August 15 2008

The Football League

Crystal Palace travel to Deepdale this weekend for a tricky fixture against Preston North End.

This encounter is always a tense and tight-knit affair with neither side willing to give an inch, which is not surprising given both sides are more work-man like and concentrate on keeping clean-sheets rather than possessing any outstanding quality.

So expect no different this weekend where the first goal could be the deciding factor. It was last year where a Clinton Morrison goal was enough for Palace to take the three points back to Selhurst.

Preston started the campaign last weekend with an outstanding victory at Ipswich but this could draw them into a force sense of security and thus throw more caution to the wind which will play into Palace’s hands.

Warnock’s side will relish soaking up the pressure early on and hitting the Lilywhites on the break where the pace and trickery of Victor Moses and Paul Ifil could prove to much for the Preston backline.

Back Palace @ 11/5

Back Victor Moses 1st Goalscorer @ 9/1

Elsewhere in the Championship this weekend, Burnley look good value to get their season off and running against Ipswich. They are a different side at Turf Moor and after a confidence boosting victory in the League Cup in midweek they should dispose of Ipswich, who were woeful away from home last season.

Reading should also have far to much quality to see off Plymouth, another side that struggled away from home last season.

In the Premier League, Tottenham look a good bet to beat Middlesbrough at the Riverside. Spurs look a side that will be effective on the counter-attack this season and Boro should play into their hands this weekend.

Back Burnley @ 6/4

Back Reading @ 4/6

Back Tottenham @ 11/8

Back Treble on Burnley, Reading and Tottenham @ 22/1