Coca Cola Championship - Boxing Day

[mrmuzeman]

26 Dec-12:00 Watford v Southampton 2.10 3.20 3.20
26 Dec-13:00 Brighton v QPR 2.37 3.20 2.70
26 Dec-13:00 Cardiff v Plymouth 1.80 3.30 4.00
26 Dec-13:30 Preston v Sheff Wed 1.61 3.50 5.00
26 Dec-15:00 Burnley v Stoke 2.10 3.20 3.20
26 Dec-15:00 Crewe v Hull 2.30 3.25 2.75
26 Dec-15:00 Derby v Luton 2.25 3.25 2.80
26 Dec-15:00 Ipswich v Crystal Palace 2.37 3.25 2.62
26 Dec-15:00 Leeds v Coventry 1.66 3.50 4.50
26 Dec-15:00 Leicester v Millwall 1.80 3.30 4.00
26 Dec-15:00 Sheff Utd v Norwich 1.72 3.40 4.33
26 Dec-15:00 Wolverhampton v Reading 2.50 3.10 2.62

All odds bet365

[keemanan]

Holy guacamole! These days it seems the first match up is always the tastiest.
I'm really considering backing Soton here against struggling Watford.
It's a testament to the direness of most of this division that Watford remain 3rd despite not having won in 5 games. Last week I outlined their consistant inconsistencies , runs of wins , runs of losses and runs of draws. Having cleaned up on Burnley beating them last week it wont take much of a side to put them under more pressure and the Saints certainly have the quality to win this easily. This is a key bit of team news

Southampton have new manager George Burley in charge - and he has Nigel Quashie and Rory Delap available again after suspension.

I rate Quashie as the top man in this division , him back , new hope etc.. I wont mention the new manager syndrome in case ODM reads this but I think it does have an effect ONLY when players are currently underperforming for whatever reason. I'm all over this fixture with my winnings courtesy of AMP (a man you should be following) from last night.

Southampton 3.2 (7.5/10)

[A.M.P]

Fcuk Keem, don't tell 'em that!!!!

I'm already looking over my shoulder after getting threatening PM's off PL members . Last thing I need right now is stalkers. Unless they come with beer . Maybe they could follow me around like one of those dogs with a cask around their neck....

[keemanan]

Just read a fans report from Watfords last game:

Much as we leave the game feeling perplexed - this was in many respects an improvement on recent performances - there's really no great mystery to what happened here. Without any support - proper support - Marlon is always going to struggle against a halfway competent defence, and you can't go giving away goals, several of them, against a solid side like Burnley. The disappointment is that the home team didn't need to be any better than competent to win this at a canter - no reflection on them, they just did what they had to do.
With results conspiring to again leave us in third place despite not winning in five, the return of Henderson and a resumption of the accustomed defensive reliability might see us getting away with this run of form in the wider context of the league season. But it's no coincidence that we've taken the vast majority of points from games where we've had two senior strikers available, and precious little from those where we haven't. If Henderson doesn't return imminently, fully fit, then we'll find ourselves following Luton's slide down the table.

http://www.bsad.org/0506/reports/sou...on/hptext.html

In fact it's a great site and well worth a read for any match review/preview junkies. Last week Southampton were torn apart by Norwich , Huckerby ran riot as he can in this division but with only King to contend with at Watford they should be ok

his conclusion for boxing day

As for ourselves... floundering opposition or otherwise, our recent performances have betrayed some very evident limitations given the personnel currently available. Recent meetings here with the Saints have been high-scoring victories, with victories by bigger margins in the not too distant past... indeed, Southampton have only won one of their last twenty-two league visits (and John Burridge should have walked on that occasion, as I remember). Our chances of inflicting another defeat wouldn't half be improved by having two fit strikers to call on by Monday lunchtime.

from teamtalk:

Boothroyd hopes to welcome back striker Darius Henderson for his first start since the 3-1 win over Wolves on 29 October.

