Coca Cola Championship 5th & 6th Nov

[Swooperman]

Saturday
Crystal Palace v Sheffield Utd 2.37 3.15 2.75
Hull v Watford 2.40 3.15 2.70
Ipswich Town v Plymouth 1.85 3.25 3.90
Leeds United v Preston 1.75 3.30 4.33
Leicester City v Southampton 2.55 3.15 2.55
Luton v Burnley 1.75 3.30 4.33
Millwall v Crewe 2.05 3.20 3.30
QPR v Reading 2.60 3.20 2.45
Sheffield Wed v Derby County 2.20 3.20 3.00
Stoke v Brighton 2.05 3.15 3.35
Wolverhampton v Norwich 1.91 3.20 3.75

Sunday
Cardff v Coventry City 1.80 3.25 4.15
all odds Gamebookers

[Swooperman]

First thoughts are Watford ??
Crewe look a decent price & theyve had some half decent results in the past few weeks
Reading obviously &.....err......Norwich ??

[Winrew]

Norwich have been given a fitness boost by Moroccan midfielder Youssef Safri.

Safri,28, is confident of being fit for Norwich's trip to Wolves after fears he had aggravated the groin injury which kept him out for four games last month.

Dont know that much about this division , but Sheffield Utd away at Palace stands out for me , Utd seem to have recovered from the blip they suffered.

[ONEDUNME]

What blip's that Winrew. Only Reading have beaten them since August haven't they?

[Winrew]

Can i refer you to my previous post ..

Dont know that much about this division

Thought no bugger would notice....
Er can one match be a blip ?

[kompressaur]

Brighton & HA	Albion 1-1 Ipswich - Draw number 9 for Seagulls
Burnley	Burnley want to keep Dyer
Cardiff City	Jerome to "Play Up" for Pompey?
Coventry City	McGinnity Steps down due to ill health.
Crewe Alexandra	Palace Web Review
Crystal Palace	Up for the Cup?
Derby County	Thread of the Week - Where do we go from here?
Hull City	Preston North End 3 Hull City 0
Ipswich Town	Derby 3-3 Town
Leeds United	Crewe Alexandra 1 Leeds United 0
Leicester City	Plymouth Game Abandoned
Luton Town	Sheffield United 4-0 Luton Town
Millwall	On Holiday
Norwich City	AGM Tonight
Plymouth Argyle	The rain in Devon falls mainly at HP
Preston NE	PNE 3 Hull City 0
QPR	Awayday Review - Watford, Vicarage Road
Reading	Bite Size Biscuitmen!
Sheffield United	Jagielka brace caps flattering Blades' win
Sheffield Wed	Owls undone by Royal Kitson
Southampton	Saints Fans Worry About Future Of Youngsters
Stoke City	Coventry City 1 Stoke City 2
Watford	Spring on win
Wolves	Mr Dependable Cameron Saves Wolves

[kompressaur]

anyone fancy Plymouth to get something at Ipswich? drawn their last 4 and have been known to get something on the road. Nah thats a crap bet. Im just looking at each game. Soz if i repeat anything.

Leicster and Southampton will enjoy pretending their back in the premiership. Looks a draw all over if not a no bet for me. Millwall i was gonna say i liked till i saw how awfull they are again. They dont seem to be able to score in front of their own fans either i think .

Leeds v Preston says 2-2 draw all over it to me. Not one for me to get involved in. Shit i aint even looking at the prices here. Durrr.Nah i wouldnt back Leeds at that price. Maybe someone could tell me i should though.

Usually i'd think of Hull v Watford being a draw but looking at it Watford as in as fine form as theyve been and might enjoy a trip to lovely Hull. Anyone onto Watford this week?

Has Luton's wheels fallen off after a home draw with Plymouth (no bad at their away draws mind) and then 2 defeats without scoring? Burnley won their last 2 and had wins at Wolves and Leicster in the past month.

What about Reading liking a trip down the M4 to Queens Park. Palace and Leeds enjoyed going there and i reckon Reading will too. Unbeaten there in their last 4. Draw is the worry mind. Aye i like the 6/4 on Reading poss.

