League cup semi final – Chelsea Vs Swansea

So the second semi final takes place and Chelsea are heavy odds on by now to win the competition

We enjoy this competition, as it ensures a route into Europe!

Best match odds

• Chelsea – 9/20 BetVictor
• Draw – 64/17 Pinnacle
• Swansea – 39/5 Pinnacle

We have some facts, courtesy of Opta Sports:

• Chelsea will be appearing in the League Cup semi-final for the 11th time. They have progressed through to the final in six of their previous 10, including the last three.
• Swansea, meanwhile, have never made the last four of this competition and have not made the semis of a major domestic cup since the 1964 FA Cup, where they were beaten by Preston.
• Chelsea have had more shots on target than any other side in the League Cup this season (36).
• Swansea have scored a goal inside the last 10 minutes of all four of their Capital One Cup games this term.
• Chelsea and Swansea have met once before in the League Cup, with Chelsea winning 3-2 at home in Round 4 back in 1965.
• The Blues have won 18 and lost just three of their last 25 League Cup games at Stamford Bridge.
• Swansea have not kept a clean sheet in any of their last 19 League Cup games away from home, conceding 41 in total.
• Rafa Benitez’s side have only won two of their last six home games in all competitions, drawing three and losing one.
• The Swans have only lost one of their last seven away games in all competitions, winning four.
• Juan Mata has scored two goals and assisted four more in just four League Cup appearances.
• Chelsea have won three and lost none of their last five clashes with the Swans in all competitions, though both sides have netted in all five of these games.
Both teams will be going all out in the first leg to make the second leg, less stressful. Backing both teams to score is good at 5/6 with Betfred. Time of first corner is an interesting market also, at bookies risk 5/6 on the first corner occurring before 7 minutes on the clock. This is too good to miss in our view.
A last market we will bet on is the time of the first goal. Paddy Power go best 10/11 on the first goal occurring after the 23rd minute. Victor go a similar price on over 27 minutes.
Recommended betting:
• Both teams to score – 5/6 Betfred
• Time of first corner – Under 7:00 5/6 bookies
• Time of first goal – over 23 minutes – 10/11 Paddy Power

League Cup Semi final – Bradford Vs Aston Villa

Some will say, if Villa have the chance of winning anything it is the league cup. they are one of the teams that have the most success in this competition and face giant killers Bradford, the league two outfit.

The revenue for their semi final antics will pay off, and you know, if this goes to penalties, to back Bradford, as they have won the last 8 or so penalty shootouts.

Best match odds:

• Bradford – 4/1 Boylesports
• Draw – 3/1 Betfair
• Villa – 3/4 BetVictor

So Villa go from a win into the FA cup, into going towards securing a place in the LEague cup final. As it stands, they are down in the relegation zone, so its possible if they can over come Bradford, it could kick start their season. Bookmakers are taking no chances on Villa, or they are not discrediting Bradford, who will go all out in fkront of the TV crowd.

Both teams to score will be popular, and bookies offer best price on this. anyone thinking Bradford can cause the upset should snap up 61 to qualify at bookies.

Bradford look a good shout at 15/8 to score first if this tempts many. We could also see a low scoring affair, so anyone taking this view can pocket 13/10 at Stan James.

One market we will snap up is to take more than 1.5 goals in the second half, which is even money at Coral. We feel that the first half will be tight, and the second half will open up, which could bring goals to the sheet!

Recommended betting

• Both teams to score – 8/11 bookies
• Over 1.5 goals in second half – 1/1 Coral

The League cup will complete its semi final line up in 2012 for the rest of the competition to culminate in early 2013. Just to remind you of the teams remaining in the competition:

• Arsenal – 2/1 Paddy Power
• Bradford – 100/1 bookies
• Norwich – 14/1 Blue Square
• Aston Villa – 12/1 Ladbrokes
• Swansea – 8/1 Stan James
• Middlesborough – 28/1 Betfair
• Leeds – 26/1 Betfair
• Chelsea – 6/4 Betfred

Chelsea have been given some respite as they go off to the Fifa World club final in Japan, so will play their game a week later.

Bradford Vs Arsenal – Live on Sky Sports

Firstly, Opta facts

• Andrey Arshavin has scored three goals and assisted eight more in just eight appearances in the League Cup.
• Theo Walcott has scored eight goals in his last seven League Cup starts.
• Arsenal have made the quarter final of the League Cup in each of the last 10 seasons, the longest consecutive run of any team in the history of the competition.
• Arsenal have lost more League Cup finals than any other team; five.
• Arsenal have never lost a League Cup tie (eight ties) against a team from the 4th tier of English football, conceding just five goals in 12 matches.
• Bradford have won just one and lost six of their last eight games in all competitions against Arsenal. That dates back to 1922.
• The Gunners visited Bradford twice in the Premier League drawing one match and losing one.
• Arsenal have scored 13 goals in the League Cup this season; a competition high despite playing only two games to date.
• The Gunners have scored 15 goals in their last four League Cup away games.

