All articles by: Elliott Jackson

Norwich City vs Ipswich Town – Match Preview

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Norwich City vs Ipswich Town
Sunday 18th February 2018, Carrow Road
Skybet Championship

Sky Sports 1 – 12pm

Norwich vs Ipswich Town – Norwich host Ipswich in the East Anglia derby looking for a win that would see them do the double over their rivals.

A good run of results has seen Norwich collect ten points from their last five games. With just one defeat in that time, the Canaries have also recorded impressive wins against Middlesbrough and Bristol City, followed by a draw with Derby. Daniel Farke’s men now sit in 13th place, eight points outside the top six. Whilst their recent form has improved, they’re still way off where they would have expected to be at the start of the season. In the summer there will be big pressure on Farke to get the club promoted or risk losing key players in the summer. James Maddison has been one of the Canaries best performers this season and has attracted a number of suitors from the top flight. If Norwich want to keep him, investing well in the summer could be key.

Ipswich sit one place above their rivals but are level on points with them. Town have only lost one of their last four games, which has seen them move clear of the relegation zone. With Mick McCarthy’s men going neither up or down, this game has little significance to the league table. With bragging rights up for grabs, however, it’s arguably their most important game of the season. McCarthy has recently been linked with the vacant Barnsley job but has reiterated his commitment to the Tractor Boys this week. Ipswich have struggled on the road this campaign and have won just one of their four trips away from Portman Road.

Norwich are unbeaten in their last nine meetings with Ipswich and haven’t lost at home since 2006. McCarthy’s side did, however, claim a point on their last visit to Carrow Road with a 1-1 draw in February last year.

David Coote is the official for Sunday’s derby clash, having refereed Sheffield Wednesday’s 2-0 victory over Derby in midweek. Coote has an average booking points total of 45.8 from 18 league games. This is one of the highest in the division, with an average of 4.2 yellow cards and 0.2 red cards per game.

Given Norwich’s recent dominance in this fixture, I think they’ll get another win on the board. The tractor boys haven’t performed well on the road recently, whilst the Canaries have won two of their last three games.

Norwich vs Ipswich Town will be televised live in the UK on Sky Sports from 12PM.

Prediction: Norwich 2-1 Ipswich

Suggested tips – Norwich City vs Ipswich Town – (BET365):

  • Correct score, Norwich to win 2-1- 

Suggested tips – Norwich City vs Ipswich Town – (SKYBET):

  • Correct score, Norwich to win 2-1- 7/1.
  • Nelson Olivera to score and win – 2/1.
  • Maddison and Garner both to score – 9/1.
  • BTTS and Norwich to win – 11/4.
  • Correct score group- Draw 1-1, 2-2 or 3-3 – 4/1.

Odds and markets last updated on February 16 February 2018 @14:45 GMT.

More markets will be added over the weekend prior to the game kicking off Sunday lunchtime. Keep visiting the tips and preview area for further updates and previews for this weekends FA Cup and Championship action.

Sheffield Wednesday vs Swansea City – Match Preview

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Sheffield Wednesday vs Swansea City
Saturday 17th February, Hillsborough
FA Cup – fifth round

BT Sport – 12:30pm

Sheffield Wednesday vs Swansea – Carlos Carvalhal returns to his old stomping ground as he takes his Swansea side to Hillsborough to face Sheffield Wednesday for a place in the FA Cup quarter-finals.

After leaving Hillsborough on Christmas Eve, eight weeks ago, few would have predicted that Carvalhal would be making such an instant return to his former side. The Portuguese head coach guided the Owls to two top-six finishes during his two and a half year spell at the club, including reaching the play-off final in his first season in charge. I expect Carvalhal to get a good reception from the home faithful on Saturday, as he should.

Despite the more pressing concerns of securing their Championship status for next season, the FA Cup has proved a welcome distraction for Wednesday. Jos Luhukay won his first league game in midweek, beating promotion-chasing Derby 2-0. In the FA Cup, the Owls have defeated Carlisle and Reading in the previous two rounds meaning their Premier League opposition is by far their toughest task so far. The Owls could welcome back Tom Lees to the starting line-up, with the defender missing the last three months through injury. They will still be without 11 injured first team players, although Gary Hooper and Joost van Aken are thought to be only a couple of weeks away from returning.

