The question is where I start as there was a lot going on.

BIRMINGHAM CITY 1 – 0 CHELSEA

The St Andrew’s crowd (24,357) witnessed something that last occurred 30 years ago. A bit like the appearance of Halley’s Comet in the heavens, Birmingham achieved a victory over Chelsea with a 17th minute goal by Lee Bowyer. This was very much against the flow of play with Chelsea having something like 25 attempts on goal against the 2 attempts by Birmingham. However it only takes a bit of luck and the ball in the back of the net to make all the difference.

ARSENAL 2 – 3 TOTTENHAM

In a similar manner it has been 17 years since Spurs have won away to Arsenal. The Emirates crowd of 60,102 saw some entertaining football as Spurs pulled back from 2-0 down in the first half to score in the 50th minute by Gareth Bale, a penalty in the 67th minute from Rafael Van der Vaart and an 85th minute goal from Younes Kaboul to clinch a well deserved victory.

Betting- Coming up This Weekend

Aston Villa v Arsenal

Aston Villa are 14/5 to win against Arsenal at 11/10 and 5/2 for a draw. Arsenal look good for the victory as long as there are no slip ups.

Bolton Wanderers v Blackpool

Bolton stand at 4/6 for the win against Blackpool who are on 5/1 with the odds sitting at 16/2 for the draw. Blackpool might just upset the apple cart in this match.

Everton v West Bromwich Albion

This could be the match of the week end with Everton and West Brom sitting 16^th and 15^th respectively in the premiership. The betting stands at 5/8 for an Everton win, 11/2 for West Brom and 3/1 for the draw. Could be worth a bet on the draw.

Fulham v Birmingham

Not much separates these two although I fancy Birmingham for this match. The betting stands at 11/10 for a Fulham win with Birmingham standing at 3/1 and 12/5 for the draw. This should be an entertaining game.

As usual I like to keep you up to date with the Top Goal Scorers to date.

Happy betting and have a good weekend.

There seems to be as much news off the pitch, if not more, than what is actually happening on it.

Before I get started I agree with the sentiments on a fans banner at Old Trafford that asked the question “Who’s the whore now Wayne?”

Much as I admire Sir Alex Ferguson I would have let poor Mr Rooney go. However, having said that, I will concede that Sir Alex knows what he doing. How much more money do you want to stuff into your pants Wayne? You’ve a lot to prove now mate. I don’t think you’re up to it. However you won’t be making a trip to the dole queue like a lot of the fans who pay your wages.

Pick of Last Weekend’s Fixtures

LIVERPOOL FC 2-1 BLACKBURN ROVERS

My faith in Liverpool was upheld at the weekend with this 2-1 victory over Blackburn. Yes it is too soon to say that the revival is under way. However the victory should help to lift the team’s spirits and confidence a bit. I had hoped that the victory would have lifted them out of the relegation zone but that will need to wait for another week or two. The goal scorers were Kyrgiakos (48) and Torres (53) for Liverpool with Carragher scoring an own goal for Blackburn (50).

Premiership Betting tip

Liverpool meet Bolton Wanderers this coming weekend. The odds are sitting at 5/2 for a Bolton win at home, 11/8 for Liverpool and 12/5 for a draw.

Here are the results for the most recent meetings between the two teams.

30/01/2010  Liverpool 2-0 Bolton

29/08/2009  Bolton 2-3 Liverpool

26/12/2008  Liverpool 3-0 Bolton

The question is, can Liverpool lift their game to reflect these recent scores? The betting suggests a close tie. I think Roy Hodgson will be able to lift his team to a close victory and get the team fired up for the rest of the season.

Elsewhere in the Premiership there were no upsets with Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal winning their games, meaning that Manchester City slipped up to Arsenal.

He was a great football coach who with Joe Mercer brought in one of the most successful periods for Manchester City from 1967 to 1970. His football career was spent mainly with West Ham United playing 250 games for the team. “Big Mal” spent his final years in care homes and suffered from dementia.

LIVERPOOL FOOTBALL CLUB

The long drawn out saga at Liverpool FC seems to have run its course although the two amigos are still threatening legal action. Let’s hope that this great club can begin to focus on what they are good at. I.e. play football. I know they didn’t show it at the weekend.

Last Weekend Fixtures

Thinking back to last week’s blog, I believe I can hold my hand up and say “I told you so.”

