Big Saturday Multiple: Chairboys eyeing fourth win in a row

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Big Saturday Multiple: MTK eyeing final Europa League place

Jonno Turner casts his eye over action across the continent as he bids to select three value picks to make up his Big Saturday Multiple - at odds of 7s...

We're off to Scandinavia for our first pick of this three team multiple - and Landskrona host IK Brage at the Landskrona IP, looking to extend some impressive home form.

The home side line up for this clash sitting ninth in the Superettan,  but their recent results on their own patch somewhat belie that position - and they have lost just one of their last seven outings in front of their own fans.

Jorgen Pettersson's side have managed three clean sheets from five at home, and will be keen to maintain that strong defensive record as they face second bottom Brage.

The visitors go into this clash in miserable form, and have lost six of their last seven encounters home and away.

Conny Karlsson's charges are already a little but cut adrift from the rest of the division - and just five points from their opening five games this campaign suggests that the Borlange side could be in for a long, hard season.

They will be desperate to avoid recording a fourth consecutive defeat away from the Domnarvsvallen, but I reckon their hosts' momentum will be too much for them to handle.

Bet 1: Landskrona @ 1.75

Switching our attentions to Hungary now, and MTK Budapest welcome Debrecen to the Stadion Hidegkuti Nandor.

The hosts are in mixed form of late, and just two wins from their last eight sees them priced slightly bigger than usual here.

But their results on their own patch have been consistently impressive, and five wins from their last half a dozen in front of their own fans stands them in good stead this afternoon.

Four clean sheets from five at home indicates that Jozsef Garami's newly promoted side are adjusting well to life in the top tier, and they currently sit fifth in the table - just three points off third place, which would qualify them for European competition.

That makes this final home clash even more important for the Blue and Whites, and they'll be looking to burst out of the traps in this game.

Visitors Debrecen travel to Budapest sitting just one place behind their hosts, but suffering from inconsistency on the road, as is underlined by two wins from eight.

Elemer Kondas' won the title last year, but have struggled to repeat that success this year, and have missed out on the Europa League places this time around - which suggests that they may not have the motivation to match their hosts.

Bet 2: MTK Budapest @ 2.1

To the Swedish top tier now, and the Allsvenskan - as in-form Mjallby line up against bottom side Halmstads at the Strandvallen.

Anders Torstensson's side go into this clash sitting fifth in the table, and will be desperate to secure another three points in order to heap further pressure on the top four.

And four unbeaten on their own patch, consisting of three wins and a draw, will give the Hallevik side much confidence ahead of this encounter.

They have notched a whopping 10 goals in their last three games in front of their own fans, and that suggests that much of their their threat lies in the final third - particularly the likes of key attacking figures Kristian Haynes and Markus Ekenberg.

Visitors Halmstads travel to Blekinge County having won just one of their last 10 games, and that leaves them propping up the rest of the division - having accumulated eight points in that time.

Boss Jens Gustafsson will be feeling the pressure of life in the top tier following their promotion from the Superettan last campaign - and six without a win away from home suggests that HBK might struggle in this one.

Two 1-0 defeats on the bounce will have knocked confidence in the away dressing room, and a trip to free-scoring Mjallby would not be the choice of the visitors at the moment.

Bet 3: Mjallby @ 1.9

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Celebration Chase: Henderson eyeing Sandown Celebration

"Finian's Rainbow is going to need to have things done in the summer, but it made sense to give him one more run..."

Nicky Henderson is aiming to end his championship-winning season with a bang by saddling three runners in Saturday's Celebration Chase at Sandown...

Henderson has been chasing Paul Nicholls in vain in recent years but the strength in depth at his disposal these days is perhaps clearly illustrated in this Grade Two event.

Former Queen Mother Champion chaser Finian's Rainbow aims to end a disappointing season on a high, while Henderson also fields good-ground specialist French Opera, who won this race two years ago, and smart handicapper Tanks For That.

Finian's Rainbow has struggled in bad ground all year and while a breathing operation is imminent, Henderson is happy to let him have one more chance on good ground.

"Finian's is going to need to have things done in the summer, but it made sense to give him one more run. French Opera will love it there," said Henderson.

Gary Moore runs one of the least exposed members of the field in Sire De Grugy.

Fourth in Grade One company at Aintree behind Special Tiara, he enjoyed a confidence-boosting win at Stratford last week.

"I was surprised by how well he handled the ground at Stratford as really he's a soft ground horse," said Moore.

"It's a tall order and with the ground against him, he's not going to have it easy.

