There are loads of domestic midweek football matches for football fans & punters to get stuck into with great action taking place in the Premier League, Championship, F.A. Cup, League 1 & League 2 and here are our views on the matches that caught our eye & the value betting options we feel are worth consideration:

Hull City vs Chelsea – (Tuesday 7.45pm)

Two team with different ambitions & targets meet here in a classic top versus bottom with Hull City desperately fighting relegation & Chelsea chasing the league title so everything is on the line in this one.

The three points on offer mean as much to Hull City as they do to Chelsea so that should mean both teams will be totally up for this one & that should help to make it an entertaining, open game.

Both Hull City & Chelsea have to win this match & they share the motivation to win this match but that is where the similarities end

Hull City come into this match 2nd bottom of the Premier League without a win in the league since their home win against Everton in November & with confidence draining away fast.

Hull City had a fantastic opportunity to get 3 vital league points against relegation rivals Wolves on saturday but they could not hold on to a lead despite being in front twice & drawing that game was a big blow to the Hull City squad.

Hull City’s poor run of form sees them come here without a win in their last 10 games & clearly this home match against league leaders Chelsea is another formidable task.

Phil Brown knows the importance of Hull City remaining positive & particularly in their home matches which will be the key but on current form & with such a terribly fragile defence it is hard to see how Hull City can achieve a positive result here.

Chelsea come to Hull City with the clear motivation of achieving another win which will give them 3 valuable points & once again take them 4 points clear in the title race.

The excellent performance of Manchester United to win at Arsenal has sent a message to Chelsea & they know they have to keep winning so we are expecting a completely professional, determined & positive approach from Chelsea here.

Chelsea were nowhere near their best in beating Burnley 2-1 at the weekend but their form before that was excellent & they remain a team with great quality & strength in all areas which will be boosted significantly by the return of their African based players from the African Nations Cup.

Didier Drogba will be totally determined to pick up where he left off for chelsea & his inclusion in a team which has been full of goals with Anelka & Lampard leading the way is another sign of the massive gulf in class between these two sides here.

We are expecting this to be a decent game of football because Hull City have to attempt to be positive at home & Chelsea always play positive, attacking football but in terms of the result we cannot see past Chelsea who look a rock solid bet to repeat the comfortable win they achieved here last season.

Betting Recommendations:

Outright Match Result: Chelsea to win

Correct Score options: Chelsea to win 3-0/3-1

First Goalscorer each way/Player to score anytime: Lampard/Drogba/Anelka

Scorecast options: Lampard/Drogba/Anelka score 1st & Chelsea win 3-0/3-1

Double Result: Chelsea H/T & F/T

Fulham vs Portsmouth – (Wednesday 8.00pm)

A massively important clash here as both Fulham & Portsmouth chase a win to kick start their seasons again so a tight, competitive contest looks on the cards here.

In terms of current form them both Fulham & Portsmouth come here with almost indentically poor form which only serves to make it much tougher to assess confidently.

Fulham have not won in the Premier League since beating Man United 3-0 in December and have lost their last 5 Premier league matches with team confidence & belief draining away fast.

Roy Hodgson is desperate for Fulham to get back to winning ways & the positives for Fulham are that they are usually very strong at home & very hard to break down which does increase their chances of getting positive results.

Fulham are not the most prolific side & don’t score the goals they should but we expect them to be positive here & they do have enough attacking talent to cause Portsmouth problems & get the goals they need here.

Portsmouth’s season goes from bad to worse day by day & week by week with incredible financial problems off the field & desperate problems of lack of confidence, self belief & quality on the field.

Portsmouth are 5 points adrift at the bottom of the Premier League & in all honesty they look like a team who apear to already know their fate & that relegation is now virtually a certainty so it is hard to envisage how they can get anything from this match.

We are not expecting this to be a classic by any means & positive, attacking football may well be at a premium with the poor form of both sides complicating matters but Fulham are usually very strong at home & we think home advantage is the all importanct factor here making Fulham a solid bet to win this battle.

Betting Recommendations:

Outright Match Result: Fulham to win

Correct Score options: Fulham to win 2-0/2-1

First Goalscorer each way/Player to score anytime: Zamora/Murphy/Duff

Scorecast options: Zamora/Murphy/Duff score 1st & Fulham win 2-0/2-1

Double Result: Fulham H/T & F/T

Leeds United vs Tottenham – (F.A. Cup, Wednesday 7.45pm)

These two great clubs fought out an excellent cup tie in the first meeting at White Hart Lane & this looks set to be another entertaining match for us to enjoy.

The first clash had absolutely everything in it with great drama, quality football, high energy & a great atmosphere and we are expecting the same to be created here in what looks a classic cup tie in the making.

The atmosphere inside Elland Road will be fantastic for this game as the Leeds fans crave the return to the big time & this is a massive opportunity for them to put Leeds back in the spotlight & repeat what they did to Manchester United in round 3.

Promotion to the Championship is number one priority for Leeds United but that won’t matter on the night & we are expecting Leeds to go all out for this one with their high energy, committed style of football & they know they can have a real go at Tottenham here.

Leeds United are unbeaten at Elland Road so far in League 1 & that excellent record will give the Leeds players the confidence & belief to go for this & as they have already showed they have what it takes to get another positive result if things go their way.

