Lays of the Weekend: Brighton and Preston vulnerable

"Charlton have lost just one in four against the Seagulls and on a mere one of their previous five trips to Brighton."
Lay Brighton to beat Charlton @ 1.845/6

Michael Lintorn sticks to the strategy that has yielded five winning lays out of six: a team from each Football League tier...

Lay Brighton to beat Charlton @ 1.845/6

This writer is unconvinced by Brighton boss Sami Hyypia due to how rapidly and irreparably things soured at Bayer Leverkusen last season. Though two wins and two losses might appear a reasonable Championship start for the Finn, the fixture list has been gentle, the victories arriving against lowly Leeds and Bolton while they were felled by unremarkable Sheffield Wednesday and Birmingham.

Meanwhile, Charlton's dramatically reconfigured squad have blended swiftly, occupying a play-off place following an unbeaten start in which they have defeated two of the early title favourites in Wigan and Derby. Two further advantages for the Addicks are that they have lost just one in four against the Seagulls since promotion and on a mere one of their previous five trips to Brighton.

Lay Preston to beat Sheffield United @ 2.01/1

Sheffield United's tally of six points from four League One games won't unnerve Preston, but it is a decent return given that they opened the campaign against a quartet of viable top-six contenders (Bristol City, Coventry, Peterborough and Crawley). They are also beginning to hit form, overcoming Peterborough and Crawley before a shootout success at Premier League side West Ham in midweek.

Preston are two points better off, but acquired those from a less taxing set of matches, and have been unintimidating at Deepdale, being held by Notts County and creeping past Oldham 1-0. They only vanquished one fellow top-seven adversary at their long-term home in 2013/14, with Sheffield United yet to experience defeat on their three League One visits, winning two and drawing one.

Lay Cambridge United to beat Carlisle @ 2.111/10

This is the least conviction-coated of this week's recommendations because Carlisle haven't settled too snugly on their return to League Two, yet some straightforward mathematics indicate that they warrant some support. The Cumbrians were two divisions and 28 places superior to the U's last term and there hasn't been enough evidence to suggest that gap has been eroded in less than a month.

Cambridge's sole triumph since regaining Football League status came when riding post-promotion momentum through Plymouth on the opening day. They have since exhausted that supply with a four-game winless run. Carlisle by contrast were suffering the effects of a relegation hangover to lose their initial three 2014/15 encounters, improving to draw the latter two against top-eight clubs.

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Weekend Injuries: Everton left vulnerable without Jags

"Moyes' side haven't kept a clean sheet for eight matches and their quest for another against Wigan will suffer in the England man's absence."
Recommended Bet: Back both teams to score @ 1.8810/11  

Phil Jagielka, Lee Cattermole and Aaron Lennon will all be big misses for their clubs if ruled out this weekend...

Phil Jagielka - Everton v Wigan (Saturday, 12:45, ITV)
David Moyes was left spitting feathers after Adam Le Fondre's overzealous challenge ended the centre back's involvement in their win over Reading after just five minutes. Jagielka was stretchered off and has had to undergo surgery to stitch up a nasty gash to his ankle. This was part of a double defensive blow for the Everton manager who lost goalkeeper Tim Howard after another collision during the Oldham game. Jagielka has been a rock for the Toffees this season, missing just one game for the Merseysiders, which they lost to Leeds in the League Cup. Moyes' side haven't kept a clean sheet for eight matches and their quest for another against Wigan will suffer in the England man's absence.
Recommended Bet: Back both teams to score @ 1.8810/11

Lee Cattermole - QPR v Sunderland (Saturday, 15:00)
Sunderland's combative midfielder has endured a season blighted by injury, limiting him to just 14 Black Cat appearances to date. Cattermole is currently on the sidelines due to an ongoing knee problem which he aggravated against Arsenal on February 9. While the midfielder has his critics, mainly due to his disciplinary problems, Martin O'Neill's side have been seriously lacking someone with his drive and determination as they continue to slide in the wrong direction. Sunderland are in dire form ahead of their trip to Loftus Road, losing three of their last four, and Cattermole is just the sort of character they need against a QPR side fighting for their lives.
Recommended Bet: Back QPR to win @ 2.35/4

Aaron Lennon - Liverpool v Tottenham (Sunday, 16:00, Sky Sports 1)
While Gareth Bale continues to hog the limelight for his virtuoso displays, Lennon's own sublime form has been a little overshadowed. After a standout scoring performance against Arsenal last Sunday, Spurs' diminutive number seven was instrumental yet again in his side's emphatic 3-0 thumping of Inter on Thursday night before getting subbed off late on clutching a hamstring. He's now a real doubt to be available for their trip to Anfield on Sunday. This is a blow for Andre Villas-Boas, but one player who should benefit is Gylfi Sigurdsson. The Icelander is in the middle of a promising return to form, scoring twice in his last three games, and should be guaranteed another start against Liverpool.
Recommended Bet: Back Gylfi Sigurdsson to score @ 5.39/2

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Follow The Money: Denman vulnerable to young pretender?

Follow the Money / Follow The Money / 07 April 2011 / Leave a Comment

Lay of the day - Denman

"Denman has been drifting this morning from [2.08] out to [2.42]."

Today's Follow The Money movers come from the meetings at Aintree, Hereford and Ripon.

Our first race is the 14:10 at Ripon where Almond Branches has had strong support to move from [28.00] in to [7.80]. Out of Dutch Art, the Prix Morny and Middle Park winner, this filly will be hoping to follow her sire's first progeny which won recently on the all weather. With no form to go on for any of the runners this is an interesting move for a stable not known for their two-year-old winners at this track.

Over at Aintree, in the 15:05 Denman who has been drifting this morning from [2.08] out to [2.42]. The crowd favourite comes here after a game second to Long Run in the Cheltenham Gold Cup last month but with questions seemingly being raised over how much that has taken out of him. He fell two fences from home in this race in 2009 and conditions today may be just too sharp for him. Up against some well fancied rivals, today could see a young pretender getting the best of him for the second time in a month.

In the 17:15 at Hereford, Charles has been backed down to [3.80] from [5.00]. He escapes a penalty for his recent victory on his handicap debut at Uttoxeter and is seemingly well fancied to go in again. He struggled for form after a promising debut on quick ground last October but he appreciated the sound surface last time and conditions seem to suit him again today.

Recommended bets
Back Almond Branches @ [7.80] Ripon 14:10
Lay Denman @ [2.38] Aintree 15:05
Back Charles @ [3.80] Hereford 17:15

The FTM boys suggest two backs and a lay of the beautifully named Angelina Ballerina. Here's why......

Today's Follow The Money comes from Pontefract, Kempton and Exeter....

THe FTM boys give us their usual two backs and one lay, the latter a case of opposing Kieren Fallon's mount in the 16:20 at Folkestone....

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