Whilst the Christmas period being over makes most people depressed, in betting terms i'm pretty happy its over! After a rampant first 3 weeks to the month, we ended on a major negative with no wins last Sunday. When Manchester City draw to Burnley from being 2-0 up, you know its going to be a tough weekend. Like the beginning of the season form, over Christmas is often difficult to nail and this proved to be the case.
The first weekend in January brings FA cup third round action, so there is no Premier League or Championship matches to look at. There are also only 3 games in league 1, none of which i fancy so todays tips are based solely on the FA cup and League 2.
We start with the FA cup. Its never the easiest competition to get a hold of as you don't know who wants to do well, and who is more focussed on saving their legs for the league games to come. I will base my bets on current league form and hope that everyone wants to progress. That said I start with my single from the FA cup. This comes in the way of Bournemouth. Having not played since boxing day they will be fresh and have been in sensational form recently. They look every bit a Premier League outfit and enter the game with Rotherham on the back of a 14 match unbeaten run in the league, having won their last 5. At Evs money I think they are great odds, and this is my bet of the day in the cup and also the first leg of tomorrows 4 fold and lucky 15 bets. The second bet of the 5 fold is that of Bolton. Bolton have been rejuvenated since the arrival of Neil Lennon, and after moving away from the bottom of the league they will be looking for a nice cup run. They have won 4 and drawn 1 of their last 5 home games and at 6/4 are a good bet to beat Wigan. Wigan are still very inconsistent and seem a very unharmonious group at the moment and I think Bolton are a great bet. My third and final bet form the FA cup is a nice easy 1/4 shot in West Brom to beat Non-League Gateshead. Tony Pulis takes charge of his first game, and he wont be looking for anything other than a comfortable win, and im confident that will take place.
Bournemouth to beat Rotherham £50 @ Evs money with Betvictor
My final bet of the day and 2nd single is that of Newport. They are at home to a very weak and relegation threatened Carlisle. Newport are 1 of the form teams in the league and at 19/20 are great odds to win this. To contrast their form Newport are unbeaten in their last 10 home games and Carlisle have lost 4 of their last 5! This my bet of the day and also my 4th leg of the 4 fold and Lucky 15.
Newport County to beat Carlisle United £75 19/20 William Hill
Bournemouth, Bolton, West Brom and Newport 4 fold £30 11.94 Betvictor
Bournemouth, Bolton, West Brom and Newport Lucky 15 15 bets of £5 (75 stake) max payout £383