"He'll have to run in some nice races next year but if he runs well in this, he'll be up against Sprinter Sacre and he'll have no chance in those races."

Colin Tizzard's Oiseau De Nuit rolled back the years to win at Aintree last time out and his handler believes he is thriving, despite now being an 11-year-old.

"Everything looks right for him tomorrow. The ground is in his favour, but we've run him in this a few times and never won it.

"He looks the best he's ever been now. We've been dragging him round in the mud all season but he finally got his ground at Aintree and he sprouted wings.

"Horses can't run to their best all the time, especially at the end of a hard season, so while the ratings might say one thing, they sometimes go out of the window.

"He's come in his coat and looks fantastic. He's in really good nick."

Tataniano looked a very promising chaser a few years back for Paul Nicholls but injury hampered his progress.

He is now with Richard Rowe, who was fairly pleased with his first run for the yard against Sprinter Sacre in the Queen Mother.

"I'm delighted that the ground has come right for him," said Rowe.

"He had his first run for me against Sprinter Sacre and he didn't run at all badly.

"I've been very happy with him since and he looks a lot better now.

"He'd have a chance on his best form as he's a spring horse."

Nicholls runs two himself, last year's winner Sanctuaire and Toubab.

"Sanctuaire is in good shape and if he's in the same form as last year he'd have a chance, but he's an in-and-out performer," said Nicholls.

"We just never really know which Sanctuaire will turn up.

"With Toubab, I've always thought he had a nice race in him but if he runs like he did at Aintree (behind Oiseau De Nuit), he'd have no chance.

"Everything has to go his way but he's won at the course, will like the ground and the sun is shining so you never know."

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Big Saturday Multiple: Brentford eyeing automatic promotion

Jonno Turner picks three domestic selections to kick start the weekend in style, with sides battling it out for points at both ends of the table...

We're off to London for our first pick of this three team multiple - and a hugely important game at Griffin Park, as Brentford host Portsmouth.

Uwe Rosler's side currently sit third in the League One table, just two points behind second placed Bournemouth - but the Bees have a game in hand on their south coast rivals, and will be desperate to make the most of home advantage here.

The hosts have lost just one game since August 2012 on their own patch - an impressive run which consists a whopping 24 outings.

And four wins on the bounce in front of their own fans will have the West Londoners high in confidence ahead of this clash, as they look to maintain momentum ahead of a potential play-off campaign.

Four clean sheets from six at Griffin Park shows just how dominant Rosler's side have been of late, and I think that their guests will struggle to breach that backline.

Portsmouth travel to London occupying 22nd place in the table, and are two points inside the relegation zone with just three left the play.

The Fratton Park side have experienced a disastrous season on and off the pitch, and the writing seems to be on the wall for Guy Whittingham's charges, who have played more games than their rivals down the bottom.

Pompey have certainly shored up of late - but too often they have lacked the cutting edge to get maximum points on the board, as two wins from half a dozen games shows.

And just one win in 16 on the road since October points to a home win in this clash.

Bet 1: Brentford (HOME) @ 1.574/7

A relegation six pointer at the bottom of the Championship now, as Wolves welcome Huddersfield Town to Molineux.

Wanderers go into this one sitting 20th in the table - just two places outside of the drop zone - and they will know that this game is a must win if they are to move away from danger.

Two straight wins in front of their own fans will give the home side a boost ahead of this clash, and that makes three unbeaten on their own patch.

Dean Saunders' side will be keen to get a further three points on the board following a loss at Bolton Wanderers last week - especially as a defeat to Huddersfield would see their opponents leapfrog them.

The Terriers occupy 21st place in the division, one behind their hosts, and are just one point ahead of Blackburn - who sit in the final drop zone place, but have played a game less.

That makes every remaining opportunity to secure points massive for Mark Robins' side, and he will be desperate for them to avoid defeat here.

But the West Yorkshire side are inconsistent on the road, and have won just two of their last 12 away from thr Galpharm Stadium, which suggests that they could struggle here.

Bet 2: Wolverhampton Wanderers (HOME) @ 2.05n/a

Focusing on action in South Yorkshire now, and Rotherham United line up against Fleetwood Town, desperate to cement their place in the top six.

The Millers have been inconsistent this campaign, and that has probably been key as to why they don't sit higher up the table - but their form at the New York Stadium of late has been impressive, and they will be hoping that they can maintain that against the Cod Army.

