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Number Game

Numbers Game: Robins to roll over Boro

Friday 8th March 2013 12:40

Bristol City: Tipped to sink Middlesbrough

Bristol City: Tipped to sink Middlesbrough

The bookies are happy to lay Liverpool at home to Tottenham on Sunday, while Bristol City (7/4) are this week's Numbers Game Value Bet.

It was a weekend to forget for @MattPBriggs' Numbers Game, but the Value Bet (+£4.51), Banker (+£4.57), Famous Last Words (+£4.13) and Treatment Room (+£8.62) all remain well in the black for the season.

Back to this weekend and the bookies, as ever, have some interesting views and the general consensus is that Tottenham look a big price to win at Liverpool on Sunday. The value is with Bristol City this weekend, despite being bottom of the Championship. And I also like the look of Hartlepool (23/10) to beat Yeovil in League One - and they are one of three tips in Famous Last Words.

Let me know your fancies ahead of the weekend in the box below.


value-bet
  • VALUE BET -

    Bristol City to beat Middlesbrough at 7/4.


    Bristol City battled to a goalless draw with promotion-hopefuls Brighton in midweek and boss Sean O'Driscoll could not fault the Robins' performance. The hosts are propping up the Championship, but they have collected seven home wins - including four wins from their last five at Ashton Gate. Meanwhile, Boro are struggling on the road and lost at Huddersfield on Tuesday - their 11th defeat on the travels - with only Bristol City losing more times away from home.
steamer
  • STEAMERS -

    Sky Bet say there have been plenty of gambles this week in both the FA Cup and Premier League. On Saturday the main focus of attention is on the Premier League relegation battle. After last week's win at Southampton people feel the great escape has begun for Harry Redknapp's QPR. We opened up with a quote of 13/10 for them to win at home to Sunderland but that has been smashed into 23/20.
    In the FA Cup Everton are in everyone's accumulator but they have also proved popular among high staking punters when we were 1/2 earlier in the week. The Merseysiders are now as short as 2/5 to overcome Wigan and reach the semis for the second year in succession.
    On Sunday everyone seems to be on the Manchester Utd, Liverpool double with the two London sides friendless in the market. Manchester Utd are 8/11 from 5/6 to overcome their Champions League defeat to Real Madrid and see off the troubled Rafa Benitez, who is sure to be the subject of many a chant at Old Trafford. Chelsea can be backed at 7/2 to cause more cup pain for Sir Alex Ferguson.
    Liverpool are gambled every week no matter what the price. We went up at evens which we thought was more than short enough to overcome an in-form Spurs. That has been backed off the boards and is now currently 5/6.

    Paddy Power say they have already seen a lot of support for Everton to dispose of Wigan and they are now 4/9. This is following the thrashing Wigan took at the hands of Liverpool last week. Another point to note is that we cannot be sure that Roberto Martinez will field a full strength side - we feel he may opt to rest a few key men in attempt to keep the team's focus on avoiding relegation.

    Bet Victor say Aston Villa have been backed from 9/4 from 2/1 against Reading in a massive six-pointer.
    Spurs clipped to 29/10 from 3/1 after the win against Inter.
    In the FA Cup our 12/5 for an all-Manchester final has been popular and we bet 7/1 that the four home sides win in 90 minutes in the quarter-finals.
    QPR have not won back-to-back in the Premier League for 18 years but have been popular at 5/4 into 6/5.

    bet365 say punters are backing Aston Villa at Reading and there are bits of cash for QPR.
    The Championship sees Bristol City and Charlton backed at odds against with Forest and Watford at odds-on.
    Punters want to oppose Doncaster and Chesterfield lower down the ladder.

    Betfred say Newcastle have been the team backed most since they gave a few players a rest in midweek and with the way Stoke are playing away from home the 10/11 could soon disappear on the Magpies.
    Everton and Manchester City seem to be in all the accumulators where the Toffees are 4/9 at home to Wigan and City are 1/8 against Championship side Barnsley. If either of those two are turned over it would be a great result for the book.
whos-hot
  • WHO'S HOT -

    Manchester United (5/6) won last five in Premier League and host Chelsea (19/5) in FA Cup (Sun, 4.30pm).
    Tottenham (16/5) won last four in Premier League and travel to Liverpool (20/21) (Sun 4pm).
    Bolton (13/10) won last four in Championship and host Brighton (5/2).
    N Forest (5/6) won last four in Championship and host Wolves (4/1).
whos-not
  • WHO'S NOT -

    Reading (6/4) lost last three in Prem and host Aston Villa (85/40).
    Bournemouth (evens) lost last four in League One and host Doncaster (100/30).
traders-view
  • TRADERS' VIEW -

    Sky Bet: Tottenham fresh from their Europa League hammering of Inter Milan look a great price at 14/5 to beat Liverpool and gain another massive step to Champions League qualification.