Harry Redknapp was not a happy man as the last minute penalty that Tottenham conceded led to this replay & certainly Harry Redknapp will be looking to his players to make sure they get the job done properly in this match.

Tottenham are a side packed full with top quality players & we are expectin Harry Redknapp to field a a very strong side here & if they play to their best then they know they have more than enough quality to get the win.

The one concern for Tottenham on the night will be making sure they have the right mental approach because they will have to be focused & concentrated for the whole match as Leeds will test them for the full 90 minutes.

This has got the real potential to be a classic F.A. Cup with two big clubs going at it with the back drop of a fantastic atmosphere with Leeds & Tottenham set to put on a really competitive show & we are taking Tottenham to just have the extra class & edge it on the night.

Betting Recommendations:

Outright Match Result: Tottenham to win

Correct Score options: Tottenham to win 2-0/2-1

First Goalscorer each way/Player to score anytime: Defoe/Crouch/Jenas

Scorecast options: Defoe/Crouch/Jenas score 1st & Tottenham win 2-0/2-1

Double Result: Tottenham H/T & F/T

Preston vs Barnsley – (Championship, Tuesday 7.45pm)

Fascinating Lancashire vs Yorkshire battle in prospect here as Preston & Barnsley look set to produce a competitive but entertaining match.

Darren Ferguson & Mark Robins are two young, progressive & indeed ambitious managers looking to make their mark at a higher level having proved themselves in the lower leagues & they have both certainly started in the right way.

Darren Ferguson proved himself as a manager by guiding Peterborough to successive promotions & now he is looking to be as successful as possible at Preston & to be fair he has started well.

His first match in charge was a 4-2 away defeat but the last 3 performances have been very positive with a solid performance in giving Chelsea a good game in the F.A. Cup & then more importantly in getting two excellent wins in the league against Peterborough & Ipswich.

In both of those games, Preston showed great team spirit, solidity & belief to get the job done & that will certainly give Darren Ferguson the belief he can take Preston higher & we are expecting another very positive performance from Preston in this match.

Mark Robins has done an excellent job since taking over at Barnsley earlier this season with definite progress being made & the whole atmosphere at the club has been lifted in a very positive way.

Barnsley like to play competitive, positive football & certainly they will relish this test against Preston and go there believing they can get a positive result.

The one negative for Barnsley is their most recent form with only 1 win in their last 5 games & so it will be important for them to start the game well if they are to achieve a good result.

This looks set to be a competitive battle with the Lancashire vs Yorkshire element adding to the intensity of it so it should be close but Preston have had back to back wins & with home advantage they do look a solid bet to make it 3 wins on the bounce here.

Betting Recommendations:

Outright Match Result: Preston to win

Correct Score options: Preston to win 2-0/2-1

First Goalscorer each way/Player to score anytime: Mellor/Parkin/Welbeck

Double Result: Preston Half Time & Full Time

Colchester vs Carlisle – (League 1, Tuesday 7.45pm)

4th place Colchester welcome mid table Carlisle to what looks certain to be an incredibly competitive & indeed fascinating match.

Colchester are enjoying an excellent season & the basis of that has been their tremendous home form with 31 points achieved from a possible 39 points so far & clearly that is a record that commands massive respect here.

Aidy Boothroyd has done a fantastic job since taking over as manager & he has developed a team who play positive, attacking football but equally who can compete physically & give everything they have got in every game.

Colchester do have to bounce back from their 2-0 defeat against Leeds at the weekend but as we said home form is their strength & the 2-0 win over MK Dons will be the performance that will give the confidence to go for another vital win here.

Carlisle sit mid table in League 1 with a record of 8 wins, 9 draws & 9 defeats & it doesn’t take a genius to work out that incosistency in results is their big problem.

On their day Carlisle are an excellent side who play positive, attacking football & they proved they can be positive & win away by beating Exeter City 3-2 away last week.

That fantastic win at Exeter City should give the Carlisle players the confidence to be positive here & the fact they have achieved 6 away draws in the league do prove they have a fair chance of getting a positive result here.

We are expecting a really competitive match here & there probably won’t be much in between the sides on the night but it is impossible to ignore the strength of Colchester’s home form & they do look a solid bet to get home win number 11 here.

Betting Recommendations:

Outright Match Result: Colchester to win

Correct Score options: Colchester to win 2-0/2-1

First Goalscorer each way/Player to score anytime: Lisbie/Platt/Wordsworth

Double Result: Colchester Half Time & Full Time

Walsall vs Charlton – (League 1, Tuesday 7.45pm)

Fascinating contest in prospect here with both Walsall & Charlton looking for much needed wins to get their season going again & this should prove to be a really decent, competitive match.

Walsall are struggling in mid table of League 1 and need the 3 points to help their push up the table while Charlton need to get back on the winning trail to help their title push so this is a massively important game for both sides.

Walsall & Charlton are two well organised sides who like to play controlled, passing football & both teams are similar tactically so we are not expecting there to be much between these sides on the night.

Walsall are always fairly solid at home & Charlton have an excellent away record so this is going to be very competitive & on balance a scoring draw looks a value bet well worth taking here.

