English Championship 3rd Dec

[Swooperman]

Crystal Palace v Millwall (soccernet)

Andrew Johnson is poised to make his first Championship start since mid-September for Crystal Palace at home to Millwall.

The England striker, 24, has shaken off his knee problem and played 45 minutes of the Eagles' midweek Carling Cup defeat at Middlesbrough.

Johnson would replace either Dougie Freedman or Clinton Morrison in attack, while manager Iain Dowie could make other changes to the team that lost at Boro.

Tom Soares was rested but should replace Mikele Leigertwood in central midfield, while first-choice centre-back pairing Darren Ward - who joined Palace from Millwall in the summer - and Fitz Hall could come in for Mark Hudson and Tony Popovic.

Gabor Kiraly should also be restored in goal, with Julian Speroni dropping to the bench.

Millwall welcome back three players for the south London derby.

On-loan trio Zak Whitbread, Ady Williams and Bruce Dyer were cup-tied for the midweek Carling Cup defeat by Birmingham but are available once more for the Selhurst Park clash.

For centre-back Williams it is the final game of a three-month loan spell from Coventry.

But Colin Lee will be without striker Barry Hayles, who serves a one-match ban, and is likely to be missing defender Phil Ifil and forward Carl Asaba, who were injured against Birmingham.

Colin Doyle - on loan from Birmingham and refused permission to play against his parent club - is expected to return in goal in place of Lenny Pidgeley, who was on a seven-day ``emergency'' loan from Chelsea and played against Blues.

......well you would think this should be easy but on closer inspection maybe not.
Palace at home 6-1-3-15-7 & their last 5 at home 3-0-2-8-4 but they lost to Luton last week & were put out of the Carling Cup by Boro in midweek.
Millwall away 2-4-4-11-17 but their last 5 away reads 0-4-1-5-6, In fact theyve only lost once, to Burnley, in their last 7 away games, which includes draws at Sheff Utd, Plymouth, Norwich & Hull, & wins at Wolves & Sheff Weds.
With their record of being able to scrape draws I'm not backing Palace @ 1/2

[Swooperman]

Leeds v Leicester (soccernet)

Teenager Simon Walton will be hoping to make his first appearance of the season when Leeds face Leicester.

The 18-year-old is expected to be named in boss Kevin Blackwell's depleted squad, together with fellow midfielders Danny Pugh and Frazer Richardson.

Blackwell will be without four midfield players as his side chase a fourth straight win.

Sean Gregan sits out a one-game ban after being booked five times this season, as does on-loan Jonathan Douglas, while Shaun Derry (hamstring) has joined Gylfi Einarsson (shoulder) in the treatment room.

But skipper Paul Butler will return to partner Matthew Kilgallon in the heart of defence after his one-match suspension and strike pair David Healy and Rob Hulse, both nursing long-term ankle injuries, will spearhead Leeds' attack.

Leicester manager Craig Levein could make a number of changes.

The Foxes boss made seven changes for the midweek Carling Cup defeat against Bolton and played a 4-5-1 formation but Levein may revert back to a 4-4-2 system for the trip to Elland Road.

Elvis Hammond could return after recovering from an ankle injury while goalkeepers Rab Douglas and Paul Henderson will face late fitness tests before Levein names his squad.

....did fancy Leeds going for a 4th straight win but 4 midfielders out somewhat put me off

[Swooperman]

Southampton v Burnley (soccernet)

Southampton could be boosted by the return of David Prutton and Martin Cranie for the visit of in-form Burnley.

Prutton has been sidelined since early September by a broken metatarsal, while Cranie has missed five matches with a hamstring injury, but both are back in training and hoping for a recall.

Skipper Nigel Quashie misses out, however, as he serves the second game of a three-match ban following his sending-off against Hull.

And Dennis Wise (thigh), Claus Lundekvam (fractured ribs) and Marian Pahars (knee) remain on the sidelines.

Clarets boss Steve Cotterill will be without Mike Duff and Nathan Dyer.

Defender Duff serves a one-match ban after being booked five times, while winger Dyer, who is on-loan from the Saints, is not allowed to play at St Mary's Stadium.

Centre-back John McGreal will feature despite requiring stitches in a facial wound in the 3-0 win over Crewe, while utility-man Graham Branch (knee) could be in the squad after coming through 90 minutes for the reserves.

Goalkeeper Danny Coyne and defender Wayne Thomas (both knee) are long-term absentees.

.......I actually fancy Burnley here & I like the 11/4 @ Bet365 & Laddies.
Burnley away isnt that impressive 3-1-6-8-14 but their last 5 is 4-0-1-9-5 & their last 5 away 3-0-2-5-6. Theyre bang in form & theyve only lost to Leeds & Palace in the recent run.
Soton at home 3-5-1-10-6 & their last 5 is 1-3-1-6-5. Theyre unbeaten in 2 & the only home game theyve lost was the famous 3-0 up & lost 4-3 to Leeds.
I just think that with the unrest regarding Redknapp being approached by Pompey again & the fact they draw far too many the pressure is on the home side, & I think a confident Burnley can exploit that. Also Soton have conceded 7 of their 18 goals in the last 15 minutes, & Burnley have scored 12 in the final half hour of matches this season.

