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Middlesbrough v Chelsea
12:45pm GMT Saturday 18th October 2008 PREMIERSHIP

Chelsea come into this encounter as the top of the table team looking to fend off Liverpool who have a nicer fixture in Wigan at home. This encounter will be a good test of where Scolari's side are at in the scheme of things because these types of fixture are difficult ones and no abuse will be directed in the way of the men in charge should they lose it but you always feel that if you wish to genuinely challenge for the title, these are the sort of fixtures you should look to take all three points from.

The Blues have won three from three away from home in the Premiership and are setting the pace so it would take an overachieving performance from Boro coupled with a pretty lacklustre Chelsea display to see any other result than a Chelsea victory here.

A few injuries to the squad have somewhat increased the price on Chelsea to win which is quite welcome really because they have such a strong squad that they can more than make up the difference. The return of John Terry is an extremely welcome addition to the side and all being well, he should be captaining the winning team on Saturday afternoon.

Deco looks a terrific shout at 5 to score at any stage in this match and can make his mark here. That sort of price would indicate that he is only likely to get around about three or four away goals over the course of a season which is a bit of a nonsense really.
 

RECOMMENDATION - 3.5 Points Back of Chelsea @ 1.74 (Betfair )

0.5 Points on Deco Anytime scorer @ 5 (PaddyPower)

 

Crystal Palace v Barnsley
17:20 GMT Saturday 18th October 2008 CHAMPIONSHIP
 

Neil Warnock's side have gone through a bit of a resurgence in recent weeks and look set to march up the table. It would be difficult to replicate the success of last season but I'm sure the South London team will look to give it a damn good go.

Having endured a pretty awful start to the season it seems that Barnsley are set for another long hard season and being without a win in any of their five away outings so far is hardly the form of a team that has higher ambitions.

Two home wins from five (40% win rate) is not a great record for Palace on the whole but you always have to consider the quality of opposition facing and the record of that respective team. When considering where you expect to see the two sides finish this Championship season, general consensus would probably see Palace as a Mid-table to Play-off contending team whereas Barnsley are one of the relegation favourites.

With a young and hungry unit that has won its last two matches and is three unbeaten going in, it is very tough to oppose Palace against such a poor Barnsley team. Side with Warnock's boys as I make them about a 1.67 shot for this one.
 

RECOMMENDATION - 3 Points on Crystal Palace @ 1.8 (Bet365, Totesport)

 

Oldham v Leicester City
15:00 GMT Saturday 18th October LEAGUE ONE
 

This match pits two of the best teams in the division up against each other here and quite frankly I have absolutely no interest in trying to split the pair. With formidable home form in the shape of Oldham's four wins from five at Boundary Park going up against a terrific away record of Leicester that is the equal to that of home record of their hosts!

What does interest me here is the total goals market because it seems that the bookies could have missed a bit of a trick here. Oldham home matches have included a total of nineteen goals (3.80 per match average) of which fourteen (2.80 per match) were scored by them and Leicester's away days have produced a total of fourteen goals (2.80 per match) of which eleven (2.20 per match) were scored by them, so it would seem that it is a distinct possibility that we could have some goals here depending on the approach of the teams.

Oldham have always looked to score freely at home and therefore should not try and change this approach as it has served them well in the main but they are up against a team with the ability to pick holes in their defence so we could get a bit of a thriller under the right circumstances!

Odds against there being more than two goals seems a little odd and I think you should take on the challenge thrown down by Canbet offering a generous 2.06..

Having scored eight goals in the nine league matches to date, it seems that a price of 3 on in form striker Matty Fryatt scoring at any time is very generous also.
 

RECOMMENDATION - 2 Points on Over 2.5 Goals @ 2.06 (Canbet)

1 Point on Fryatt Anytime Scorer @ 3 (Bet365)

 

Hope you all have an enjoyable and successful punting weekend!

 

Crafty Stan