Betting Recommendations:

Outright Match Result: DRAW

Correct Score options: 1-1/2-2

First Goalscorer each way/Player to score anytime: Byfield/Bailey/Shelvey

Double Result: Draw H/T & F/T

Accrington vs Barnet – (League 2, Tuesday 7.45pm)

We like the look of this match as both Accrington & Barnet look to play positive football & this match has plenty to offer.

Accrington have a really defined home record with 6 wins & 5 defeats from their 11 home league matches but in general they are very strong at home & do like to have a real go at teams.

League 1 side Gillingham came up against an in form Accrington side in round 3 of the F.A. Cup & then Premier League side Fulham experienced the same so the fact Accrington performed so well against higher ranked opposition proves how dangerous they are at home.

The big positive for Accrington is they come into this match fresh from their excellent win away at Shrewsbury & that should give them another massive confidence boost to go & be positive in this match.

Barnet had a decent start to the season & were going quite well but all that has gone wrong in recent months and indeed Barnet have slid down the table to sit only a few points above the relegation zone.

Away form has been Barnet’s big downfall all season with only 7 points from a possible 33 & that is a massive concern coming into this fixture against an in form side.

This should be a decent match as both Accrington & Barnet like to play good football but in terms of the outcome we cannot look past Accrington who look a really confident, positive side at present & they can get another win here.

Betting Recommendations:

Outright Match Result: Accrington to win

Correct Score options: Accrington ton win 2-0/2-1

First Goalscorer each way/Player to score anytime: Symes/Grant/Miles

Double Result: Accrington H/T & F/T

There is full midweek programme of games taking place in League 1 & League 2 and here are our thoughts on the games that caught our eye & the value betting options that we feel are worth consideration:

Walsall vs Norwich City – (Tuesday 7.45pm)

The standard of football in League 1 is pretty high these days and certainly Walsall & Norwich City play their part & this should be a very good game.

Walsall are a good, solid, well organised club who look to play the right way & certainly can test any team in the league on their day so we are expecting a good performance from them here.

Norwich City are absolutely flying at present coming into this match on a great run of form which has taken them to the top of League 1 & certainly looking a rock solid bet for promotion.

Confidence is sky high within the Norwich City squad at present & they are playing fantastic, attacking football which is giving them the opportunity to score goals & win games and they will believe they can do the same here.

This should be a decent game & Walsall will make it a test for Norwich City but on current form it is hard to oppose Norwich City & they look a decent bet to have too much quality & win this.

Betting Recommendations:

Outright Match Result: Norwich City to win

Correct Score options: Norwich City to win 2-0/2-1

First Goalscorer each way/Player to score anytime: Martin/Hoolahan/Johnson

Brentford vs Southampton – (Tuesday 7.45pm)

Competitive, high energy football looks the order of the day here between Brentford who are strong at home & Southampton who are in great form so should be a decent game.

Brentford have 5 wins & 6 draws at home in the league this season & they will certainly go into this match believing they can get a result & will use the fact they played very well against Championship side Doncaster last week as motivation for this.

Southampton are absolutely flying now under the excellent management of Alan Pardew & they look as though believe they are going to win every game they play in at present so we expect another positive show here.

This should be a competitive contest & indeed a scoring draw is tempting but we like the way Southampton are playing at present & after beating Ipswich at the weekend, they will be flying going into this match & they look a value bet to win again here.

Betting Recommendations:

Outright Match Result: Southampton to win

Correct Score options: Southampton to win 2-0/2-1

First Goalscorer each way/Player to score anytime: Lambert/Barnard/lallana

Rochdale vs Port Vale – (Tuesday 7.45pm)

Twenty two points seperate League 2 leaders Rochdale from mid table Port Vale but nevertheless both sides like to play football & decent, competitive game looks likely here.

Rochdale are having an absolutely fantastic season so far, sitting 9 points clear at the top of League 2 with promotion looking virtually secured already & this home game is another opportunity to work towards that.

Rochdale come into this match in excellent form having won 17 of their 26 league games which has seen them score an incredible 58 goals and we are expecting Rochdale to go for the goals again here.

A very impressive 4-1 away win at the weekend should see Rochdale come here with great confidence & belief and we expect them to go all out for the win right from the star in this one.

Port Vale are 22 points behind Rochdale which suggests they will struggle but they have improved greatly in the last few months & certainly will feel they have a chance of getting a positive result from this match.

Port Vale’s away record is excellent so far this season with only 2 away defeats & that proves they have the ability & character to go to Rochdale and get that result if they play to their best & things go there way on the night.

Rochdale will be positive from the start & Port Vale are capable of making it a real test so this should be very competitive & closer than many will expect but we have to side with Rochdale at home & they look a solid bet to win again here.

Betting Recommendations:

Outright Match Result: Rochdale to win

Correct Score options: Rochdale to win 2-0/2-1

First Goalscorer each way/Player to score anytime: O’Grady/Dagnall/Taylor

Other Recommendations for League 1 & League 2:

Exeter City vs Carlisle United – DRAW 1-1/2-2 – Anyinsah/Stansfield/Stewart score 1st/anytime

BRIGHTON to beat Stockport – 2-0/2-1
- Forster/Murray score 1st/anytime

Accrington Stanley vs Aldershot – DRAW 1-1/2-2
- Symes/Grant/Straker score 1st/anytime

ROTHERHAM UNITED to beat Chesterfield – 2-0/2-1
- Le Fondre/Ellison score 1st/anytime

Dagenham vs Notts County – DRAW 1-1/2-2
- Benson/Hughes/Rodgers score 1st/anytime

Round 3 of the F.A. Cup proved there was still plenty of magic left in the competition & this weekend sees the latest round of the F.A. Cup as teams chase their dreams of a Wembley Cup Final in May.
As usual there are loads of very interesting ties for us all to enjoy with plenty of value betting options to consider & here are our views on the matches that caught our eye.

