Friday, Cardiff City Stadium, 7.45pm, live on Sky Sports 1
FOOTBALL'S a strange old game. On Wednesday Huddersfield fans were Scotland supporters as they cheered on an English-born hitman and tonight they travel to Wales.
The English league season kicks off with what could be a cracker between a side fancied to challenge for the title and one who are thrilled to be in the Championship after winning the play-offs last season.
Huddersfield fans will be keen to pay homage to goal machine Jordan Rhodes who celebrated his first start for Scotland with a superb goal against Australia.
How the young man will fare just two days later will be hard to tell but he played just an hour for his adopted country and should still be on a high.
Rhodes is a biggest 13-2 at Stan James to score first – 7-4 at any time – and Huddersfield are 7-2 with bet365 to upset the favourites who are bidding to bounce back from last week's shock League Cup defeat at Northampton.
Huddersfield also lost their cup clash at Preston Monday but were without Rhodes and a few others. I wouldn't read too much into the results because this is where the real action begins and I must favour Cardiff who once again just missed out on the play-offs.
The Bluebirds – or should that be red robins – have made quality signings with their backing of Malaysian owners and boss Malky Mackay will be under pressure to go one better and land promotion to the Premier League.
Craig Bellamy's experience will be vital if he stays fit, Heidar Helguson is a scorer at this level and Mackay is excited by £2.5million signing Kim Bo-Kyung of South Korea.
I reckon home advantage will give Cardiff the edge and are a best 17-20 at BetVictor against a side that won just two of their last 10 away games in the league.
Bellamy would love to net on his return to the capital and is 6-1 at bet365 to hit the opener and 6-4 with bet365 at any time but Helguson could provide the value. He netted from the spot at Northampton and is 11-2 at BetVictor for the first, 13-8 at Paddy Power at any time.
With tensions running high there could be a bit of sparring before the first goal and I'm looking at BetVictor’s 39-40 for the opener to come after the 27th minute.
Recommendations
Helguson to score
(13-8, Paddy Power)
First goal after 27 minutes
(39-40, BetVictor)
Resident football tipster at Scotland's most read newspaper, the Daily Record, for over 20 years and proud host of one the best betting communities on the web with daily betting tips.
Paul just got £100 loyalty bonus with Bet365 if I stake £100 do I just put my own hundred on Charlie Mulgrew anytime @ 9/2 and used my £100 free bet for £50 Mulgrew first and £50 Mulgrew last at 14/1.
Huddersfield were utterly shocking on Monday, devoid of any ideas. I do feel they are carried far too much by Rhodes, so if he is marshalled well by the Cardiff defence, I feel Cardiff may win to nil.
Huddersfield also looked suspect at the back.
Bert, Huddersfield need big displays from a lot of players including Rhodes to have a chance. I’m looking forward to the game but you can’t read too much into anything at this time of the season. There were plenty of shocks in the League Cup and Cardiff’s performance was possibly worse than Huddersfield’s.
That sounded like a question lol. That is what I have done.
OK Chris. I see it being quite tight at Dingwall, with Celtic missing a few and having CL on Tuesday.
gd point wi champs league paul, got to watch a few teams this wknd wi europe mid-wk including hearts and liverpool. big games that stand out are new v spurs, brum v charlton and dunf v partick.
can see there being a few gls tonight so going over 2.5 with a cover bet on 1-1
Craig, defo a time for caution. I’m tipping Cardiff for the title in what is a really tough league and it will ne interesting to see how they play tonight. I’ll put up something on anteposts but my other picks are MK Dons and Fleetwood. The EPL is United v City with van Persie’s signing possibly giving Utd the edge.
Hi Paul
When will you be putting up the competitions
eg
super single
correct score
etc
Alan, admin sorting out a few things regarding prizes etc. Bonkers Bet and Super Single contests back this weekend or next weekend.
I hope the To score 2+ is back this season!
Conor, that was a feature on the newsletter. If admin sort out sponsorship for the newsletter which was expensive to produce then it will be back. Was very popular.
Paul I was thinking it might be tight for Celtic also. I’m trying to decide wether to put £100 on ht draw ft Celtic at 10/3 or put £120 on Celtic to win by 1 goal and putting £30 on 2-0 @ 13/2 to try and cover it. What you reckon? £150 on and £450 or £225 back
Chris, my feeling is Celtic will win by one and County probably won’t score.
Good double tonight in
Cardiff (5/6) & Sligo away to Shelbourne (also 5/6) with Paddy Power.
Sligo top of the table with good away form, against a Shelbourne side struggling and with poor home form.
Add in St Patricks (2/5) & Waterford (2/5)
£65.88 for a tenner.
good luck everyone in what will probably be a suck it and see weekend!!
Cardiff & Sligo both up but the demon in me added the 2/5 shots which of course pumped my line. TWAT.
Fancy Cardiff Luton and lille treble or lille -1…can’t decide at home to nancy? What uz think?
hey paul,how have you been doing so far,mate….i was taking a look at a few antepost betting.you fancy southend to win the league 2.16/1 each way.pay like 3 places
Justin, I think Fleetwood and Rotherham could be top two but Southend looking quite good and must have a chance of top three.
Went £100 on Helguson anytime @ 9/5 and £30 first goal @ 11/2.
Chris, Helguson for me too,
Yea,a lot of money have been invested on those two clubd.actually from last season.i think southend,torquay and cheltham are good each way bets.your more inclined to side with southend then for a outsider bet?
Paul I’m still not done with the rangers game! For those that missed out on Rangers -2 at evs might fancy a bit of Rangers 3-0 anytime correct score at 8/11? What you think Paul. Seems like more money in the bag.
Chris, can’t see Shire scoring so yes.
Arrggh pity about tonight’s game as was waiting for Helguson to score. So to make up for it just lumped £110 on Rangers to be winning 3-0 at any point. Paul if Rangers let us down tomorrow I’ll be filing for liquidation
Chris, they’ll win with plenty to spare I’m sure. Just read team news and a couple of Shire players are on holiday – could be well timed for the pair of them.
on the shire £1 win 20/1
Craig you would have been as well using your £1 for a lucky dip on the lotto mate lol. I’m a Celtic fan but if Rangers lose it will probably be the biggest upset ever. I’ve stuck £10 on 8-0 @ 80/1
Two prices that really are tasty…
Lee McCulloch 11/10 to score at anytime with BetVictor
Dean Shiels 5/4 to score at anytime with BetVictor
Yeah Paul I read on the Internet that a couple of shire players will be playing straight after nightshift