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Manchester Derby: City's Power Shift Almost Complete?

This weekend’s Manchester derby could not come at a better time. Manchester City are top of the table by eight points, and could set a record by winning 14 straight matches. Manchester United are in second, having plodded along within reasonable sniping distance of their local rivals.

Catching City has largely remained plausible because of this fixture. Win it, and the gap is a mere five points. Fail to win at Old Trafford, though, and get engravers at the ready for Manchester City’s third Premier League title.

City’s near flawless season to date makes any prospect of a genuine title race only a faint hope. Guardiola’s team have not been at their fluent of best of late, but they have still only dropped two points in the league this season. It’s worth noting that those two points were largely down to a foolish Kyle Walker red card.

History of fixtures can be misleading. Changes in management and different players make comparisons between now and years past barely relevant. The track record of this bitterly-contested derby at Old Trafford has a pattern of note, though.

Manchester City did not win a league match at Manchester United’s home from 1974 until 2008. Since 2011 – the season when City won their first Premier League title – Manchester United have won only one of six derbies on their turf.

In that period, too, City have won the league twice. Manchester United have won it just once – in Alex Ferguson’s final season – and finished outside the top four in all but one of the seasons since Ferguson’s retirement.

The title tussle in 2011/12 ended in one of the all-time great sporting moments. The voice of Martin Tyler echoes around the Etihad Stadium to this day, but it was the 6-1 humiliation at Old Trafford that set the tone for City’s campaign. Roberto Mancini’s side not only secured a rare derby win, they dismantled United in a way that had been unthinkable throughout Ferguson’s historic reign.

This weekend will have similar implications. City’s majestic football has deprived us of a toe-to-toe battle in Manchester, but this weekend is a neutral’s glimmer of hope. It is no more than a cooling ember of what could have been a roaring, fiery season, but it might just be the final chance to grasp City before they storm into the sunset.

Jose Mourinho and Guardiola are – too often, perhaps – the stories themselves. City’s manager was in the spotlight for an excitable chat with Nathan Redmond last week, and Jose Mourinho’s pre-match press conference this Friday will have the attention of the footballing world. Their rivalry began in Spain, and each new chapter gets thorough investigation for the slightest signal of bitterness.

Underachievement last year contributed to relative peace. For fans of ‘mind games’, we can be sure that will end in the coming days.

Guardiola, though, has the upper hand on Mourinho with eight wins to Mourinho’s four. Both will approach the match in the same way they have approached previous meetings, despite the circumstances.

Mourinho has to end City’s dominance at Old Trafford, and beat his nemesis for a fifth time to keep the door towards the Premier League trophy ajar. He was hired to bring major titles to Old Trafford, and push back against the growth of the noisiest neighbours in world football.

Another home loss would be a failure for Mourinho, and – perhaps more importantly – set City on the path of an invincible Premier League campaign.

Talk of ‘power shifts’ drew plenty of attention prior to the north London derby a few weeks ago. The contest for the upper-hand in Manchester is far clearer this decade, and there’s no doubt the onus is on this weekend’s hosts to wrestle against the sky-blue juggernaut.

If Mourinho can mastermind a second Premier League home derby win since 2011, it will not only begin to offset City’s years of superiority, but reignite the chance of a challenge to Guardiola’s side.

December 9, 2017

Football

By Sam Cox

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Sam is a sports tipster, specialising in the Premier League and Champions League.

He covers most sports, including cricket and Formula One. Sam particularly enjoys those on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean – notably MLB and NBA.

Watching, writing and talking about sports betting takes up most of his time, whether that is for a day out at T20 Finals Day or a long night of basketball.

Having been writing for several years, Sam has been working with 888Sport since 2016, contributing multiple articles per week to the blog.

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Tottenham Head Saturday's 10/1 Premier League Accumulator

We can forget about European competition until 2018. Our focus for the remainder of this calendar year is solely on domestic action, and it is about to get particularly chaotic in the Premier League.

The fixtures that draw the most attention are on Sunday this weekend, but there’s fascinating fixtures up and down the league. A few such matches kick-off at the traditional, frustratingly blacked out, 3pm on a Saturday.

Burnley vs Watford

Few expected Burnley and Watford to occupy seventh and eighth respectively in December. I certainly didn’t, despite the undoubtable excellence of Marco Silva and Sean Dyche’s all-encompassing ability to get results.

Shrewd spending, but – more importantly – superb management, has Burnley level on points with Tottenham, with the Hornets a mere three points behind.

This weekend could see the pair switch places, or – if Watford fail to win –the Hornets could drop into ninth. It’s an important fixture in the race to finish seventh.

Burnley deft logic. They have scored just 14, by far the lowest in the top half, but they are the masters of the narrow win. Watford, meanwhile, treat everyone to goals at both ends of the pitch.

It’s a tough one to call as a result, so I’m opting for both teams to score thanks to Watford’s leaky defence.

TIP: Both teams to score @ 10/11

Crystal Palace vs Bournemouth

Roy Hodgson is yet to receive his deserved praise at Crystal Palace. While even victory this weekend will not take them out of the bottom three, it would be yet another sign that the Eagles can fly to safety this season.

Their visitors pulled through their own poor start with a couple of wins, but have since gone winless in three. Taking just one point from two home fixtures is a concern for any side, and Eddie Howe’s team will be just two points above Palace if they lose at Selhurst on Saturday.

These are matches that Palace have to win. I think the ultra-pragmatism of Hodgson should hold off the Cherries’ inconsistent attack and notch a crucial three points for the London club.

TIP: Crystal Palace to win @ Evens

Huddersfield Town vs Brighton

Fixtures between newly-promoted sides are telling. Since a positive start, Huddersfield have lost four straight, scoring just one in the process. Their visitors on Saturday have not won in four, but have a couple more points to their name.

Goal scoring is a worry for both teams. Brighton have been able to score five more than Huddersfield so far this season, however. Only Swansea and Palace have scored fewer goals than the Terriers this campaign.

Both teams have provided some impressive defensive performances, but it is Brighton that hold the better record there too.

I worry for David Wagner’s side if they cannot win matches like this. Unfortunately, Brighton look the better side at the moment in all areas of the pitch.

TIP: Brighton to win or match to be drawn @ 1/2

Swansea vs West Bromwich Albion

Defeat to Stoke last weekend has put Paul Clement on the brink. Swansea fell to the bottom of the table, and are now four points from safety.

West Brom sit just above the bottom three at the moment, and have already made their managerial move to bring in firefighter Alan Pardew. A draw in his first match was a little underwhelming, but the performance was a definite improvement.

Clement is having to wrestle with a painfully imbalanced squad. Pardew has had a full week to work with his new players, and I fancy that to pay off here.

TIP: West Brom to win or match to be drawn @ 1/2

Tottenham vs Stoke City

Spurs collected the most points of any team in the Champions League group stage. While that is a remarkable feat, their joyous mood at the club is dampened with a quick glance at the table.

