The Sports Book - Times Online - WBLG

Bluebirds for final flourish

There are a plethora of special bets available on Saturday’s FA Cup final but a simple wager on Cardiff City lifting the cup, at 5-2 with Bet365, could be the way to go.

Rovers at 11-10 to rule at home

Doncaster Rovers can book their ticket to Wembley and land odds of 11-10 with Ladbrokes by beating Southend United in the second leg of their Coca-Cola League One play-off semi-final at the Keepmoat Stadium on Friday evening.

Zenit at 5-4 to dash Rangers' hopes

Zenit St Petersburg are fancied to end Rangers’ ambitions of an unprecedented quadruple and land general odds of 5-4 by triumphing in the Uefa Cup final at the City of Manchester Stadium on Wednesday evening.

United stay in pole position

Manchester United have been installed 6-5 favourites to retain their Premier League title next season.

City can hold out for draw at 9-4

Bristol City can be expected to robustly defend their first-leg lead when Crystal Palace travel to Ashton Gate for the return leg of their Coca-Cola Championship play-off semi-final on Tuesday evening.

Leeds can take command

Leeds United can stay on course or promotion form League 1 by beating Carlisle United in the first leg of their play-off semi-final at Elland Road on Monday night - a match being shown live on Sky Sports 1.

Portsmouth can clip Fulham's wings

Portsmouth look overpriced at 5-2 with VC Bet to disprove the assumption that they will provide little resistance to a motivated Fulham side by beating the Londoners in their Premier League fixture at Fratton Park on Sunday.

Shrimpers look a tasty bet

Southend United can take a step towards reaching the League One play-off final by making the most of home advantage against Doncaster Rovers in the first leg of their semi-final clash on Friday night.

Hatters can top the bill

Stockport County have what it takes to win the League Two play-offs. The Hatters, a standout 5-2 with Stan James, are fancied to get the better of Wycombe Wanderers (100-30) in their semi-final and can prove too strong for either  Darlington (11-4) or Rochdale (11-4) in the decider.

Leeds look banker material

Leeds United look worthy favourites to win the League One play-offs.

Rangers to make flying start

Rangers can close the gap on great rivals Celtic at the top of the Scottish Premier League by beating visitors Motherwell on Wednesday evening.

Hull can be heroes at 13-5

Hull City have what it takes to win the Coca-Cola Championship play-offs and, in the process, reach the Premier League for the first time in their 104-year history.

Cambridge to book place in final

Cambridge can make sure of their place in the Blue Square Premier final by beating visitors Burton in the second leg of their semi-final on Tuesday evening. The U’s are a stand-out 23-20 with VC Bet - most bookmakers offer evens.

Torquay to land draw in play-off

Torquay can secure the draw they need to progress to the Blue Square Premier play-off final when they host Exeter in the second leg of their semi-final on Monday.

Newcastle to maintain good run

Newcastle United look overpriced at 11-2 with Skybet to end Chelsea’s title ambitions by beating Avram Grant’s side in their Barclays Premier League fixture at St James’ Park on Monday afternoon.

Hammers can stand firm

West Ham United should be backed to escape a mauling when they travel to title-chasing Manchester United in the Barclays Premier League on Saturday lunchtime. Paddy Power offer the Hammers at 11-8 in receipt of a two-goal start and that could be the way to go.

Burton to brew up a victory

Burton can seize the advantage in the first leg of the Blue Square Premier play-off by beating visitors Cambridge United on Friday evening. Boylesports and Ladbrokes lead the market at 11-8.

Scolari favourite to succeed Sven

Luiz Felipe Scolari is the 3-1 favourite with Ladbrokes to be Manchester City’s next manager after owner Thaksin Shinawatra’s apparent loss of confidence in Sven-Goran Eriksson.

Liverpool to edge out Blues

Liverpool can bounce back from John Arne Riise’s last-minute clanger at Anfield by beating hosts Chelsea in the second-leg of their Champions League semi-final on Wednesday evening. The Reds are a top-priced 5-2 with Boylesports.

Get set for theatre of goals

Bank on the goals belatedly flowing when Manchester United and Barcelona square up in the second leg of their Champions League semi-final at Old Trafford on Tuesday night.

Derby to cash in on start at 11-4

Derby County can provide their suffering fans with a semblance of cheer by avoiding a twenty-seventh Premier League defeat of the campaign when they host Arsenal on Monday evening. Bet365 and Betfred offer the Rams at 11-4 in receipt of a one-goal handicap start and, with the visitors seemingly assured of a third-place finish, that appears fair.

Saints can stay alive at 5-1

There have been so many twists and turns to the Coca-Cola Championship this season that it may pay to back Southampton at a general 5-1 to gain a surprise win away to West Bromwich Albion on Monday night - a match being shown live on Sky Sports 1.

United can seal deal at 2-1

Manchester United have been the best team in the Premier League this season and look overpriced, at a general 2-1, to beat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Saturday and all but clinch the title.

Barca to edge battle of giants

Barcelona should be backed at 8-5 with VC Bet to beat Manchester United in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final at the Nou Camp on Wednesday evening.

Points set favourably for United

Punters who missed the boat as regards backing Manchester United to retain the Premier League title have been offered a late opportunity to jump aboard the Old Trafford bandwagon by William Hill. The bookmakers have opened a book on how many points Sir Alex Ferguson’s side will win the league by, and look to have made a rick in offering 3-1 that United prevail by four or more points.

Reading to make point at Arsenal

Reading can add to Arsenal’s end-of-season woes, and assist their own push for Premier League survival, by grabbing a draw at the Emirates in Saturday’s early match. VC Bet offer 41-10 and that is a fair price.

