England - Switzerland

England’s problem is this game comes after a long and hard season for the players. Capello will have to find a way to motivate them. Also, there won’t be Rooney (Defoe, Carroll and Gerrard). On the other hand, England is topping the table just by goal difference. Win today should be out of question.

Swiss are 6 points behind, they desperately need a win to join a battle for top two places but I’m sure they’ll be absolutely satisfied with a point today. However, they have scoring problems on their trips and alongside with hard defending that Ottmar Hitzfeld is forcing, their last 6 games produced zero or one goal. Attacking duo, Frei (ex skipper) - Streller, was under the media fire after last game (0-0 Bulgaria) and both retired! I think Swiss target will be 0-0 scoreline.

My first idea was England -1, I’m pretty sure they’ll win. But with 2 goals margin? This should be a better call. Hosts will dominate in possession and most of the time ball will be on Swiss half, around penalty area. I’m going on corners market and 1st half since the English pressure on goal should be bigger.

Bet: number of corners 1st half, England -2 (ah)
Odd: 2.04 188bet
Stake: 7/10
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Sunderland - Newcastle

Sunderland are doing pretty well this season, they’re on unreal (for me, at least) 6th place and have lost only once at Stadium of Light (weird game vs. Blackpool 0-2). At home they have conceded the least number of goals in Premier (seven) and have kept clean sheets in five of their last seven league games. Three important players should return for the game. Defender Onuoha is sure, Cattermole is key man in the middle of the park and knowing his temper I have impression he’d play with one leg. Wellbeck should also take some role in the derby. At the previous game, they were humiliated with 1-5 trashing.

The Toon are also having a good season and Pardew’s era started with expected results. Wins against Liverpool, Wigan and West Ham, defeats vs. City and Spurs. Nothing much to say about them, my impression is management’s decision to sack Hughton was too harsh. We’ll see, but personally I don’t expect more than the middle of the table from Newcastle. Big problem for today is missing of Andy Carroll - top scorer with 11 goals, but they’ll also miss his defensive role at set-pieces. Midfielder Tiote is suspended.

I fancy Sunderland here. They seem to be a stronger side, are performing very well at home and should be too much for the Toon without Carroll. However, I’m taking some cover in case of a draw.

Bet: Sunderland -0.25
Odd: 1.82 Canbet
Stake: 8/10

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Birmingham - Newcastle

Generous price here on a home side. Brum are one of very few sides that still play old fashioned English football with lots of running, punching and crossing from the wing. They’re physically strong and very good in the air. It’s a good thing for this game as they should be able to cope with Carroll in front the goal and with Nolan/Barton in midfield. Brum have lost just one game of their last 23 matches at St Andrew’s in Premier. No injury concerns for McLeish.

I’m not sure what the season expectations of Newcastle’s board are when they sacked Chris Hughton. Spot for European competition? Anyway, Pardew started great with a win over Liverpool in previous round. However, it should be noticed for the record they scored after every of three goal attempts. The Toon is on very good 8^th place and I don’t think they’ll climb higher than that. I expect a kind of warm-cold performances from them through the season (with more warm at home) and middle of the table at the end.

I’m giving a significant advantage to the home side, but considering Birmingham as draw specialists (9 of 17 games this season!) and the fact their last five games at St Andrew’s vs. Toon ended on the same way, I can’t exclude a possibility of another draw (how could I?). So, dnb option for me. Close game and Brum by one.

Bet: Birmingham 0.0
Odd: 1.85 188 bet
Stake: 8/10

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Newcastle 2-0 Crystal Palace

Newcastle pulled clear at the top of the Championship with a hard-fought win over crisis-club Crystal Palace.
A day after going into administration, Palace were a goal down after 20 minutes when Shaun Derry diverted Andy Carroll's header past his own keeper. 
Even so Palace, who could only named three substitutes, had a string of fine chances to level with Danny Butterfield and Darren Ambrose going close. 
Nile Ranger's cool finish on the break finally sealed the win in injury time. 
It was a deflating end to a spirited display from the beleaguered visitors, whose highly-rated striker Victor Moses was pulled out of the game by the club's administrators. 
Yet they started the game in fine style and created two early opportunities to take a surprise lead. 
First, lone striker Calvin Andrew narrowly failed to round Steve Harper after being fed by Ambrose and minutes later, the unmarked Butterfield somehow headed Nick Carle's cross wide from point-blank range. 
Newcastle then fortuitously took the lead when Palace midfielder Derry unwittingly guided Carroll's header past keeper Julian Speroni. 
The Magpies began the second half strongly with Peter Lovenkrands firing wide on the turn and Carroll blasting an effort across the face of goal. 
Neil Danns and Carle then had shots blocked in quick succession as the visitors fought vainly for an equaliser. 
With 20 minutes remaining, the Eagles went desperately close to a leveller when Ambrose's shot came back off the post and Tamas Kadar managed to get a block on Danns' follow-up. 
But their pressure counted for nothing and St James' Park breathed a sigh of relief four minutes into stoppage time when Ranger raced on to Wayne Routledge's pass and beat Speroni with ease. 
Newcastle boss Chris Hughton:
"With a game in hand, we have stretched that lead again.
"And probably more importantly with West Brom's result yesterday (1-1 at Ipswich), we have managed to stretch that lead between ourselves and third.
"But I expect highs and lows, good form, bad form, wins and losses through to the end of the season."

