Play-off betting, Cardiff - Reading

p 

Like the prospect of goals here and especially odds on it. Both sides are attacking minded (Cardiff at home) and those are fifth and third attacks in Championship. Cardiff’s style is different when they play at home which usually makes them more vulnerable at the back. Their matches against top scoring sides produced some goals, Norwich 3-1, Leeds 2-1, Reading 2-2 and Watford 3-1. Think Reading is more than able to hurt the hosts and I doubt that Dave Jones will change the style and set a cautious approach relying on his defence line. Counter attacks, Shane Long, Ian Harte free kicks, I’m sure Reading will be very dangerous. Additionally, Cardiff at home and Reading away have scored in 18 of their 23 games during the season. Also, only one game at Cardiff City Stadium ended with goalless draw.

Maybe not enough reasons, but as I said odd definitely worth a try. I will take over 2.25, with two goals half stake is back.

I’m refusing any thought to be involved in a City’s game tonight.

Bet: Over 2.25
Odd: 1.96 188bet
Stake: 8/10 
i
Support the blog and open a betting account using the banners from the left. You'll get some free bets as well.
Make e-mail subscription and get my picks directly in the mail box.
p

Cardiff - Watford

Home side are promotion contender, currently two points behind rivals Swansea (with a game in hand). Pressure on Dave Jones is growing recently as they won only two of their last nine league games. He has signed on loan Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsey and striker Jay Emmanuel-Thomas. Both will be available for the game. Bothroyd returned to training and will have some role today. Bellamy should start.  

Before the start Watford were one of my favourites for relegation (as ‘Boro were for promotion), but they’re currently holding 6th place and have noticed seven wins in a row (six in league), having scored the highest number of goals (50, two goals per game in average)! Malky Mackay also has strengthened his squad with signing winger Townsend and striker Weimann on loan. Despite skipper Eustace and midfielder Cowie are sidelined, I’m sure they won’t be lacking in self-confidence.

Cardiff should be favourite here, but I’m not sure does it worth at 2.00. Games between these two sides are usually high scoring affairs, last nine(!) ended with three or more goals and I’m going on over.

Bet: Over 2.5
Odd: 1.87 188bet
Stake: 8/10

Support the blog and open a betting account using the banners from the left. You'll get some free bets as well.
Make e-mail subscription and get my picks directly in the mail box.
0

Cardiff - Burton

Cardiff started new campaign with a home draw against Sheff.Utd. (1-1). They can be a little bit disappointed as there was a one way traffic when Utd. got a red card. Defence line isn’t still an iron one, but attacking force is great. For tonight’s game Dave Jones can’t rotate players too much from a simply reason, due to recent transfer embargo he doesn’t have enough players for it! Against Blades, only 4 players were substitutes. Cardiff passed the first round in all but one of the last 8 years and have reached the third round in each of the last 3 seasons. Goalie Tom Heaton will replace injured David Marshall, defender Kevin McNaughton is in doubt and new on-loan signing Seyi Olofinjana won’t be involved.

.

Burton is an average League Two side, last season they finished 13^th. Interesting fact is they conceded 71 goals in 46 games which is 3^rd highest number in the league (scored the same number though). Weak defence and attacking approach surely isn’t a way how any team should face Cardiff away. Cup history isn’t bright, as well. Just one appearing, last year and disaster at Reading 1-5. Burton also have one game in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy and lost against Chesterfield with the same result. Defender Darren Moore is injured and probably won’t be risked, the same situation is with the right-back Andrew Corbett. Midfielder Jacques Maghoma is away on international duty with DR Congo.

 

I expect a strong eleven from Dave Jones and have an impression players feel a little bit frustrated after missed to score few more times against Blades at Sunday. This is a perfect opponent to heal their complexes. Chopra (I expect him to start) would like to go. Good, this is a great chance for him to show some skills to the visiting scouts. Against Burton’s defence, he should run the riot.

.

Bet: Cardiff -1.25

Odd: 1.95 bet365

Stake: 7/10

.

