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WEST HAM STATS:

West Ham won 24 league games during the season (winning margins):

13 by 1 goal margins–5 x 2 goal margins–6 x 3 goals or more

West Ham lost eight games during the season:

5 x 1 goal margin–1 x 2 goal margin–2 x by 3 goal margin or more

Repetitive score-lines:

7 x 1-1

6 x 1-0

5 x 2-1

4 x 2-0

Clean sheets: 17—-Failed to score: 7

Half time-Full time ‘double result’ stats:

Leading in 21 games at half time: Won: 17–Drew: 4–Lost: 0

Level at the interval in 18 games: Won: 6–Drew: 8–Lost: 4

Behind after 45 minutes play 7 times: Won: 1–Drew: 2–Lost: 4

West Ham scored the opening goal of the game on 28 occasions:

Won: 20–Drew: 6–Lost: 2

West Ham conceded the opening goal 15 times:

Won: 4–Drew: 5–Lost: 6

Players who scored West Ham’s all important opening goal:

9–Nolan

7–Cole

5–Noble

4–Vaz Te

3–Tomkins

2–Baldock

2–Own goals

One each for Taylor–Carew–Piquionne–Bouba Diop–Collison–Collins0n–Reid

BLACKPOOL STATS:

Blackpool won 20 league games during the season (winning margins):

8 by 1 goal margins–7 x 2 goal margins–5 x 3 goals or more

Blackpool lost eleven games during the season:

4 x 1 goal margin–4 x 2 goal margin–3 x by 3 goal margin or more

Repetitive score-lines:

7 x 12-2

5 x 1-1

5 x 3-1

4 x 1-0

Clean sheets: 13—-Failed to score: 7

Half time-Full time ‘double result’ stats:

Leading in 12 games at half time: Won: 8–Drew: 3–Lost: 1

Level at the interval in 21 games: Won: 9–Drew: 9–Lost: 3

Behind after 45 minutes play 13 times: Won: 3–Drew: 3–Lost: 7

Blackpool scored the opening goal of the game on 18 occasions:

Won: 13–Drew: 4–Lost: 1

Blackpool conceded the opening goal 26 times:

Won: 7–Drew: 9–Lost: 10

Players who scored Blackpool’s all important opening goal:

9–K. Phillips

5–Taylor-Fletcher

4–Ince

3–M. Phillips

3–Dobbie

2–LuaLua

2–Crainey

2–Grandin

2–Evatt

One each for Baptiste–Shelvey–Sylvestre–McManaman–Basham–Dicko–Angel

All the other games this week have gone as I suggested from a ‘qualifying’ perspective…let’s hope we land the accumulator!

If we suggest that Cheltenham are leading at ‘half time’ (2-0 from the first leg) and Torquay are trailing, how we do expect the second leg to work out?

Torquay’s record when behind at half time in league games this season:

Trailing in 13 games: Won 1–Drew 4–Lost 8

Cheltenham”s record when leading at the interval (15 games):

Won 13–Drew 2–Lost 0

UEFA Champions League Final Preview – Bayern Munich vs Chelsea – (Saturday 19th May – 7.45pm)

After a tremendously exciting, dramatic & action packed journey which saw the Champions League start way back in June 2011, the big moment of truth has arrived with two of european football’s super-heavyweight contenders, Bayern Munich & Chelsea set to do battle to win the Champions League & claim the greatest prize available in club football.

The Fußball Arena in Munich is truly magnificent arena & stage for this year’s Champions League Final and now it rests between the giants of Bayern Munich & Chelsea to see which team can best hold their nerve on this magical occasion & produce the necessary quality, team spirit & desire to claim the prize that every team in europe dreams of winning, no matter their previous history or success, the Champions League is the ultimate prize.

For UEFA & indeed the entire footballing world this is a great final with many interesting factors to it with Bayern Munich having the unique opportunity to win the Champions League on home soil while Chelsea have the opportunity to claim ultimate glory & win the prize that slipped through their fingers against Manchester United via a dramatic penalty shoot-out a few years ago.

Bayern Munich & Chelsea both bring their high quality squads into this showpiece event knowing they have the necessary talent & qualities within their squads to achieve their goals & win the Champions League but equally they both know & have massive respect for each others squads facing the reality that this is the biggest test either side could face & so ultimately it might well not be about quality but indeed which side shows the greater character, belief & spirit on the night.

The magnitude & intensity of this clash, the incredible mix of experience, quality & sheer talent that both Bayern Munich & Chelsea bring to this match is remarkable & the vast capabilities of both managers makes this Final an incredibly tough one to call & indeed one that could well go either way with the only certainty being the quality on offer.

Bayern Munich have home advantage & deserve to be favourites on that basis but Chelsea have been fantastic in this competition & will believe they can do it so it’s going to be fascinating, intense viewing.

