Leeds - Doncaster

Leeds are holding a play-off spot, but haven’t won in last three games. They suffered 3-0 defeat at Swans, but played pretty well actually and were unlucky to stay empty handed (referee’s mistakes unlucky). They’re top scorers in Championship with 62 goals (conceded 55), while their 17 games at Elland have produced 64 goals (3.76 in average)! Johnson returns after suspension,  Connolly remains sidelined, Lloyd Sam is struggling with a virus.

After a horrible run of results, Donny’s injury list started to decrease and results have been improving. They’re undefeated in last three and are boosted with midweek away win at Derby. At that game, playmaker Stock and finisher Sharp (two goals) returned to the team. Donny’s 17 games on the road have produced 60 goals (3.53 average) and they’ve kept just one clean sheet!

Leeds are certainly the favourites here, but not sure does it worth at 1.65. On the other hand their attacking attitude and Donny’s passing style should guarantee an entertaining afternoon at Elland Road. Backed with strong statistical data, I think there shouldn’t be a room for mistake. I’m on goals.

Bet: Over 2.5
Odd: 1.70 Expekt
Stake: 8/10
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Bristol City – Barnsley

Season of great expectations started as a nightmare for City. First were trashed at home soil by Millwall (0-3), then maybe even bigger shock was when Steve Coppell left the club. Ex care-taker (now should be permanent boss), Billy Sharp, took the charge and seems managed to stabilize the club. They were good on the road vs. Doncaster and missed to win thankfully to additional time penalty (1-1). Big injury list has been decreasing. Defender Carey is back in the contention, but key man Nicky Maynard is out, as well as defender Kalifa Cisse. The Robins made a double last year against Barnsley and won 4 of their 5 last meetings.

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Barnsley did defeat Palace in the previous round (at home 1-0), but still have big problems with scoring. Even that one was an own goal. Departure of their key striker Daniel Bogdanovic (to Sheff.Utd.) seems to be a bigger blow than they expected. Beside a netting problem, they have a terrible record away from home. Barnsley haven’t won on the road for six months (at Ashton Gate for 17 years). The Tykes will be without two midfielders (both new signings) Jim O'Brien and Goran Lovre.

 

If home side wants to carry high ambitions (in my opinion City could be fighting for a play-off), they simply have to win games like Barnsley at home.

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Bet: Bristol City -0.5ah

Odd: 2.03 188bet

Stake: 7/10

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Friday's gossip column

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Liverpool have emerged as shock contenders to bring striker Peter Crouch back to Anfield in a £12m deal.(Daily Star) 
Rafael Benitez's bid to sign Spain winger David Silva has been boosted by bankruptcy-threatened Valencia's failure to sell David Villa.(The Independent) 
Bolton boss Gary Megson is on the brink of landing defender Zat Knight for £4.5m from Aston Villa. (The Sun)
Leicester manager Nigel Pearson is ready to snap up Manchester City defender Ryan McGivern on loan. (Daily Star) 
Fulham, Tottenham, Portsmouth and West Ham are all pursuing out-of-favour Juventus midfielder Christian Poulsen, worth around £4m.(Daily Mail) 
Ecuadorian winger Fernando Guerrero, recently linked with Hull, may be offered a permanent deal with Burnley following a trial. (Daily Telegraph) 
West Ham are confident of signing Swiss teenage defender Fabio Daprela from Grasshopper Zurich, but face competition. (The Times)
Ajax coach Martin Jol is interested in signing Spurs full-backGareth Bale. (The Times) 
Hull manager Phil Brown is keen to persuade veteran striker Mark Viduka to forgo retirement plans by moving to the Tigers under a pay-as-you-play contract. (The Sun)
Bulgarian striker Valeri Bojinov is set to leave Manchester City for Lazio in a possible £4.5m deal. (The Sun) 
Veteran full-back Steve Finnan, now at Espanyol, is being chased by Sunderland, Stoke and Wolves. (The Sun)
Stoke boss Tony Pulis is planning a fresh £5.5m bid for West Ham's injury-prone striker Dean Ashton. (The Sun) 
Real Madrid forward Klaas-Jan Huntelaar will not move to Stuttgart, so Premier League clubs such as Tottenham and Arsenal may step up their interest.(The Independent) 
Plymouth are linked with a move for Rangers midfielder Charlie Adam after Blackpool stalled on a move. (Daily Record) 
Everton want a quick answer from Sweden midfielder Rasmus Elm about a possible move to Goodison Park.(Daily Mirror) 
Wolfsburg are pondering a move for Newcastle striker Obafemi Martins. (Daily Mail) 
Charlton, whose £2m-rated teenager Jonjo Shelvey is wanted by Ipswich, are targeting ex-Birmingham City defender Radhi Jaidi. (Daily Mail)
Celtic manager Tony Mowbray looks to have beaten West Brom to the signing of Coventry defender Danny Fox. (Daily Mail) 
Sheffield United, who may lose striker Billy Sharp to Notts County, want to buy Tottenham midfielder Danny Rose and Charlton defender Jonathan Fortune. (Daily Star)

OTHER GOSSIP

Boss Alan Shearer is ready to leave Newcastle in disgust at Mike Ashley's failure to sell the club.(Daily Express) 

AND FINALLY

Billionaire Arab Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan is poised to pour millions into Welsh premier League side Bangor City after going to university in the town. Bangor's average gate is 400.(The Sun)
www.bbc.co.uk