The Sports Bookie Blog

English Premiership Betting – March 12, 2008

March 11th, 2008

After the weekend’s FA Cup quarter-finals, the Premier League is playing catch-up, giving Premiership punters the bonus of three midweek clashes. While Portsmouth will have to get their feet back on the ground after the win at Old Trafford, Chelsea and Middlesbrough need to pick themselves up after demoralising defeats to Championship sides.

Chelsea Likely to Give Rams a Battering

Chelsea’s coach, Avram Grant, has admitted the pressure on his position has ratcheted up several notches after the FA Cup defeat at Barnsley. Grant was already taking flack after losing the Carling Cup final, so having been dumped out the FA Cup as holders, Chelsea now have only the Premiership and Champions League to strive for. The Israeli boss rested Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba on Saturday, but both should return here as the Blues look to keep pace with Man Utd and Arsenal. Derby are all but down with one win all season, so it would be a monumental shock should they end Chelsea’s 76 game unbeaten home league record.

Top handicap bookmaker PinnacleSports.com make Chelsea favourites 1.775 (-2)* with Derby 2.190 (+2)* – a market priced to less than 102%.

Boro Must Bounce Back from FA Cup Misery

With the boos still ringing in their ears after the comprehensive FA Cup home defeat by Cardiff, Middlesbrough’s players will run out at Villa Park on Wednesday night looking to make amends. Boro’s only remaining target for this season is ensuring safety from relegation; they are currently among six clubs separated by just three points. The Teessiders will face a stern test by Aston Villa, who have lost just one of their last dozen games, including draws with Chelsea, Arsenal, and Liverpool. The Villans are chasing European football next season, for which a win here would be pivotal.

Neither side have any major injury concerns and PinnacleSports.com make Villa favourites 1.806 (-0.5 & -1)* with Middlesbrough 2.140 (+0.5 & +1)*.

Pompey Still on Cloud Nine after FA Cup Win

Portsmouth will still be on cloud nine after beating Man Utd in the FA Cup on Saturday, then seeing themselves installed as favourites after all their main rivals lost. Birmingham will hope to bring Pompey back down to earth on Wednesday night, as they seek safety from survival. They performed a similar job beating Spurs 4-1 last weekend, as they were still recovering from their Carling Cup celebrations. Portsmouth could still qualify for Europe via the league, so Harry Redknapp will be working hard on focus. The Brum are still without Olivier Kapo, while Portsmouth have no fresh injury concerns.

PinnacleSports.com make Portsmouth favourites 1.877 (-0.5)* with Birmingham 2.050 (+0.5)*.

*All odds subject to change so check out the latest best odds compared across the top online bookies here at BookieLabRat.com.

For info on PinnacleSports and why we rate them so highly for Asian Handicap prices read the latest Pinnacle Sports Bookmaker Review here.

Entry Filed under: English Football,Sports Betting