The game could be hit or miss on the team that is selected for Arsenal. With Arsenals recent performances, it would pay them to field a strong team. We cannot ignore goals from that infamous Reading game, but backing over 2.5 goals is 8/15, which is nuts to get 1.57 on 3 goals or more. The teams have to score the goals first! The better price is for both teams to score at 4/5 as the hosts will give it everything. Betvictor gamble 4/5 on both teams to score.

Recommended betting – Both teams to score: 4/5 BetVictor

Norwich Vs Aston Villa

Norwich are on a roll, take on a Villa side, who have knocked out Manchester City on their travels. Norwich will eye this as a trophy to win and can especially at Coral’s 23/20!

Opta Facts – courtesy of http://www.oddschecker.com/football/english/league-cup/norwich-v-aston-villa/winner

• Darren Bent has scored four goals in his last seven League Cup appearances.
• Villa have lost just one of their last seven League Cup matches away from home (W5 D1 L1).
• Norwich have won just one of the last nine meetings with Villa (W1 D5 L3), but it came in the last game at Carrow Road (2-0).
• Gabriel Agbonlahor has scored four goals in his last four League Cup appearances.
• Only Liverpool (11) have made the final of the League Cup more times than Aston Villa (8) and only the Reds (8) have won it more often than the Midlanders (5).
• Villa and the Canaries have been drawn to play each other four times in the League Cup with the Midlanders winning all four ties.
• This will be the third meeting of Villa and Norwich in the Quarter Finals, but the most famous encounter was the 1975 final which Villa won 1-0.

We cannot ignore that Villa are one of the most successful teams in this competition. However, Norwich have the edge in our view and what better than add the Capital one cup to their cabinet! With only the semi finals and the final in front of either team, it would pay to go full blaze and pocket a semi final place.
We are convinced Norwich can win this and go 23/20 outright in 90 minutes.

Recommended betting – Norwich to win in 90 minutes: 23/20 Coral

Swansea Vs Middlesborough

Opta facts courtesy of http://www.oddschecker.com/football/english/league-cup/swansea-v-middlesbrough/winner

• This will be Middlesbrough’s 12th away League Cup draw in a row. They have won seven and lost four of the previous 11.
• Danny Graham has scored four goals in his last five League Cup appearances.
• The last time these two sides met was in the 2010-11 Championship and Swansea came back from 1-3 down with half an hour to play to win 4-3.
• There has been a goal scored in the 88th minute or later in nine of the last 10 League Cup matches involving Swansea.
• The last time Swansea lost at home in the League Cup was in August 2009 against Scunthorpe when they had three players sent off.
• This is the first time Swansea have ever made the quarter-final of the League Cup.
• Boro have reached the League Cup semi-finals five times; the first two they were eliminated, the next two they went on to lose in the final and the last occasion they went on to win the trophy.
Middlesborough have been unlucky not getting drawn at home, but this will not matter to them too much, as they have business to conduct. Looking at the match odds, Swansea are under priced at 4/6 with Coral, with the visitors 9/2 with Boylesports and the draw at 13/5 Sportingbet.
With Middlesborough’s history in the competition, they will have fond memories of winning the trophy. In our view in terms of quality there will not be too much difference between the teams, and this is why we are drawn to value, and the Boro are terrific value at 5/2 with Betfred to qualify, which is incredible value. This is worth a bet outright, but so is both teams to score at Coral’s 4/5!
Recommended betting
• Both teams to score – 4/5 Coral
• Middlesborough to qualify – 5/2 Betfred