The 24-year-old has struggled with a hip injury all season, but his return on Boxing Day would be a huge relief to Boothroyd, whose key forward Ashley Young is out until the New Year with an ankle injury.

hmm , sometimes I wished I never looked into this! I'm hopeing Burley somehow can coax a performance from these quality players. Confidence down to 6.6/10

[keemanan]

Cardiff v Plymouth

On bare form , home win and comfortable too 7th v 20th .
Form can lie as we all know ,ok no defeat in 6 games for cardiff but they struggled against Coventry and BHA at Ninian
and have scored 1 in 3 games, Koumas is a great player at this level and he's turning it on after escaping Robson at the Hawthorns.Plymout though haven't won away since the first game of the season against Reading no less!
They will be looking for a point in this one i feel , whilst Cardiff will have pencilled this one in as a game they can and should win. Last weeks lackluster display against Derby doesn't dent my confidence in the home win and David Jones has a full squad to pickfrom , he's fielding an unchanged side which I like .
Plymouth caught Palace cold last week scoring after 0 minutes but they haven't strung together 2 wins on the bounce all season all I feel they'll go home from the valleys empty handed here

Cardiff had a man sent off away at Hull last time they were beaten , they kept Derby from scoring which doesn't often happen so I feel they have some momentum going into this

I'm gonna stick it in a double I think as I'll be gutted if they win and I'm not on
Cardiff 1.80 (6/10)

[rhys jones]

With regard to the Cardiff Derby game. Derby had two attacks in the first 10 minutes and then shut up shop for final 80 minutes. For the last 25 minutes they kicked the ball into the corners each time they got near the ball. Derby are easily the most negative team to visit Ninian Park this season. The game was completely dominated by Cardiff but they only created a few scoring opportunities. There are also rumours of a flu bug in the Plymouth camp. Plymouth have a very small squad and could struggle here.
Cardiff at full strength for this one.

[natrass]

Leeds v Coventry available at 1.7 ???

Seems a reasonable bet. Coventrys only away win of the season came on Monday at QPR didnt it? Leeds can be a bit vagey to bet on but pure stats would make me optimistic. And I think 1.7 is a good price.

[kompressaur]

Brighton v QPR
Brighton defender Paul McShane is set to start after fears he had damaged his ankle ligaments proved unfounded. Richard Carpenter, Mark McCammon and Albert Jarrett are also back from injuries, while Gary Elphick is available after suspension. QPR keeper Jake Cole is set to make his full debut with Simon Royce suspended after being sent off against Coventry. Paul Furlong is back from suspension, while Marc Bircham and Matthew Rose are both fit again.

Burnley v Stoke
Burnley manager Steve Cotterill has no new injury problems as he prepares his team to face former club. But winger Nathan Dyer has been recalled by Southampton and Danny Coyne is out for the season. Stoke trio Sambegou Bangoura, John Halls and Marlon Broomes are all available again after suspension. Luke Chadwick has been struggling with a hernia as well as sickness but should be fit to play, though Clint Hill and John Eustace are both still out.

Cardiff v Plymouth
Cardiff manager Dave Jones is expected to select the same side that drew 0-0 with Derby at Ninian Park. Jones has a fully fit squad of 18 players to chose from for the first time since joining the club. Plymouth Argyle are without the suspended Paul Connolly, leaving Tony Pulis with a conundrum in defensive. Manager Pulis could switch Anthony Barness from left-back to the right side, while Hasney Aljofree could be in line for a recall.

Crewe v Hull
Crewe duo Richard Walker and Michael Higdon are major doubts with their respective ankle and rib injuries. Darren Moss is set to return after a leg injury, but Juan Ugarte remains out until the new year. Hull have been hit a stomach bug, with Keith Andrews, Curtis Woodhouse and Kevin Ellison all effected by expected to be OK to play on Boxing Day. Stuart Green is fit, while Billy Paytner replaced Nicky Barmby against Brighton and could start.

Derby v Luton
Derby defender Marc Edworthy is doubtful with a knee injury, while the game is likely to be too early for Paul Boertien as he closes in on fitness. Southampton have recalled striker Dexter Blackstock, meaning Danny Graham could make his first start since joining on loan from Middlesbrough. Luton are without suspended skipper Kevin Nicholls, with Peter Holmes set to come into central midfield. Marlon Beresford is hoping to have recovered from a back injury.

