Manchester City v Barnsley: No stopping Citizens at this stage

With the chance to retain their league title all but over Mike Norman believes Manchester City will go all out for the only silverware available to them, starting with a simple victory on Saturday...

Man City v Barnsley
FA Cup QF - Saturday 17:30
Live on ESPN

They won't admit it, but everyone at Manchester City knows that the FA Cup is their only chance of silverware this season, and they couldn't have wished for a better tie than a home quarter-final against Championship strugglers Barnsley.

In almost a replica scenario to the previous round, City haven't played for a week, and it's another seven days before they are back in league action so there is absolutely no reason why Roberto Mancini won't play the strongest team available to him. However, it is expected that Mancini won't risk either Vincent Kompany or Sergio Aguero following recent injuries.

Barnsley boss David Flitcroft - whose brother Garry made over 140 appearances for Man City - has midfielder Stephen Dawson back from injury meaning he has virtually a full strength squad to choose from.

Current Form

Two draws and a surprising loss to Southampton last month effectively took City out of the title race. They've recovered in good fashion however to win their last two league games over Chelsea and Aston Villa without conceding a goal. And it's a similar story in the FA Cup. The Citizens have won all three ties in this year's competition without conceding, two of which were at home to Championship outfits.

I referred to Barnsley as Championship strugglers in my opening paragraph, and simply looking at the league table then that is what they most certainly are. But it was only a few weeks ago that I was referring to The Tykes as one of the country's most in-form clubs. The Yorkshire outfit were unbeaten in nine a few weeks ago, but it's no wins in three currently, possibly because of having one eye on this competition.

Match Odds & Half Time markets

You won't get rich at all backing the home side at just 1.152/13, and I'm sure there's been bigger shocks in the FA Cup than the one Barnsley - 26.025/1 to win on the day - would have to produce at the Etihad, but everything being equal it is absolutely impossible to envisage anything than a comfortable win for City.

Perhaps a better way to profit is to back Man City in the Half Time market at 1.42/5, collect your winnings, and re-assess the game during the interval. Alternatively you could simply back Man City/Man City at 1.4840/85 in the Half Time/Full Time market.

Reasons for the above recommendations are simply. Other than the obvious gulf in class between the two sides, Barnsley have trailed at half time in each of their last four games since their good run of form came to an end, whereas City were two goals to the good by half time in both their FA Cup victories over Championship clubs this season.

Correct Score

You can never be overly confident about a side scoring a plethora of goals, especially with the possibility of players taking their foot of the gas once a game is won. Having said that, I don't think we should be too worried on that score here.

City will almost certainly be at full strength, which in itself should make them too hot to handle for Barnsley, and they'll want to build as much confidence as possible as they aim to send out a warning to Manchester United that they're not giving up on the title just yet.

If City can make an early breakthrough - just as they did against Leeds in the previous round - then I fully expect them to go on and score four or five. The Any Unquoted option can be backed at 2.56/4 in this market.

First Goalscorer

With Aguero a major doubt, and Carlos Tevez having more 'off-field' problems the last few days, a chance is taken on Edin Dzeko to get the first goal of the game. The tall Bosnian has started eight of City's last 11 games, scoring a total of six goals, three of which rewarded First Goalscorer punters.

Dzeko is available to back at around 1.910/11 in the To Score market, which isn't a bad alternative, but if he starts then he has every chance of notching first at 4.47/2.

Recommended Bets

Back Any Unquoted Correct Score @ 2.56/4
Back Man City in Half Time market @ 1.42/5
Back Edin Dzeko First Goalscorer @ 4.47/2

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Against All Odds: Birmingham and Barnsley to dish up goals

Daily Tipping / Paul Robinson / 21 February 2012 / Leave a Comment

"Both sides are in pretty decent nick at present and they are both certainly on fire in front of goal."

Barnsley host Birmingham in the English Championship tonight in what, on paper, appears to be a goalfest in the making. Under 2.5 goals is odds-on though and Paul Robinson believes that is definitely worth opposing.

Barnsley are 14th in the table with 42 points from 31 fixtures. Those 31 games have seen them score 44 and concede 48, giving their matches an average of just shy of three goals. The goals have certainly been flowing at Oakwell in recent months as eight of the last 10 have gone over 2.5 and a few of the them have resembled cricket scores; 3-5, 4-1 and 3-2 being notable examples. In terms of winning and losing, the Tykes have been in decent nick at home this season and Keith Hill has seen his side win eight of their last 12 in front of their own fans. If Barnsley are to retain any hopes of a play-off spot this year then a win tonight is a must as they are already nine points behind this evening's opponents, who themselves currently occupy sixth place.

