IT'S amazing how a change of manager just about guarantees a change in fortune.
The effect is often so dramatic it's no wonder chairmen make new appointments so regularly. In fact, imagine if they changed boss every week.
One side who have seen an immediate uplift are Atletico Madrid who are unbeaten under new boss Diego Simeone.
The capital outfit have picked up seven points in three games and have notched back-to-back victories over Real Sociedad and Villarreal.
Atletico have climbed to eighth in La Liga and will move above Osasuna and up to joint sixth with a win in Pamplona tonight.
It's a tough to place to visit but Atletico have built up some momentum and I'm on them at 7-5 with Blue Square. Osasuna are 9-4 at Betfred and BetVictor with the draw 12-5 at BetVictor.
The one game in England sees Oldham meet Chesterfield (7.45, live on Sky) for a place in the Johnstone Trophy Final at Wembley.
Chesterfield lead 2-1 from the first leg so any one-goal win for Oldhan will force a penalty shoot-out.
Oldham won 5-2 at home when the sides met last November but Chesterfield have improved recently with back-to-back wins against Bournemouth and Colchester.
At Boundary Park, however, Oldham remain strong with six wins out of nine in the league and I reckon they will edge a win.
Oldham are a best 5-6 at Ladbrokes and Blue Square with Chesterfield 18-5 at BetVictor and the draw paying 13-5 with Coral.
A one-goal win is possible and with no extra time or away goals counting it would be straight penalties. Picking a shoot-out winner is impossible so back both sides at 12-1 with sportingbet to win on penalties.
It's been a tough tournament for punters but the African Nations should be easier to predict as we move closer to the knockout stages.
Ivory Coast have already qualified for the last eight and will be joined by Angola if they avoid defeat tonight (6pm, live on Eurosport).
A draw will give Ivory Coast the group win ahead of Angola and that could well be the outcome and pays 5-2 at William Hill and Coral.
Ivory Coast are 4-6 with William Hill and Paddy Power with Angola 13-2 at BetVictor.
In the other game (also 6pm, live on Eurosport) Sudan must beat Burkina Faso and hope Angola lose to have any chance of progressing.
Sudan are 19-10 with bet365 in a match that means nothing but pride to Burkina Faso who are 8-5 with BetVictor.
Recommendations
Atletico Madrid
(7-5, Blue Square)
Oldham
(5-6, Ladbrokes, Blue Square)
Oldham to win on pens
(12-1, sportingbet)
Chesterfield to win on pens
(12-1, sportingbet)
Sudan
(19-10, bet365)
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.
