, Watson, Faulkner and Warner all pitched in with handy efforts at better than a run a ball.  The win sets up a quarterfinal against the winner of todays Ireland v Pakistan match.

Australia 133 for 3 (Clarke 47) beat Scotland 130 (Machan 40, Starc 4-14, Cummins 3-42) by seven wickets

 

Day 29 Matches

1. West Indies v UAE, McLean Park (Napier – cloudy, windy, chance of rain), starts 11:00am local time

West Indies – $1.04

UAE – $11.00

West Indies must beat the UAE today and then await the result of the Pakistan / Ireland game from Adelaide.  Task number one will be tricky given the cyclone from Vanuatu threatening to bring adverse conditions to the East Coast of New Zealand.  It might also be tough if Chris Gayle is passed unfit to compete; his back still a big worry.

The final chance for UAE to register a win comes at the familiar location of Napier where they have based themselves for much of the tournament.  They’re coming off a relatively poor showing against South Africa, so they’ll need to improve if they are to crash the West Indies party.

2. Pakistan v Ireland, Adelaide Oval (Adelaide – partly cloudy), starts 2:00pm local time

Pakistan – $1.27

Ireland – $3.82

Ireland’s most important Cricket World Cup game in history will settle a tense Pool B.  Ireland need a win to make it through to the knockout stages for the first time (they have previously made the Super 8’s in 2007).  They could also hope for an abandoned game in Napier, but they would much prefer to be the masters of their own destiny.

Irelands’s poor net run rate is their major issue heading into the final match.  They’ve done commendably to beat UAE, West Indies and Zimbabwe but need to muster every ounce of skill and self-belief to do the unthinkable.

 

Day 29 Multi

The “Gayle Force Upset” Multi

Chris Gayle loves McLean Park, a test 197* springs to mind as evidence of his love of the small ground, but he’s also doubtful with a bad back.  If he plays we’re backing him to perform amongst the cyclone.

Gale To Top Score at $2.88 + Ireland winning Head-to-Head at $3.82 = $11.00

Odds courtesy of Sportsbet Australia.

Cricket World Cup: Day 27 Recap and Day 28 Preview

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Day 27 Results

1. New Zealand v Bangladesh

Martin Guptill and the lower order helped New Zealand get past Bangladesh in their final Pool game of the Cricket World Cup, but only just.  Chasing 289 to win, the Black Caps looked to be cruising with Guptill and Ross Taylor controlling the chase, however, the brave Bangladeshi slow bowlers refused to give the game away and took it right down to the wire.  In the end, cameos from Corey Anderson (39), Daniel Vettori (16) and Tim Southee (12) were needed to see the locals home with seven balls to spare.

Bangladesh had earlier recovered from a poor first ten overs – they were 29/2 – to post an excellent 288.  That was largely thanks to Mohammad Mahmudullah’s second consecutive hundred.  His 128 was as good if not better than his previous knock against England.  If featured, nervy start, in which a couple f chances went down within his first few balls, but then controlled aggression and supreme patience.  He allowed others to build partnerships around him and later destroyed Mitchell McClenaghan in the final overs.

Bangladesh’s tactic of using slow bowlers to curb Brendon McCullum’s free scoring worked well.  Shakib bowled an opening over maiden and then removed McCullum and Williamson shortly after.  The plan was working and they should have been well on top had they reviewed an LBW decision against Guptill that went against them.  Guptill got to 100, Taylor to 50, and New Zealand seemed on course before allowing the late pressure to get a bit much for them.  Instead of cool heads, Guptill; Taylor; Elliot; Ronchi; and Anderson all went for wild swipes and perished.

And just when Bangladesh started to believe, Shakib, the hero of the innings with four important top order wickets, went for 12 to lose by 3 wickets.

New Zealand 289 for 7 (Guptill 105, Shakib 4-55) beat Bangladesh 288 for 7 (Mahmudullah 128*, Soumya 51) by three wickets

2. England v Afghanistan

The second match of the day was damp, dull and decidedly English in conditions and appearance.  Sydney’s persistent rain had reduced play to just 50 overs and reduced the crowd to a sparse smattering.  It was befitting of the England Cricket World Cup campaign that this was how it ended.  No bright lights, no powerful opposition and no fanfare.  Simply a final Pool game won comfortably against an associate nation.

All five bowlers took wickets for England, again there was no standout, and they chased their target of 100 easily.  Just one down, with runs to Ian Bell and Alex Hales.  Ian Bell scored another half century, his third of the tournament, but that just accentuates the problems with England.  Not enough hundreds, not enough wickets, no x-factor and carrying a captain averaging 19 in the tournament.

A comfortable win to finish for England, a disappointing final effort from Afghanistan despite bringing plenty of value to the occasion.

