Thursday, Cardiff City Stadium, 7.45, live on Sky Sports 1
WEST HAM are favourites to win the Championship play-offs and can move a step closer to a Premier League return by avoiding defeat at Cardiff.
Semi-final first legs are usually cagey affairs and for me the draw looks the most likely result with the Hammers then going on to win the second leg at home.
Sam Allardyce's side are a best 7-4 with Skybet to be promoted and the same price at William Hill and BetVictor to win tonight.
The Hammers deserve their place having finished 10 points ahead of fourth-placed Birmingham and 11 clear of Cardiff who only sealed their place with a battling win against Crystal Palace last week. The Bluebirds were beaten 2-0 in Wales a couple of months ago but earlier in the season won 1-0 at Upton Park.
But those results won't mean too much in what promises to be a tense occasion. I can see another unders game – eight of Cardiff's last 10 have been – and under 2.5 goals pays 3-4 at BetVictor while the time of the first goal after 31 minutes is my call at 23-10 at William Hill.
The first-leg draw is 23-10 at Betfred while unibet go 8-13 on the Hammers reaching the Final with Cardiff a biggest 6-4 at William Hill and Coral.
There are plenty of contenders for first goal with Kenny Miller favourite for Cardiff but I'd prefer to take Joe Mason at 9-4 with bet365 to net at any time after hitting three in five matches.
Carlton Cole is on form for the Hammers with five in his last four and is 9-4 with Ladbrokes and Paddy Power to hit the target. And remember Allardyce's teams have netted in their last 12 away games.
Recommendations
Under 2.5 goals
(3-4, BetVictor)
First goal time over 31 mins
(23-20, William Hill)
Cole to score
(9-4, Ladbrokes, Paddy Power)
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.
Think I’ll go with first goal after 27 mins at evs with Stan James.
I’m still not sure what to do with the Celtic game yet
Chris, as I said I would like to see teams before committing hard cash but I’m anticipating a comfortable Celtic win and warming to Commons for scorer.
Sent darts tips over for tonight Paul via email, do what you please with them mate x
Matt, can you fire them over to mrfixitstips@googlemail.com and I’ll look at them ASAP.
Hi mr fix it can you please explan how it works the bet you do of . perm any 4 with all 5 =6 bets How do you write this on the betting slip and what returns you would get as i usely do a £5 acuumalator every week
Smiler, you can do those on a normal coupon by making five selections then ticking fourfolds and accumulator or write out on a betting slip and instruct: perm any 4 and all 5 (6 bets). Six bets at 85p would cost £5.10 or make the accumulator 75 for a £5 stake. If you get one wrong you will be paid an 85p fourfold so returns depend on odds. If you have four even-money selections the return would be in the region of £12. Perms are good for lots of selections and when the odds are higher.
Sent them mate
OK, I’ll take a look and get the on the site in the afternoon.
Like the look of Celtic -1 5/6 with hills
I usually like to do three doubles and a treble on the three play offs but cant this year cos chanpionship play off starts before other leagues are finished! Quite fancy blackpool who are on form and holloway seems to get them up for these games.
Joe, I think the Championship play-offs are tough to call and you could make a case for any of the sides. Personally I’m looking at a West Ham v Birmingham final.
paul, beginning of the season i put an e/w trebble on teams to be promoted, 8/1 9/1 10/1. is it e/w if they are promoted through playoffs and straight up if they get automatic promotion ?? or is it 1st place straight up and the rest e/w ? cheers mate
Matty, it depends on the terms. Check with the bookie. If it was each-way for the title that would normally be top three but each-way promotion sounds different. This could cover the automatic and the play-off winner.
^^ or anybody that could shed some light. cheers lads
Matty if the bet was on teams to be promoted then i cant see how ew would work. Must be ew on winner of league and then different sites have different rules but i know bets i put on at hills pay top 3 in league and play offs dont come into it.
I have it on a willy hills aswel. I had shef wed, swindon and birmingham each way. So I dunno how it goes haa..
Shef wed and swindon are up but think birmingham have done u by one place :( Freakin nightmare!!!! Check with hills first mate but almost certain its top three they pay ew. Pretty sure mr f will sort u out with a £20 free bet for being so close tho ;) LOL
Do you reckon BTTS is a good call in both Championship play off games? Tempted to throw it in with BTTS at Luton vs Wrexham plus Celtic -1 or -2. What do you think? Luton seem to keep afew cleansheets but both teams appear to have goals in them. Minor stakes too, as will make the games more interesting.
RPB, I’m not doing it myself. First leg semi-finals are usually tight but having said that Birmingham and West Ham usually score away from home. Luton haven’t scored in their two meetings with Wrexham this season but have been in good form. An early goal in any game can change things and as I’ve said loads btts betting isn’t an exact science. So if you fancy it go for it.
Djurgarden vs Orebro – Djurgarden to win both halves
bet365 9/2
Lech Poznan vs Podbeskidzie – Lech to win both halves
bet365 2/1
Mjallby vs Malmo FF –
halftime/fulltime Malmo FF bet365 11/4
Great double your money bet betvic 23/20 race to 5 corners west ham as they love a long ball as cardiff like to thread em through just see a lot of clearing for cardiff to do.
Get in £50 @23/20
Im having some of thst corners bet michael
hope nobody touched my lech poznan tip
Danny, didn’t touch it, don’t know about the others.
gd stuff mr fixit only one looks like a chance is malmo ht/ft we £5 on it at 11/4 will be alright for saturday/sunday games
Cardiff v West Ham – Both Teams To Score
Yes @ 4/5
Luton v Wrexham – Both Teams To Score
Yes @ 10/11
Brondby v Silkeborg – Both Teams To Score
Yes @ 4/7
Odense BK v AaB Aalborg – Both Teams To Score
Yes @ 8/13
Gaz Metan Medias v Otelul Galati – Both Teams To Score
Yes @ 21/20
Celtic v St Johnstone – Match Handicaps
Celtic -1 goal @ 4/6
Stake : £10.00
Estimated Returns : £298.03
Hi Mr.F, just thought i would clear this up. Remember I asked the question about the golden goal competition turns out I picked swansea Cos i have acquired a wee £20 bet, thanks.
This is one of the many reasons this site is much better and different from any other tipsters sites
David, well done. The contests are certainly popular.
David, well done. The contests are certainly popular.
Well just Celtic -2 now. And they are 1up