[lochsong]

how about just a post with the links on eh swoops?

just a thought

[Swooperman]

Because its easier to explain the point when youve got the preview & team news up in front of you just a thought back

It also means theres not a lot of 2 line posts

[Keith]

Leeds V Leicester

Not going to repeat Swoops preview above. In view of Leeds difficulties in the engine room and not forgetting Leicesters demolition of Sheff U last time out then 5.00 on away win looks too big.

[MickeyPaul]

And Leicester's hard fought draw at Bolton aint bad going. I like them away from home. I keep saying that don't I? They are hard to beat most of the time though.

[GETT1NLOTS]

Leicesters win against The Blades (who are on dodgy form at the moment) totally flatters to deceive. Being a man who lives on the edge of, and works in Leicester, I can tell you from most Foxes fans that Leicester are as bad as their table position suggests.

Leeds are in a decent run of form at the moment and spirits should still be high after escaping St Mary's with a 3-4 win when 3-0 down with 20 minutes left. That said Leeds have drawn 33% of their home games so I will be laying Leicester on the exchanges who have drawn 50% of their away games as opposed to backing Leeds.

I think this a good bet. Laying Leicester medium to high stakes.

[GETT1NLOTS]

@ Watford 4/7

Never back against Brighton away. Ever. They have been a difficult side to beat on their travels under Coppell and now under McGhee. Away record this season reads 1-7-2

Only losing 20% of your away games and the homes side is 4/7? Mugs bet irrespective of what the score ends up being. In fact I'm going to get the lay price on Watford (who are over achieving and will be a mid table side come the end of the season).

[GETT1NLOTS]

Just a little quirk of mine. When I see a side doesn't draw much when at home or away I always plump for a positive result and discount the draw.

Luton have won 4 away, drawn none and lost 6. This weekend they play Reading who are miles clear of the play off places and looking great for automatic promotion. Their home record reads 8-1-1.

So between both teams they have managed only 1 draw in 20 fixtures (Reading at home or Luton away). I know this is pseudo scientific / almost superstitious stuff but it has served me up a few good winners over the last couple of years.

I'm on Reading as they are flying high and Luton shouldn't win (I don't think they will draw then) so I expect a loss.



God that sounds nonsense but I'm still on Reading as the stats tell me to be.

[moDtheGod]

CMON YOU RED N WHITE WIZAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARDS!

Sorry. I've done my research, 14 years of going to the Lane. C'mon Blades, get it back on track, turn those little piggy bastards over!

[moDtheGod]

Originally Posted by Was

Leicesters demolition of Sheff U

Are you mental? 4-2 at home is demolition? They conceded two for a start! They weren't even that good, two early goals and we spend 70 minutes chasing the game...

Fool!

[MickeyPaul]

two early goals and we spend 70 minutes chasing the game...

Yep, that's sort of how football works. If you concede two you have to score 3 to win. Early goals are perfectly legal within the laws of the game.

I'm not convinced Leicester will go 4-4-2 but you never know. This preview from the Leicester boss has a wee indication in the last paragraph that they might keep it tight. Again.

Craig Levein remains confident that his side are moving in the right direction as the Foxes prepare to take on Leeds United at Elland Road on Saturday (3pm).

Leicester put in arguably their best performance of the season to date when overcame Sheffield United 4-2 at the Walkers Stadium last weekend.

And Levein's men carried that form through to Wednesday night's Carling Cup fourth round tie at Bolton - and although City lost the game 2-1 after extra time there were again a number of positives to take out of the encounter.

The City boss said: "Leeds are in form, but I am confident that we can take the progression we have shown in recent weeks and use that on Saturday to put in a decent performance.

"Leeds are a very skilful and attacking side who have scored quite a lot of goals this season. We will have to make sure we nullify any threats that they have, which will be difficult, and we also need our most creative players to perform. But if the front four are on their game and we get an average amount of luck then we are a handful for anybody."

And good luck to Sheffield Wednesday and Paul Sturrock.

[Swooperman]

I seem to remember that certainly 1 of Sheff Utds goals was a late consolation, so if we're going to query the legitimacy of early goals, how about late ones ??
Demolition isnt a word I'd have used, but 4-1 in the last minute does sound like it...........although a Leicester goal was late too, so 3-1 ?? Sheff Utd have probably won by that scoreline this year & been described as certainly 'comfortable'.....face it, for once you lost........

[Keith]

Originally Posted by moDtheGod

Are you mental? 4-2 at home is demolition? They conceded two for a start! They weren't even that good, two early goals and we spend 70 minutes chasing the game...

Fool!

Abuse me as much as you like but we would prefer to have objective and helpful contributions from knowledgable fans around here. If you haven't got anything constructive to say then I'd suggest that you fcuk off elsewhere.

As much as I'd like to watch all 92 league clubs on a regular basis to form my own opinions with my own eyes that clearly is impossible. I have to rely on the input of others which may be second best on occasions.

You may be right about how the game went but I read on a Sheff U fanzine;

"hammered by a rampant Leicester side"

And from a Leicester fanzine;

"City took control and played fine football" and "continued to attack as opposed to sit back and defend as we have become accustomed to"