Preston vs Chelsea – (Saturday 12.45pm)

Championship strugglers taking on Premier League leaders might sound like a complete mis-match but this is the cup & Preston will certainly have no fear as they entertain Chelsea in what looks set to be a cracking match.

Preston earned their place in round 4 by producing a fantastic performance to beat Colchester 7-0 & amazingly that was only 3 days after Alan Irvine had left as manager.

Darren Ferguson is the new man in charge & this match against Chelsea represents his first home match as Preston Manager so this is an extra special occasion for him & one that he will be determined to make an immediate impact in.

The first area that Darren Ferguson has committed himself to impacting on is Preston’s defensive problems which were highlighted again in their 4-2 away at Bristol City last weekend & Ferguson knows that they cannot afford to be defensively fragile against Chelsea who come here in top form.

This cup tie is a welcome break from the pressures of the league for Preston & we are expecting Darren Ferguson to send out the Preston players with a very positive attitude & commitment to compete for everything with a high tempo style to prevent Chelsea playing their natural game.

Carlo Ancelotti has made it clear that he wants to win whatever competitions he can & with Manchester United & Liverpool out of the way already, he knows that Chelsea have an excellent opportunity to repeat last seasons win in the F.A. Cup.

We are expecting Chelsea to take this match very seriously & coming off the back of a 5-0 win against Watford in Round 3 & then last weekend’s amazing 7-2 win against Sunderland we do expect Chelsea to go all out for the win here.

Confidence levels within the Chelsea squad are sky high & scoring 12 goals in their last 2 matches proves that Chelsea are playing very well & that all their key players are top form again.

The one aspect that Carlo Ancelotti will remain concerned about is the defence which still seems shaky & that could be a concern if Preston go for the direct approach & gather momentum in this match so the Chelsea defence will have to be solid.

Preston’s last two matches have seen 13 goals go in & Chelsea last 3 matches have seen 17 goals scored so this should be an entertaining match & the goals could fly in but in our view it is more likely to be Chelsea doing the scoring & they look a very solid bet to win here.

Betting Recommendations:

Outright Match Result: Chelsea to win

Correct Score options: Chelsea to win 3-0/3-1

First Goalscorer each way/Player to score anytime: Lampard/Anelka/Ballack

Scorecast options: Lampard/Anelka/Ballack score 1st & Chelsea win 3-0/3-1

Double Result: Chelsea Half Time & Full Time

Reading vs Burnley – (Saturday 12.45pm)

Championship strugglers Reading welcome Premier League strugglers Burnley to what should be a cracking cup tie & fantastic game of open, attacking football.

Clearly Reading & Burnley have bigger, more importants targets of staying in their respective leagues but this F.A. Cup 4th round tie is a welcome break from the weekly pressures of the league & both teams will believe they can progress further.

Reading earned their right to stage this match after deservedly beating Liverpool over 2 matches & the confidence gained from those games should see an improvement in performances from Reading over the coming weeks in the league & of course while they are still in the cup as well.

After the delights of winning at Liverpool, Reading were brought back down to earth by Nottingham Forest who beat them 2-1 but that was not such a big surprise given how much effort the Reading players put into the Liverpool game & we expect them to be much fresher here.

Reading will know what to expect from Burnley in terms of tactics & indeed Burnley’s positive, open style should give Reading the chance to play their own football and if they hit their best form they are clearly capable of beating Burnley here as well.

Brian Laws faced the ultimate task in his first game in charge at Burnley has he took his side to play Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Ultimately Burnley lost that match but they played very well & actually should have scored first so that should have given Brian Laws great confidence that he has the players who can get Burnley out of trouble.

Brian Laws knows that one key area that Burnley have to improve in is their away form & he will see this away cup tie as the perfect opportunity to improve the mentality & confidence of the Burnley players when they play away.

Tactically both Reading & Burnley like to set-up to play open, passing football & always look to create chances but both equally have defensive issues as well so this should be a cracking match & the goals could well go in here.

Reading’s victory over Liverpool makes it tough to ignore their claims & they will be competitive again here but in our view Burnely look a value bet to have the edge on the day & win through to round 5.

Betting Recommendations:

Outrigth Match Result: Burnley to win

Correct Score options: Burnley to win 2-1/3-1

First Goalscorer each way/Player to score anytime: Alexander/Eagles/Nugent

Scorecast options: Alexander/Eagles/Nugent score 1st & Burnley win 2-1/3-1

Double Result: Burnley Half Time & Full Time

West Brom vs Newcastle United – (Saturday 3.00pm)

Fascinating battle of two of the three leading lights in the Championship here as 3rd place West Brom welcome Championship leaders Newcastle United to what should be a fantastic, entertaining cup tie.

Amazingly these two sides clash for the 2nd time in 6 days having fought out a cracking 2-2 draw at Newcastle & both sides will believe they can win this so another cracker looks on the cards here.