    Bet365: We'll be hoping for a result in either of the Saturday FA Cup ties, but we're not expecting any joy, maybe Chelsea could do that for us on Sunday and we're seeing more money for Blackburn than Millwall.
    The intriguing clash in the Premier League is at Anfield, some are amazed that Spurs are such a price and that Liverpool are odds-on. Yes Liverpool have beaten a second string Swansea side and Wigan team with a poor home record, as well as going out of the Europa League in between. Rodgers' side are refreshed, whilst Spurs played Inter on Thursday - I'm really looking forward to this game, plus the brilliant Suarez v Bale sideshow.

    Betfred: Our football traders this weekend are happy enough to take on Norwich who have only won one of their last six home league games. They are 5/4 to beat Southampton at Carrow Road.
    In the FA Cup, we are happy to take on Manchester United at 4/5. Rafa Benitez has an excellent cup record and the Reds might just suffer a hangover from Tuesday night's defeat to Real Madrid in the Champions League.

    BetVictor: We're keen to lay Norwich at 31/20 but largely friendless although Southampton have conceded 10 in their last four on the road.

    Paddy Power: Tottenham look outstanding value this weekend away to Liverpool with a top price of 10/3 available. We are very keen to lay Liverpool and are almost certain to be top price on them over the weekend. At odds-on Liverpool look a dream lay!
bogey-teams
  • BOGEY TEAMS -

    Sunderland (5/2) are unbeaten in 11 league games against QPR (13/10).
    Reading (6/4) have lost four of their five Premier League games v Aston Villa (85/40).
    WBA (11/8) have lost all three of their Premier League matches v Swansea (11/5).
banker
  • BANKER -

    Northampton to beat Accrington at 4/5.


    Northampton have won their last seven home league games and they look well worth an interest to sink Accrington. Stanley have lost nine of their 18 away games and look set for a struggle at Sixfields.
hot-shots
  • HOT-SHOTS -

    Stephane Sessegnon has two in two and is 7/2 to score v QPR.
    Everton's Kevin Mirallas has two in two and is 7/4 to score v Wigan.
    Bradford's James Hanson has two in three and is 21/10 to score v Aldershot.
treatment-room
  • TREATMENT ROOM -

    Sheffield United to beat MK Dons at 6/5.


    Sheffield United pair Jamie Murphy and Jonathan Forte are expected to return to contention for the home clash with MK Dons. The Blades will also be boosted by the return of defender Danny Higginbotham, who missed last weekend's win at Oldham through illness.

    Bournemouth to beat Doncaster at evens.


    Rovers captain Rob Jones has been added to Doncaster's growing injury list ahead of the trip to promotion rivals Bournemouth. Jones was forced off at half-time in the 3-0 defeat at MK Dons on Tuesday with calf and ankle problems. Tommy Spurr is likely to deputise at the heart of the defence, meaning boss Brian Flynn will then face a choice between starting Andy Griffin, who came off the bench at stadium:mk, or withdrawing James Husband from his left-wing role to his preferred left-back position. Jones joins midfielders Paul Keegan (thigh), David Syers (ankle) and Martin Woods (calf) and striker Robbie Blake in the treatment room. And goalkeeper Gary Woods is nursing a thigh problem.
famous-last-words
  • FAMOUS LAST WORDS -

    Birmingham to beat Derby at 13/8.


    Speaking after the midweek draw with Blackpool, Birmingham manager Lee Clark said: "I think we deserved to win the game. It was a nervy start for the first 15-20 minutes but we grew into the game and finished the half really strongly. We could have been more than one-nil up. And then we started the second half really well too. Unfortunately we couldn't get that decisive second goal and then they score a very similar goal to us from a set-play. It's a bit frustrating really. We've played with a lot of desire, tenacity and at a high tempo."

    Leeds to win at Crystal Palace DNB at 11/5.


    Speaking after the midweek draw at Leicester, Leeds manager Neil Warnock said: "When you are disappointed to come away with a point from Leicester it shows how far we have come. It augurs well for the the final 11 games and we have six of them at home. There are a few broken hearts and tired legs tonight and it does feel like a loss under the circumstances. Obviously it is bound to be disappointing when you concede a goal so late in the game. But despite that it was a great team performance and I was really pleased with all the lads."

    Hartlepool to beat Yeovil at 23/10.


    Speaking after the midweek 0-0 draw with Colchester, Pools boss John Hughes said: "I felt it was difficult against 10 men, camped in to defend. We had to be patient, switch play, get it wide and we did it. It might have been one chance to get a goal and then the game would open up. The keeper made a couple of great saves and we were patient. Against 10 men it was as good as you can ask for in terms of playing football and playing in their half. We wanted it to drop in the box for us, can someone gamble on a cross? But don't go cavalier and keep them out at the back - but two points have got away from us."

    You can follow me on Twitter at @MattPBriggs

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