One win in five has Mauricio Pochettino’s men four points off the top four, and closer to the bottom of the table than the top of it.

via GIPHY

Stoke notched a vital victory over Swansea last weekend, that might just have saved Mark Hughes’ job. The Potters’ fans are growing frustrated with the club. Now sitting six points from the drop zone, though, Hughes should be safe for a few weeks yet.

Champions League hangover has harmed Spurs before, but I can’t see past the Lilywhites against this Stoke team.

TIP: Tottenham to win @ 7/25

*Odds subject to change - correct at time of writing*

December 8, 2017

Football

By Sam Cox

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Horse Racing Betting: Spotlight on the 2017 Becher Chase

Vieux Lion Rouge, Highland Lodge and The Last Samuri are among the 16 declared runners for the £145,000 Becher Chase, staged over the Grand National fences at Aintree on Saturday.

The trio filled the first three places home in last year’s renewal, with Vieux Lion Rouge coming out on top by a short-head from Highland Lodge with The Last Samuri, the 2016 Grand National runner-up, a length away in third. Highland Lodge will be running in his fourth Becher Chase having also won the race in 2015.

If either Vieux Lion Rouge or Highland Lodge win on Saturday afternoon, they would become only the third dual winner of the Becher Chase after Into The Red (1994 & 1996) and Hello Bud (2010 & 2012).

Cumbrian trainer Jimmy Moffatt reports Highland Lodge to be in great shape as he bids to repeat his triumph of 2015.

"He's in great form. He's had exactly the same preparation as last year and he's going every bit as well. I've no doubts in my mind about that whatsoever,"

"He's really come alive in the last two or three weeks and his wind-up gallop on Saturday was probably one of the best pieces of work I've seen him do.

"I couldn't be happier with him.

"This has been his long-range target so he's been in since the end of July. He's had a good long steady build-up."

David Pipe expects Vieux Lion Rouge to be all the sharper for his seasonal reappearance at Wetherby when he was fourth to Bristol De Mai in the Charlie Hall Chase.

"Obviously it is a tough ask from a 10lb higher mark than last year, but he will be still be going when others have cried enough." said Pipe.

The nine-year-old The Last Samuri was a leading fancy at Aintree in April having finished second in the 2016 Grand National, but he finished a well- beaten 16th after becoming upset in the preliminaries.

"His record over the National fences is very good and Saturday’s race will suit him. There won’t be the crowd on Saturday, so it will be much easier for him. Blaklion is the obvious danger”, said his trainer Kim Bailey.

Nigel Twiston-Davies is the most successful trainer in the history of the Becher Chase, having sent out five winners: Indian Tonic (1993), Young Hustler (1995), Aintree hero Earth Summit (1998), and dual winner Hello Bud (2010 and 2012).

This year he saddles the classy Blaklion (Gavin Sheehan, 11st 6lb), who was fourth in the 2017 Grand National and second to stable companion and subsequent Betfair Chase victor Bristol De Mai on his seasonal return in the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby at the start of November.

Twiston-Davies is excited at sending Blaklion over the National fences again on Saturday.

Speaking to the media on Wednesday morning at his Naunton stables he said: "He is an exceptionally good horse. I think he is off a handy weight for the Becher and I am looking forward to it.

"He is very neat and accurate over his fences. It is sacrilege to say it but he reminds me of Red Rum. He is not very big but he is very neat over his fences and very clever.

"He has Grand National potential. He possibly went too soon last year. He didn't quite get home. But we are hoping he will go well again.”

Viva Steve, trained by Fergal O'Brien, will be making his debut over the Grand National fences. The former Mick Channon inmate won a three-mile handicap chase at Ayr last November on his debut for the stable and was last seen out finishing fourth on heavy ground in the Kerry National at Listowel in September.

Trainer Fergal O'Brien said of the none-year-old: "Viva Steve had a little break and seems in good old form.

"He ran well in the Kerry National and seems to go well fresh, so it was always the plan to head straight for the Becher after Listowel.

"We will have to wait and see how he takes to the fences, but he is a nice, straightforward horse who will handle the ground.

"Johnny Burke has done plenty of schooling on him and knows him well."

Paul Nicholls has sent out three Becher Chase winners over the years and has entered As De Mee this time. The seven-year-old scored on Becher Chase Day in 2016, when taking the Grand Sefton Chase over two miles and five furlongs of the Grand National course and was also fifth over the same trip in the Topham Chase at the Grand National meeting last April.

As De Mee is owned by Andy Stewart's family and Dame Judy Dench and is fit from three starts already this season and he has got round in all three attempts over the National fences to date.

Irish raiders have taken the Becher Chase on three previous occasions and there are four Irish-trained runners this year - the 2014 Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Lord Windermere, 2016 Irish Grand National victor Rogue Angel, also Westerner Point and Portrait King.

Colin Tizzard’s Sizing Codelco won big handicaps at both the Grand National meeting and the Punchestown Festival in the spring while other contenders include soft ground specialists Goodtoknow (Kerry Lee) and Vic De Touzaine (Venetia Williams), plus 2016 bet365 Gold Cup winner The Young Master (Neil Mulholland).

Completing the field are the recent Kelso winner Federici (Donald McCain) and Straidnahanna (Sue Smith).

Conclusion

This year’s Becher does not appear on paper to be quite as open as in previous years with much of the emphasis being on the leading two or three in the betting.

Undoubtedly those horses have superior ratings to the rest of the field and the chances of a long priced outsider springing a surprise look particularly slim, however the marked deterioration in the weather in the next 48 hours could turn the race into a bit of a “leveller” and backing something with big odds does not look that forlorn.

Regular Aintree visitor and veteran grey, Portrait King, is no stranger to the Grand National fences and has performed well over them. The twelve-year-old also has form on heavy going. He is a viable each-way alternative to those horses at the head of the market.

December 8, 2017

Horse Racing

By Steve Mullington

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Steven is a sports and horse racing enthusiast and is a member of the Horseracing Writers and Photographers Association (HWPA) in the United Kingdom.

He is a regular visitor to Paris Longchamp for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and a lifelong fan of the Aintree Grand National, a subject he writes about 52 weeks of the year. Last year he reached the impressive milestone of attending the last 30 renewals of the Grand National.

Steven graduated from the University Of Lancaster in 1996 with a B.A (Hons) in Urban Policy & Race Relations (major) with Contemporary Religions & Belief Systems (minor) and still wonders if any of these help him find the winners?

He writes for a number of websites and online publications and you can sometimes hear him at the weekend discussing racing on a number of local radio stations.

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Wes Brown exclusive: Manchester Derby will mean more to United's home-grown stars

Former Manchester United defender Wes Brown believes that the Red Devils have a significant advantage ahead of this Sunday’s momentous derby by featuring two home-grown talents in Marcus Rashford and Jesse Lingard.

“The local lads will understand what it’s about. They would have grew up into it and take more emotion into the game. The two lads who will be playing in the Manchester United side will understand and be trying their hardest. I always did. It really meant something and it went out to all your family and friends”.

