Our trio of intrepid pundits are back to guide you through the weekend sporting markets and look ahead to our Sunday showdown with Chelsea.

They say you never see a bookie on a bike, and professional odds compiler Owen Goulding is certainly showing why. Since joining the LFW clan a month ago he has given us four odds against tips, and they’ve all come roaring home. He had more than 2.5 goals to be scored at Wolves at 11/10, a correct half time score in the Villa game at 7/4, Southend to beat Shrewsbury at 13/8 and then last week had Chris Samba to score anytime at 14/1.

For the long termers, a blank week for Andy last week although the poor love wasn’t to know that I’d predicted the same Blackburn outcome as him which immediately rendered it the most unlikely result. Brian went for the old four draw accumulator which won both our pundits big money earlier this year, but only managed two right – he wasn’t a million miles away though. Similarly with his Lucky 15 he pick a winner, a second, a third and a non runner That big win is just around the corner, but while it continues to elude the boys the running totals stand at a rather distressing -£117.80 for Brian and -£187.50 for Andy.

Brian Power

Well the pro gets his name for a reason with another winner. Fair play to him!

In the old days Sunday’s game would be reported as a match that generated record gate receipts and a full house. However we are more likely to hear of a full house and record pie receipts as Fat Frank and his mob head over to HQ for the first league meeting since Sky invented football according to the new breed of customers over in SW6.

With my betting head on it points to an away win but I can’t put that up as I would not be able to look my family in the eye again. I was going to go for a 6-0 win to us but would have expected a knock on the door from the men with white coats. So I have had a look other markets and Skybet are offering odds on the first player to be booked - Joey is 8/1 Shaun Derry is 10/1 but I will go for Fitz Hall at 16/1 and 50/1 for him to get the first goal. So Fitz if you are reading this then a goal in the first minute and then take your shirt off to celebrate will go down a treat. Although if you want to kick Ashley Cole as hard as you can in the first minute and take the booking that will also do.

Elsewhere on Sunday the Manc derby is the warm up to the real game and with City top of the league, Fergie will be keen to put their noisy neighbours in their place. Park Ji Sung is 18/1 for first goal and is worth a punt at that price as I fancy the home team to come out on top.

The Racing Post Trophy takes place at Doncaster and Aidan O’Brien has the favourite Camelot at 11/10, but I fancy the second O’Brien horse Learn at odds of 14/1. Camelot has only raced once and won but the form has not amounted to much so it is a risk. Learn is a Tabor/Magnier colt has had a couple of races won at Leopardstown by 5L back in August and is worth a punt each way at those odds.

In the football the big game in the Championship is at Middlesbrough where Derby are the visitors. The Rams are 3/1 which is decent value as the home side are struggling to win at home. The other decent bet sees me go over the border for the Scottish Cup Nairn County are top of the Highland League and travel to Peterhead who are second bottom of the third division who have lost four from five in the league. The visitors are 16/5 so are a good bet. Put these in a Yankee with Huddersfield and Aldershot.

Finally we will have our normal 4 team bet.

For the weekend:

QPR v the mob from down the road

£2.50 1st goal Fitz Hall 50/1

£7.50 1st booking Fitz Hall 16/1

Man U v Man City

£4 1st scorer Park Ji Sung 18/1

3.00 Doncaster £5e/w Learn 14/1

£1 Yankee

Derby 3/1

Nairn County 16/5

Huddersfield Evs

Aldershot 9/4

£2.50 trebles and a £2.50 acca

Leeds 15/8

Barnet 9/5

Rochdale 7/4

Spurs Evs

Andy Hillman

A much shorter column from me this week, as I’m moving house, so I’m doing this on the fly - I'm actually typing this after packing up the kitchen. It’s probably for the best that I keep this short, as spending too much time with Clive has given me the inability to predict the result of the simplest thing on here. Naturally a blank last week, as I predicted the same thing that he did, so I’ve decided to hunker down and not do so many speculative and frivolous bets in an attempt to chase my losses. My current goal is to break even by Christmas, so that I can lose it all again in the second half of the season.

I would say in passing that the bookmaker guy that Clive has drafted in is quite clearly Biff from Back to the Future 2, armed with a sports almanac, and I will maintain this until he proves otherwise. I mean we all know that Samba is a threat from set pieces, but making it your bet of the week?!

This week, we’re against Chelsea if you hadn’t heard, and thankfully the bet picks itself - Chelsea win to nil @ 5/4 with William Hill. I simply can’t lose on this bet, because if Chelsea do win to nil, I pick up a nice return, and if the bet doesn’t come in, that means that it’s either a goal-less draw, or we’ve put one past Chelsea - and either result would make me frankly deliriously happy.

Moving immediately onto the accumulator, and a hopefully simple low risk low payout fivefold to attempt to claw some money back - Newcastle or the Draw, Liverpool, Benfica, Barcelona and Dortmund or the Draw pays out @ 7/2 with Betfair.

For the weekend:

QPR vs Chelsea - Chelsea win to nil - £15 @ 5/4 (William Hill)

Fivefold multiple: Newcastle or the Draw, Liverpool, Benfica, Barcelona and Dortmund or the Draw - 7/2 (Betfair)

The Pro

I hate these games. In fact, I hate Chelsea. I hate everything they stand for. The only way it is in any way enjoyable watching these games, is if we don't lose. Which brings me back to my original point and why I am dreading this match. I want to be optimistic - I want to tell you that Rangers are due a massive performance and Chelsea are due a stinker and we will all be celebrating in Kevin Gallen magic hat style. But I have been doing this job long enough to see the signs. QPR are currently in a bit of a muddle and Warnock seems a little unsure of his best team and is still tinkering - whereas Mr Boas is quietly sorting his team into an efficient title challenging team. It is going to need a performance of great magnitude to get something from this game based on current form. Barton / Wright-Phillips etc need to step up to the plate and show the Loftus Road faithful why so much was paid for them - especially as the Chelsea midfield has opposing teams chasing shadows at present. But the problem for me is the defence that lies behind the midfield. And that's why most reluctantly, my bet of the weekend is…

Chelsea to score in both halves at 6/5 with Ladbrokes. It could be a long day.

Photo: Action Images

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