Betrescue columnist, Bruin Brown from Betfair goes to the DW Stadium, Upton Park and Tynecastle for this week’s Bruin’s Shoo-Ins.
I hope you have all got your wish lists in for Christmas. My missus has recently taken up knitting and said that she is going to weave me a pair of glasses. I think she’s trying to pull the wool over my eyes.
Wigan v Chelsea: Premier League: 17:30 Saturday 17 December
Chelsea will be looking to build on their recent success when they go to the DW Stadium to take on Wigan this Saturday evening. Both Roberto Martinez and Andre Villas-Boas were under severe scrutiny just a fortnight ago, but recent results have helped alleviate the considerable pressure.
They each also have every right to take their seats in the dugout this weekend with a sense of smugness. Both managers have stuck to their philosophies and that is what has got them out of their respective ruts.
There is, therefore, no reason to think either side will abandon their attacking mantra this weekend and so we should anticipate a festive cracker. Make Over 2.5 goals in this game your first shoo-in of the weekend at odds of 1.72 (8/11) at Betfair
West Ham v Barnsley: Championship: 15:00 Saturday 17 December
In the Championship, Ipswich manager Paul Jewell’s plead for patience from the fans paid huge dividends last week as his side scored five second-half goals to come from behind and beat Barnsley on Saturday; while Southampton and West Ham are doing their utmost to keep the automatic promotion race interesting.
The Hammers have now lost their last two games, but this weekend host a Barnsley side that could well still be in shock after last week’s capitulation.
Sam Allardyce is looking for his strikers to start firing again, and French forward Frédéric Piquionne has looked their biggest threat in recent weeks.
Talking of France, I once tried to buy a small town in the south of the country. The locals were Avignon of it. Back West Ham to win at odds of 1.6 (8/13) with Betfair.
Hearts V Dunfermline: SPL: Saturday 17 December
North of the border, odds on Hearts finishing bottom of the SPL have plummeted in recent days, while some bookmakers have stopped taking bets all together.
It comes after there was yet another delay in paying the players’ wages, a situation that is understandably creating a major rift between the players and the board. The PFA are preparing an official complaint on behalf of the players and the possibility of future sanctions on the club, including points deductions, are not out of the question.
These situations can lead results on the pitch go one of two ways. This weekend the Jambos play bottom-of-the-table Dunfermline but are priced at a staggeringly short 1.6 (8/13) for victory.
The fans are certainly on the players’ side and there’ll be plenty of anger being vented at the board from the Tynecastle terraces this Saturday. Lay Hearts at odds of 1.6 at Betfair for your final shoo-in of the weekend.
Bruin’s Shoo-ins
Back Over 2.5 goals in Wigan v Chelsea @ 1.72
Back West Ham to beat Barnsley @ 1.6
Lay Hearts to beat Dunfermline @ 1.6
Treble pays @ 7.0. Stick £20 on on foir a £130 return
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