Hard to get excited by Shef Wed and Derby but it is worth noting that Derby are unbeaten in at least their last 10 games v Shef wed. I aint talking vodoo here i just think its important to note. Is the future created in the past? No time for philosiphical debate when you got Stoke v Brighton to look at. Brighton are in nice form by the looks of they 4 draws thayve had last 4. Stoke won the last 4 v Brighton mind. Looks a bit of a lottery to me.

Wolves v Norwich will just have loads a disgruntled fans that aint happy with their team performances. Another one i couldnt even begin to look at. Cardiff coventry looks as tight as last year though Cardif never lost. 2 unpredicatable teams to bet on imo.

[ONEDUNME]

No time for philosiphical debate when you got Stoke v Brighton to look at.



You don't get quotes like that from Ray fuckin Mcinallinanlinnly

[kompressaur]

Crystal Palace v Sheff Utd
Crystal Palace welcome back Mikele Leigertwood and Tony Popovic after long-term ankle and calf injuries.

Goalkeeper Gabor Kiraly has recovered from a chest injury and should play, but strikers Andrew Johnson (knee) and Jon Macken (hamstring) are still out.

Sheffield United boss Neil Warnock has no new injury or suspension worries.

Defenders Rob Kozluk and Craig Short remain on the sidelines and Warnock must decide whether to start with Steve Kabba and Neil Shipperley up front.


Hull v Watford
Defender Sam Collins will go straight into the Hull City squad after joining on loan from Port Vale with a view to a permanent transfer.

Otherwise the Tigers are likely to be unchanged with Andy Dawson and Roland Edge still out with injuries.

High-flying Watford have no new injury or suspension problems for the trip to Hull and manager Adrian Boothroyd is set to name an unchanged side.

Midfielder Dominic Blizzard is their only absentee with a virus.


Ipswich v Plymouth
Ipswich are sweating over the fitness of striker Nicky Forster (knee) and midfielder Owen Garvan (ankle).

Ian Westlake (ankle) could feature for the first time since August after returning to training but Kevin Horlock (ribs) will be missing again.

Plymouth striker Nick Chadwick may keep his place, after scoring in the game at Leicester that was abandoned at half-time due to a waterlogged pitch.

Chadwick was recalled in place of Scott Taylor, who dropped down to the bench


Leeds v Preston
Leeds striker David Healy is a doubt for Kevin Blackwell's side and if his ankle injury keeps him out Robbie Blake is a likely replacement.

Eddie Lewis will face his old club but Sean Gregan may have to settle for a place on the substitutes' bench.

Striker David Nugent may return to the Preston starting line-up after recovering from illness.

Lewis Neal and Adam Nowland are back in contention while Brian O'Neil returns after recovering from a thigh strain


Leicester v Southampton
Leicester midfielder Joey Gudjonsson will miss the game through suspension after the game against Plymouth was abandoned due to a waterlogged pitch.

Mark de Vries is banned too and Stephen Hughes (ankle) is likely to miss out.

Matt Oakley and Tomasz Hajto should be available for Harry Redknapp's Southampton after hamstring strains.

Marian Pahars (groin) could make a rare appearance but Chris Baird (knee), Martin Cranie (hamstring) and David Prutton (foot) are still sidelined.


Luton v Burnley
Luton hope to have Kevin Nicholls (foot) and Steve Robinson (heel) back for the visit of Burnley.

Defender Sol Davis will also be absent with a knee injury but manager Mike Newell has no fresh injury worries.

Burnley midfielder James O'Connor will be available for the trip to Luton after a successful appeal against his recent sending off at home to Millwall.

Injured pair John McGreal and Graham Branch miss out and John Spicer could have a late fitness test.


Millwall v Crewe
Millwall face a selection crisis with three players suspended for the visit of Crewe - striker Ben May, midfielder Jody Morris and keeper Andy Marshall.

Alan Dunne returns from a one-match ban but manager Colin Lee could be without forward Carl Asaba.

Crewe boss Dario Gradi has seen his injury problems ease and with them the Railwaymen have returned to form.

Chris McCready has recovered from a hamstring injury but Richard Walker should retain his place in the side.


