The Cheeky Punt's Weekend Preview

Manchester United v Hull
You would have been quoted long odds about ManYoo being involved in league action on FA Cup fourth round weekend just a few short weeks ago but this is the situation Sir Alex's men find themselves in after that stunning defeat to Leeds. The Red Devils had to really graft to tame the Tigers when these two met at the KC just after Christmas but the layers are expecting them to get the points with minimal fuss this time round and the home side are no bigger than 1/6 for the win. If you fancy the men from the Humber to cause a shock it's worth remembering two things.

Firstly, 20/1 is freely available about the away win so anyone who takes Ladbrokes offer of 11/1 really wants sectioning for their own fiscal safety. Secondly, Hull have not won at OT for 58 years. It's possible they will break their duck on Saturday. But then it's also possible that Angelina Jolie will get sick of Brad, get a plane over to Blighty, go drinking in Hartlepool and fall for head over heels in love with yours truly this weekend after witnessing some of my drunken break-dancing moves. Far more likely however is for Dimitar Berbatov, who scored in their first meeting, to notch again. So bet on that.
Betting: Berbatov to score anytime at 5/4 (VC Bet)

SkyBet's Andy Says: I like to know that the man I'm trusting with my money will at least try and notch a winner for me. Is Berbatov that man? No he is not. Four goals in 13 home games for a chap of Berbatov's ability is a poor enough return for me to keep hold of my cash. The combined "resistance" of Wolves, Wigan and Burnley has amounted to an 11-0 aggregate win for United in their last three home league games and on that basis they're worth a look at 5/4 to win from a -2 start.


Preston v Chelsea
PNE are struggling somewhat at the wrong end of the Championship and besides a relegation dogfight, the FA Cup and this glamour tie are just about all their fans really have to look forward to this season. In stark contrast the Blues are going along very nicely indeed on several fronts (despite being knocked off the top spot by Arsenal in midweek) and are rightful red hot faves for this one. Backing 1/4 or worse about any away win is a sure route to the poor house long term but I certainly wouldn't put punters off smashing into the 5/6 about Chelsea winning this without conceding. No side have conceded less in the top flight than Carlo Ancelotti's men this season and even with a re-jigged defence they should be able to repel Preston's rag-tag front line of Charlatans and ne'er do wells.
Betting: Chelsea to win to nil at 5/6 (Ladbrokes/Paddy Power)

SkyBet's Andy Says: Agreed. In other news, penalty loving referee Mike Dean is in charge of this one and you can get 10/3 about him pointing to the spot, and that's not bad when you consider how he lowered the bar for judging what does and does not constitute a penalty during the week. Not that I was complaining.


Accrington Stanley v Fulham
Accrington Stanley. For so long the name was synonymous with failure and that shambolic 1980s milk advert. However on Saturday the media glare will be focused on the Crown Ground to see if the 'Owd Reds' can spring a shock and slay Premier League big boys Fulham. Will we see Radford-esque celebrations at the end as young boys in Parka jackets swarm onto the pitch and dance a merry jig? Will we sh*te. I expect the Cottagers to smash them like clay pots and am all over Sky Bet's 11/8 quote about Fulham covering the Handicap and winning this by more than a goal.
Betting: Fulham (-1) to beat Accrington Stanley at 11/8 (Sky Bet)

SkyBet's Andy Says: An iffy pitch (well it's bound to be chucking it down isn't it), some vocal Lancastrians, the smell of pies and a striker shortage at Craven Cottage - it all adds up to Fulham scraping through courtesy of a scruffy Zoltan Gera goal.


Notts County v Wigan
Sven-Goran Eriksson admitted this week that the Notts County revolution is 'on hold'. Good old Sven. His side are not even in the League Two play-offs and their mysterious financial backers have long since done a bunk but the Swedish lothario still reckons Meadow Lane could be seeing Premier League football sooner rather than later. You gotta love him! In reality County's fans have about as much chance of seeing the Lord than Liverpool and Arsenal in league action anytime soon but they will see their team face top-flight opposition on Saturday when Wigan come to town. County are 5/1 to spring a shock but I much prefer odds of better than 8/1 about Charles N'Zogbia scoring first. The Frenchman has been playing in a much more advanced role for the Latics in recent weeks and having bagged three goals in his last two games, he's surely the man to get with at Meadow Lane?
Betting: N'Zogbia to score first at 17/2 (bet365)

SkyBet's Andy Says: N'Zogbia has scored five in his last seven games so you have to look seriously at the 13/5 quote about him scoring at any time. Roberto Martinez sent out a strong team in the third round and should do so again and I can't see Wigan slipping up here, much as it would amuse me as I'll be spending the day tucked away in some Cheshire pubs with a couple of their supporters, but not until the drama of New Mills v Witney in the FA Vase has reached its inevitable conclusion.


Everton v Birmingham
All-Premier League clash at Goodison and while I have a hankering for a home win here I wouldn't touch the Toffees at odds-on with a big long sh*tty stick. Birmingham have been on a great run having not lost since what seems like 1666, shortly after the Great Fire of London. And the bottom line is I don't think the layers are giving them the respect they deserve by quoting Everton so skinny. That said all good things must come to an end and an Everton win wouldn't surprise me here in the slightest. Marouane Fellaini has been earning rave reviews for the Merseysiders in recent weeks and while he is hardly Dixie Dean when it comes to goals, he has the best wig in the league and is too big at 35/1 to score two or more in the match.
Betting: Fellaini to score 2+ goals at 35/1 (Paddy Power)

SkyBet's Andy Says: Everton were excellent against City last week and battered Birmingham in the league recently, only for Blues to escape with a draw. There'll be no escape this time though as Everton are going through.


Tottenham v Leeds
Leeds stunned the footballing world by beating Manchester United in round three but their form since has been decidedly iffy. A home draw against Wycombe and a 2-0 reverse at Exeter is hardly ideal preparation for a trip to White Hart Lane to face an in-form Spurs side. The Spuds are 1/3 pokes for victory and on current form the price looks about right. But what price romance? The old Cup has produced more romance than Mills & Boon down the years and I have a hunch that the once-mighty Whites can get something in North London. Two divisions may now be separating the protagonists but Leeds proved at Old Trafford that they remain a match for anyone on their day and I reckon Sky Bet are taking something of a risk by quoting the draw as big as 5/1 here.
Betting: Tottenham and Leeds to draw at 5/1 (Sky Bet).

SkyBet's Andy Says: It would be wrong to say it can't happen given the quality of Leeds' victory at Old Trafford. It won't happen though. Tottenham may have made Liverpool look good in midweek but they're not conceding goals at home and I like the look of them to win this to nil.


Degsy Bilton and Andy Clarke