Gamble: Chopra to score hat-trick

Odd: 19.00 bet365

Stake: 0.5/10

Thursday's gossip column

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Manchester United are lining up a £20m summer move for Tottenham defender Gareth Bale, whom they first tried to sign from Southampton three years ago.(Daily Express) 
United striker Dimitar Berbatov could be on his way to AC Milan in a summer swap deal with Dutch striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar going the opposite way.(Caughtoffside.com) 
Swansea boss Paulo Sousa could be the man to replace Hull's management consultant Iain Dowie at the KC Stadium.(Daily Mail) 
And Cardiff manager Dave Jones is a shock contender to replace Gianfranco Zola as West Ham manager, should the Italian leave the club in the summer.(Daily Mirror) 
Belgian international midfielder Jelle van Damme, who has just won a second consecutive league title with Anderlecht, says an unnamed English club has made a "concrete" offer for him, with Fulham thought to be interested.(Daily Mirror) 
Aston Villa are interested in signing West Ham striker Carlton Cole to partner Gabriel Agbonlahor up front, as a replacement for John Carew who could move to Fulham.(Caughtoffside.com) 
Liverpool are lining up a bid for Rangers' £8m-rated teenage defender Danny Wilson, with the youngster being loaned back to the Gers next season.(Caughtoffside.com) 
Arsenal are interested in signing Bayer Leverkusen goalkeeper Rene Adler, who is Germany's number one keeper but recently suffered a broken rib.(imscouting.com) 
Real Madrid look set to beat Chelsea and Manchester United to the signature of Benfica's Argentine winger Angel di Maria.(imscouting.com) 
Birmingham manager Alex McLeish has started the ball rolling on a £1m bid for Dundee United defender Garry Kenneth. (The Sun)


OTHER GOSSIP

Celtic's 38-year-old caretaker manager Neil Lennon says he is ready to take the job on permanently.(Daily Telegraph) 
And Walter Smith has hinted Ally McCoist could soon take over from him as Rangers manager, saying his assistant is "as ready as he's ever going to be" to become a manager.(Daily Telegraph) 
Stoke manager Tony Pulis is fed up with the long journeys his reserves have to face and wants to play local friendlies instead.(Daily Mail) 
Fabio Capello is buoyed by the news that Manchester United defender Wes Brown is back in training and could face Tottenham on Saturday.(Daily Mail) 
Hull chairman Adam Pearson has launched a blistering attack on predecessor Paul Duffen, accusing him of "moral irresponsibility" for his running of the Premier League strugglers.(Daily Mail) 
Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez says their marathon trek to Madrid for their Europa League semi-final has been a positive experience as it has brought the team closer together.(the Times) 
Ross County manager Derek Adams faces being banned for the dugout for the Scottish Cup final as he is awaiting the results of an appeal against an eight-game touchline suspension. (Daily Mail)
English Football League commercial director Stewart Thomson has emerged as a front-runner to replace Gordon Smith as Scottish Football Association chief executive. (Daily Record) 

.

AND FINALLY

Portsmouth's £119m list of debts includes £40 owed to Pukka Pies and 20p to Qatar Airways.(The Sun) 
Tottenham claim they are owed £1m by Pompey over a deal to sign goalkeeper Asmir Begovic, despite the move never going through as the player opted to join Stoke instead of Spurs.(The Sun) 
A list of Manchester United's corporate customers has been posted on the internet by anti-Glazer protesters much to the anger of officials.(Daily Mail) 
www.bbc.co.uk

Bristol City - Cardiff City

Bristol City are in crisis of results as they won only once in last ten Championship games. But on the other hand, they’re also one of the best hosts in the second tier. This season lost just once (in 12 games) at Ashton Gate, previous 3 (in 23) and in season before also 3. Two defenders are out for this game. Jamie McCombe is injured, while Lewin Nyatanga serves a one-match ban. Good news is Robins will be stronger for Evander Sno and Gavin Williams (both midfielders) who are fit after injuries.

 

Cardiff have extended their own crisis with a Saturday’s home draw against Blackpool that ended with booing from the stands. Beside large amount of injuries, virus hit the squad leaving to manager Dave Jones small number of available players. Also, club has been accused for unpaid tax which surely hasn’t improved morale in the club. Also, that could lead to selling of some key players. Rumours are Jay Bothroyd is wanted by Villa, Ledley by Celtic. If Bothroyd play tonight will be cup tied for further cup games in new club. This also applies for Ledley in case of his departure to English club and it’s very possible both will be out of the squad. Jones intends to send some youngsters tonight and big doubt is how much tonight’s eleven will be competitive. Cardiff are winless in last five games at Ashton Gate.