Just one loss from half a dozen in front of their own fans, along with four wins and a draw, will be the type of run which Steve Evans wants to see from his side, and a 4-1 thrashing of fellow play-off hopefuls Exeter on Tuesday will give the home side a big boost.

Fleetwood travel to this game all but out of the promotion picture, sitting in 10th place in the table - and boss Gary Alexander will know that it will take a miracle for the Highbury Stadium side to get anything from this season now.

A 3-0 thrashing from Rochdale suggests that the seaside club have practically given up themselves, and anything other than a win at the New York Stadium will see their season come to an end.

But just one win in six suggests that an away win is an unlikely outcome, and the visitors have not kept a clean sheet on their travels since early March, which shows just how leaky they have been of late.

Bet 3: Rotherham United(HOME) @ 1.834/5

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Cavani treble leaves Napoli eyeing Scudetto

Italian Football / Ben Lyttleton / 31 January 2011 / Leave a Comment

Edinson Cavani struck again against Sampdoria

"Napoli were the weekend's most impressive victors: they smashed Sampdoria 4-0, with Edinson Cavani scoring his second hat-trick this month."

The Milan clubs battle to eventful wins but the big news of the weekend may turn out to be Napoli's Cavani-inspired victory over Sampdoria.

Napoli first reached third place in Serie A this season after Week 13. Back then, Lazio were just slipping down from their early position of dominance, AC Milan moving top, and Inter were way back in sixth. This quartet remain the top four sides in Italy, and they all won this weekend, but the manner in which they did so could provide some pointers to what is shaping up to be an exciting Scudetto race.

Milan did what they needed to do, beating Cagliari 2-0 to maintain their four-point lead. But it was no easy task: Mark van Bommel was sent off on his debut and Milan, with six midfielders missing, played out the match with Robinho, a striker and Thiago Silva, a centre-half, in the midfield. Milan are [1.79] to end the season in top spot.

Inter's win over Palermo was even more complicated, as the reigning European champions, coming into the game after their first league defeat under Leonardo, to Udinese, were 2-0 down at half-time. January signing Giampaolo Pazzini came on for his debut at half-time and he turned the game, scoring twice and earning the penalty for Samuel Eto'o's winning spot-kick. Inter are nine points back and [4.5] to hold onto their crown.

But it was Napoli, [9.0] for the title, who were the most impressive
victors: they smashed Pazzini's former club Sampdoria 4-0, with Edinson Cavani following up his hat-trick against Juventus earlier this month with another treble. It was his fourth hat-trick of the season and he is reaping the rewards of coach Walter Mazzarri's decision to play him as centre-forward, and not the second striker position he held at Palermo.

He is now top of the scoring charts on 17 goals, two ahead of Antonio Di Natale, and one of only two strikers in the top seven who has not scored a penalty for his team (the other is Marco di Vaio). He is [2.5] to finish as top scorer with Di Natale [2.66] and Eto'o [5.4] on 13 goals.

Napoli's targets have now changed, unsurprisingly. At the start of the season reaching the Europa League was the challenge, but now they are eyeing a Champions League place and even more. "We know we can compete for a Champions League spot and also something even bigger, we can challenge for the Scudetto," Cavani told Calcio Italia magazine in an interview published this week. "It doesn't mean that if we don't win it, we will be failures, but we are in the hunt and we have to try. It can't hurt to dream, especially if you keep working hard."

Napoli are also in the running for this season's Europa League: they face Villarreal in the next round, with the winners playing Metalist Kharkiv or Bayer Leverkusen. It's a tough draw for the Neapolitans, who are [2.0] to sink the Yellow Submarine and [34.0] to win the trophy.

Owner Aurelio de Laurentiis has had no time to congratulate himself for the brilliant Cavani deal: he paid €5m for this season's loan and will pay another €12m in the summer to make the move permanent: instead he is looking for more striking talent, and today looks likely to sign striker Tim Matavz from Dutch club Groningen.

Matavz, who has scored 12 goals this season, will be the latest Slovenian to play in Serie A, following the success of Palermo's Josip Ilicic and Armin Bacinovic, not to mention Udinese's Samir Handanovic. He is not the only Slovene moving to Italy this month: Palermo have brought in defender Sinisa Andzelkovic from Maribor and midfielder Jasmin Kurtic from Gorica, while Genoa signed 18-year old midfielder Enej Jelenic from Koper.

For now, though, all the talk in Naples is of Cavani. Napoli have not won the title since 1990, when Diego Maradona's 16 goals inspired them to glory: 21 years on, another South American is leading the charge for them.

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