Born and raised in Longsight, Manchester the five-time Premier League champion knows all-too-well what this local skirmish means to the city yet for many years the fixture took a back seat to United v Liverpool. With City now very much in the ascendency has that changed?

“For the league position then I would say it’s the bigger game now. Both teams have unbelievable players. For me when I looked at the fixtures I’d look for the Liverpool game first and then City but that’s how I was brought up. I reckon the younger lads coming up now will probably look for the Man City game. Maybe if I was playing now I’d do the same too.”

Having been firmly in their neighbour’s shadow for much of the Premier League era City now head to Old Trafford this weekend unbeaten, top of the league and as marginal favourites. To what extent does Brown believe that the power has shifted in recent times?

“Of course United are still the top dogs but I’m telling you now that City have started this season off unbelievably. The team is brilliant and I’ve got a lot of friends who are City fans and they’re so excited by Pep and how he wants his team to play. It’s a Barcelona style where everyone wants the ball and keeps the ball and keeps moving”.

“I think it’s fantastic for Manchester itself that both of its clubs are first and second. It makes it so interesting too that the sides are so different. City are proving themselves by going out and winning week in and week out in a positive way. United are winning every week too but it’s more defensive which is why the fans are getting frustrated. Jose though is just doing what he thinks is the right thing to get the points.”

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Jose Mourinho’s cautious approach to several games this term has led to many assuming he will ‘park the bus’ on Sunday against a City side full of goals. Will such negativity be embraced by the red faithful however at home to their nearest rivals?

“It’s hard and I talk to my friends all the time about it. They would love to see us going all out and being a lot more attacking but at the same time it is what it is: we won trophies last season from being defensive and we’ve started this season well too getting results. Jose is in his second season now and he’s building a team and while that is happening sometimes you have to play defensive to win. Last week he shown that he can switch it and speaking as a fan myself you want to see that more but that’s not always the way to win a football game.”

Winning this most crucial of games has been made all the more difficult with the enforced absence of their star man Paul Pogba. Brown is effusive about the Frenchman’s qualities going as far as to compare him to a stonewall Premier League legend

“He reminds me of a Vieira type. He’s strong and has good quality on the ball. He gets forward and scores goals but can also defend. He’s probably not as aggressive as Vieira but in every other way he reminds me of him. He calms the team down when he plays and he’s a big-game player.”

“I don’t think City will change much but Jose might through losing Pogba. He is massive for the team and takes control of the midfield and he is definitely a big loss for the team.”

If missing Pogba is a blow for the red half of Manchester at least they still have the formidable figure of Nemanja Matic at the heart of proceedings. Brown it seems has been a big admirer from the start.

“Matic is brilliant and I thought he was a good signing from the off. He is naturally defensive minded as a midfielder which helps but I’m surprised at how quick he is to the ball and the pressure he puts on people. He reads the game so well and if a team-mate is in trouble he’ll slot back to help. He’s someone you need in every team.”

The towering Serb alone though surely won’t be enough to keep City’s multifaceted attack at bay. Thankfully for United they also have David De Gea in typically splendid form as shown in last week’s one-man show at the Emirates. An incredulous Brown insists the 27 year old can go on to become the finest stopper in the club’s history.

“He’s got a chance to become United’s greatest. He’s been brilliant for three or four seasons now and under different managers he’s got United a lot of points from making unbelievable saves. He just continues to do that and that Arsenal game just reminded everybody just how brilliant he is. To get on that stage alongside Schmeichel and Van Der Saar you have to do it regularly and he is.”

Now playing in the Indian Super League with Kerala Blasters after a highly distinguished top class career Brown will be watching on from afar this weekend, undoubtedly cheering on the club he represented for fifteen years.

“If United lose I wouldn’t say the title race is over but it does give City a great chance to push on. As we’ve seen so many times in the past the Christmas period is interesting in itself and anything can happen there. If United win then it would make that Christmas period even more exciting. I want United to win anyway but I also hope they win because it would make the league interesting.”

Wes Brown quickfire questions

Who will win the Premier League?

City

Who will win the Golden Boot?

Probably Kane again

Score-line prediction for the derby

2-1 to United

First goal-scorer

Martial

Who will win the Champions League?

Bayern Munich

December 7, 2017

Football

By 888sport

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The 888sport blog is here to offer betting and tipping advice on the biggest sports fixtures, events and competitions around the world.

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Horse Racing: Becher Chase Day 2017 Preview

The £145,000 Randox Health Becher Chase is the feature race at Aintree next Saturday, the only fixture outside of the Grand National Festival to have horses running over the Grand National fences.

The 2016 Grand National runner-up The Last Samuri (Kim Bailey) tops the weights on 11st 12lb for the Becher Chase, run over three and a quarter miles. The nine-year-old finished third behind Vieux Lion Rouge (David Pipe, 11st 5lb) and Highland Lodge (Jimmy Moffatt, 10st 5lb) in this contest 12 months ago.

The nine-year-old found only Rule The World too good for him in the 2016 renewal and was strongly fancied to go one better back on Merseyside in April, but in the end he weakened from four out to finish just sixteenth behind One For Arthur.

Plans for another crack at the Aintree marathon are probably on the table but firstly Bailey will take in the Becher Chase, having seen his star stayer run a blinder on his seasonal reappearance over hurdles at Kempton, finishing second to Bags Groove in a handicap hurdle over two miles and five furlongs at Kempton Park on November 13^th.

Trainer Kim Bailey said after the race: "The Last Samuri is in good form and on course for the Randox Health Becher Chase.

"It was a good run at Kempton and, provided he is in the same sort of form as he is now he should have a very good chance.

"We will get the Becher Chase out the way first before deciding where we go for the rest of the season."

Last year’s Grand National fourth Blaklion, who has been the favourite for the Becher Chase since the entries were revealed, has been allotted 11st 6lb. His trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies, a five-time winner of the race, is also responsible for last year’s Hennessy Gold Cup third Double Ross (11st 1lb).

Other entries to have run well in the 2017 Randox Health Grand National include Gas Line Boy (fifth, Ian Williams, 10st 9lb), who fell when travelling well in a handicap chase over the Mildmay Course last month, and Regal Encore (eighth, Anthony Honeyball, 11st 3lb).

Paul Nicholls has four entries in total, including dual Scottish Grand National victor Vicente (11st 4lb) who was a close second on his comeback at Cheltenham’s November Meeting.

Neil Mulholland has entered the The Young Master (10st 12lb) and Doing Fine (10st 4lb).

Gordon Elliott’s pair Mala Beach and Ucello Conti have been given 11st 2lb and 10st 13lb respectively, while the 2014 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Lord Windermere (Jim Culloty), seventh in last season’s Grand National, will carry at least 10st 11lb.

Two winners have gone on to win the Grand National - Amberleigh House and Silver Birch. Earth Summit won the race in 1998 following his Grand National win the previous season.

Will this year’s race give us any clues for next April? We will have to wait and see.

Grand Sefton Chase

The second race of the day over the Grand National fences on Becher Chase Day is the £70,000 Grand Sefton Handicap Chase over two miles and five furlongs.