 

This will be tight game, but clear advantage should be given to the hosts. They’re fully motivated and with almost full squad. I wouldn’t totally exclude a possibility of a draw and see dnb option as a good bet, while home win should be considered as a gamble.

.

Available free bets, bonus offers and promotions:
Expekt - First deposit bonus up to €35 / £25 for all new customers
Make your first deposit at expekt.com and we will immediately double your money up to max €35 / £25. Take these 3 easy steps to start profiting from sports betting: 1.Register an account with expekt.com here. 2.Deposit a minimum of €10 into your expekt.com account. 3.Send an email to 35eurbonus@expekt.com with your customer number and deposit amount included. The bonus amount up to €35/£25 will be added to your account within 48 h

Cardiff 1-1 Blackpool

Charlie Adam's ninth league goal of the season secured a point for Blackpool at a bitterly cold Cardiff City Stadium.
Ian Holloway's side had to come from behind after Mark Hudson gave Cardiff a ninth minute lead, heading home Peter Whittingham's free kick. 
The Bluebirds also hit the bar through youngster Josh Magennis who later went off with a suspected broken leg. 
Adam levelled for Blackpool 28 seconds after the restart firing low into the bottom corner. 
The game could have gone either way as the promotion rivals looked to keep up the pressure on the top two. 
Cardiff remain fourth in the Championship, while Blackpool climb up a place to seventh, just one position and two points off the play-offs.

Cardiff manager Dave Jones:
"Supporters are entitled to boo and cheer but I've said before that I don't understand booing your own players. 
"We've played a team who's up there and we seem to think we have this divine right. 
"We've got three or four lads in their throwing up and they could have easily come off. 
"I'm proud of them today because they've dug in and that's hard going." 
Blackpool manager Ian Holloway:
"I am pleased Cardiff did so well to get the game on but it didn't look as though we had turned up in the first half," he admitted. 
"I had a go at my players during half-time and the second half was totally different as we forced their keeper to make a number of saves. The longer it went on the more we looked like going on to win. 
"I cannot understand the crowd jeering Cardiff off the field when they are fourth in the league. They should have a reality check."

www.bbc.co.uk

weird results

Burnley 1 - 1 Bolton

Bolton remain in the relegation zone as Burnley fought back to earn a draw in a spirited Lancashire derby at Turf Moor.
After Steven Fletcher had missed a golden chance for the home side Matt Taylor deservedly put Wanderers ahead with a stunning 25-yard free-kick. 
Both sides hit the woodwork, before Bolton's run of failing to keep a clean sheet since May continued when David Nugent headed in Wade Elliott's cross. 
There were chances at both ends in a tense finish to an entertaining match. 
So Burnley are still without a league win over Bolton since the teams met in the old fourth division in 1987. 
More significantly for their first top flight campaign in 33 years the Clarets are now without a Premier League victory in eight matches. 
The strong home record, which had yielded 18 of their 19 points prior to this fixture and seen only Wigan triumph at Turf Moor this term, will be tested in contrasting fashion by Stoke and Chelsea during January.
On a bright, crisp afternoon with snow atop the hills beyond there were several unenviable records on show for both teams and Burnley must have feared the worst at the interval, having lost all seven games in which they had trailed at the break.
Bolton, in addition to their defensive frailties - the run of games without leaking a league goal stretching to 19 matches - are yet to win after conceding the first goal and it was Gary Megson's team who made the stronger start.
Burnley boss Owen Coyle:
"On the balance of the match I felt we were in control. 
"We should have been in front but found ourselves behind to an exquisite free-kick - if it was a free-kick, but Mr Foy thought it was. 
"I asked them to raise their game and I felt we fully deserved three points. 
"I felt when we scored we were going to go on to win but Jaaskelainen is a quality keeper and always has been and he showed it." 
Bolton manager Gary Megson:
"Before the game I would have been satisfied with a point given the home record Burnley have and some of the teams they have beaten. 
"But we were 1-0 up, way on top and had most of the chances and were disappointed not to be more than one up. 
"In the second half they were much stronger but if we'd taken the chance at 1-0 I don't know if they would have come back from that. 
"We rode our luck in the second half and a draw is a fair result for both teams."
.