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Newcastle United - Watford

Newcastle already started to look like Chelsea in Premier and even now it’s obvious they’re main contender to win the second tier. After injury crisis that caused winless run of four games (two draws, two defeats), team has backed to the track and noticed five wins in a row. Manager Chris Hughton has no injury worries as goalie Steve Harper is set to start after recovering from the back problem that resulted in him being replaced at half-time against Swansea. Striker Andy Carroll is back in contention after a virus and Nicky Butt (midfield) can also play, while another striker Shola Ameobi could feature after a foot injury.

Watford is maybe the biggest surprise of recent season considering their players’ potential and especially financial problems. They’re just one point from play-off zone, but still remain as contenders for relegation. Players haven’t got last salary, while transfer market in January will be used as a try for financial income with selling the best players. At their last two games away, Hornets noticed two defeats and conceded 8 (eight) goals. Additional problem is Watford have another game (more important for them) at Monday when they’ll host QPR. Midfielder Don Cowie is back in the squad after a calf injury.

Hosts are clear favorites here, I think their win couldn’t be in doubt. My only concern is odd that has been rapidly decreasing since last night. However, it still looks as a nice bet. Home win with a handicap.

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One more before kick-off.

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Thursday's gossip

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Manchester United are planning a £12m January swoop for Benfica's Argentine winger Angel Di Maria, who impressed in the Europa League against Everton last month. (Daily Mirror)  
Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City are weighing up a January move for CSKA Moscow winger Milos Krasic. (Daily Mail)
German side Hertha Berlin are trying to sign former England defender Sol Campbell, 35, on an 18-month contract. (Daily Mail)
Arsenal's teenage Spanish striker Fran Merida hopes to sign a new contract with the Gunners despite interest from Atletico Madrid and a host of other La Liga clubs.(The Sun)
Blackburn boss Sam Allardyce hopes to strike a cut-price £4m deal for Nacional Madeira midfielder Ruben Micael. (Daily Mirror)
Hong Kong striker Chan Siu-ki is set to begin a trial spell with Tottenham. Chan has scored 22 goals in 27 appearances for his club, Hong Kong champions South China. (Daily Mail)
Bolton are ready to launch a £4m bid for Newcastle United striker Andy Carroll, who Wanderers boss Gary Megson sees as a long-term replacement for Kevin Davies. (The Sun)
Notts County have joined Ipswich and Coventry in the race to sign Sheffield Wednesday defender Richard Wood, who is out of contract at the end of the season. (Daily Star)
Norwich and Bournemouth are competing for the signature of Cambridge United striker Chris Holroyd. (Daily Star)
Notts County have handed a trial to 31-year-old former Porto, Deportivo La Coruna and Juventus defender Jorge Andrade. (Daily Mail)

OTHER GOSSIP

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez insists he does not fear for his job despite the Reds' hopes of progressing in the Champions League looking unlikely following Wednesday's draw with Lyon. (The Sun)
Newcastle United's revenue was halved from £100m to £50m following their relegation from the Premier League last season.(Daily Mirror)
The Magpies will not receive a penny in extra sponsorship before the end of the season as a result of renaming their stadium. (The Times)
Manchester United's Scotland midfielder Darren Fletcher hopes a pain-killing injection will allow him to delay an ankle operation until the end of the season. (The Sun)
But Fletcher's United team-mate Rio Ferdinand is out for up to six weeks after finally admitting defeat in his battle with a long-standing back injury. (The Sun)
Ferdinand could still face Chelsea on Sunday but, if he does miss out, the defender will not be considered for England's friendly with Brazil on 14 November.(Daily Mail)
Manchester United defender Patrice Evra admits he has a miserable record against Chelsea, saying "every time I play them something bad happens" and is determined to triumph in Sunday's Premier League showdown at Stamford Bridge. (Daily Mirror)
West Ham striker Carlton Cole and Aston Villa front-man Emile Heskey are both doubtful for England's game with Brazil after picking up injuries in the Hammers' 2-1 win over Villa on Wednesday - and their absence could mean a recall for Manchester United's Michael Owen. (Daily Mail)
Chelsea defender Jose Bosingwa is facing a knee operation which could keep him out for up to a month. (Daily Express)
Sunderland boss Steve Bruce believes key midfielder Lee Cattermole can return from a medial ligament injury a month sooner than expected - and could be back in action by Christmas. (Daily Star)
Hull City owner Russell Bartlett has been forced to pay his own money into the club to fund the Tigers' day-to-day trading. The Tigers, who have an annual wage bill of £38m, are struggling to meet their financial commitments.The Guardian)
Portsmouth have described the tax evasion charge facing their chief executive Peter Storrie as "a joke" and have vowed to fight it. (Daily Mirror)
Former Notts County defender Sol Campbell has hit back at claims that he walked out on the Magpies halfway through a training session, saying he had a hamstring injury when he left the League Two club in September. (The Sun)

AND FINALLY

Cardiff City have been warned not to stay overnight in Swansea ahead of Saturday's South Wales derby. Bluebirds boss Dave Jones said: "The police have advised us to stay out of the Swansea area in case fans set off fire alarms to try to wake us up." (The Sun)
Derby defender Jay McEveley has revealed how he cheated death two weeks ago when his heart stopped for two minutes during a routine operation to repair a fractured cheekbone. (Daily Star)
Burnley defnder Tyrone Mears, who faces his first club Manchester City on Saturday, could have been a rugby league star and signed a contract with Warrington Wolves before switching his attention to football. (The Sun)
Celtic boss Tony Mowbray has dismissed statistics showing his side are the most shot-shy team in the Europa League with just 13 shots in their three matches so far. Mowbray said: "My first reaction is to say I'm not interested in what Uefa's computer shows up." (Daily Record)
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