Ipswich v Crystal Palace
Ipswich midfielder Kevin Horlock is available again after a knee injury and could start against Crystal Palace. Manager Joe Royle has been hampered by injury problems all season but only Sam Parkin remains on the long-term injured list with a broken ankle. Palace defender Emmerson Boyce is suspended, while Danny Butterfield is out until the new year. Marco Reich and Jobi McAnuff could start after being used as substitutes in the defeat to Plymouth Argyle

Leeds v Coventry
Leeds defender Gary Kelly is available again after suspension, but Simon Walton and Liam Miller are banned. Striker Richard Cresswell, who is fit again after knee ligament damage, could figure with Rob Hulse a doubt. Coventry boss Micky Adams has Stern John and Ady Williams fit and available for selection. Matt Heath is also back after a back injury, while Marcus Hall is a doubt with a calf injury and Stuart Giddings out after an operation.

Leicester v Millwall
Leicester defender Alan Sheehan is suspended, but Paddy McCarthy is back after serving his ban. Nils-Eric Johansson could feature after recovering from illness, while James Wesolowski is back from a broken shin but the game could some too soon. Millwall defensive duo Matt Lawrence and Tony Craig are suspended. And new boss David Tuttle has injury problems, with Andy Marshall, Carlos Fangueiro, Barry Hayles and Carl Asaba all missing.

Preston v Sheffield Wednesday
Influential Preston midfielder Paul McKenna is out for a month and Callum Davidson remains a major doubt. But manager Billy Davies is hopeful of being able to call upon striker Patrick Agyemang, who is fully recovered after a hamstring strain. Sheffield Wednesday are hopng that Lee Peacock will pass a late fitness test on an ankle injury. David Graham has returned to training after a thigh injury, but Daryl Murphy has been recalled to Sunderland

Sheffield United v Norwich
Sheffield United striker Steve Kabba is expected to return for the Boxing Day match after a hamstring injury. United have signed veteran Brian Deane for a third spell, but the striker currently lacks match fitness. Norwich are without skipper Andy Hughes, who faces six weeks out after having a metal plate inserted in a fractured cheekbone. Leon McKenzie is doubtful are picking up a knock in the reserves, while Jason Shackell has had a virus.

Watford v Southampton
Watford striker Darius Henderson is in line for his first start since sustaining a hip injury on 29 October. But midfielder Ashley Young will miss the festive period as he recovers from an ankle injury. Southampton have new manager George Burley in charge - and he has Nigel Quashie and Rory Delap available again after suspension. With Claus Lundekvam and Michael Svensson injured, Darren Kenton should continue in defence.

Wolves v Reading
Wolves trio Paul Ince, Jody Craddock and Mark Davies all played for the reserves on Tuesday and could return. Steffan Postma has suffered from a heavy cold but will be fit to play, George Ndah is in the squad but the game comes too soon for Carl Cort. Leaders Reading are without infuential midfielder Steve Sidwell, who is suspended and likely to be replaced by Brynjar Gunnarsson. Striker Leroy Lita is a doubt with an ankle injury.

from the british broadcasting corporation

[kompressaur]

Pullein likes......

Wolves v Reading - Reading 0 on Asian handicap, 1pt at 2.05 (Bet365)

BACK Reading off scratch on the Asian handicap at 21-20 with Bet365. It is effectively a bet on the visitors to win today’s Championship game at Wolves with the draw counting as no bet.
The Royals have set a regal pace at the top of the Championship and are 24 points ahead of Wolves.
Reading last tasted defeatin the league on the opening day of the season, when they succumbed to a 90th-minute goal at home to Plymouth.
And even then Argyle boss Bobby Williamson, who has since departed, was honest enough to admit that the Pilgrims did not deserve to claim all three points.
It is not a good idea to support teams on long unbeaten runs simply because they are on long unbeaten runs. Obviously, they all come to an end sooner or later.
But as an undefeated sequence lengthens we must progressively upgrade our assessment of the team involved. And the point has been reached where we should conclude that Reading are superior to Wolves by a margin that is more than big enough to cancel out the Wanderers’ home advantage.
Obviously, Molineux is the sort of ground where Steve Coppell’s side are in much greater danger than usual of tasting defeat. Glenn Hoddle’s promotion-hungry Wolves are already in the play-off places and eager to stay there, at the very least.
But, even so, it is still arguable that a home victory today is less likely than an away success.

http://www.racingpost.co.uk/news/sb_...e=PULLEIN_TIPS

[kompressaur]

k Keem i'll have some Cardiff and southampton. Gl mate

[bromsgrovegreen]

be typical wolves to beat reading today, 6-4 for the home team good bet imo

[brimson]

I hate Norwich.