Cardiff 0 - 1 Plymouth
Bottom club Plymouth stunned promotion-chasing Cardiff with a smash-and-grab raid at the Cardiff City Stadium.
Gary Sawyer struck six minutes from time with a deflected effort after Paul Quinn's poor clearance. 
Cardiff had chances to take all three points but missed chances through Peter Whittingham, Michael Chopra, Jay Bothroyd and Joe Ledley late on. 
Argyle keeper Romain Larrieu also denied Mark Hudson's header as the visitors ended a run of five defeats. 
It was new boss Paul Mariner's first win in his third game in charge and his side's first goal in over 500 minutes of football. 
Cardiff keeper David Marshall had no chance with the goal though after Sawyer's shot deflected off Hudson. 
He did also keep Cardiff in it in the first half denying Alan Judge, but was the quieter of the two keepers as Cardiff blew the chance to close the gap on the Championship's top two. 
Frenchman Larrieu turned Hudson's header over the bar and then sent Whittingham's 20-yard effort to safety. 
Bothroyd then narrowly put the ball over the bar from inside the box before Chopra wasted a good chance. 
Cardiff piled on further pressure after Sawyer's goal, but Ledley drove just wide from 12 yards as Plymouth held on for a vital win as they climbed off the bottom and attempt to reach Championship safety. 
Cardiff manager Dave Jones:
"These are the type of games you have to see out and we had the chances to do that yet we never showed the creativity we are capable of and we have been caught by a sucker punch. 
"This division is a difficult one but we should still have been good enough to win and it is very disappointing to lose a game like this. 
"You could see it coming and three individual errors led to the goal. They were waiting for one opportunity and when it came they took it. 
Plymouth manager Paul Mariner:
"We worked very hard for that result but the signs have been there for a couple of weeks. 
"The players want to get this club out of the mess we are in and we knew we would get a resilient performance from them but three points is a wonderful result. 
"To keep a clean sheet against such a high powered attacking force as Cardiff have is a magnificent effort. 
"We haven't scored for a long time but you have to go back to the basics and that is what we have done today."
www.bbc.co.uk

.

Btw. my Premier League prediction ended with six correct picks out of eight! Cheers to those who followed.

Saturday summary

Preston 2 - 2 Middlesbrough

Billy Jones scored a last-minute header to snatch a point for Preston.
Middlesbrough dominated the opening half and took the lead when Gary O'Neil, who had already been denied by Andy Lonergan, scored with a free-kick. 
Paul Parry levelled with a neat finish from a tight angle after Brad Jones has parried Jon Parkin's header. 
Adam Johnson restored Boro's lead with a low shot into the bottom corner and Rhys Williams hit the post but Jones converted a Ross Wallace free-kick. 
The match may well be Colin Cooper's only game in charge of Boro before the club make a permanent appointment as successor to Gareth Southgate. 
On the evidence of the first-half, Boro should have taken all three points from the encounter. 
The visiting team, encouraged by considerable away support, created a series of decent openings. 
But Preston rallied after the break and their perseverance was rewarded with their late equaliser - although the draw means that North End drop out of the top six. 
Preston manager Alan Irvine:
"I'm not over-happy. We have got a point, but I look for more than just a result. There are a lot of things we will need to take out of that game and improve upon. 
"We were poor in the first half. I was praying for half-time to come to address some of the issues that needed addressing. 
"I thought we got the response almost from the kick-off in the second half. We then started to stretch the game out a bit better than we had in the first half. 
"They deserve enormous credit for keeping going. It's a fantastic quality to have." 
Middlesbrough caretaker manager Colin Cooper:
"Unfortunately it comes a bit too much of a coincidence when you concede two to three late goals. 
"We should be sitting fairly close to the top of the table with the points that have gone begging. 
"Hopefully we will learn and not make mistakes in a game that we should have won comfortably."

.

