Continental shame

Banker – £50 on 1/4 at William Hill

Wolverhampton Wanderers V Manchester City (Sunday 16.00) – Man City to win

Since Terry Connor’s ill-fated arrival two months ago, poor old Wolves have not won a game in nine attempts.

Depending on the result at Loftus Road on Saturday, failure to claim all three points against Roberto Mancini’s title-hunters could officially confirm the inevitable end of Wanderers’ three-year stint in the top flight.

However, despite all the doom and gloom, the Black Country outfit have earned one Europe-wide accolade so far this season.

No side in any of Europe’s premier divisions (England, Spain, Germany, Italy, France) has gathered fewer points per home league game. Wolves‘ 11 points from 17 Molineux matches gives them an an average of 0.65 points per game which has proved impossible to beat.

Conversely, opponents Man City have the highest points-per-home-game record in Europe (2.88) and, although their away figure is much less impressive (1.65), this should be a walk in the park.

I predicted the return of Carlos Tevez to be instrumental at Carrow Road last week and he proved me right with a stunning hattrick in the 6-1 thumping of Norwich City.

I fully expect he and his teammates to well and truly fill their boots once again on Sunday.

Terry, you were warned!

Goal therapy

Longshot – £5 on 5-1 at William Hill

West Bromwich Albion V Newcastle United (Sunday 16.00) – Over 4.5 goals

After the hefty loss on my Saturday punts, I have decided to go for a bet that will hopefully provide me with some entertainment.

There have been flood of goals in recent matches between these two – 20 in their last four Premier League meetings and 25 in their last five meetings in all competitions.

Both sides are much better going forward than they are at the back and have strikers that are bang in form. Peter Odemwingie has netted five in his last four appearances, while the sweet-toothed Demba Ba has scored 16 in 23 starts this campaign.

syrup

Backlash

Longshot – £5 on 15/2 at William Hill

Wolverhampton Wanderers V Manchester United (Sunday 13.30) – Man United (-3) to win

Wolves aren’t very good at all. Last week, following their home defeat to Blackburn Rovers (which the Pie predicted), there were more protests from angry fans. The Midlanders sneaked a 2-1 win this fixture last season, on a day where the Molineux fans played a huge part in their team’s success. However, I believe on Sunday that the home fans may contribute to their team’s downfall.

Over the past 25 years, we have learnt that Sir Alex Ferguson’s Man United are at their most dangerous following a humbling defeat. Therefore, history tells us that Athletic Bilbao’s 2-1 Europa League win on Thursday night, which saw the Reds suffer the indignity an early exit from a tournament they were already embarrased to be competing in, is bad bad news for Terry Connor’s men.

United have played the current bottom four on five occasions so far this season and have won comfortably every time. The aggregate of their victories is 19 to one, an average of 3.8-0.2.

Wolves have lost two of their last four by a four-goal margin... I predict another howler.

Bogey boys will battle

Big Game – £10 on 21/20 at William Hill

Tottenham Hotspur V Bolton Wanderers (Saturday 17.30) – Bolton (+2) to win

You’re right, this is not the biggest game of the week. However, I could not, for the life of me, predict Chelsea V Napoli.

Spurs are rightly favourites for this match. However, Owen Coyle’s Trotters are nothing if not resilient and will definetly make it difficult for Redknapp’s stars, who have only won once in their last five games.

As a long-suffering (until recently) supporter at White Hart Lane, I am well aware that Bolton are something of a bogey team for the north Londoners. In the last 21 meetings between these two, Spurs have won eight, drawn four and lost nine. Also, with a two-goal handicap, Bolton would have won on 17 of these outings.

Kevin Davies: Master of the dark arts.

Speculate to accumulate

Longshot – £5 on 13/2 treble at William Hill

Wolves V Blackburn Rovers (Saturday 15.00) – Blackburn to win

Chelsea V Stoke City  (Saturday 15.00) – Chelsea to win

Dundee United V Celtic  (Sunday 13.15) – Celtic to win

Both Wolves and Blackburn are in awful form and I think this may be a contest of who is least worst, rather than who is best. The men from Molineux have lost five in a row at home. While, although Rovers have lost three of their last five on the road, those defeats were all to teams inside the top-six and Steve Kean’s men have proved their potential with the sensational 3-2 win at Old Trafford on New Year’s Eve.

Regardless of Chelsea‘s well-documented problems, the Blues have won nine of 15 at home this season. Stoke are horrific on the road and have lost their last three. These sides have met four times at Stamford Bridge in the last three years and Chelsea have been the victors on every occasion.

Celtic have won 14 of their last 15 games in all competitions. They have won their last five against the Terrors and odds of 8/11 are frankly obscene.

8/11... Golden Nugget.