QPR v Reading
QPR could be without skipper Kevin Gallen (groin strain) and striker Marc Nygaard (calf) for the Reading game.

Paul Furlong is still banned and Marc Bircham, Steve Lomas (both hamstring), Martin Rowlands (knee) and Matthew Rose (groin) are all still absent.

Reading boss Steve Coppell is set to name an unchanged side with Brynjar Gunnarsson (groin) still a doubt.

Leroy Lita (shin) remains sidelined and Chris Makin sustained an ankle injury during the 1-0 win at Stoke.


Sheff Wed v Derby
Sheffield Wednesday defender John Hills could miss out as he has been struggling with a virus this week.

Paul Heckingbottom has recovered from a hamstring injury and David Graham could feature despite a tight hamstring.

Derby welcome back Andrew Davies from suspension but Mo Konjic looks to have played his last game as he is beset by vision problems and may leave the club.

Tommy Smith (hamstring) is missing and the game is too soon for the recovering Richard Jackson and Paul Boertien.


Stoke v Brighton
Stoke could welcome back skipper Michael Duberry from suspension and also Luke Chadwick (hernia) and Kevin Harper (hamstring) from injuries.

Marlon Broomes is banned and Paul Gallagher and Hannes Sigurdsson have minor knocks but should be fit.

Alan Blayney will be back in goal for Brighton following Wayne Henderson's return to Aston Villa.

Charlie Oatway (neck) is a major doubt, Richard Carpenter (foot) is missing and Jason Dodd (ankle) is fit again.


Wolves v Norwich
Wolves striker Kenny Miller is missing with a hamstring injury and fellow forwards Carl Cort (knee) and George Ndah (thigh) have also been ruled out.

Midfielder Rohan Ricketts has come back into contention after ankle problems.

Norwich could be without Youssef Safri (groin) after he limped off during the 1-0 win over Cardiff, the midfielder rated 50-50 to make the Molineux game.

Captain Andy Hughes is still suffering from a thigh strain and will not feature while Jurgen Colin is a doubt.
fromm the bbc

[kompressaur]

Reading looking better and better to me. Interesting news for the Millwall v Crewe game.

[MickeyPaul]

I reckon I could be back on the Watford bandwagon after deserting them when King was out injured. I should have returned when he did but I got a little sidetracked. Their form really started to suffer when he was out but since his return to match fitness they're firing on all cylinders again; unbeaten in their last 4 with 6 goals in their last two. I love Watford.

Hull have been picking up of late themselves though and did well to hold the league's best away side (Reading) to a 1-1 draw in late October. I'm away to read that match report and go over their other home matches before commiting to anything but 2.7-2.8 for Watford is tempting me a bit.

Oh, here's the Watford manager:

WATFORD boss Aidy Boothroyd is aware expectation surrounding his third-place team is growing fast.

In fact, the Watford manager contends that Saturday's long haul to Hull is "our biggest game of the season".

"Why is that?" he continued.

"Well, because all of a sudden we'll be expected to go to Hull and get something out of the game.

"But let's make one thing clear: it's better to be third than 23rd and we're thoroughly looking forward to the game."

The Hornets' away form makes impressive reading but Aidy's adamant there's room for improvement.

He said: "Not just because of where we are in the table but because of my expectations of this group of players, I expect big things from them every match.

"We got beaten at Coventry and only picked up a point at Plymouth, Crewe and Sheffield Wednesday. Therefore that means we can get better."

So if it sounds like the pressure is on the players, that's exactly how it is.

"I've said from day one that nobody puts more pressure on myself and this squad than I do," added the gaffer.

"If pressure means wanting to improve and grow as a team then give me more of it."

[Computer Guy]

Wouldnt touch Leeds at that price either Komp.

[Swooperman]

I quite like the look of Crewe actually, theyre as in form as theyre likely to get with 2 wins & a draw recently at home. Granted they dont travel well & conceded 6 at Cardiff but Millwall dont exactly do home brilliantly either do they ?? Crewes confidence has to be high after beating Leeds & lkuton & holding Palace.
Not too sure about watford Mick, Hull seems a hard place to win lately, unbeaten in 3 at home including a 1-1 draw with Reading......