Sheff Utd 3 - 4 Cardiff 
Hat-trick hero Peter Whittingham is mobbed by his Cardiff team-mates
Cardiff went second in the Championship in a dramatic, action-packed game.
Jay Bothroyd seized on a rebound to put Cardiff ahead, but Mark Hudson's back-header let Darius Henderson equalise. 
Peter Whittingham's penalty restored Cardiff's lead after Matthew Kilgallon fouled Bothroyd, only for Henderson to strike again with a looping header. 
Whittingham sealed the win, converting a flick-on then poking in his hat-trick, only for James Harper's late goal to give the Blades forlorn hope. 
Even after Harper struck in the 90th minute to make it 4-3, there was still time for the home side to carve out another chance and they thought they had equalised. 
But Stephen Quinn's effort was ruled out for off-side, much to Cardiff's relief as they leap-frogged West Bromwich Albion to become Newcastle's main Championship challengers.
Sheffield United manager Kevin Blackwell:
"Things are tough at the moment, but the squad players that came in gave me a great shift and I can't knock them. 
"It was a good performance and on another day it would have been enough to get us a point. 
"It's tough when you are losing your experienced players and until we get them back it will be tough. 
"But I think we deserved more than we got out of the game, that's for sure and the players showed terrific spirit to keep coming back." 
Cardiff City manager Dave Jones:
"The first half was a bit crazy... so I'm sure Kevin [Blades boss Blackwell] will be disappointed with his defending as much as I am with ours. 
"I just felt every time we got our noses in front we went and did something stupid. 
"But our fourth goal today you won't see many better, our moving, our passing, our crispness and the finish. 
"And well deserved for Whitts [Whittingham] to get his hat-trick... it was a tough game."
.

Tottenham 0 - 1 Stoke

Glenn Whelan struck late to earn Stoke victory over Spurs, who will ruefully look back at missed chances.
Aaron Lennon's curling shot was well kept out by Steve Simonsen, while Peter Crouch's header was acrobatically cleared off the line by James Beattie. 
Niko Kranjcar's drive hit the foot of the post as Spurs pressed. 
But Spurs, hit by an early injury to Jonathan Woodgate and a late one to Lennon, were stunned when Whelan smashed in an angled shot to win it. 
England winger Lennon was forced off with 10 minutes to play, leaving Spurs to finish the match with 10 men as they had already used all their substitutes. 
And as Tottenham were stretched, Stoke took advantage to pull off a smash and grab they barely deserved.
The match marked the first anniversary of Harry Redknapp taking over as Spurs boss, and there is no doubt he has transformed the club. 
A year on from his appointment, Redknapp has taken the Londoners from relegation candidates to a side that would go top of the table with victory against Stoke. 
It should have been extra incentive for Tottenham to turn on the style against opposition who had won only one of their last five Premier League matches.
But instead, they failed to make the most of their greater possession and territory and got hit with a sucker punch. 
They will also be frustrated by the injury to Woodgate, who managed only a 13-minute cameo in his first start of the season.
Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp on injured Aaron Lennon walking off with 14 minutes left:
"I hoped he could stay on but he couldn't. I told him we'd only have 10 men and could he play on, but he said his ankle was too sore. 
"I don't want to cause an issue. It's not about England - he's got big games coming up for Tottenham." 
Stoke boss Tony Pulis:
"It was probably our best result because we were playing against a top, top side. They have all the ammo you need to win games and they will still probably have a great season. 
"For this football club, we have to be in the Premier League for three years before we push on. We are still living in portacabins at the training ground."
www.bbc.co.uk

Tuesday night

Cardiff 6 - 1 Derby

Four-goal Michael Chopra fired Cardiff back to form in a crushing victory.
Peter Whittingham got the first in an early sign that Derby's offside trap would be exposed, then he set up Chopra for his first strike since August. 
Rob Hulse gave the Rams hope straight after the break, before the division's top-scorer Chopra took over, first latching on to Chris Burke's back-heel. 
Stephen McPhail set up the hat-trick, a sweet chip, McPhail playing a part in Chris Burke's goal and Chopra's closer. 
The Bluebirds had previously lost five of their last six matches in all competitions, an awful run that had seen the early season Championship leaders slip to ninth spot in the league. 
But Derby provided the perfect opposition, having lost seven of their last nine away league games. 
McPhail made a huge impression on his return from suspension, replacing Wales midfielder Joe Ledley who was banned for the game.
Cardiff manager Dave Jones:
"Chopra's movement and finishing was top class and he showed us all what a good player he is. 
"We had a lot of the ball and used it well but results like that don't come very often and we have to enjoy it while we can.
Derby manager Nigel Clough:
"I am very disappointed at the way we let the goals in particularly after getting back into the game straight after half time.
.