Nicky Henderson's O O Seven heads the weights on 11st 12lb and is a 12-1 chance with us here at 888sport.

Paul Nicholls, successful in two of the last four renewals, has five of the 37 entries to choose from, headed by the 2016 winner As De Mee (11st 9lb) He is priced up as a 12-1 chance with us.

Three Irish-trained entries include the Grade One scorer Clarcam (Gordon Elliott,11st 11lb) and Polidam (Willie Mullins,10st 12lb). They are trading at 25/1 and 9/1 respectively.

Go Conquer, who is also entered in the Becher Chase, is an 8-1 chance for the Grand Sefton and will carry 11st 11lb should he run.

Other Becher Chase Day news

As previously announced, Aintree’s Listed Chase over three miles and a furlong on Becher Chase Day, won last year by Many Clouds, has been re-named in honour of the 2015 Grand National winner and upgraded from Listed to Grade 2 level. It will be run as the £50,000 G2 Many Clouds Chase.

John Baker, Managing Director of Aintree Racecourse, added: “We’re thrilled that Randox Health has decided to extend their sponsorship of the Grand National by adding the Becher Chase as well.

“Randox is a committed, valued and exciting partner for Aintree and Jockey Club Racecourses and we look forward to working closely with the team at Randox for many years to come.

“Becher Chase Day is going from strength to strength and with the quality of horses entered in both the Becher and Sefton Chase in recent years, we’re confident it’s going to be another fantastic day over the iconic Grand National fences at Aintree.”

Aintree are also offering a great incentive to get young people through the gates next Saturday. If you are aged 18-24, you can go FREE to the Aintree Becher Chase Meeting next Saturday by signing up and purchasing a RacePass ticket online.

*Odds subject to change - correct at time of writing*

December 4, 2017

Horse Racing

By Steve Mullington

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Steven is a sports and horse racing enthusiast and is a member of the Horseracing Writers and Photographers Association (HWPA) in the United Kingdom.

He writes for a number of websites and online publications and you can sometimes hear him at the weekend discussing racing on a number of local radio stations.

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Which Team Would be Successful in a Champions League Winners' Winner Tournament?

Real Madrid are the most successful side in both the European Cup and Champions League history and are the current holders following their 4-1 triumph over Juventus in June 2017.

Barcelona aren't far behind and there have been many dominant sides over the past 25 years, including Bayern Munich, Manchester United and Milan, but who would be top dog if they faced one another in a winner's winner tournament?

Porto (2003-04)

Jose Mourinho led his Porto side to an unlikely Champions League victory where they overcame Monaco in Gelsenkirchen. The Portuguese outfit were going through a purple patch after securing the UEFA Cup during the previous campaign.

Mourinho was considered a rising star in the world of management and his side featured talented players such as Deco, Pedro Mendes, Nuno Valente and Carlos Alberto, although few would have predicted their success in this competition. Monaco weren't helped when their captain Ludovic Guily limped off after 22 minutes but Mourinho's tactical mastery has to be applauded.

This Porto side would give any other Champions League winning side a run for its money and Mourinho has built a reputation for being able to stifle quality opposition. They are unlikely to be eliminated in the first round of the winners' winner tournament but even with Mourinho's magic, they could fall short.

Porto have played 170 Champions League matches and are still a regular fixture in the competition but they aren't quite as powerful these days and, as of October 20th, are priced at 400/1 with 888Sport for success in the competition.

Chelsea (2011-12)

Chelsea are another side who forged their way to an unexpected success in the Champions League under Roberto Di Matteo. The Blues had finished top of their group before sneaking past Napoli in extra time. Benfica and Barcelona were subsequently eliminated during an impressive run but they were priced up as huge underdogs to beat Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena.

Home advantage was expected to be decisive and with John Terry absent from the Premier League side, they were tipped to struggle. However, that script was well and truly ripped up as they triumphed via a penalty shoot-out with Bastian Schweinsteiger missing the key spot-kick.

Many pundits feel that Chelsea were lucky to reach the final but their determination was admirable and they could be plucky underdogs once again in the winner's winner tournament. However, they might just lack the quality to make an impact although Didier Drogba will once again prove their star man.

Chelsea have made a decent start to the 2017-18 Champions League and look set to progress to the knock-out round. They are 17/1 with 888Sport to replicate their 2012 success as of October 20th.

Milan (1993-94)

Milan were one of the best sides to watch during the 1990s and their mesmeric performances earned them a worldwide fanbase. Those supporters were treated to a masterclass in the 1994 Champions League final as Barcelona were torn apart in Athens. They kept consecutive clean sheets in the semi-finals and final with Marcel Desailly leading by example.

It was one of their three Champions League titles but Fabio Capello's men put in arguably one of the best team performances seen in the competition. Daniele Massaro's superb goal set them on their way with the Italian netting two of his four tournament goals in the showpiece event.

This Milan side could blow away a fair few sides in the Champions League winner's winner tournament and could be a force to be reckoned with. They played without the suspended Franco Baresi and were still strong enough to put Johan Cruyff's side to the sword.

Milan have suffered a downturn in form over the past couple of years but they have qualified for the Europa League and have begun well. At the time of writing, they are joint-favourites for the Thursday night competition at 6/1 with 888Sport.

Bayern Munich (2012-13)

Despite playing 221 times in the competition, Bayern have only ever won two titles, with the 2013 final remembered for being an all-German battle held at Wembley. Borussia Dortmund were on a roll under Jurgen Klopp and were playing some eye-catching football.

Whilst many neutrals would have been cheering Dortmund to success, Bayern proved their credentials on the biggest stage. They needed extra time to secure the victory, however, but it was the instrumental Arjen Robben who made the difference and secured the man of the match award in the process.

The Dutchman was joined by Bastian Schweinsteiger, Franck Ribery and Mario Mandzukic in a side who had previously ousted Barcelona and Juventus from the competition.

This Bayern squad was packed full of talent and had goals in abundance with a number of players at their peak. Unfortunately, they are likely to fall agonisingly short in the Champions League winners' winner tournament but they could pull off a few surprises along the way.

Despite being drawn in a group with big-spending PSG, Bayern look set to progress to the knock-out stage of the 2017-18 competition and are 15/2 to recreate their 2013 success.

Real Madrid (2016-17)

With six titles in 21 stagings of the competition, Real Madrid remain the most decorated side in the Champions League and there are a number of their squads who could feature in the winners' winner tournament. The latest success was particularly notable for the sheer ruthlessness of their performance as they battered a previously stubborn Juventus side.

The Serie A giants had already kept two clean sheets against Ligue 1 champions Monaco and Barclona but failed to stop the Real Madrid bandwagon which scored four times en-route to glory in Cardiff. Zidane, who was toasting success during his first season in charge had already guided his side to victories over Atletico, Bayern Munich and Napoli - a ridiculously difficult run of games.

Cristiano Ronaldo was once again at the epicentre of every Real attack and he was joined on the scoresheet by Asensio and Casemiro. This was an incredibly swashbuckling and eye-catching performance from a talented side and they would be worthy contenders for a place in the winner's winner final.

