into the battle.
Pin stickers could do worse than grab the 10/1 offered by Hills for
Aberdeen’s visit to Parkhead, and 4/1 for the draw seems like reckless
generosity considering the Dons recent fine form spoiled only by a
hiccup versus Motherwell last week. As far as Celtic’s topsy-turvy ways
are concerned perhaps anything the jambos can do Aberdeen can do the
same? Maybe worth sticking some sweetie money on but not the mortgage.
Meanwhile back on Planet Realistic it’s aways all the way for the Fab
Four and seven very decently-priced best of the rest picks.
THIS WEEKENDS FAB FOUR :
PREM-Crystal Palace v NORWICH 11/5
It’s the battle of the bottom two clubs with both often having the kind
of form that is the stuff of nightmares. Second bottom Palace for
example last win was in Feb albeit when hosting Birmingham seven spots
above them and followed this up with a very respectable 0-0 at home to
Man United. Since then they have fallen 4-1 at Chelsea, 1-0 at home to
Everton and went 4-0 down at Middlesbrough last week.
Norwhich chalked up a reasonable 3-2 victory at home to Middlesbrough
before going into a run of five straight losses versus Blackburn (A),
Chelsea (H), Man City (H), Bolton (A) and Arsenal (A). Then scuppered
the coupons last week with that infamous 2-0 victory over Manchester
United. Whether this is just a flash in the pan for the canaries or a
sign of recovery, odds for the visit to Palace are far too tempting to
resist even if the omens are not “Crystal” clear.
PREM-Charlton v BOLTON 13/8
Four draws, three defeats and a single win at home to Spurs (2-0) four
weeks ago has been the sum of Charlton’s efforts since the beginning of
February that has caused them to drop down to ninth. Even the visit to
lowly Portsmouth (15th) last week resulted in a confidence-wrecking 4-2
loss.
By contrast the Wanderers are in fine form and are proving the
Premierships dark horses having ended 2004 with a straight run of ten
games without a win but have since gone through 2005 with only two
defeats from twelve starts which included eight straight wins. There
most recent defeat was a 1-0 reverse at Liverpool but immediately got
back on track with a 3-1 victory at home to Fulham last week. Had it
not been for the early season poor run they would have been a “Bolt On”
for one of the top spots as it is a respectable 6th has them ideally
placed to challenge for one of the coveted Euro spots.
LGE1-Bradford v BRENTFORD 5/4
With only four wins out of eighteen starts since the turn of the year
it is only Bradford’s previous form that have kept them at a safe 12th
place and out of the reach of the relegation zone. Their most recent
victory was an unsurprising 3-1 at home to bottom-of-the-table
Stockport. Followed this with a miserly 0-0 draw away to lowly
Chesterfield before going back to losing ways at home to 2nd placed
Hull last week.
They host hot and trotting Brentford who in 4rth are well-placed for a
Premiership place should they keep up the fine form of recent months.
Only three defeats since the turn of the year and the most recent
reverse was a 2-1 loss away to Blackpool, and an inexplicable 0-0 at
against second bottom-table Peterborough. But followed this with all
points from a visit to Stockport and at home to Bristol City, which put
them in fine fettle for the visit last week of fellow challengers
Tranmere (3rd place) and duly collected a 1-0 win.
SFL1-Clyde v FALKIRK 5/4
With a run of eight games and only one win it seems that 2nd-place
Clyde had all but given up on the championship over the past couple of
months. Their last victory was away to Airdrie in March and followed
this with a defeat at home to Hamilton which was sandwiched between two
draws (home and away) versus St Johnstone.
They host Champions Falkirk who despite having secured the trophy and
promotion have kept their unbeaten record since the beginning of this
year intact. The bairns in fact have only been defeated twice this
season, but as Ross County found out last week, likewise St Johnstone
in the previous game Falkirk are not resting on their laurels and are
happy to battle away for all points against all-comers.
Suggested bet: Perm all four trebles plus the foursome @ £1 per unit
=£5.00 total stake.
Trebles Return:
Norwich/Bolton/Brentford returns = £18.90
Norwich/Bolton/Falkirk returns = £18.90
Norwich/Brentford/Falkirk returns = £16.20
Bolton/Brentford/Falkirk returns = £13.29
All four returns £42.53 plus all four trebles @ £67.29 =£109.82 total
returns.
Best Of The Rest:
PREM-Southampton v ASTON VILLA 15/8
CHAM-Coventry v WOLVES 7/4
CHAM-Leicester v WIGAN 6/5
CHAM-Queens Park Rangers 6/5 v Leeds United
LGE1-Stockport v DONCASTER 11/10
LGE1-TORQUAY v Port Vale 21/120
LGE2-LINCON EVS v Macclesfield