ODDS ON: Your guide to the weekend's betting action with The Admiral
Published 4 Feb 2012 10:00
0 Comments
Share this
POWERFUL PRESENCE: The Admiral reckons Motherwell striker Michael Higdon, pictured in pre-season action against Morton, is in with a shout of getting on the scoresheet at Fir Park.
Take Sergio Aguero to net first at 7/2.
The Inside Track
He sinks the bookies
MORTON manager Allan Moore, inset, has openly said he would rather have league points than cup wins - and he can likely forget about a trip to the tailor for his Hampden suit after today's trip to Motherwell.
Scottish Cup results and Dunfermline's dismal showing in this season's SPL have proved a gulf still exists between the top flight and the lower league clubs.
And with Morton coming off the back of disappointing results against Queen of the South and Raith, sadly it looks like a cup exit for the Cappielow side.
Motherwell are 2/5 with Morton 7/1 and drifting. The draw is a 7/2 shot.
The home side are playing well and sadly they look a home banker to the Admiral.
Betting is never a place for sentiment, and with Morton's defence looking vulnerable, the even money for Motherwell to lead at half-time and full-time is appealing.
Morton always carry a threat going forward, and that might see them nick a goal against their SPL hosts.
I fancy a 3-1 win for Motherwell, which pays 10/1 with Coral.
One of the last times Peter MacDonald lined up at Fir Park, he hit a hat-trick for former employers St Johnstone and he should be the man to lead the line today.
He can be backed at 8/1, but our focus for first goalscorer sadly has to be at the other end of the pitch with both Michael Higdon and Henrik Ojamaa of interest at 3s and 7/2.
Celtic are woefully short at 4/9 for a tricky trip to an Inverness side who are 6/1 despite being unbeaten in six matches.
The Glasgow side toiled for a while to overcome Falkirk in last weekend's League Cup clash and I can see this one ending in a draw at 10/3.
I think both teams will find the net in a 1-1 stalemate, priced up at 15/2 with Coral, and let's take a punt on the Inverness-draw double result at 14/1.
Despite the on-going turmoil at Ibrox, Rangers have rattled together an impressive string of recent results, including a 4-0 demolition of Hibs last weekend.
They will find things tougher at home to Dundee Utd (7/1) in the Scottish Cup on Sunday and are a skinny 2/5 to win.
With Nikica Jelavic off to Everton, David Healy is the sole recognised striker on the books of the Ibrox club, and he won't have many backers at 5/2 for first goal.
Of much more appeal is the United pair of Jon Daly or Johnny Russell at 9/1 and 10/1 respectively. I think this will be another 1-1 draw, best priced at 9/1 with Coral.
Again, let's take a punt at a big price.
The Dundee Utd-draw double result is huge at 18s.
Five for a fiver
AFTER being let down by my big fancy Sunderland last week, let's hope we can go one better and land the five timer this weekend.
A quick scan of the fixtures seems to throw up a few short-priced bankers, so let's hope the form book doesn't let us down.
Charlton are leading the way in League One's promotion race, and they will fancy their chances of another three points at home to struggling Rochdale.
The Londoners' strikers have hit the net 53 times in the league, four more than Rochdale have conceded.
Charlton can count wins against both Sheffield clubs in their last four and they will face nothing like that quality of opposition today. Take them at 4/9.
Swindon are another team in red-hot form right now as they race up England's League Two table.
They face a mid-table Burton side without a win in six and look to be banker material at 8/15.
In the Scottish Cup, Aberdeen host Queen of the South and look another nailed on cert at Coral's 4/11.
The gulf in class should be too much and the Dons are another team unbeaten in six and going well.
In the Championship, Burnley have kept three clean sheets in a row and face a Peterborough side who have lost four on the bounce.
Burnley have won their last three games at home to Peterborough and the 8/11 on a home win seems generous.
Birmingham are the final leg of our acca at home to Southampton, having won six in a row and scoring 20 times in the process.
In contrast, Southampton have gone off the boil and the 11/10 on offer should boost our winnings.
The five-fold pays just under £55 for the five.
Going Live
THERE'S plenty of armchair viewing to get excited about this weekend from both north and south of the border.
Both sides of the Old Firm have their Scottish Cup clashes broadcast live, with Celtic's tie today at 12.45pm on Sky, and Rangers' game on BBC One tomorrow at 12.15pm.
Sky will also show Hearts (5/6) at home to St Johnstone (10/3), and the visitors are undoubtedly a bit of value.
Premiership fans can enjoy Man City (3/10) at home to Fulham (11/1) on ESPN from 5.30pm today, and there is sure to be goals in this one.
Back both teams to score at even money and Sergio Aguero, inset, to net first at 7/2.
Super Sunday again offers up more entertaining fare with Newcastle (evens) at home to Aston Villa (11/4) followed by the big one - Chelsea (6/4) versus Man United (19/10).
Man Utd are the biggest price with Coral and I fancy them to triumph in a 2-1 win at 9/1.
The lunchtime action from Tyneside is harder to call, and again,
backing both teams to score could be the safest bet at 8/11. Free kick specialist Ryan Taylor could be worth a punt for first goal at 12/1.
The inside track
CORAL deputy manager Stephen Knox gives you the inside info on what is hot for the weekend.
Stephen said: "The Sandown 3.05pm handicap hurdle sees a big field and plenty of runners with good chances.
The top end of the betting sees Swincombe Flame (9/2) trying a longer trip than he has before, but I like the look of Knock A Hand (7/1) as he has won his last three.
Although those races were at a lower grade he is still lightly raced and there should still be improvements to come.
"For each way backers, Tornado Bob (16/1) could be worth a closer look as trainer Donald McCain now returns him to hurdles where he has a record of two wins and two seconds in five races.
"With Cheltenham only weeks away, anyone watching last Saturday would have been impressed by Midnight Chase.
"He is currently 16/1 ante post for the Gold Cup having finished fifth last year.
"Of those in front of him, Denman has been retired and Weird Al has shown none of his old form this season. There's a good chance of a place or possibly more?"
This article appeared in Greenock Telegraph 04 Feb 12
Return to the main index, get more from this section or browse our Sport archives.