That 2-2 draw at Newcastle & indeed the 1-1 draw these sides shared on the opening day of the season both proved the quality within each squad & how closely matched they are so there is unlikely to be too much between the sides again here.

The fact that this is a cup tie & not another Championship match should see the pressure lifted off the players as well & that should further encourage them to play more open, attacking football & the prospect for goals is again very high.

Both Roberto Di Mattteo at West Brom & Chris Hughton at Newcastle know that it is promotion to the Premier League that really matters but with this cup tie being against their key rivals, this is a fantastic opportunity for both sides to score at least a psychological victory & we expect both managers to be very positive here.

This could well prove to be on the best & most competitive 4th round ties & should provide great entertainment with any result entirely possible given how closely matched both teams are but ultimately we think home advantage could be the key & West Brom look worth a bet to edge this on the day.

Betting Recommendations:

Outright Match Result: West Brom to win

Correct Score options: West Brom to win 2-1/3-1

First Goalscorer each way/Player to score anytime: Bednar/Dorrans/Brunt

Scorecast options: Bednar/Dorrans/Brunt score 1st & West Brom win 2-1/3-1

Double Result: West Brom Half Time & Full Time

Accrington Stanley vs Fulham – (Saturday 3.00pm)

Out of all this weekend’s 4th round ties, could this clash of league 2 mid table side Accrington Stanley versus Fulham of the Premier League be the one that provides the shock & the magic we all look for in the F.A. Cup?

The answer in our view is it could well be just that & this tie certainly does look to have that classic David vs Goliath look to it that only the F.A. Cup can produce.

Accrington Stanley currently sit 11th in League 2, are a side who like to play attacking football & for them this is a fantastic opportunity for the club to show what they are about & indeed bring a much needed boost to the finances of the club.

Accrington Stanley have been relatively strong at home this season & win, lose or draw they always make sure they give their opponents a real test at the Crown Ground & that it what we expect against Fulham in this match.

A 1-0 home win over League 1 side Gillingham in round 3 on tuesday saw them progress to this 4th round tie & that win should give them the confidence to have a real go here & Fulham’s poor away record gives them a chance of getting something from the match.

Roy Hodgson is knowlegable & experienced enough to know that this match at Accrington Stanley is going to be a real test for his players & he will know what to expect.

Roy Hogson knows that he has a talented squad who have superior technique & skills to that of the Accrington players but equally he knows that Accrington Stanley will be be totally pumped up for this one & Fulham will have to be very competive & organised here.

Fulham have struggled away from home this season & indeed come into this match with 3 defeats from their last 4 games so team confidence is bound to be affected by that & that could be a problem here.

Ordinarily we would all expect Fulham to win this match but they are struggling a little at present & the F.A. Cup is a great leveller so we are taking Accrington Stanley as a value bet to win this & provide more F.A. Cup magic.

Betting Recommendations:

Outright Match Result: Accrington Stanley to win

Correct Score options: Accrington Stanley to win 2-0/2-1

First Goalscorer each way/Player to score anytime: Miles/Symes/Grant

Scorecast options: Miles/Symes/Grant to score 1st & Accrington Stanley to win 2-0/2-1

Double Result: Accrington Stanley Half Time & Full Time

Notts County vs Wigan – (Saturday 3.00pm)

Having beaten non-league Forest Green in round 3, Notts County now come up against Premier league side Wigan in what should be another fascinating cup tie.

Just as with the Accrington Stanley vs Fulham game, this is another case of League 2 vs Premier League which adds to the interest & certainly provides plenty for us to get interested in.

Notts County currently sit 8th in League 2 & have had a steady season so far with their home form particularly strong which will give them confidence ahead of this match.

Notts County won here in the cup on wednesday & have only lost once in 11 home league matches which illustrates how tough they are to play at home & certainly does give them a chance of getting a positive result here.

Positive, attacking football is what Notts County like to play & certainly they have a capacity to score goals which should give them the confidence & belief to take the game to Wigan & give it their best shot.

Roberto Martinez’s Wigan side have been on a roller coaster all season with massive ups & downs and nobody knows from week to week what to expect from Wigan which does make it tough to assess them.

The one consistent factor with Wigan is Roberto Martinez’s belief in playing positive, passing football & we certainly expect Wigan to play that way here as well.

The Wigan squad should come into this match confident after a very important 2-0 away win at Wolves & indeed the fact this is a cup tie should take the pressures away & Wigan certainly have the attacking quality to cause Notts County real problems.

We are expecting this to be a fascinating & indeed entertaining match with any result possible given how both sides play but for a fun, value bet we are taking Notts County to make home advantage pay & make their own F.A. Cup history.