Birmingham are having a fine season after relegation from the Premiership last year and they are still in with a shout of automatic promotion. Chris Hughton has worked wonders given that he lost some of their star players in the summer and a win tonight could see them go third. Brum's matches are averaging exactly 2.5 goals and three of their last five away from St Andrews have had three goals or more, including a 0-6 hammering of Millwall and a 1-4 victory over Leeds last time Big money buy Nikola Zigic netter four on that occasion and while he is out injured for this one, Marlon King should be available again.

Both sides are in pretty decent nick at present and they are both certainly on fire in front of goal. I wouldn't like to guess at who will win this one, but I am pretty confident that there will be goals galore, so with under 2.5 goals trading at around [1.92], I have to make it my lay of the day.

Recommended Bet

Lay Under 2.5 goals @ [1.92]

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Home And Away: Rams to raid defensively suspect Barnsley

Daily Tipping / Jonno Turner / 31 January 2012 / Leave a Comment

Nigel Clough has Derby on course to mount a play-off push

Jonno Turner picked out another big-priced winner on Monday, and is aiming to continue his success with punts on Charlton and Derby tonight...

I don't know if you watched Chesterfield at Oldham on television last night - yes, there was another team there as well as Oldham - but an ultra-defensive display secured a win for the mighty Spireites, so I hope you got on my tip yesterday.

Unfortunately, I left my voice at Boundary Park last night, so I'm miming out today's column. It's hard for me as 10 years ago my brother ran off to become a mime, and I never heard from him again. I always said I'd never let my children become mimes - it's shocking how many of them end up on the streets.

No need to keep quiet about this next tip, as we're off to The Valley, with Charlton welcoming struggling Bury to south London.

The Addicks have won their last four games in League One and are beginning to pull away from the rest of the pack at the top of the pile.

And Chris Powell's side could make it 15 home league games unbeaten this evening, following some excellent performances which include keeping three clean sheets in four in front of their own fans.

Charlton take 11 wins from 14 into this tie, and will be confident of extending their impressive recent form against Richie Barker's Bury side, who currently occupy 11th place in the league, but hold just a three-point margin over 15th.

The Shakers have been in patchy form of late, and have lost three of their last four away games in the league. Ten goals conceded in those will worry Barker, who has lost some key players - including pacey winger Mike Jones - this transfer window.

The last time these two sides met, Charlton ran out 2-1 winners in a tough encounter. The Addicks have really broken into their stride since though, and I'm sticking my well-earned on a home win here. It's short, but with the form Charlton are in at the moment, I just can't see them slipping up.

Bet 1: Charlton (HOME) to win @ [1.5]

How many seconds are there in an hour? About eight if you take my girlfriend to an all-you-can-eat buffet.

Over to South Yorkshire now, as Barnsley welcome in-form Derby to Oakwell, with home boss Keith Hill looking to avoid a fifth loss in six home outings.

Thank the lord you're not a Tykes season ticket holder, as watching them on their home patch has been miserable of late. 16 goals conceded in five games shows that they have major malfunctions defensively, although a return of 11 at the other end in that time will give them some hope.

And a 3-1 loss to Millwall last week made it six losses in eight for the Reds, who occupy 15th place in the Championship after 27 games.

Derby have hit a purple patch of late, and boss Nigel Clough will be delighted with his side's progress as they travel north for this fixture.

A miserable November saw the Rams lose five on the bounce, but the Pride Park club seem to have come out of that mess stronger, and will be looking to make it six wins in eight this evening.

The visitors are bang in-form at the moment and much of this is down to their excellent defensive record which has seen them secure four clean sheets in five, an achievement which was unthinkable to the Derbyshire faithful just a few months ago.

The Rams now sit in 11th and will surely be harbouring play-off ambitions after climbing to within four points of sixth-placed Hull.

But in order to be considered real promotion candidates, Clough's side must make the most of games such as this, and that's why I'm banking on an away win at Oakwell tonight, at great odds.

Bet 2: Derby (AWAY) to win @ [3.35]

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