We have eight replays for the Tuesday card, with Tranmere and MK dons playing Friday on Sky.
Looking at the prices, there is a little value to be taken, especially as we look at Tranmere to begin.
Tranmere will be aware they are playing Friday, so the view is, they may play a weakened side, or will aim to finish Braintree off quickly and are priced up at 4/6 with Ladbrokes, which will tempt punters. Braintree are 19th in the conference, a couple of places above the relegation zone. They will enjoy their exposure on the TV screens and should expect a half decent gate with a terrific atmosphere on the night. Tranmere are 7/4 with Coral for a double result if you want better value. You may be put off knowing just ten of their 35 goals scored have occurred in the first half, so take with caution. Betvictor listed Tranmere to qualify as 3/1 earlier and quickly erased this, calling punters up to take the new price or void the bet.
MK dons play Cambridge City, not to be mistaken for the conference side. The Racing post tipped an MK Dons double result, which fell in the first meeting for an MK dons HT/FT. They are no bigger than 1/5 to see Cambridge off and as short as 1/25 to qualify. MK dons may be held up for the initial 30 mins, from a Cambridge side not wanting to be embarrassed by MK dons. This therefore turns us to the highest scoring half, which is 23/20 with Hills and this is value, seeing part time players will feel the fatigue in the second half.
Leyton Orient failed the first time around to see Gloucester off. They were highly fancied to beat them and were unsuccessful. It is likely a few fans will make the trip down the M4 to see their team beat Gloucester. They are 4/6 with Hills to succeed and we think, second time around, they will play more appropriately.
The two conference sides meet, being Luton and Nuneaton, where Luton will be challenging again for promotion back to the football league. Nuneaton are rooted at the bottom of the conference and have conceded nearly two goals a game. Bookies have taken some caution in offering Luton at near even money to beat their fellow league side. They are 10/11 at Ladbrokes, or more of a banker to qualify at 4/9 with Bwin.
Recommendations:
• Tranmere – 4/6 Ladbrokes
• MK dons 23/20 for highest scoring half (2nd)
• Orient – 4/6 Will Hill
• Luton – 10/11 Ladbrokes
Both teams to score selections:
• Barrow/Guiseley
• Bradford/Northampton
The Double pays 2.89 at bookies
Qualify special:
• Tranmere
• Luton
• Orient
• Mansfield
Pays exactly 2/1 with Skybet

Some very competitive matches seeing as teams are now two games away from a Wembley semi final. On the fixtures above, one of the most anticipated matches could well be the Leeds game to Southampton, in that Leeds will be well up for another upset in beating a premiership team. Some will see interest in Arsenal at 10/11 and Swindon are certainly attractive at 11/4 to upset Aston Villa.
The key for these matches will be team news, but you can almost presume certain teams will take this seriously, if not for match practice!
We certainly see two games, which should see both teams in scoring and this is Sunderland/Middlesborough and Leeds and Southampton which pays 2/1 at Stan James.
Without known team news, it is impossible to make predictions of what will happen, but we are confident on the above tip.

As the competition winds on to the last sixteen teams, the current best odds to win the competition are thus:

Team Best Odds Bookmaker
Chelsea 5 Bwin
Arsenal 5/5 Totesport
Liverpool 7 Totesport
Manchester Utd 7
Tottenham 7 Sky Bet
Sunderland 12 Bet Victor
Aston Villa 18 Coral
Wigan 22 Coral
Swansea 28 Boylesports
Southampton 33 William Hill
Norwich 33 Totesport
Leeds 40 Blue Square
Reading 40 Sky Bet
Middlesbrough 66 William Hill
Swindon 100
Bradford 500 Coral

Tuesdays matches are:
Reading (16/5) v (13/5) Arsenal (10/11)
Swindon (11/4) v (12/5) Aston Villa (6/5)
Sunderland(8/11) v(27/10) Middlesbrough (9/2)
Leeds (8/5) v (13/5)
Southampton(28/17)
Wigan (3/10) v (5) Bradford (54/5)

Tuesday Recommendation:
Sunderland/Middlesborough and Leeds and Southampton all to score pays 2/1 at Stan James.

Newcastle United v West Bromwich Albion

Former Newcastle assistant manager Steve Clarke returns to his former club when West Brom visit St James’ Park.
Both sides will be looking to take all three points as neither have won in the league in four games.
After amassing an impressive 14 points from their first seven games, West Brom came crashing back to earth last week, going down to a late Edin Dzeko brace. Steve Clarke’s men will be hoping to return to winning ways at Newcastle where they have enjoyed a good record of late.
Newcastle, on the other hand, will be looking to avenge Demba Ba’s late own goal in the Wear-Tyne derby.
The Magpies warmed up for Sunday’s game with a comfortable 1-0 win over Club Brugge in the Europa league, resting many first team players in the process.
A victory over West Brom, one of only three teams to beat them at home last season, would complete a good week for Newcastle. West Brom have only kept one clean sheet in their last 20 away Premier League matches
However, The Baggies are unbeaten in their last three trips to St James’ Park, but Demba Ba has netted four times in three appearances against West Brom.
Newcastle midfielder Cheick Tioté will miss the game as he starts a three-match ban.
The Ivory Coast international is suspended after being sent off during the first half of last weekend’s 1-1 derby draw at Sunderland.
However, Alan Pardew is likely to restore most of the men he left out of the starting line-for the Brugge game with Tim Krul, Danny Simpson, Fabricio Coloccini, Mike Williamson, Yohan Cabaye, Jonas Gutierrez, Hatem Ben Arfa, Shola Ameobi and Demba Ba all rested.
West Brom, meanwhile, will check on the fitness of midfielder Claudio Yacob before finalising their side at St James’ Park.
The Argentina international suffered a hamstring injury during last weekend’s home reversal against Manchester City.
Captain Chris Brunt and right-back Billy Jones have resumed training and could be in contention.

Betting: Home Evens, Away 13-5, Draw 23-10.