I have had a good look at the likely set ups of both teams, their strengths & weaknesses, the likely tactical approaches of both sides & indeed the statistical records of both Bayern Munich & Chelsea in this years Champions League & based on all of that here are my own honest thoughts on the match & the betting recommendations that I feel offer value & are worth consideration:

Key statistics for Bayern Munich & Chelsea in this years Champions League campaign:

Chelsea:- played 12, won 7, 3 draws & 2 defeats, 24 goals scored & 11 goals conceded

Match Preview – Bayern Munich vs Chelsea – Saturday 19th May 7.45pm:

Every club, manager, owner, player & fan involved in football dreams of their team being in the Champions League Final & this year it’s all of those involved with Bayern Munich & Chelsea that have their dreams come true with their place in the final but only one side will continue dreaming come the final whistle.

The big question of course is which of Bayern Munich & Chelsea will come out on top on the night & be crowned European Champions League winners 2012, it’s a seriously tough question to answer & I definitely think this could be another Champions League final to go all the way to extra time & indeed might even require a penalty shoot-out.

Unquestionably neither Bayern Munich or Chelsea will want to go that far & they will want to get it won inside the 90 minutes, indeed they’ve both got the required high level, experienced quality players within their squads to get the job done in 90 minutes but equally they are in my opinion so closely matched that I truly believe this will be a seriously competitive, close match that can go either way.

Bayern Munich are in the amazing, advantaged position to be playing this Final on their own pitch & that without question makes them deserved favourites to win this, the likes of Robben, Schweinsteiger, Kroos, Neuer, Boateng, Lahm, Gomez, Ribery & Muller plus many more high quality players within the Bayern Munich squad give Bayern Munich a fantastic mix of quality, experienced talent that gives them every chance to win this match & lift the trophy.

Of course the same can be said of Chelsea with Cech, Terry, Lampard, Drogba, Torres, Mata, Cole a high quality, vastly experienced spine for Chelsea & Roberto Di Matteo’s men know that they have what is required to win this match by whatever means, they know that if they can beat Barcelona then they can beat anybody on their day & they know they can handle the occasion.

The statistical records that I’ve highlighted show that both Bayern Munich & Chelsea are very closely matched & have experienced very similar Champions League campaigns so far & in my opinion that closeness is reflected in the relative strengths & weaknesses of both sides too.

Bayern Munich & Chelsea are very well matched in terms of individual quality & experience, they are very well matched in the fact they both are very strong in midfield & attacking areas but also both potentially vulnerable in defensive areas and in my opinion I don’t think you can split Bayern Munich & Chelsea in terms of tactical awareness, technical ability & big match mentality which in my opinion all points to this match being seriously competitive on the night.

Playing at home is unquestionably an advantage for Bayern Munich & their strength at home makes them justified favourites but that does bring extra pressure for them & Roberto Di Matteo’s Chelsea players will totally believe they can upset the odds by making Bayern Munich suffer under that pressure & perform well enough to win the prize making them the clear value pick to take trophy overall but whether they can do it in 90 minutes is not clear.

At a general 4/5 to win in 90 minutes or a general 4/9 to win it outright then I really don’t think Bayern Munich are value by any means despite having home advantage, on the flip side Chelsea are value to win it in 90 minutes & if I had to pick a side to win it in 90 minutes then it would be Chelsea on the basis of the far better value odds.

That said I really do believe that there is very little between Bayern Munich & Chelsea and I do believe that this game could well go all the way, I certainly can’t split them in 90 minutes & for me a scoring draw looks the best value call for the 90 minutes option, after that anything is possible in my opinion & whichever way it goes it should be great entertainment for us all to enjoy no matter who you support.
90 Minute Match Betting Recommendations:
Outright Match result: DRAW
Correct Score options: 1-1/2-2
First Goalscorer/Players to score anytime options: Gomez/Drogba/Robben
Scorecast options: Gomez/Drogba/Robben score 1st & 1-1/2-2
Double Result: DRAW H/T & F/T

Well those are my views on the Champions League Final & hopefully you find them interesting, useful & informative and that they help guide you towards successful punts on what should prove to be a truly great occasions & Champions League final to remember.

Remember to check the latest team news before you bet & also to shop around for the best odds & best terms available and good luck with whatever bets you have.

If we suggest that Crewe are leading at ‘half time’ (1-0 from the first leg) and Southend are trailing, how we do expect the second leg to work out?

Southend’s record when behind at half time in league games this season:

Trailing in 9 games: Won 1–Drew 1–Lost 7

Crewe’s record when leading at the Interval (16 games):

Won 12–Drew 4–Lost 0

If we suggest that Huddersfield are winning at half time and MK Dons are losing (2-0 from the first leg), how we do expect the second leg to work out?

Huddersfield’s record when leading at half time in league games this season:

Led in 18 games: Won 13–Drew 5–Lost 0

MK Dons recond when behind at the Interval (12 games):

Won 0–Drew 5–Lost 7

Looks like the ‘fat lady’ has stopped singing!