My chosen games were Manchester United v West Brom, Newcastle v Wigan, And Bolton Wanderers v Stoke

I did say that the Bolton Wanderers v Stoke game was too close to call. In the end it was the home advantage that gave Bolton the edge to take the three points. Meanwhile Manchester United gave away a two goal lead to let hard working West Brom share in the points. My preferred game at Newcastle likewise saw Wigan throw away a two goal lead to let the home side equalise and once again share in the points.

Premiership Betting tips

West Ham v Newcastle

If past form is anything to go by West Ham should be able to capitalise on the home advantage at 6/4 to win while Newcastle are coming in at 11/5 to win. The odds are 12/5 for the draw. Newcastle showed some tenacity in coming back against Wigan last weekend. This is my bet of the weekend

Most recent meetings

10/01/2009 Newcastle 2-2 West Ham
20/09/2008 West Ham 3-1 Newcastle
26/04/2008 West Ham 2-2 Newcastle

Liverpool v Blackburn

Can Liverpool begin to get their act together against Blackburn on Sunday? Think of it lads, a win will lift you out of the relegation zone and could perhaps dump Blackburn into it. The bookies are looking favourably on Liverpool at 4/5 to win against Blackburn’ s 9/2 with a draw being forecast at 11/4. I think Liverpool can pull this off.

Most recent meetings

28/02/2010 Liverpool 2-1 Blackburn
05/12/2009 Blackburn 0-0 Liverpool
11/04/2009 Liverpool 4-0 Blackburn

Leading goal scorers to date are:

6 Berbatov (Manchester United)
6 Drogba (Chelsea)
6 Malouda (Chelsea)
6 Tevez (Manchester City)
5 Bent (Sunderland)
4 Elmander (Bolton Wanderers)
4 Carroll (Newcastle United)
4 Walcott Arsenal)
4 Cahill (Everton)
4 Kalou (Chelsea)

This is the 143rd London derby between the teams, Chelsea haven’t lost in 5 games, whereas Arsenal have lost 4 out of the last 5 games.  Last year this fixture saw Chelsea win 2-1, with a double from Drogba.  Football fans who like to see goals will be relieved to know that in 29 games there’s only been one goalless game.

Premiership betting tip: The odds (1.88) show that Chelsea are the favourites to take the points in this match.  I’m tempted to go for a draw in this London derby,  but I’m also swayed into believing that history may repeat itself and we may see Arsenal topple Chelsea at Stamford Bridge like they did in the season where Liverpool also beat Chelsea.  Let’s go for the bet of laying Chelsea at odds of around 1.88, Arsenal will take confidence from their midweek win and thy will also be welcoming back some key players like striker Adebayor.

It might also be interesting to look at backing for fun former players of both sides, Anelka and Gallas to score at anytime.

UPDATE- Chelsea 1-2 Arsenal. It was a disappointing Sunday afternoon if you are a Blue fan (no not the boy band), Chelsea only had one shot on goal throughout the whole 90 minutes, taking that into account, Arsenal deserved to win this match.  The Gunner’s first goal looked to be slightly offside and we got confirmation that it probably was when Wenger told Sky: ‘I didn’t see it’.  Laying Chelsea to win this match at about 1.88 on Betfair instead of backing the draw was a good decision in the end, bringing us a winning Premiership bet for the last day of November!

Aston Villa v Blackburn- Villa are unbeaten at home so far this season and Blackburn have drawn their last two Premiership games.  Blackburn last won at Villa Park in 2004, this is their only win in 7 games away to Villa. 

Betting tip (Winner)- It’s tempting to go for the draw here just like last year, but I do believe that Aston Villa can take all three points, they are priced at 1.69 currently on Betfair.  I’m tipping ’Over 2.5 goals’ in this match, you can currently get a price of 1.97 on Betfair.

UPDATE- Well we’ll start with the amazing match at the Emirates stadium, it’s fair to say that this match had 4-4 written all over it….even after 65 minutes!!!  On to the betting tip, the Villa v Blackburn produced 5 goals, which meant the over 2.5 goals tip was a winner, a great way to just abut double your money midweek!!

Newcastle 2-1 West Brom
Arsenal 4-4 Tottenham
Aston Villa 3-2 Blackburn
Bolton 0-1Everton
Fulham 2-0 Wigan
Hull 0-3 Chelsea
Liverpool 1-0 Portsmouth
Man Utd 2-0 West Ham
Middlesbrough 2-0 Man City
Stoke 1-0 Sunderland

Everton v Liverpool

The big game this week has to the be the 179th Merseyside derby.  If you are fan of backing red cards and yellow cards then this is the game for you,  16 out of the 32 meetings have resulted in red cards.  I can always guarantee Phil Neville will find himself in the book for a hasty challenge (1.9 odds on Betfair) and an own goal may just occur once again in this fixture!!!