Unsurprisingly, Real Madrid have been installed as 4/1 favourites to retain their Champions League crown this season.

Manchester United (1998-99)

The first of Manchester United's two triumphs in the Champions League is remembered for its dramatic conclusion as two stoppage-time goals secured the trophy for the Premier League side. Sir Alex Ferguson's side looked devoid of ideas as they desperately searched for a way back into the match against Bayern Munich.

Teddy Sheringham and resident super-sub Ole Gunnar Solskjaer entered the field and completely tipped the match in their team's favour. United had arguably the tougher passage to the final having seen off Juventus and Napoli, whilst their opponents have walloped both Kaiserslautern and Dynamo Kiev.

This Manchester United team are a side who never knew when they were beaten but they can't pull off this trick continually and against some of Europe's great, the likes of Jesper Blomqvist and Dwight Yorke may be found out. Unfortunately, they may struggle in the winner's winner tournament although they won't go down without a fight.

The Red Devils have equipped themselves well during their first season back in the Champions League and are 14/1 to go all the way.

Barcelona (2010-2011)

No Champions League list is complete without the inclusion of Barcelona. Barca are synonymous with glory in this competition and one of their greatest displays came back in 2011 when they easily swept aside Manchester United. The Premier League side were a terrific team and deserved their place in the final but the Catalan club were just a cut above.

After beating La Liga rivals Real Madrid in the semi-final, Lionel Messi and co set to work on Sir Alex Ferguson's side. The Argentinean picked up the man of the match award and scored one of the three goals at Wembley. Xavi and Andres Iniesta were unplayable in the middle whilst Gerard Pique and Javier Mascherano ran a tight ship at the back.

This Barcelona team had 19 shots during the 90 minutes and left many Manchester United players looking hopelessly at one another. The Blaugrana were superb and it's hard to see who will stop them in the winner's winner competition.

Barcelona are still adapting to life under new coach Ernesto Valverde but they are still fancied to progress in the competition this season with 888Sport pricing them up as 15/2 shots for the tournament.

Ajax (1994-95)

Milan were entering their third consecutive Champions League final and were expected to triumph but Dutch outfit Ajax had other ideas. They hadn't previously triumphed in this competition but a superb performance against Bayern Munich in the semi-finals gave them the opportunity to add their name to the already-impressive roster of tournament winners.

Milan dominated proceedings but the experienced Frank Rijkaard grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck and fed Patrick Kluivert who netted the winner five minutes from time. Despite their abundance of talent, Milan had no response and Ajax got their hands on the trophy.

Ajax

Louis Van Gaal's side certainly had a fearless approach to games and they dispatched Milan, but the fact they weren't able to add further Champions League is likely to count against them in the winners' winner tournament.

Unfortunately, Ajax have not qualified for a European competition this season but are priced as second-favourites for the Eredivisie title in the Netherlands at the time of publication.

Conclusion

There is a huge amount of quality on show and every Champions League fan is likely to have a differing opinion on how each side would fare in the winners' winner competition.

Chelsea, Manchester United and Porto are all likely to just fall short whilst Milan and Ajax will reach the latter stages of the tournament, but it's hard to ignore the power and dominance of the two La Liga sides in the Champions League and a Barcelona versus Real Madrid final is a likely outcome, with the classy Catalan side narrowly edging out Zidane's men.

Final Standings:

1. Barcelona

2. Real Madrid

3. Bayern Munich

4. Milan

5. Ajax

6. Porto

7. Man United

8. Chelsea

*Odds subject to change - correct at time of writing*

December 3, 2017

Football

By 888sport

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Formula One: Where Will The British Grand Prix Be Held In 2020?

The British Grand Prix has been a staple in the Formula One World Championship calendar since its inception, so much so that it’s part of the heritage of the sport. The British Grand Prix and the Silverstone Circuit have become synonymous, but now the historical track is set to not only pull out of the F1 schedule but also take the event of the British Grand Prix with it.

On July 11, 2017, Silverstone announced that they triggered the break clause in their contract with Formula One, confirming that they will split from the sport in two years' time. This sets the 2019 British Grand Prix at Silverstone as the last British Grand Prix unless either a new agreement or a new host can be established.

So, has Silverstone decided to pull out of its agreement with F1, and will the British Grand Prix continue past 2019?

Silverstone haemorrhaging money on F1 events

The British Racing Drivers’ Club, who own Silverstone racing circuit, has continued to state that they love the sport and wish to keep the British Grand Prix alive at Silverstone, but that the current agreement was no longer financially viable.

Knowing full well what triggering the break clause meant, chairman of the BRDC John Grant stated: “Unless a new contractual arrangement can be reached with Liberty Media, 2019 will be the last year that the British Grand Prix takes place at Silverstone – the only viable venue for a British GP,” per the Silverstone official site.

When they initially signed the deal with Formula One in 2009, the contract detailed a Promoter’s Fee that increased by five percent with each passing year. So, from an initial 2010 fee of £11.5 million, Silverstone found themselves forking out £16.2 million in 2017, and they would have seen a cool £25 million paid for the Promoter’s Fee is they had seen out the contract to 2026.

Unfortunately, it came to be that the British Grand Prix – the UK’s most popular weekend sporting event – couldn’t amass the net ticket and hospitality sales revenue to cover the Grand Prix’s share of the circuit’s overhead costs.

Deemed unsustainable, the British Grand Prix sustained a combined net loss of £7.6 million over 2015 and 2016 - £2.8 million in 2015, £4.8 million in 2016 – with those losses expected to continue for the remainder of the deal.

As tough as it is to say, it was wise of the British Racing Drivers’ Club to pull Silverstone out of the Formula One agreement as the increased costs from the being in the deal would have continued to incur losses on events. Silverstone needs protecting, and that’s what the BRDC have done. Having said that, the withdrawal of Silverstone potentially means the withdrawal of the British Grand Prix altogether.

Other viable British Grand Prix venues

Since its inaugural season in 1950, only two race circuits have played host to the Formula One World Championship: Aintree and Brand Hatch.

From 1955 to 1960, Aintree and Silverstone alternated the British Grand Prix, and then Aintree got to keep it for two consecutive years in 1961 and 1962. Then the race moved back to Silverstone, who alternated years with Brands Hatch from 1963 to 1986. From 1987 and for the last 30 years, Silverstone has been the sole host of the British Grand Prix.

The reason behind people seeing Silverstone pulling out at the end of the British Grand Prix is because the race circuit is the only Grade 1 track in the UK – a license which is required from the FIA to host an F1 event.

Aintree, famous for hosting the Grand National, is a classy venue and caters for the biggest horse racing event in the world every year – so they know how to handle the mega crowds. In an easy to access area of the country littered with hotels, public transport, and an international airport very close by, it seems like the perfect venue.

However, it’s not the track of old and would need significant construction to get up to a Grade 1 standard and become an F1 host once again, so it seems financially unfeasible at this stage.