England 101 for 1 (Bell 52*, Hales 37) beat Afghanistan 111 for 7 (Shafiqullah 30) by nine wickets (D/L method)

Day 28 Matches

1. India v Zimbabwe

India – $1.10

Zimbabwe – $7.00

India will look to continue their unbeaten World Cup run that spans not only this edition but also 2011’s tournament.  Five from five this year and verging on ten in total, the Indians ave been mightily impressive, despite being given very little chance to do well at the onset.

So dominant have they been, they’ll relish a challenge and the chance to give more batsman game time if Zimbabwe can come to the party.  That could be too much to ask, but we hope not, especially for Brendon Taylor, who deserves a fitting farewell in his final match for Zimbabwe (he’s signed for Nottinghamshire on a Kolpack deal).

2. Australia v Scotland

Australia – $1.01

Scotland – $17.00

Australia will make short work of Scotland in the second of the day’s matches.  Scotland have been the biggest disappointment of the associate nations and you get the feeling they’ll just want to get home.  The only unanswered questions in this match are the size of the total if Australia bat first, the overs taken to chase down Scotland’s effort if they bat first, and whether Shane Watson will play (which might be a tip for who gets the quarterfinal spot).

Day 28 Multi

The Test Best Double

During the Australian Summer two batsman stood out amongst a number of fine efforts.  They were both captains of their sides at various times in the series and both made centuries for fun in the four test series.  That’s why we’re backing them to succeed today.

Virat Kohli to Top Score at $4.75 + Steven Smith to Top Score at $5.00 = $23.75

Odds from Unibet Australia.

Premier League Preview 14th – 16th March

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After the midweek debacle at Stamford Bridge in the Champions League, Jose Mourinho’s Premiership leaders have a point to prove at home to Southampton on Sunday. Chelsea have been widely condemned for their approach to the second leg of their tie with PSG and Manchester City have a chance to apply extra pressure on Saturday.

City travel to Burnley who fought back so valiantly to grab a point at the Etihad earlier in the season. More recently, they snatched an unlikely point at Chelsea following the dismissal of Nemanja Matic for retaliation. Burnley have a habit of playing better when they are behind but they cannot afford to take any liberties against City.

The champions had to work hard to beat Leicester 2-0 in their last league game and will have one eye on next week’s Champions League clash with Barcelona. Very few people are expecting them to win against the Spanish giants but Schalke’s performance against Real Madrid will certainly have reminded them that anything is possible. Even a narrow victory would be enough to reduce Chelsea’s lead to three points, until Sunday at least.

Arsenal face an uphill task recovering from a 3-1 home defeat by Monaco next week but must first make sure they take three points against West Ham. The Gunners have plenty of strength in their squad so can afford to rotate while the Hammers seem to be on a slippery slope. There is also a London derby in the early kick-off with Crystal Palace hosting QPR.

Rangers’ 2-1 defeat at home to Tottenham summed up their season. They fought valiantly but never really looked like getting anything out of the game. Their away form is already the stuff of legends and Alan Pardew’s side can inflict another painful blow. Tim Sherwood has already taken Aston Villa to an FA Cup semi-final and inflicted two defeats on midlands rivals West Brom.

Unfortunately their FA Cup clash was marred by a moronic crowd invasion that revived memories of the late 1970’s. They now travel to relegation rivals Sunderland who also had more trouble off the pitch than on it last week as Gus Poyet and Steve Bruce almost came to blows. It should be a tough battle and a draw may be the smartest option.

Whether or not there is any merit in Jose Mourinho’s on-going siege mentality at Stamford Bridge, it has to be said that his side were awful against PSG. They played the type of football that is the polar opposite to everything that is good about the Premier League. Southampton are no mugs and Ronald Koeman will sense an opportunity here. The Saints haven’t given up on a top four finish odds of 11-2 are tempting. Chelsea did play extra-time on Wednesday and I’ll be surprised if they don’t make a nervous start.

Man United and Louis van Gaal came in for heavy criticism following their FA Cup exit against Arsenal and now face Tottenham at Old Trafford. Spurs picked themselves up well from their Wembley disappointment and 3-1 is also quite generous against a patchy United side. Liverpool conclude the week’s fixtures at Swansea on Monday and can boost their Champions League hopes with a narrow victory.

Crystal Palace to beat QPR @5-6 Bet365

Arsenal (-1.0) to beat West Ham @11-10 Sportingbet

Sunderland v Aston Villa DRAW @23-10 Sportingbet

Man City to beat Burnley by 1 goal @13-5 Bet365

Southampton to beat Chelsea @11-2 Bet365

Tottenham to beat Man United @10-3 Coral