[MickeyPaul]

I know Swoop. It's the reports of those games that will decide it for me. Be back soon.

[MickeyPaul]

Hull v Derby (2-1): Hull only won it with a late penalty against a struggling Derby side (bottom of the form table). Hull tore into them for the 1st 20 minutes or so with Derby restricted to counter-attacking until gradually taking a grip on the game, dominating the rest of the 1st half and creating a few chances. 2nd half, Derby creating chances again and overall they sound unlucky to have lost that game. Hull sound ok in patches but nothing special.

Hull v Reading (1-1): Sounds like a bit of a massacre really with Reading dominating and the home side being pushed back, defending in numbers. 4 corners Reading won in the first 5 minutes too as they really pressed in the opening stages. On another day that could have been a comfortable win in the end for Reading.

Hull v Millwall: (1-1) A late goal rescues a point for Hull. 1st half, very even, few chances with Millwall coming closest to opening the scoring. 2nd half, Hull struggling to break Millwall down who sound like they were handling Hull quite comfortably before taking the lead in the 61st min. Hull did finally manage a goal 9 minutes from time but overall again, they don't sound too frightening to me.

5 points there which could easily have been 1 or even none. This match will be a very tough test for them and it's hard for me to see Watford losing.

Here's what the Hull manager has to say:

The Tigers entertain Watford at the KC Stadium tomorrow as they look to get back to winning ways ahead of the international break.

After two defeats on the road, Peter Taylor is keen for his side to get three points against the Hornets and says that the players will be doing everything they can to get the win.

"We know it's going to be a difficult match, but I've got no doubts that the eleven players that start will be very determined.

"Our supporters know the importance of bouncing back. We're desperate to get a win and the boys will be doing everything they can to get it."

Watford are going well in the league at the moment and Taylor knows that they have experienced players in key areas. Taylor spent time at Vicarage Road as assistant manager to Steve Perryman and enjoyed his time there.

"They've got good experience in certain positions and they have two wingers that are very exciting. Marlon King is a very difficult centre forward on his day as well. They have put a good run together and will be looking forward to every game and in a confident mood. I'm sure that is how they will turn up tomorrow.

"They are in good form and the manager has started off really well. He is making the job look really easy. They are a great football club and I really enjoyed my two years there."

Despite the two defeats at Burnley and Preston, Taylor knows that the Championship is a fantastic league and a great place to be.

"We turned up at Preston on Tuesday night and everybody was looking at it again thinking 'what a tremendous division we have got into'. It's a lovely experience everytime we play. What we do know is that nine times out of ten, the better the ground, the better the team that plays there. But I've got no doubts that we can handle it."

Taylor feels that the last couple of results have been disappointing and says that his side must not drop their heads when they concede a goal.

"The performance against Burnley was good, but we conceded a poor goal. The performance against Preston in the first half was good, but then we conceded a poor goal and dropped our heads and we've got to make sure that doesn't happen."

In order to try and stop sloppy goals going in, City have brought in Sam Collins from Port Vale. Taylor feels that Collins will bring a bit more organisation and communication to the defence.

"I've brought Collins in because I thought we needed a little bit more communication and a bit more organisation out on the pitch. I've said all along how much we have missed people like Ian Ashbee, Danny Coles and Keith Andrews because they are all good talkers.

"We are probably one of the quietest teams in the country at the minute and that is one of the reasons we wanted to bring in Sam."

Collins is likely to go straight into the side against Watford and Taylor feels that he has got a solid, experienced defender.

"He's a good, experienced centre half that can handle the ball and knows how to defend. I spoke to Brian Horton about him and he couldn't speak highly enough of him. I'm really pleased that we've got him and I've got no doubts that he will help us. I'm sure he will go straight into the team."

The Tigers will still be without left backs Andy Dawson and Roland Edge for the game against the Hornets but both players could be fit to return after the international break along with midfielder Keith Andrews.

"It's frustrating that we will be without Dawson and Edge tomorrow. But the good news about the injury situation is that it looks as though Keith Andrews, Edge and Dawson might all be available for the next game.

"The injuries this season have killed us. But you've got to get on with it. You can only put out the players that are fit and the players that get that chance have got to take that chance."