Brands Hatch faces a slew of other restrictions that would hinder both the Formula One event and the racing circuit for the rest of the year. For a start, the venue is only allowed six days of ‘noisy cars’ per year. Also, engines cannot run until 9:15 am on a Sunday, and races cannot begin until 10 am.

These restrictions would bring some limitations to the F1 event but would limit the number of events that Brands Hatch could host outside of Formula One due to the sport needing three days per event – Practice 1 & 2, Practice 3 & Qualifying, Grand Prix.

To add to this, Brands Hatch is not great when it comes to accessibility and would require substantial work to not only make it race ready – with only one viable overtaking area on the course right now – but also to bring it up to Grade 1.

So, where does that leave us? Well, there are some other more commonly discussed venues in the picture.

The Donington dilemma

A big name track often cited in this conversation is Donington Park. Donington hosted the 1993 European Grand Prix and was all set to have the British Grand Prix from 2010 to 2027, having signed an agreement with former owner F1 owner Bernie Ecclestone.

However, that fell through when finances couldn’t be raised to get the track up to standard. The failed attempts to get the venue ready put Donington on its knees and into administration.

But now, Donington Park is up and running again, but the circuit managing director Christopher Tate has already made clear what they think to getting the British Grand Prix, stating: "Absolutely not. We've set a very clear target of keeping the trace of the circuit as it is… we'd have to completely change Donington Park."

In fairness, it has taken a lot for the new owners to get Donington back up and running again after their former Formula One deal almost forced the end of Donington Park altogether.

Any other options?

There really aren’t any other viable options right now. While it is a very nice racetrack, Rockingham’s American-themed track would require a lot of work to make it race appropriate as well as fan appropriate to bring it up to Grade 1.

Then there’s the Circuit of Wales which could be a serious contender, but the Ebbw Vale based track is struggling financially due to not receiving government backing.

They were reportedly seeking funding from the £1.2 billion Cardiff Capital Region deal at the end of September 2017, but nothing has materialised as of yet. The controversial race circuit does not look to be a venue to hang British Grand Prix hopes on right now.

Silverstone or nothing

The British Grand Prix is a historical event, one which has produced great races and legendary champions over the years. Take this year, for example, Lewis Hamilton won his fourth-consecutive British Grand Prix to join the likes of Alain Prost and Jim Clark on five BGP wins, and recently claimed his fourth Drivers’ World Championship.

Formula One has just under two years to try and get a deal done with the BRDC if they wish to keep the historic British Grand Prix on their calendar because, quite simply, no other race circuit in the UK is up to scratch for the lofty Grade 1 standards.

There is always the chance that Silverstone and the new owners of F1, Liberty Media, strike-up a new, financially viable deal which would enable the event to continue beyond 2019.

Unfortunately, without serious investment elsewhere in the UK or a brand new deal for Silverstone, the 2019 Formula One World Championship is set to see the last British Grand Prix – for the time being at least.

December 3, 2017

Formula 1

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Super Sunday: 9/1 Double Has Moyes' West Ham Losing Again

Can anyone stop Manchester City this season? Pep Guardiola’s Blues juggernaut continued their winning run with a last gasp winner against Southampton on Wednesday evening and City are still eight points clear of arch rivals Manchester United.

Saints were gallant in defeat and will be quietly confident ahead of a trip to Bournemouth in the first of two HUGE games in England’s top flight.

For David Moyes, this is as difficult as it gets. After conceding three goals away at Everton on Wednesday night, it can’t get much worse for West Ham but Moyes will be wary of a heavy defeat at the Etihad Stadium.

The Hammers will need everything to go to plan in order to keep this one close. Check out our top tips and betting advice ahead of Sunday’s double header...

BOURNEMOUTH vs SOUTHAMPTON

A difficult one to call. Bournemouth, plagued by inconsistency for most of the season, have shown signs of building momentum in recent weeks but Eddie Howe’s men are still looking nervously over their shoulders at the relegation battle below.

With just four wins in 13 top flight games this campaign, the Cherries sit just four points above West Ham – that kind of form cannot continue into 2018.

Southampton have struggled as well, particularly in front of goal. The visitors have netted in each of their last two Premier League matches though and that is a sign that the tide at St Mary’s Stadium has started to turn after a slow start to the season.

Over 1.5 away goals is available at 13/8 here and that is an excellent price considering Bournemouth’s woes. It could be an entertaining, expansive encounter on the south coast.

I’ve gone with Southampton here. Mauricio Pellegrino’s men were seconds away from an extraordinary point away at Manchester City on Wednesday and Saints should take plenty of positives from that fixture.

Southampton’s latest victory, a 4-1 thrashing of Everton, saw a BTTS + win go in their favour and 9/2 is a respectable price for a repeat this weekend.

TIP: Southampton to win and both teams to score @ 9/2

MANCHESTER CITY vs WEST HAM UNITED

How many City goals are we expecting then? Over 3.5 goals is available at 23/20 but that is far too short. West Ham may tire in the second half due to the relentless pressure and over 2.5 second half goals is currently valued at 7/5.

It might be worth considering this particular market – City have been scoring the bulk of their recent goals in the second half.

Finding a suitable tip in West Ham’s favour isn’t easy at the present moment. Here, there is some value in backing no goal in the opening 15 minutes at 8/13.

City have kept the winning run going but Pep’s men haven’t been blowing teams apart in recent weeks. West Ham may capitulate later on in the contest but 8/13 is a solid price for a stalemate at the 15 minute mark.

City have won their last four fixtures against West Ham by a combined score of 15-1 and it is hard to back against the Blues on current form. The Etihad faithful will be expecting a cricket score this weekend and neutrals should sit back, relax and watch a masterclass.

Sometimes you have to hold your hands up and admit that the better team won, Moyes’ men may have to do that on Sunday afternoon.

TIP: Manchester City to win to nil @ 10/13

*Odds subject to change - correct at time of writing*

November 30, 2017

Football

By Alex McMahon

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Alex is a sports betting tipster, specialising in Premier League football, the Champions League and horse racing.

He loves placing a weekly accumulator on the football at the weekend and dreams of landing the big winner that will take him back to Las Vegas.

As well as writing sports betting tips for 888sport since 2015, Alex has produced content for several international media companies, such as Goal.com and The SPORTBible.

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Spotlight on the Ladbrokes Gold Trophy

It may have changed its name after 60 years but the Ladbrokes Gold Trophy is still a competitive race as ever with 21 runners attempting to the land the specially-commissioned new trophy on Saturday afternoon.

Run over 3m 2 1/2f, the former Hennessy Gold Cup sees many of the UK and Ireland’s top staying chasers pit their wits against other handicappers of varying ability.

Here is a runner-by-runner guide to Newbury’s feature race:

Coneygree

2015 Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Coneygree is bidding to become the third horse this century to defy top-weight, following on from Trabolgan (2005) and Denman (2007 & 2009).

Whisper

Whisper was second to stablemate Might Bite in the G1 RSA Chase in March and steps back into handicap company for the first time since 2014. Nicky Henderson has won this race three times since 2005.