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Since arriving in South Wales, Carvalhal has lifted the Swans out of the relegation zone. After taking over the club with them rooted to the bottom of the Premier League table, they now sit in 14th. They’re undefeated in their last nine games, winning four of their last six in all competitions. Swansea’s switch to a back three has been key to their success, which has seen them become more resolute at the back and more of a threat going forwards. Jordan Ayew has been in particularly good form, with three goals in seven games.

The form of these two sides coming into this fixture couldn’t be starker. Wednesday have one league win in 16 to their name, whilst Swansea are flying high. To make matters worse, Wednesday haven’t beaten Swansea since 1984, having drawn three of their last four meetings. Swansea won the other fixture at Hillsborough 2-0, back in 2009.

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Paul Tierney is the referee for this match up on Saturday lunch time. The official has an average booking points total of 28, which is one of the lowest in the Premier League. He is yet to show a red card this season, but has showed an average of 2.8 yellow cards across his ten top flight games.

Considering the form of these two sides, you’d expect there to be only one winner. I do expect Wednesday, however, to give a good showing of themselves in front of a packed home crowd. Carvalhal’s return should motivate the players, as well as the chance to win a place in the quarter-finals. Swansea should still progress though, with BTTS and an away win my best tip.

Sheffield Wednesday vs Swansea City will be televised live on BT Sport 1 from 12:30PM GMT on Saturday 16 February 2018.

Prediction: Sheffield Wednesday 1-2 Swansea City.

Suggested tips – Sheffield Wednesday vs Swansea City (BET365):

  • Correct score, Swansea to win 2-1 – (link no longer available)
  • BTTS Yes and over 2.5 goals – (link no longer available)

Suggested tips – Sheffield Wednesday vs Swansea City (Skybet):

  • BTTS and FT Swansea – 7/2.
  • Joao to score first and Wednesday to win 1-0 – 33/1.
  • Rhodes and Ayew to both score – 15/2

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Suggested tips – RequestABets – Sheffield Wednesday vs Swansea City – (Skybet):

  • Popular RequestABets – Sheffield Wednesday v Swansea City – Abraham to score a header and Dyer to score from outside the area – 300/1
  • Popular RequestABets – Sheffield Wednesday v Swansea – Abraham & Rhodes to score, 3+ corners each team and 10+ booking points each team – 16/1
  • Popular RequestABets – Sheffield Wednesday v Swansea – Swansea to score 2+ goals, 5+ Swansea corners and 20+ Sheffield Wednesday booking pts – 15/2
  • RequestABet Specials 80/1 and above – Sheffield Wednesday v Swansea – Dyer to score, Swansea 4-0, 12+ match corners and 40+ match booking points – 500/1
  • RequestABet Specials 80/1 and above – Sheffield Wednesday v Swansea – Sheffield Wednesday to win, 6+ corners each team, Nuhiu to be carded and 20+ booking points each team – 150/1
  • RequestABet Specials 80/1 and above – Sheffield Wednesday v Swansea – Clucas & Abraham to score, Swansea 2-1 and Dyer to be carded – 400/1

Odds and markets last updated on Friday 16 February 2018 @13:52 GMT.

Keep visiting the tips and preview area for further updates and previews for this weekends FA Cup action.

Chelsea vs Hull City – Match Betting Preview

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Chelsea vs Hull City
Friday 15th February 2018, Stamford Bridge
FA Cup – Fifth Round

BBC 1 – 7:45pm

Chelsea vs Hull – Chelsea will be hoping to secure a place in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup as they face Championship opposition Hull City.

Following back to back defeats to Bournemouth and Watford, Chelsea returned to winning ways with a 3-0 victory against West Brom. Eden Hazard was the Blues’ star man as he helped himself to two goals. That took the Belgian’s tally to 18 for the season and he will be looking to add to them tonight. The Belgian has six goals in as many games as he leads the task of firing Chelsea into the top four.

Monday’s match also saw deadline day signing Olivier Giroud make his full debut and the return of fit-again Alvaro Morata. With a two-legged tie with Barcelona sandwiched between trips to Old Trafford and the Etihad, Chelsea will need all of their players fit and firing as they enter a month that could shape their season.