If we describe this play-off match as the ‘second half’, we should look at the way teams responded to going into the final period of play having drawn the first half of the encounter, given the 0-0 result at Stevenage on Friday.

Sheffield United: Level at half time in 17 league games this season: Won: 11–Drawn: 2–Lost: 4

Stevenage: Level at half time in 22 league games this season: Won: 6–Drawn: 13–Lost: 3

Truth is that for all United pushed City all the way, Sir Alex has lost his mojo to a fashion.

Richard Hannon’s two-year-old’s are due to strike top form any time now; hence the timing of this information.

Racecourses listed in order of Hannon’s best (to worst) ratio in terms of strike rates:

Catterick: (50% strike rate)–1/2

Beverley: 33%–3/9

Yarmouth: 33%–2/6

Chepstow: 26%–10/38

Epsom: 24%–10/41

Folkestone: 24%–7/29

Lingfield (Turf): 23%–9/40

Goodwood: 22%–44/198

Brighton: 20%–9/44

Ripon: 20%–1/5

Salisbury: 19%–36/190

Chester: 18%–4/22

Doncaster: 18%–16/88

Leicester: 18%–15/83

Newmarket (July course): 18%–28/159

Windsor: 18%–41/222

Ffos Las: 17%–2/12

Wolverhampton (A/W): 17%–10/59

Bath: 16%–13/81

Warwick: 15%: 6/41

Haydock: 14%–7/49

Kempton (A/W): 14%–45/321

Lingfield (A/W): 14%–20/141

Newmarket (Rowley Mile): 14%–24/167

Sandown: 14%–17/121

Newbury: 13%–40/301

Nottingham: 12%–6/49

York: 11%–4/36

Ascot: 10%–11/112

Pontefract: 7%–1/15

Newcastle:—-0/1

Thirsk:—-0/1

Redcar:—-0/2

Southwell (A/W):—-0/3

No two-year-old runners at: Ayr/Carlisle/Hamilton/Musselburgh during the last five years

Manchester United have won their last game of the season in each of the last four years, though the same cannot be said for their neighbours across town.

Manchester United City were beaten 8-1 at Middlesbrough on the 11th May 2008 and have recorded just one victory during the period that United were winning all their games.

Bolton need to win today to remain in the top flight and even then, they will trust that City dispose of QPR this afternoon.

Bolton have won just won of their last five games on the last day of the season.

On the Champions League front, Newcastle can only secure third place if Arsenal lose at West Brom and Tottenham fail to secure a victory when hosting Fulham.  A draw will not enable Tottenham to finish above their north London rivals unless Arsenal lose by two goals or more.

During the same period relating to the Manchester clubs earlier in the analysis, Newcastle lost two and drew one of only three games as they were contesting a game in the Championship on the other occasion.

Arsenal have won three and drawn one of their last four games on the final day of the season, whilst Tottenham have secured just three points from a possible twelve during the same period.

For those playing the goal markets today, 32 goals have been scored on the last day of the season in each of the last two years during which time, eleven home wins were recorded alongside four drawn games and five away victories.

Chelsea v Blackburn (3.00 Sunday)

Matches played in the Premier League at Stamford Bridge:

Number of matches: 17

Chelsea wins: 6

Draws: 6

Blackburn successes: 5

Goal difference: 29-16

Since:

Chelsea win: 0

Drawn game: 3

Blackburn victory: 8

Doubles achieved over their rivals:

Chelsea: 4—Blackburn: 3

Current home league record (Chelsea): 11-3-4 (39/23)

Current away league record (Blackburn): 2-6-10 (21/43)

Last six league games:

Chelsea: 2-2-2 (10-9)

Blackburn: 1-0-5 (4-12)

Clean Sheets this season:

Chelsea: 10—-Blackburn: 3

Failed to score this season:

Chelsea: 8—-Blackburn: 10

Scored the first goal of the game:

Chelsea: 22 (won: 15–drew: 4–lost: 3)

Blackburn: 13 (won: 7–drew: 4–lost: 2)

Conceded the first goal:

Chelsea: 11 (won: 2–drew: 2–lost: 7)

Blackburn: 24 (won: 1–drew: 3–lost: 20)

Half time/Full time ‘double result’ scenarios:

Chelsea:

When leading at half time: (13)–won: 10–drew: 2–lost: 1

When drawing at the interval: (16)–won: 6–drew: 7–lost: 3

When losing after 45 minutes of play: (8)–won: 1–drew: 1–lost: 6

Blackburn:

When leading at half time: (9)–won: 6–drew: 2–lost: 1

When drawing at the interval: (11)–won: 1–drew: 2–lost: 8

When losing after 45 minutes of play: (17)– won: 1–drew: 3–lost: 13