Fiorentina 2 - 0 Liverpool

Stevan Jovetic was Liverpool's tormentor as he scored twice in Fiorentina's surprise win over the Reds in their Champions League Group E tie.
The teenager pierced the visitors' offside trap and slotted past Pepe Reina to put his side deservedly ahead. 
He added a second when he diverted in a powerful Juan Vargas strike. 
Liverpool had chances to get back into the game but Lucas Leiva put a free header high and Fernando Torres skied a close-range volley. 
The Reds did not lose away from home in the Champions League last season but were undone by a poor first-half showing and an inspired Viola at the Stadio Artemio Franchi.
Liverpool had also found the net in their previous 21 Champions League matches and their failure to do so against the Serie A side saw them miss out on Bayern Munich's record scoring run of 22 games.
www.bbc.co.uk

Cardiff City - Derby County (tuesday)

After very promising season start that announced a battle for promotion, Cardiff have now lost four of their last five Championship matches and have dropped out of the top six. All started with underestimation of Doncaster (0-2 on the road), then Newcastle (0-1 home), QPR (0-2 home) and last one vs. Sheff.Wed. (1-3 away). It’s symptomatic they conceded most of those goals in the opening period of the game, or the second half. Manager Dave Jones talks about inconsistency, more likely it’s lack of confidence. At last round they improved the performance, two goals for Cardiff were disallowed (public opinion is one was clear), big defensive errors, two goals at the start of both periods and one more defeat that caused alarms started ringing at City Stadium. So, if they want to keep their dream about promotion, have to wake up and stop the losing streak. Better opponent for that they probably couldn’t wish. Beside long time injured Ross McCormack and Kelvin Etuhu, boss Jones can not count on midfielder Joe Ledley who got a red card at Sheffield and unfit right-back Kevin McNaughton. Skipper Stephen McPhail returns in the squad.

Like the hosts, Derby also had a bad run of results with four consecutive defeats (Nottingham Forest, Sheffield United, Barnsley and Crystal Palace). Manager Nigel Clough is stubborn with his 5-4-1 formation that still hasn’t been well accepted from the players. Two started wins against clubs from the bottom side of the table (Peterborough and Plymouth) gave some hope for a bright future, but mentioned bad run brought the push the problems on the surface. In the previous round, they finally noticed all three points against Bristol City (1-0). Visitors from Bristol were at least equal 55 minutes, then defender Jamie McCombe got two yellow cards for two minutes. Rams started to dominate and thankfully to Gary Teale’s late strike noticed a win. However, team is consisted of mediocre players who shouldn’t be capable to achieve anything more than middle of the table. And some experienced players like Lee Hendrie and Paul Dickov haven’t brought anything positive. The Rams can get something from the games against bottom clubs, or sometimes to surprise “middle class”, but I doubt they can cause serious problems to the top Championship clubs (like raging Cardiff). New on-loan signing, Swedish defender Fredrik Stoor, will probably make his debut.

This is not a “to be or not to be” game for the hosts, but another failure would seriously shake their title ambitions. Following their statements to the press, it seems they’re all conscious of the situation and I expect the well response and convincing win. Pinnacle offer 1.92. Home win and handicap as a gamble.

Available free bets, bonus offers and promotions:
Expekt - First deposit bonus up to €35 / £25 for all new customers
Make your first deposit at expekt.com and we will immediately double your money up to max €35 / £25. Take these 3 easy steps to start profiting from sports betting: 1.Register an account with expekt.com here. 2.Deposit a minimum of €10 into your expekt.com account. 3.Send an email to 35eurbonus@expekt.com with your customer number and deposit amount included. The bonus amount up to €35/£25 will be added to your account within 48 h.

Monday's gossip column

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Sunderland manager Steve Bruce is monitoring Tottenham right-back Alan Hutton ahead of the January transfer window.(Daily Mirror) 
Wigan are interested in Scunthorpe goalkeeper Joe Murphy after turning down the chance to former Sunderland keeper Jurgen Macho, who is a free agent after leaving AEK Athens. (Daily Mirror) 
Cardiff manager Dave Jones is set to hijack Coventry's bid to sign Wolves striker Sam Vokes, whose loan deal with the Sky Blues has yet to go through.(Daily Mirror) 