Betting Recommendations:

Outright Match Result: Notts County to win

Correct Score options: Notts County to win 2-1/3-1

First Goalscorer each way/Player to score anytime: Hawley/Hughes/Rodgers

Scorecast options: Hawley/Hughes/Rodgers score 1st & Notts County win 2-1/3-1

Double Result: Notts County Half Time & Full Time

Other F.A. Cup Recommendations:

Everton vs Birmingham City:
Everton to win 2-0/2-1
- Fellaini/Cahill/Saha e/w 1st goalscorer /score anytime

Stoke City vs Arsenal:
Stoke City to win 2-0/2-1
- Fuller/Shawcross/Tuncay e/w 1st goalscorer/score anytime

Portsmouth vs Sunderland:
Sunderland to win 2-1/3-1
- Bent/Malbranque/Jones e/w 1st goalscorer/score antyime

Tottenham vs Leeds United:
Tottenham to win 3-0/3-1
- Defoe/Keane/Modric e/w 1st goalscorer/score anytime

Derby County vs Doncaster Rovers:
Doncaster Rovers to win 2-0/2-1
- shiels/Coppinger/Sharp e/w 1st goalscorer/score anytime

Wolves vs Crystal Palace:
Crystal Palace win 2-1/3-1
- Moses/Ambrose/Danns e/w 1st goalscorer/score anytime

Mid table League 2 side Accrington welcome League 1 strugglers Gillingham to the Crown Ground for what we expect to be a proper, competitive cup tie that looks evenly balanced.
Accrington Stanley will certainly be up for this cup tie because while they have an even home record of 5 wins & 5 defeats, they have generally played very well at home & certainly will believe Gillingham are there for the taking.

Accrington’s latest home game saw them lose 4-2 against Bury & obviously while that was dissappointing, they were in front in that game and certainly created enough chances to get a result & generally that is how they do play in their home matches.

Accrington Stanley do believe in playing positive, attacking football and certainly have the ability to score goals & have scored 2 or more goals in 10 of their competitive home matches so that definitely gives them a decent chance in this match.

Gillingham travel to this match struggling in League 1, sitting only a few points above the relegation zone & with a terrible away record of no wins from their 13 previous away matches so far this season.

That terrible away record clearly is a massive factor coming into this game & certainly does highlight that Gillingham will need an excellent performance to get a positive result here even though they are a league higher than Accrington.

The big reason for their problems away from home is that they concede far too many goals with 30 conceded in their 13 away matches & only 9 scored and clearly those figures further highlight the task they face.

This is going to be a proper F.A. cup tie with an intensely competitive battle likely & we like the look of home side Accrington Stanley as a good bet to have the edge in this one & earn their right to play Fulham at home in round 4.

Betting Recommendations:

Outright Match Result: Accrington Stanley to win

Correct Score options: Accrington Stanley to win 2-1/3-1

First goalscorer each way/Player to score anytime: Symes/Miles/Mcconville

Double Result: Accrington Stanley Half Time & Full Time

As we all know the weather has played it’s part in causing havoc with the football fixture list & that includes the F.A. Cup with several 3rd round ties unable to be played at the first time of asking.
Obviously the weather situation has not improved but hopefully will do in time for these matches to be played this week & here are our views on the games that caught our eye & the value betting options we feel are worth consideration.

Notts County vs Forest Green – (3rd Round tie, Tuesday 7.45pm)

Now this F.A. Cup tie might not grab the attention of too many people outside of either Notts County or Forest Green but it certainly caught our eye as a fascinating F.A. Cup tie that offers a great deal of interest & should be a good game to watch.

This season has already seen great drama both on & off the pitch at Notts County with the whole Sven Goran Eriksson scenario, new, mysterious owners buying the club & supposedly pumping millions in & now of course a new management buyout with the club having to deal with serious financial issues so this F.A. Cup 3rd round tie should prove to be a welcome distraction.

Notts County are having a good season in League 2 & while they may not have met the high expectations that came with the appointment of Sven Goran Eriksson, the facts are Notts County have done well this season & are indeed dangerous opponents for most teams on their best form.

Like we said, this F.A. Cup tie is a distraction from the pressures of the trying to achieve promotion in the league & we are expecting Notts County to be committed to showing their quality & to have a real go at winning this game in style with goals.

Notts County have been very strong at home this season & certainly have scored a lot of goals and they certainly have a great chance of winning this match if they play anywhere near their best form.

Forest Green are a tremendously proud club with a rich tradition and they will view this cup tie as an excellent opportunity to have a real go & show what they are capable of.

In terms of the season so far in the league, then Forest Green have been struggling in the Blue Square Premier League, sitting 3rd bottom with only 4 wins all seasons so this cup tie will be a welcome relief from those pressures of the league & should encourage the players to be more positive in their play.

We are expecting Forest Green to raise their game for this one & certainly the cup tie element will make it more competitive but in terms of a bet we cannot oppose Notts County who look worth a decent bet to get a couple win & go through to round 4.

Betting Recommendations:

Outright Match Result: Notts County to win

Correct Score options: Notts County to win 2-0/3-0

First Goalscorer each way/Player to score anytime: Hughes/Rodgers/Hawley

Double Result: Notts County Half Time & Full Time

Bristol City vs Cardiff City – (3rd Round tie, Tuesday 7.45pm)

All Championship tie here with both Bristol City & Cardiff City having promotion as a far more important target than progress in the cup but nevertheless this still looks set to be a fascinating & indeed competitive cup tie.

Bristol City come into this match having experienced a very mixed season with excellent home form but poor away form which sees them sitting 12th in the Championship at present.

Bristol City’s clear target is attempting to get to the play-offs & of course ultimately promotion but having such a strong home record should be motivation enough to be positive & go for the win in this home tie.

1 defeat from their previous 12 home games so far this season shows how strong Bristol City have been at home & they will certainly believe they can go for the win here.

Cardiff City come into this match in the middle of what has been a difficult & frustrating series of matches with disappointing results & performances against Blackpool, Peterborough & Plymouth.

Those 3 poor performances will obviously affect the confidence levels of the Cardiff City players coming into this match & they will be under pressure to perform well here.

Dave Jones has not been at all happy with how Cardiff City have performed in recent weeks & he will demand an improvement in the levels of commitment & performance from the players here so we are expecting Cardiff City to be fully up for this one.

We fully expect this to be a tremendously competitive match & we don’t envisage there being too much between the sides on the night so any result is possible but we are just going to side with Bristol City who should be fresher than Cardiff City going into this match & they can make home advantage pay on the night.

Betting Recommendations:

Outright Match Betting: Bristol City to win

Correct Score options: Bristol City to win 2-0/2-1

First Goalscorer each way/player to score anytime: Maynard/Haynes/Hartley

Double Result: Bristol City Half Time & Full Time

Accrington Stanley vs Gillingham – (3rd round tie, Tuesday 7.45pm)

Mid table League 2 side Accrington welcome League 1 strugglers Gillingham to the Crown Ground for what we expect to be a proper, competitive cup tie that looks evenly balanced.

Accrington Stanley will certainly be up for this cup tie because while they have an even home record of 5 wins & 5 defeats, they have generally played very well at home & certainly will believe Gillingham are there for the taking.

Accrington’s latest home game saw them lose 4-2 against Bury & obviously while that was disappointing, they were in front in that game and certainly created enough chances to get a result & generally that is how they do play in their home matches.

Accrington Stanley do believe in playing positive, attacking football and certainly have the ability to score goals & have scored 2 or more goals in 10 of their competitive home matches so that definitely gives them a decent chance in this match.

Gillingham travel to this match struggling in League 1, sitting only a few points above the relegation zone & with a terrible away record of no wins from their 12 previous away matches so far this season.

That terrible away record clearly is a massive factor coming into this game & certainly does highlight that Gillingham will need an excellent performance to get a positive result here even though they are a league higher than Accrington.

The big reason for their problems away from home is that they concede far too many goals with 27 conceded in their 12 away matches & only 9 scored and clearly those figures further highlight the task they face.

This is going to be a proper F.A. cup tie with an intensely competitive battle likely & we like the look of home side Accrington Stanley as a good bet to have the edge in this one & earn their right to play Fulham at home in round 4.

Betting Recommendations:

Outright Match Result: Accrington Stanley to win

Correct Score options: Accrington Stanley to win 2-1/3-1

First goalscorer each way/Player to score anytime: Symes/Miles/Mcconville

Double Result: Accrington Stanley Half Time & Full Time

Birmingham City vs Nottingham Forest – (3rd Round replay, Tuesday 7.45pm)

We have a fascinating game in prospect here between probably the two most in form teams in the country with Birmingham City flying high in the Premier League & unbeaten in 13 games while Nottingham Forest come here unbeaten in 18 matches & so far unbeaten away all season so this should be a fantastic, competitive match.

Birmingham City have everything going for them at present & obviously come into this fixture with confidence levels sky high & the knowledge they can compete equally with anybody on their best form.

Positive results against the likes of Chelsea, Man United, Man City, Liverpool, Fulham, Everton & Sunderland prove how strong Alex McCleish’s side have been this season & indeed they present a major test for every team they play against.

Tactically there is no magic formula or secret to Birmingham City with their success built on consistency of selection which has enabled them to be defensively strong & organised, physically committed in every game & given them massive belief to go into every match confident they can get a result.

Birmingham City’s real strength has been at home with only 2 defeats in 11 and incredibly only 6 goals conceded in those 11 games & it is that tremendous defensive strength that has enabled Birmingham City to get so many positive results.

In terms of this match against Nottingham Forest we expect much the same from Birmingham City again with their plan to keep it incredibly tight & then try to score and indeed given their form they will believe they can do just that.

Billy Davies brings his Nottingham Forest side to Birmingham City having just witnessed his players produce a magnificent team performance to play with style & impressively win 3-1 away at West Brom.

That performance highlighted all the key strengths of Nottingham Forest with defensive organisation, team confidence, a tremendous work ethic & indeed a high level of belief to play attacking football & to try to win every game they play in.

Nottingham Forest are unbeaten in their last 18 matches & incredibly remain unbeaten away so far with 4 wins & 9 draws away from home and clearly that indicates how strong they will be in this match & they certainly do have a fair chance of getting a result.

The incredibly competitive 0-0 draw these two sides shared the first time around showed that these two sides are very closely matched & again we don’t expect their to be too much between the sides here but surely something has to give & for a value bet we are taking Nottingham Forest to edge this one.

Betting Recommendations:

Outright Match Result: Nottingham Forest to win

Correct Score options: Nottingham Forest to win 2-0/2-1

First Goalscorer each way/player to score anytime: Blackstock/Anderson/Mcgoldrick

Double Result: Nottingham Forest Half Time & Full Time

The Championship, League 1 & League 2 are probably the three most complex & difficult leagues for football punters to assess with confidence & the weekly challenge of finding winning selections is indeed a very tough one.

We have had a good look at all the fixtures in those leagues & here are our thoughts on where the best value may lie:

The Championship:

Swansea vs Q.P.R.:

Very interesting game in prospect here as Swansea manager welcomes his former team Q.P.R. to what should be a good game of positive football

Swansea have started slowly this season with 5 draws & only 2 wins in their first 10 league games & the most worrying fact is that they have failed to score in 6 of those games.

Swansea will be looking to this game to build on their terrific 2-1 win against Sheffield United in their last home game which should give them confidence for this match.

Q.P.R. come into this game in good confidence & in a run of form which has seen them only lose 1 game in the last 8 & that was a 1-0 defeat by Chelsea.

Q.P.R. were very impressive when winning on their last visit to Wales when the beat Cardiff 2-0 & they followed that up with an excellent 5-2 home win last weekend & a very solid 1-1 draw away at Newcastle United.

We are expecting a good game of positive football with both managers philosophy based on entertaining so it should be a very competitive game.

Swansea will be determined to build on their last home win but in our opinion, Q.P.R. are in better form & have more quality in attacking areas so they look a good value bet to get another important away win.

Betting Recommendations:

Outright Match betting: Q.P.R. to win

Correct score options: Q.P.R. to win 2-0/2-1

First goalscorer each way/Player to score anytime options: Simpson/Buzsaky/Routledge

Sheffield United vs Doncaster Rovers:

We expect this match to be an intense local derby & it should provide a game with great atmosphere & competitive spirit on the pitch.

There is no love lost between the folk of Sheffield & Doncaster and you can be certain everybody connected to both clubs will be fully up for this game.

Sheffield United are odds on favourites to win this game but they deserve to be given how they are unbeaten at home & certainly have the edge in terms of quality in the squad.

Doncaster Rovers always attempt to play good passing football & they are a solid team unit with a good team spirit which makes them hard to break down but at the same time they struggle to win games.

This should be a cracking atmosphere & match to go with it but given how good Sheffield United looked against arch rivals Sheffield Wednesday, the local rivalry should inspire them & they look a solid bet to win this battle.

Betting Recommendations:

Outright Match Betting: Sheffield United to win

Correct Score options: Sheffield United to win 2-1/3-1

First goalscorer each way/Player to score anytime options: Evans/Henderson

The remaining fixtures in the Championship look very, very difficult to assess with any outcome entirely possible & there is a good chance that there will be a higher percentage of draws.

The games that appeal as likely DRAW candidates are:

Barnsley vs Ipswich, Coventry City vs Leicester City, Preston vs West Brom & Derby County vs Sheffield Wednesday

League 1:

The League 1 fixtures list looks incredibly tough this weekend & the potential for a higher proportion of draws is certainly there – the highlights of the fixture list are Colchester vs Huddersfield Town & Leeds United vs Charlton Athletic.

Colchester vs Huddersfield Town:

4th place Colchester welcome 6th place Huddersfield Town to what is definitely a very important clash but equally could well be very entertaining one given the quality within both sides.

Colchester have been excellent this season losing only 2 of their 10 league games with 4 wins from their 5 home matches & clearly they are very strong at home.

That point was proven with their fantastic 3-0 home win against Charlton last weekend & that result should drive Colchester to be very positive & go for the win again here.

Lee Clark’s Huddersfield Town come into this game having suffered a poor spell of results after a great start to the season so clearly they need to bounce back here.

Lee Clark is a very positive manager & Huddersfield definitely have got the necessary talent within their squad to go to Colchester & be positive in their play although they will have to be much defensively solid than they have been in recent matches.

We like the look of this match & the prospects for entertainment & goals certainly look high & it what is likely to be a very competitive game, a scoring draw appeals as a value bet here.

Betting Recommendations:

Outright Match Betting: Draw

Correct Score options: 1-1/2-2

First goalscorer each way/Player to score anytime options: Lisbie/Odejayi/Rhodes/Kay

Leeds United vs Charlton Athletic:

It does seem incredible that these two former Premier League sides now clash in a League 1 tie but that is the case & here we have what is certainly the biggest League 1 game so far this season & probably will be the biggest all season in League 1.

Leeds United & Charlton come into this massive match sitting 1st & 2nd respectively after both enjoying tremendous starts to the season.

Leeds United are unbeaten so far & Charlton have only lost 1 game so far so clearly this is going to be a very competitive game & one that looks incredibly tough to call.

The home record of Leeds United in the past year or so is phenomenal & clearly Leeds United fear nobody when playing at Elland Road so we expect them to be very positive against Charlton here.

Charlton suffered their first loss of the season when going down 3-0 away at Colchester so they have to get over that but previously they had looked very confident & certainly have the quality within their squad to achieve a positive result at Leeds.

This game should provide a lot of entertainment given the quality within both sides but equally there is a lot of pressure on this game & with that in mind we feel that neither side will want to lose & a scoring draw looks a sensible bet.

Betting Recommendations:

Outright Match Betting: DRAW

Correct Score options: 1-1/2-2

First goalscorer each way/Player to score anytime options: Beckford/Becchio/Shelvey/Burton

League 2:

League 2 is a notoriously competitive league to solve & incredibly difficult for football punters to find a consistent winning edge & we have to say the League 2 fixture list looks tough again this weekend but here are the teams we think have a great chance of winning:

Notts County to beat Cheltenham

Chesterfield Town to beat Accrington

Rotherham United to beat Crewe

Shrewsbury Town to beat Morecambe

Bournemouth to beat Port Vale