American

Harry Fry's American is an interesting runner after winning all his three starts over fences last season. He’s lightly raced and his trainer has had this race earmarked for him for quite some time.

Carole’s Destrier

Carole's Destrier was a valiant half-length runner-up to Native River in last year's renewal of the race. He always tends to run a good race first time out and will be a decent each-way price.

Label Des Obeaux

He was second to American in novice company a year ago and won a decent handicap at Ayr back in the spring, just getting the nod over Calett Mad. He looks more of a spring horse in fairness to him.

A Genie In Abottle

This progressive six-year-old was a talented novice last season and ended the campaign with a good third behind stablemate Disko at Punchestown. He comes into the race on the back of wins at Galway and Wexford in October.

Regal Encore

He came eighth in the Grand National in April and that will most probably be his target again this season. He would be a surprise winner of this given his recent form.

Royal Vacation

The seven-year-old made his seasonal debut at Wetherby when third to Guitar Pete and represents last year’s winning trainer. Last season he won the G1 Kauto Star Novices' Chase at Kempton Park.

Paddy Brennan gets the leg up on this Mrs Bishop owned horse and Brennan could well be out to prove a point on Saturday.

Pleasant Company

Winner of the G3 Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse in February. The last Irish-trained winner of the former Hennessy Gold Cup was Bright Highway in 1980 and Willie Mullins will be hoping to break this hoodoo.

Total Recall

Total Recall made the perfect start for his new trainer Willie Mullins when defeating Alpha Des Obeaux by seven lengths in the Munster National on October 8^th.

He has been the ante-post favourite for this contest for some time but Mullins’ record in UK handicaps is woeful which is a major worry for any backer of the favourite.

Singlefarmpayment

Singlefarmpayment did well last term over fences, scoring at Cheltenham in December and only going down by the narrowest of margins to Un Temps Pour Tout in the Ultima Handicap Chase at the Festival in March.

He returned to Cheltenham last month for his seasonal reappearance, running a valiant race behind Cogry. He has to prove he can show the same level of form away from Prestbury Park...

Double Ross

Now an eleven-year-old, Double Ross was third in this race last year off a 2lb higher mark. Given that his trainer has been taking all the big handicap chases this month it is hard to strike him out of your calculations. You may be handsomely rewarded by this veteran chaser.

Present Man

The Badger Ales Trophy Handicap Chase winner Present Man is again the mount of the in-form Bryony Frost and the horse may have not stopped improving.

Present Man, who is unbeaten in two runs under Frost, carries a 4lb penalty for his latest win which will be cancelled out by Frost's claiming allowance.

Missed Approach

Warren Greatrex's gelding finished ahead of A Genie In Abottle when second in the NH Chase over four miles at Cheltenham last March.

His form has been patchy since (pulled up at Wetherby last time) but is the type to bounce right back at a price.

Bigbadjohn

Rebecca Curtis and Jonathan Moore teamed up to win the G2 Reynoldstown Novices' Chase with Bigbadjohn back in February and it will now be the turn of Adam Wedge to try and put some spark back into Curtis’ season.

Trainer form is a worry but nobody expected Irish Cavalier to win the Charlie Hall last year did they?

Vyta Du Roc

Vyta Du Roc had a blow out over hurdles at Aintree in preparation for this race and comes into the race on a handy low weight.

Owners Simon Munir and Isaac Suede had winners galore in the UK and France last weekend and this could well be another big prize pot they scoop up.

Braqueur D'or

Hails from the all powerful Paul Nicholls stable but there is a suspicion that that the six-year-old is pretty much a summer jumper and will not be at home on Saturday’s predicted going.

Cogry

Nigel Twiston-Davies is optimistic that he can complete a big-race treble on consecutive Saturdays with Cogry and has been very bullish about the eight-year-old’s chances.

He got a positive ride at Cheltenham last time out and will undoubtedly get another at Newbury.

Potters Legend

Ran fourth in last season’s Kim Muir and looks the type of horse who will work himself into the race late doors when plenty of the others will be backpedalling.

Brian Hughes, who is firing in the winners left, right and centre, gets the call.

Southfield Royale

He was well fancied for the Badger Ales but was pulled up in that race and is struggling to produce anything like his 2014/15 exploits.

Pretty difficult to make a case for him other than that he runs off bottom weight.

Pilgrims Bay

He won the Betbright Chase in February under a brilliantly timed run and looks to have the better credentials of the Mulholland trained pair to win this.

The Wincanton going will not have suited him last time but Newbury’s predicted going looks like being more his scene.

Summary

Vyta Du Roc looks to have been plotted for this race as does Harry Fry’s American. I expect both of them to be there in the final stages but at an each-way price I’m going to take Lucy Wadham’s Potters Legend.

This horse will be suited by Newbury’s stamina test and Brian Hughes will ride a canny waiting race on him, producing him late in the day.

November 30, 2017

Horse Racing

By Steve Mullington

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Steven is a sports and horse racing enthusiast and is a member of the Horseracing Writers and Photographers Association (HWPA) in the United Kingdom.

He writes for a number of websites and online publications and you can sometimes hear him at the weekend discussing racing on a number of local radio stations.

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Dion Dublin exclusive: If Villa listen to Bruce, they’ll be back in the big time in no time

In a distinguished twenty year career, Dion Dublin played for nine different clubs, scored 183 goals, and invented a musical instrument called ‘The Dube’. In 1998 the widely respected and universally liked striker won the Premier League’s Golden Boot award, an achievement that led to four England caps, while in his twilight years he proven himself to be equally adept as a formidable centre-back.

Now a popular television presenter and pundit, here the Leicester-born gent looks back on an outstanding contribution to top-class football, assessing his former club Aston Villa as they seek promotion; explaining how his broken leg at Manchester United led to the signing of a certain French poet; recalling a partnership at Coventry’s Ricoh Arena that struck fear into every back-line; and revealing why Cambridge’s opponents in the nineties would always decline the offer of a pre-match brew.

Villa are in safe hands

We begin at Villa Park where Dublin enjoyed five successful years in a flamboyantly gifted team, that regularly inhabited the higher echelons of the top flight. With the present-day Villa competing in the Championship, any comparisons between the two understandably get short shrift.

“At Villa I played with some of the best players in the world. We had a great side. This side now doesn’t compare to ours. Nowhere near. Whether that comes across as rude or arrogant, I don’t know.”

It does not, and especially when the former striker runs through an illustrious roll-call of his former team-mates. When pressed to name the best of them however Dublin is spoilt for choice.

“That’s a hard, unfair question! I’m going to put it into categories. Paul Merson is the best one-footed player ever. His left foot was rubbish but he didn’t need it because he had the outside of his right foot. With his vision too, nobody could make a pass with the outside of his boot like Paul Merson. As for David Ginola I still don’t know if he was right footed or left footed. As regards captains, Gareth Southgate was incredible and his partnership with Ugo Ehiogu was one of the strongest I’ve played I front of. It was a very strong squad of players with in fact loads of captains – you didn’t need an armband at Villa - and I was very fortunate to play with them.”