OTHER GOSSIP

Notts County executive chairman Peter Trembling has conceded he does not know the identities of all the private investors who are bankrolling the club. (The Sun) 
Portsmouth chief executive Peter Storrie has told owner Sulaiman Al Fahim to prove that a £50m loan has been organised to keep the club out of administration. (The Sun) 
Manchester United Nani winger will turn to his former team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo for advice after being substituted against Stoke on Saturday following a poor display. Nani will ring Ronaldo - now at Real Madrid - before Wednesday's game with Wolfsburg and added: "Cristiano and I talk a lot."(The Sun) 
Arsenal winger Theo Walcott, who has been out of action since June because of a lower back injury, has told boss Arsene Wenger he is fit to start Tuesday's Champions League match against Olympiakos. (The Sun) 
Chelsea striker Nicolas Anelka has declared he is completely happy at the Blues and stated: "Chelsea is the first club I can call home." Anelka's former clubs include Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City, Bolton and Real Madrid. (The Sun) 
League Two strugglers Darlington are lining up former Wigan boss Paul Jewell to fill their vacant managerial post.(Daily Mirror) 

AND FINALLY

Bolton boss Gary Megson has revealed South Korean star Chung-Yong Lee practises martial art Tai Chi first thing in the morning before training. Megson said: "I got in early and was eating a bacon sarnie when I saw this guy doing some serious stretching in the car park. I didn't realise it was Lee." (Daily Mirror)
www.bbc.co.uk

Plymouth Argyle - Cardiff City

Despite two more than decent displays, Plymouth remain as one of the serious contenders to relegate. The team haven’t been seriously upgraded and just because the fighting spirit and slight touch of luck, they have two points on the balance. At the first round, they surprised Crystal Palace on the road, taking the lead in the first half and defending the rest of the game, grabbing a point (1-1) at the end. In the previous round, oppositely, they were chasing the result after the half-time. The Pilgrims attacked favorited QPR and got another point in the last minute of the game, by own-goal visitors’ defender Kasparss Gorks! But it is obvious, they lack in quality and boss Paul Sturrock will have a difficult task to keep the club in second tier. Few days ago, club signed Alan Gow from Rangers (worth 200 000 UK Pounds) and hope he’ll shake off a calf injury and get international clearance to play. If he does, midfielder is set to play alongside on-loan Celtic striker Cillian Sheridan, who could get his first start. Skipper Carl Fletcher and defender Kristian Timar are returning in team after injuries. Argyle have not won in six league outings, drawing four and losing two since beating Coventry 4-0 at Home Park on 11 April.

Last season, Cardiff finished one place below the play-offs and that form shows signs of continuing into the new campaign. In the first round, they wished a welcome to new-comers Scunthorpe United with four goals in the net (4-0). Second round brought a trip to Bloomfield Road and hard game against Blackpool. Michael Chopra scored early for a lead, but hosts equalized twenty minutes later. In the rest of the game both sides had few opportunities on wet pitch to notice a win, but 1-1 remained. However, decent result stayed in the shadow of few injuries. The worst situation is with excellent Ross McCormack who faces six to eight weeks out after injuring his hamstring. Boss Dave Jones even took a time for a joke, saying “we're happy because nobody will want to buy Ross now” (meaning on interest of some Premier League teams). Beside him, at the same game defender Paul Quinn has survived a scare over a knee injury and could be back in action against Bristol City on Sunday, while midfielder Stephen McPhail is ready to play after being taken off as a precaution when he felt his hamstring. Gabor Gyepes has shaken off a knock he got playing for Hungary last week. Some youngsters like Adam Matthews (who came on as sub against Plymouth) will get the chance, but anyway visitors are favorites here.

Pilgrims noticed two points against very strong opponents, but tonight will face surely the strongest from those. Fatigue is a big enemy to their fighting attitude and simply I don’t think they can be lucky three times in a row. On the other hand, in each of the past two seasons, Cardiff have drawn more than half of their away league matches - 12 from 23 and instead clear away win I’m covering a draw with Asian handicap. So, 2 AH(0), (or 2 DNB), 1.82 at Pinnacle.

One more later.

.

Available free bets, bonus offers and promotions:
"William Hill Exlusive £100 freebet, All Countries!!!" 1. Click here to open your account, Sign up("Join now") using promo code F100, 2. When you place your first bet, we will give you a free bet of the same value up to a max of £50, 3. As you place more bets you can earn up to another £50 in free bets. (Moneybookers available for this offer, You can choose Euro as a currency.)

Charlton 2-2 Cardiff

A superb late goal from Gabor Gyepes kept alive Cardiff's increasingly slim hopes of automatic promotion.
Relegated Charlton went ahead when the Cardiff defence flapped at Lloyd Sam's cross, 17-year-old Jonjo Shelvey on hand to toe-poke past Tom Heaton.
Nicky Bailey rammed in a second when Cardiff failed to clear a corner, before Chris Burke gave the visitors hope with a surging run and poke home.
With two minutes left Gyepes controlled superbly, turned and drilled the goal.
The Bluebirds slip to fifth in the league, but can still finish second if they win their last two matches and other results go their way.
One more point from those two games would guarantee a play-off spot.
At the end of the match there were calls from some sections of the home support for Addicks manager Phil Parkinson to go.

Charlton manager Phil Parkinson:
"I had an experienced team out there and yet we still looked naive.
"We're a team scarred from the season, when it's happened before, and [against Cardiff] we went into panic mode on and off the ball.
"Cardiff are a good side and I expected a reaction from the weekend and we got that.
"It was a tight game, we got the second goal and that should have been enough.
"The reaction from the supporters is understandable, I'd be feeling the same if I was sat there."

Cardiff manager Dave Jones:
"Saturday was a freak result. At this stage of the season you will get them.
"If we didn't show grit and determination on Saturday then it came flooding back [here] and we deserved to come back into it.
"It would have been hard to come away with nothing because it would have been tough to pick them up and we've got a hard game on Saturday against Ipswich.
"If we had gone into that on the back of two defeats it would have been a nervous occasion.
"But if we've got to limp over the line then we will. We've got to get another point."

Charlton: Elliot, Butterfield, Hudson, Ward, Youga, Sam (Spring 69), Zhi, Racon, Bailey, Shelvey (Holland 82), Burton (Kandol 60).
Subs Not Used: Randolph, Tuna.
Booked: Butterfield, Zhi, Bailey.
Goals: Shelvey 35, Bailey 80.

Cardiff: Heaton, Comminges, Gyepes, Roger Johnson (Purse 90), Kennedy, McCormack, Ledley, Rae, Parry (Eddie Johnson 83), Chopra (Burke 57), Bothroyd.
Subs Not Used: Scimeca, Matthews.
Booked: Bothroyd, Ledley.
Goals: Burke 82, Gyepes 89.
Att: 19,390
Ref: Iain Williamson (Berkshire).
www.bbc.co.uk

Liverpool 4-4 Arsenal
Rotherham U. 3-2 Morecambe

Charlton Athletic - Cardiff City

After a 2-2 home draw against Blackpool, Charlton theoretically secured relegation. They had a 2-0 lead, but first Campbell scored for 2-1, then Hughes in last minute took care for a draw on Valley. It's very interesting, Addicks play better after they lost any chance to stay in Championship. Five games without a defeat, with great performance against the strongest league teams (0-0 against Preston and Birmingham at home, 2-2 vs Reading and minimal defeat against Wolves on the road). Some youngsters got an opportunity to play and they use it very well. Striker Tresor Kandol and midfielder Darren Ambrose are in doubt, while centre-half Jonathan Fortune (Achilles), midfielder Jose Semedo (ankle) and striker Andy Gray (pelvis) are still on the sidelines.

Blue birds lost any chance for direct promotion, but first objective is to forget nightmare from Deepdale Stadium. They expected a tough game against Preston, but 0-6 is a total catastrophe. All good results in this season are placed in the shadow of one game. Before Preston, Cardiff was in more than decent shape, with three consecutive wins (Derby, C.Palace and Burnley). With three rounds left, they're very close to play-off. It is not secured, but they can play with much less pressure. Today have a chance to finish the job, will be motivated and will go in attack from the first whistle. The only injured player is key right back Kevin McNaughton, but boss Dave Jones is expected to make changes in starting eleven.

Charlton's teenagers got their five minutes on the big scene, will try to surprise again, but it has to be said, quality is only on one side. Welsh lads will do everything to wash the Preston shame. I expect them in 4-3-3 formation. There will be a space for counter-attacks, but I don't think Charlton can score. So, away win instead over. Expekt offers 1.95, Bwin 1.90, I think it worths. Dare to predict, 0-2 correct score. Away win.