With the race for the top four very much alive, it’ll be interesting to see how Chelsea juggle the three competitions. Whilst Barcelona are as tough as it gets in the Champions League, they have beaten them before and could do it again. Antonio Conte’s future is far from settled and I wonder how much the speculation over his future could derail the Champions’ season.

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With the league title long gone, their focus has to be securing a top four finish whilst trying to pick up some silverware. The FA Cup represents their best opportunity to do that and whilst I expect Conte to make some changes, he knows how important this trophy could be to his future at the club.

After a turgid few months, Hull secured their first league win in 11 games at the weekend. Their 2-0 victory against Nottingham Forest lifted them out of the relegation zone, with the FA Cup now a welcome distraction to their league worries. Having knocked out Blackburn and Forest on route to the fifth round, Nigel Atkins’ side have little to lose as they hope to produce a shock result.

Results having slightly improved of late, with the Tigers losing just one of their last four games and conceding just twice. Having watched Norwich take Chelsea all the way to penalties in the last round, there’s no reason why they can’t aspire to take the Champions all the way this time.

Andre Marriner takes charge of the Chelsea vs Hull City FA Cup Tie tonight. Marriner has only used his red card once this season. Photo Credit: Sky Sports.

Andre Marriner takes charge of the Chelsea vs Hull City FA Cup Tie tonight. Marriner has only used his red card once this season. Photo Credit: Sky Sports.

Hull haven’t beaten Chelsea since 1988 and have lost their last six meetings between the two. Similarly, Hull have never won away at Chelsea, and have picked up just two points from a possible 42 against them. Andre Marriner is the official for Friday night’s clash, having refereed Swansea vs Burnley at the weekend. Marriner has an average booking points total of 28.9, which is a fairly average score compared to other referees in the league.

Whilst Chelsea haven’t been that convincing of late, I still expect to see them in the hat for the quarter-finals. Hull aren’t in great form and Conte’s side should really blow them away. I think Chelsea to win to nil would be my best tip, with a winning margin of exactly three goals a longer shot.

Chelsea vs Hull City will be televised live on BBC 1 from 7:45PM GMT in the UK.

Prediction: Chelsea 3-0 Hull City.

Suggested tips – Chelsea vs Hull City (BET365):

  • Correct score, Chelsea to win 3-0 – (link no longer available)
  • Chelsea to win to nil – (link no longer available)
  • To Score in Both Halves – Chelsea to score in both halves – (link no longer available)
  • Giroud to score in 90 mins – (link no longer available)

Suggested tips – Chelsea vs Hull City (Skybet):

  • Chelsea to win 2-0 or 3-0 – 2/1.
  • Chelsea to win and over 2.5 goals – 8/13.
  • Price Boost – Hull to Win 2-1 – 66/1

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Suggested tips – RequestABets – Chelsea vs Hull City (Skybet):

  • RequestABet Specials 80/1 and above – Chelsea v Hull – Giroud to score, Chelsea to win and Luiz & Ampadu to be carded – 66/1
  • RequestABet Specials 80/1 and above – Chelsea v Hull – Pedro to score, Chelsea 4-1, 10+ Chelsea corners and 10+ booking points each team – 100/1
  • RequestABet Specials Up to 10/1 – Chelsea v Hull – Chelsea to win, Chelsea to score 2+ goals, 6+ Chelsea corners and 40+ match booking points – 9/2
  • RequestABet Specials Up to 10/1 – Chelsea v Hull – Chelsea to win to nil & to score 3+ goals, 8+ Chelsea corners and 30+ match booking pts – 11/1
  • RequestABet Specials 80/1 and above – Chelsea v Hull – Hull to win, BTTS, 1+ corners each team in each half and 10+ booking points each team – 100/1
  • Pundits RequestABets – Chelsea v Hull – Jamie Redknapp’s RAB: Morata to score first, Chelsea to win to nil and Chelsea to score 3+ goals – 15/2
  • Popular RequestABets – Chelsea v Hull – Giroud to score a hat trick and Chelsea 3-0 – 125/1
  • Popular RequestABets – Chelsea v Hull – Cahill to score a header and Willian to score from outside the area – 100/1

Odds and markets last updated on Friday 16 February 2018 @13:24 GMT.

Keep visiting the tips and preview area for further updates and previews for this weekends FA Cup action.