Tottenham versus Watford: The Key Facts

Tottenham/Burnley, 8pm, Sky Sports 1, Best Odds, Free Bets

chickendinner have already told you that Tottenham’s impressive recent record in cup competitions makes an upset unlikely tonight but here are some more interesting statistics to help you gamble on the first leg at White Hart Lane:

» The two sides have met four times in the League Cup, with both teams progressing on two occasions each.

» 12 of the last 13 encounters between the two sides finished with more than 2.5 goals.

Posted: January 6th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | 1 Comment

Scolari cut from 33/1 to 10/1 to be the next boss axed

Odds on Sky Bet plummet after a “flurry of bets” on the Brazilian

Sky Bet are reporting that they have slashed the price on Luiz Felipe Scolari being the next Premier League manager to leave his post from 33/1 to 10/1 after a receiving it was heavily backed over the course of the day.

Chelsea’s unacceptable home form continued with a 1-1 draw with Southend in the FA Cup at the weekend but there have been no newspaper reports suggesting that the Brazilian was clinging onto his job as a result.

There have however been rumours circulating about how badly Roman Abramovich has been hit by the credit crunch so perhaps there is a suspicion that Scolari would resign if he was told the money raised by selling Wayne Bridge wouldn’t be reinvested, although this again seems unlikely. Scolari is also now just 7/4 to last the season as the Blues boss.

Let us know what you think the reason is behind the flurry of bets with a comment below.

UPDATE: Scolari’s price has dropped further to an alarmingly low 4/1, which is just behind joint favourites Mark Hughes and Tony Adams at 11/4. He is now just 5/4 to last the season.

Posted: January 5th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | 1 Comment

Burnley have to contend with Spurs’ excellent cup record

Tottenham/Burnley, 8pm, Sky Sports 1, Best Odds, Free Bets

Burnley have built themselves a reputation as a good cup side by knocking out Chelsea and Arsenal in successive rounds of this year’s Carling Cup but their recent record in knockout competitions pales in comparison to that of semi-final opponents Tottenham.

Since the start of the 2006-07 season, Spurs have competed in fifty cup games in the FA Cup, Carling Cup and UEFA Cup and of that half century they have lost just six. In comparison they have lost twenty of their last fifty Premier League games. Their cup record is even more impressive this season, contrasting massively with their dreadful league performance. From ten games they have won seven, draw two and lost one.

Tottenham’s fifty cup games from 2006-07 onwards:
W29 D15 L6 (Points per game: 2.04)

Tottenham’s last fifty Premier League games:
W15 D15 L20 (Points per game: 1.2)

Burnley’s twelve cup games from 2006-07 onwards:
W5 D3 L4 (Points per game: 1.5)

Burnley’s last twelve Coca Cola Championship games:
W6 D2 L4 (Points per game: 1.67)

Posted: January 5th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | 1 Comment

Bad news for Blyth: Allardyce rarely suffers FA Cup shocks

Blyth Spartans/Blackburn, 8pm, Setanta S 1, Best Odds, Free Bets

Blyth Spartans beat League Two sides Shrewsbury and Bournemouth to earn their clash with Premier League opposition but despite their giantkilling past, the omens aren’t brilliant for the Blue Square North side.

Sam Allardyce has only been knocked out of the FA Cup once in nine seasons by lower league opposition and that was a loss against Tranmere in 2003-04 with Bolton which required a replay and then extra time. It is also worth noting that in that season Bolton had already reached the last four of the Carling Cup so were prioritising that.

Posted: January 5th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Redknapp hunts FA Cup win number four against Man Utd

Five stats about this weekend’s football

1. While Tottenham were knocked out against Manchester United in the FA Cup fourth round last season, they have a manager more than capable of causing an upset at Old Trafford. Harry Redknapp has won FA Cup games against the Red Devils with three of his four previous clubs. He won 2-0 at home to them with Bournemouth before enjoying 1-0 away wins while managing West Ham and Portsmouth.

2. If Chelsea see off Southend in their replay they will face Ipswich at home in the fourth round. This will be the ninth time in eleven third-to-fifth round draws that Chelsea have been given a home tie with a lower league club.

Posted: January 5th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

All the stats on this weekend’s televised FA Cup football

Preston face Liverpool and Southampton challenge Man Utd

It’s FA Cup third round weekend but instead of Motson and Lawro it will be Tyldesley and Pleat putting words to the pictures as ITV and Setanta take charge of proceedings. Here are some statistics about the three matches they have decided to screen this weekend:

Preston v Liverpool
Saturday evening sees the Mark Lawrenson derby take place at Deepdale as the club the BBC pundit supports face the one he spent most of his career at. Alan Irvine’s side have a good record in the FA Cup, having reached the fifth round in each of the last three seasons while Preston have won ten of their thirteen home league matches. Lawro predicted a draw in his column and while that sounds like a reasonable shout, there hasn’t been a draw at Deepdale since last April and that was the only one in the last fourteen months. Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres are both expected to figure for Liverpool, who have gone out at this stage twice in four seasons under Benitez, while being taken to a replay in another.

Southampton v Manchester United

Posted: January 2nd, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment