Selectabet’s Picks v Lawro’s Predictions: 29th Nov

It’s so far, so good in my battles with Lawro. After two weeks I’m up over £400, whilst Lawro is down over £300! I’m only confirming what we all knew already – he’s not got a scooby doo!

This week I can see a few shocks and have gone for some big odds on the correct scores so lets see how our £10 stakes on the results and the scores will go.

Feel free to have a shot yourself in the comments below. Just submit your results and scores and list the odds for each bet. I’ll add you to the table (when I get it uploaded).

Aston Villa v Fulham

Both teams come into this after recording 0-0 draws against two of the big four but it’s Villa who are most likely to win tomorrow. They’ve lost this fixture just once in the last 10 meetings and look in good shape to overcome Roy Hodgson’s side.

I think Villa’s quality going forward will be the telling factor in this one especially with John Carew looking like he’ll partner Agbonlahor up front. Home win

Lawro’s Verdict: Villa Win 4/6 (Bet Direct, Boylesports, Ladbrokes, Stan James)

Lawro’s Score: Aston Villa 2 Fulham 1 15/2 (Blue Sq, Sportingbet)

Selectabet’s Verdict: Villa Win 4/6 (Bet Direct, Boylesports, Ladbrokes, Stan James)

Selectabet’s Score: Aston Villa 2 Fulham 0 6/1 (Bet365, Betfred, Paddy Power, SkyBet, Stan James)

Middlesbrough v Newcastle United

This one looks difficult to call with neither team showing an signs of consistent form. Boro have won just once in their last 5 at home, whilst Newcastle haven’t won an away game all season.

The Toon showed a resiliant side last week with a creditable 0-0 draw at Stamford Bridge and will be aiming to build on that with a win at the Riverside. Given Boro’s inconsistency it’s difficult to side with them for a home win so I’m going with a draw in this one.

Lawro’s Verdict: Draw 12/5 (Coral, Paddy Power, SkyBet, Totesport)

Lawro’s Score: Boro 1 Newcastle 1 6/1 (Blue Sq, Canbet, SkyBet)

Selectabet’s Verdict: Draw 12/5 (Coral, Paddy Power, SkyBet, Totesport)

Selectabet’s Score: Boro 1 Newcastle 1 6/1 (Blue Sq, Canbet, SkyBet)

Stoke City v Hull City

Two of the League’s new boys go head-to-head in what many would have thought would have been a real six-pointer at the beginning of the season. As it stands both are in good position to avoid the drop so the pressure is of just a wee bit.

Stoke have a great record at home and have won their last five at the Britannia Stadium, in fact their only defeat in the last 6 overall was to Man Utd. Hull are slowly getting their season back on track, after 3 straight defeats they’ve claimed two draws against Man Cit and Portsmouth.

While Stoke’s record at home is good they’ve not been scoring too many goals but Hull look they’ve got goals in them every week and I think they’ll outscore Stoke tomorrow to take the three points.

Lawro’s Verdict: Stoke Win 6/4 (Paddy Power, Boylesports)

Lawro’s Score: Stoke 2 Hull 1 9/1 (Blue Sq, Centrebet, Sportingbet, William Hill)

Selectabet’s Verdict: Hull Win 2/1 (Bet Direct, Blue Sq, Stan James)

Selectabet’s Score: Stoke 1 Hull 3 33/1 (Blue Sq)

Sunderland v Bolton Wanderers

Just when it looked like Sunderland were finally getting the rub of the green that Roy Keane felt they were missing they put in an abject display against West Ham last weekend and suffered their 5th loss in 6 games. They look bereft of ideas and it seems only moments of predatory instinct from Djibril Cisse will save them.

Bolton on the other hand are enjoying a bit of a resurgence, winning 3 of their last 4. Away from home they’ve been doing well also, picking up wins at West Ham, Hull and Middlesbrough so a visit to the Stadium of Light shouldn’t hold any fears for them. Sunderland have won just twice at home in the league all season so I’m going for another disappointing day for the Black Cats.

Lawro’s Verdict: Sunderland Win 11/8 (Coral)

Lawro’s Score: Sunderland 2 Bolton 0 11/1 (BetInternet, Sportingbet)

Selectabet’s Verdict: Bolton Win 12/5 (Paddy Power)

Selectabet’s Score: Sunderland 1 Bolton 2 12/1 (Blue Sq, Canbet)

Wigan v West Brom

West Brom haven’t scored in the last 3 games so the desperately need to find a few goals, pick up a few points and stop themselves from becoming detached at the foot of the table. But it won’t come tomorrow against Wigan I don’t think.

Steve Bruce’s side are unbeaten in their last 4 league matches and if they can pick up where they left off in Monday night’s 1-0 win over Everton they should be good enough at home to see off the Baggies.

Lawro’s Verdict: Wigan Win 5/6 (Paddy Power)

Lawro’s Score: Wigan 2 WBA 0 7/1 (Betfred, BetInternet, Ladbrokes, Sportingbet)

Selectabet’s Verdict: Wigan Win 5/6 (Paddy Power)

Selectabet’s Score: Wigan 1 WBA 0 6/1 (Bet Direct, Betfred, Ladbrokes, SkyBet)

Man City v Man Utd - Live on Sky Sports 1. Kick off: 1.30pm

This one should be a cracker and already the fabled Sir Alex mind games have begun. He doesn’t see City as a threat apparently, despite their new-found riches. But he would do well to remember that it was the blue half of Manchester that was celebrating a double derby win last season and they’ll be well up for repeating that feat this time around.

The talismanic Robinho is likely to return for City and he’s the catalyst to all that is good in Mark Hughes’ side, especially at home. For United it’s possible that Berbatov will feature and after 2 goalless draws Fergie’s team need to get their scoring touch back.

I can’t see United going another game without a goal and with Robinho pulling the strings at the other end we could be in for a goalfest. I think United will outgun their hosts though grab the win in a thriller.

Lawro’s Verdict: Man Utd Win 10/11 (Betfred, Boylesports, Ladbrokes, Totesport)

Lawro’s Score: Man City 0 Man Utd 2 9/1 (Sportingbet)

Selectabet’s Verdict: Man Utd Win 10/11 (Betfred, Boylesports, Ladbrokes, Totesport)

Selectabet’s Score: Man City 2 Man Utd 4 66/1 (Blue Sq, Centrebet)

Portsmouth v Blackburn

It’ll be interesting to see how Pompey react to the heartache of of Thursday’s 2-2 draw with Milan. They gave it everything on the night but ultimately only managed a point when all 3 looked more than possible – that must’ve left them drained physically and mentally.

You’d have thought a home match against a team that’s struggling a bit could be the perfect tonic but Blackburn are dangerous opponents at Fratton Park where they’ve won on 4 of their last 6 visits. This could be a sneaky away win.

Lawro’s Verdict: Portsmouth Win 11/10 (Bet365, Blue Sq, VCBet, William Hill)

Lawro’s Score: Portsmouth 2 Blackburn 1 9/1 (Centrebet)

Selectabet’s Verdict: Blackburn Win 3/1 (Ladbrokes)

Selectabet’s Score: Portsmouth 0 Blackburn 2 20/1 (SkyBet)

Tottenham v Everton

What more can you say about Harry Houdini? Another win in Holland on Thursday keeps the bandwagon rolling and there’s no reason why it can’t continue tomorrow. Spurs have 17 ins to Everton’s 4 in the fixture in the Premier League and given Everton’s growing injury list I can’t see anything other than a home win.

As ever, whilst Gomes is in goals I expect Spurs to concede but Defoe and Pavlyuchnko return for the home side and should fire them to victory.

Lawro’s Verdict: Spurs Win 1/1 (Betfred, Canbet, Ladbrokes, PaddyPower, SkyBet, William Hill)

Lawro’s Score: Spurs 2 Everton 1 8/1 (Betfred, BetInternet, William Hill)

Selectabet’s Verdict: Spurs Win 1/1 (Betfred, Canbet, Ladbrokes, PaddyPower, SkyBet, William Hill)

Selectabet’s Score: Spurs 2 Everton 1 8/1 (Betfred, BetInternet, William Hill)

Chelsea v Arsenal – Live on Sky Sports 1. Kick Off: 4pm

2 wins in 6 is not a record you’d associate with Chelsea in recent years but those are the stark facts about Phil Scolari’s sides’ recent form – hardly the stuff of Champions or Champions League winners. Arsenal have also endured a torrid couple of weeks but will be keen to put their internal strife behind them and concentrate on re-establishing 4th place in the League.

Both teams have a long injury list which makes this one difficult to call. In the absence of any great from to go on from either side I need to go with the home win in this one.

Lawro’s Verdict: Draw 13/5 (Boylesports)

Lawro’s Score: Chelsea 1 Arsenal 1 13/2 (SkyBet)

Selectabet’s Verdict: Chelsea Win 4/5 (Bet365, Blue Sq, Paddy Power, William Hill)

Selectabet’s Score: Chelsea 1 Arsenal 0 6/1 (Bet365, Betfred, Ladbrokes, SkyBet)

Liverpool v West Ham – Live on Setanta Sports 1. Kick off: 8pm

With Torres out again Robbie Keane is going to have to start delivering the goods for Rafa Benitez otherwise the Red’s championship challenge could quickly fall by the way side. Last week’s disappointing 0-0 draw with Fulham was reminiscent of Liverpool of old and they really need to bounce back with a convincing win in this one.

The Hammers have been really poor at times this season and considering they haven’t won in 36 visits to Anfield I can only see a home win in this one.

Lawro’s Verdict: Liverpool Win 4/11 (Blue Sq, Paddy Power)

Lawro’s Score: Liverpool 2 West Ham 0 11/2 (Bet Direct, Blue Sq, SkyBet, Stan James)

Selectabet’s Verdict: Liverpool Win 4/11 (Blue Sq, Paddy Power)

Selectabet’s Score: Liverpool 3 West Ham 0 8/1 (Blue Sq)

Good luck with your picks and don’t forget to post them in the comments below.

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