Betting tips:  Who will win this derby?…Who knows?  It’s hard to predict these derby games, but judging on form Liverpool look to be likely winners, especially with Everton only picking up points away from home this season.  But the main bet I’ll be backing is Stephen Gerrard to score.  Needing one more to make 100 goals, what better team his 100th against? Back him to score at anytime at odds of 3.75 on PaddyPower.  Also back Robbie Keane to score at odds of 3.25.

Wigan v Man City

The last time City played Wigan away from home the scoreline was 1-1.  From a quick glance this game may look like a Man City win, but City have failed to beat Wigan in the Premiership.  Wigan have been in good form lately, with the 5-0 win over Hull being their biggest result this season.

Betting tip: City are the favourites to win this game at odds of 2.46 (Betfair) with the home team priced at odds of around 3.25.  Let go for the value bet here and back Wigan, they’ve been in good form and Man City may be a little weary after having to play extra time mid-week.  This looks like it could be cracking game, I would like to think there will be goals galore!!!

UPDATE- The Merseyside Derby produced alot of whistle blowing moments by the referee, meaning that there was no flow to the game.  Liverpool deserved the victory (as predicted), but Everton can count themselves unlucky to have Cahill sent off.  There was no luck in picking Gerrard and Keane to score, but I had to back Neville to get a yellow card when I saw the odds for a yellow jump up to around 2.3 on Betfair, so when he made that crashing challenge I celebrated like it was a goal!!

The Wigan game brought us the biggest betting winner of the season, courtesy of a Zaki penalty.  Hopefully this will be the turning point and we can get a good run of winning bets now.  Goals were predicted in this game, if only I had backed over 2.5 goals as well!!

Arsenal 1-2 Hull
Aston Villa 2-1 Sunderland
Everton 0-2 Liverpool
Fulham 1-2 West Ham
Man Utd 2-0 Bolton
Middlesbrough 0-1 West Brom
Newcastle 1-2 Blackburn
Stoke 0-2 Chelsea
Portsmouth 2-0 Tottenham
Wigan 2-1 Man City

Betting tip-  I will be tipping a double for these second round of World Cup qualifying matches.   Lets go for a Russia and Germany double.  Russia are always going to be test at home and with the players like midfielder Arshavin, they will this cause this young Welsh team alot of problems. Wales’ problem on Saturday looked  like they couldn’t take their chances, so one goal could be all that they can manage for this game.  Germany always seem to do enough to get the result they need and I can see them getting three points even with midfielder Ballack missing tonight.  With Germany already coming out as 6-0 winners in their first qualifying game, you can see why they are favourites away from home to win this game at odds of 1.63 on Betfair (backed as a single). 

So back Russia and Germany to win (lay Finland if you are worried about the past draws between the two teams)in a double and singles on Betfair, you can get odds of around 1.91 to just about double you money. 

For any England fans out there, if you are looking to back something in the Croatia match, then I think this match could go to a draw, Croatia are unbeaten in 32 competitive matches at home so 1 point could be the best Capello and his team can get.

UPDATE: In the end it was a case of the reliable Germans letting us down, hopefully you backed a Russia win and layed Finland, but if you are like me and backed the Germans to win, then you will be disappointed that the double didn’t some off.  At least we got one winning bet by backing Russia to win, this should go some way to covering out losses.  I had a feeling Rooney would score against Croatia, but with my past losing ‘to score’ bets, I was put off!! 

Albania 3-0 Malta
Andorra 1-3 Belarus
Azerbaijan 0-0 Liechtenstein
Bosnia-Herzegovina 7-0 Estonia
Croatia 1-4 England
FYR Macedonia 1-2 Netherlands
Faroe Islands 0-1 Romania
Finland 3-3 Germany
France 2-1 Serbia
Iceland 1-2 Scotland
Italy 2-0 Georgia
Kazakhstan 1-3 Ukraine
Latvia 0-2 Greece
Lithuania 2-0 Austria
Moldova 1-2 Israel
Montenegro 0-0 Rep of Ireland
Northern Ireland 0-0 Czech Republic
Portugal 2-3 Denmark
Russia 2-1 Wales
San Marino 0-2 Poland
Slovenia 2-1 Slovakia
Spain 4-0 Armenia
Sweden 2-1 Hungary
Switzerland 1-2 Luxembourg
Turkey 1-1 Belgium