A succession of sixth place finishes and some deep runs in domestic cups was the sum total of Villa’s achievements during a heady era. Though impressive, it’s hard not to shake the feeling that this enthralling team could have reached even higher heights, with a FA Cup Final in 2000 loss particularly notable. Does Dublin find any solace in participating in the last ever final at the old Wembley?

“No solace. We were crap and I’ve no idea why we were crap. We were possibly overly wound up by getting into a final, thinking we had to win. Maybe it was a lack of quality on the day? I’m going to speak for Chelsea and say they were rubbish as well. The final in general was so poor from two professional football teams to sign off from this wonderful stadium. On the other hand I can say I played in the last final.”

As for the present, Villa’s fortunes are on the up with serious investment made over the summer, and a promotion charge that currently sees the Midlands giants lying in fourth. Dublin insists their short-term future is in safe hands with an ex-team mate.

“With Steve Bruce at the helm, they have got every chance of being successful. He’s a great manager, great person, and he was a great centre-half as well. I believe that Steve Bruce is the right man to take Villa forward and I believe he has the backing of the board. If the players do exactly what Brucey says, they will be successful.”

I was the catalyst for Manchester United’s glory years

With over 150 appearances for Cambridge under his belt, a 23 year old Dion Dublin made the huge leap to Old Trafford in 1992 and understandably – given the multitude of striking options available – found first team opportunities to be at a premium. Just three months in his chances weren’t exactly helped by a long-term injury endured against Crystal Palace and it was an injury that was to have defining consequences for the Red Devils, as Dublin retells, laughing easily throughout.

“When I broke my leg Man United had to find somebody of a very, very high standard to take my place so they turned to Eric Cantona! He didn’t just fill my boots; he took it to the next level and he was brilliant. I do consider myself the catalyst to Man United’s success because if it wasn’t for me they wouldn’t have signed Eric Cantona. They don’t have to thank me though, it’s fine.”

“Eric was very unique in the way that he played the game. I think he saw the game differently to most people. He was fearless towards any other human being and he was fearless towards failure, so he tried all sorts. He was outstanding.”

During his three years at Old Trafford the targetman won the Premier League title and saw his reputation greatly enhanced. His tenure there also afforded him a front row seat to witness the emerging phenomenon later coined the ‘Class of 92’.

“They all had their tick-box list and they all did exactly what they were supposed to do. They didn’t complicate things which is one of the clever things about the Class of 92. Gary Neville defended very, very well. He was vocal and confident. David Beckham…I’ve never known anyone to strike a ball like he did. He put it where you said. As for Giggsy he was one of the quickest I’ve ever seen whilst running with the ball and keeping it under control then having an end product. As for Scholesy, well, his nickname is Satnav because he always knows where everybody is.”

Check out our odds for Arsenal - Manchester United clash this weekend

A partnership made in sky blue heaven

On leaving United Dublin joined Coventry City and flourished into the proven goal-scorer everybody remembers today. While at the Ricoh Arena he also developed a striking partnership with Darren Huckerby that arguably remains one of the most fruitful in Premier League history. What were the key elements to the chemistry between the pair?

“It was the obvious things. There was a big man who was incredibly slow and a little man who was incredibly quick. There was a good understanding and me and Hucks are still very, very close now. We speak weekly which is very rare in in football to speak to ex-team mates on a weekly basis.”

The mutual admiration is not only obvious but genuinely heart-warming.

“Put it this way, Huck’s opinion of me is this – He was asked years ago who would be his ideal strike partner if he could choose anyone in the world. He said if Dion Dublin was injured and couldn’t play then he’d choose Gabriel Batistuta. That’s the way Darren Huckerby respects me and I respect him back. I believe that he got me my England call-up. If I wasn’t playing with Darren Huckerby then I don’t think I would have played for England while at Coventry City. Our bond on the pitch was strong and our bond off it is exactly the same.”

Canaries deserve to fly high again

At the ripe old age of 37, the now veteran forward joined Norwich City, the club where it all began for Dublin as a sixteen year old trainee. The circle was complete.

Currently vying with Villa for a play-off spot, or even promotion, the Canaries are singing right now, largely due to the scintillating form of their young midfielder James Maddison. Persistent transfer rumours, however, refuse to go away for the future superstar.

“At the moment Mads is absolutely flying and there will be offers. Norwich have to do the right thing for Norwich football club. It’s not about the money, it’s about moving forward and getting back into the Premier League. Is it best to get rid of him for decent money or think ‘hold on a minute, we need more James Maddisons in our squad’ and build the team around him? Because if you’ve got James Maddison he will attract others of that quality.”

As for Norwich’s dream of returning to the top flight their former centre-forward-turned-centre-half believes it might ultimately come down to belief and fortitude.

“The problem is that Norwich City are a Premier League team but there are twenty other clubs in the Championship who can say the same thing. It’s all about taking your turn and finding the right time to make it to the Premier League. I believe Norwich will be fighting this year in the play-offs and then it’s about whether you’ve got to bottle to take it further.”

As you would expect from such an eminently likable guy Dublin speaks highly of all his former clubs. Yet when the East-Anglian side crops up in conversation it is noticeable that his smile widens into a content grin.

“I absolutely loved it at Norwich. On my very first day of training there was a massive scrap between two players and I was gutted because I was clean through on goal and about to score my first goal. Instead everybody stopped and watched. Two players got sent home and I was thinking ‘what have I signed for here?’ Meanwhile there was lots of speculation from the fans saying ‘what have we signed him for? He’s 37 years old. He’s had his day’.”

“But lo and behold the squad that we had was very tight. People like Dickson Etuhu, Robert Earnshaw, Youssef Safri: everyone was so tight and we had one of Norwich’s strongest squads ever. We played some good football and I made some good friends and even got to score some decent goals. I played centre-half, centre-forward, and even at 37 I was doing what I was told. I just loved the football club. I felt relaxed there, I felt comfortable there; it felt like home.”

Cambridge was horrible

We finish where it all began, for a forward whose currency was goals across three different divisions – four if you include the SPL and Celtic.

The stories that surround the early nineties Cambridge United of direct football, promotions and John Beck scowling from the dug-out are legend in the game. Now is as good a time as any to determine how much is embellishment after the fact. Dublin laughs once again and is more than happy to set the record straight.

“Every single thing you’ve heard from that time was true. We were a horrible team to play against. Playing at the Abbey Stadium was so uncomfortable for other teams. We used to put loads of sugar in the tea and give them no hot water at all. We put the warm-up balls in the bath so they would be soaking wet. This all got around the other clubs so it was very much a case of ‘Oh no, it’s Cambridge United this weekend’. They didn’t like us because we were horrible.”

Premier League News, betting tips and fresh odds on our 888 Sport blog!

November 30, 2017

Football

By 888sport

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The 888sport blog is here to offer betting and tipping advice on the biggest sports fixtures, events and competitions around the world.

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