Stoke ready to push on

Stoke City can take a big step towards winning automatic promotion from the Coca-Cola Championship by beating Bristol City at the Britannia Stadium on Saturday - a match that will be shown live on Sky Sports 1.

Chelsea to keep title race alive

Chelsea can keep their Premier League title hopes alive by beating Everton at Goodison Park on Thursday night.

Rangers look big at 2-1

Rangers can all but wrap up the Scottish Premier title by winning away to arch-rivals Celtic tonight.

Chelsea 11-4 for one-goal win

Chelsea can keep the pressure on Manchester United in the race for the Barclays Premier League, but at a general 1-4 to beat  visitors Wigan on Monday evening there is little value in the overall maket.

Wednesday set for seventh straight stalemate

Sheffield Wednesday can take the point they need to move out of the drop zone when they host Plymouth Argyle in the Coca-Cola Championship on Monday evening. The match is live on Sky and the draw is available at a top-priced 23-10 with totesport.

United to show no mercy

Manchester United look a solid bet, at a general 10-11, to snuff out Arsenal’s Premier League title challenge once and for all at Old Trafford on Sunday.

Pressure mounts on 4-7 Grant

Avram Grant is a hot favourite at 4-7 with William Hill to be the first of the Big Four bosses to leave his club.

United can stay on boil

Manchester United should not be extended to finish off Roma in their Champions League quarter-final second leg clash at Old Trafford on Wednesday night - a match being shown live on Sky Sports 2.

Liverpool to spike Gunners

Liverpool are worth backing at 11-8 with Bet365 to beat visitors Arsenal in their second leg of their Champions League quarter-final at Anfield on Tuesday evening. The match will be shown live on ITV1.

Draw leaves United 1-3 for title

Manchester United have eased in the betting for the Barclays Premier League after dropping points in a 2-2 draw at Middlesbrough on Sunday, but they are still 1-3 with William Hill to land the title (from 1-5).

Eagles to soar at tasty 3-1

Crystal Palace represent value at odds of 3-1 with Boylesports to keep alive their promotion hopes by winning away to Stoke City in their Coca-Cola Championship fixture at the Britannia Stadium on Monday evening. The match is live on Sky.

Pompey for cup of cheer

Portsmouth look worth a bet at 10-11 to beat West Bromwich Albion in their FA Cup semi-final at Wembley on Saturday.

Rangers to take Sporting chance

Rangers can justify an interest at 23-10 with William Hill to beat Sporting Lisbon in their UEFA Cup quarter-final first leg at Ibrox on Thursday evening.

Liverpool at 13-5 to seal first-leg lead

Liverpool should be backed at generally available odds of 13-5 to draw on the fine form of Fernando Torres and beat a faltering Arsenal outfit in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final at the Emirates on Wednesday evening.

Roma to surprise United

Roma can surprise visitors Manchester United in the Champions League quarter-final, first leg, in the Stadio Olimpico on Tuesday evening. They are a stand-out 11-5 with Paddy Power, against a general quote of 7-4 - totesport offer only 6-4.

Chelsea to be best of British

With the Champions League returning in midweek, William Hill have turned their attention to which British team will go furthest.

Reds to feast on Toffees

Liverpool can begin a hugely important ten days by beating visitors Everton in the Barclays Premier League on Sunday. Skybet offer 4-5 and that is worth taking.

Rangers at 5-4 to close in on title

Rangers should be backed at the 5-4 offered by VC Bet to take a big step towards ending Celtic’s two-year reign as Scottish champions by winning the Old Firm derby at Ibrox on Saturday lunchtime.

Beckham is up for the cup at 11-2

David Beckham is 11-2 with Paddy Power to play in the 2010 World Cup after notching his 100th appearance for England in their 1-0 friendly defeat to France in Paris on Wednesday.

England offer value option

England look a value bet to beat France in their international in Paris on Wednesday night.

Ladbrokes suspend Beckham bets

Ladbrokes have suspended betting on David Beckham winning his 100th cap against France on Wednesday after a flood of money forced his price to 1-10.

Swim with Swans at 7-4

Swansea can enhance their League One title hopes by confirming their recent superiority over Bristol Rovers at the Liberty Stadium on Monday evening. The Swans are a general 8-13 and an attractive 7-4 with Bet365 to win by two or more goals.

Chelsea to edge out Arsenal

Chelsea can revive their Barclays Premier League challenge by beating visitors Arsenal at Stamford Bridge on Sunday. VC Bet and Bet365 are best about the Blues at 5-4.

West Brom best at 12-5

West Bromwich Albion should be backed at the 12-5 chalked up by VC Bet to boost their hopes of securing automatic promotion by winning away to a faltering Charlton Athletic side in the Coca-Cola Championship at The Valley on Good Friday. The match kicks off at 4.45pm and is live on Sky.

United to down Liverpool

Manchester United, three points clear at the top of the Barclays Premier League, can consolidate their position by beating visitors Liverpool on Sunday. VC Bet and Bet365 quote evens, and that is worth taking.

United can gain revenge

Manchester United can edge closer to another Premier League title by settling an old score with Bolton Wanderers at Old Trafford on Wednesday night.

Aberdeen can take advantage

Celtic have not been firing on all cylinders of late and so be wary of backing them at around 1-4 to beat Aberdeen in their Scottish Cup quarter-final replay at Celtic Park on Tuesday night - a match being shown live on Sky Sports 2.

Hull at 11-8 to enjoy away success

Hull City should be backed at the 11-8 offered by Bet Direct and Stan James to consolidate their position in the play-off places by winning away to bottom-of-the-table Colchester in their Coca-Cola Championship match at Layer Road on Tuesday evening.

Birmingham to increase Newcastle's woes

Birmingham can add to Newcastle’s relegation fears by getting the better of their Barclays Premier League meeting at St Andrews on Monday evening.