Cardiff have already beaten Palace in the league this season–although that was at home-and with an away record that boasts of only two league defeats this season it is hard to see Palace getting a win 21/10 (William Hill) despite their own decent home form this season. This is a match where we believe there will be goals and both teams to score Evens (William Hill) is certainly a bet that attracts our interest. The over 2.5 goals bet at 6/5 (Coral) could also bring a return. Even with players missing we’re sure Palace will put up a good showing but we think the best they will do is get a draw 23/10 (Bet Fred). Our prediction is a 2-2 scoreline 16/1 (Ladbrokes).

League One

Sheffield United have only lost at home to the three teams above them in the table, so that would seem to make the task of Yeovil Town a tough one tonight.  Yeovil will have been given a boost by the return of Gary Johnson to the fold as manager but with only one win in their last seven matches it would be a brave punter who would back them at 8/1 (VC Bet) to pick up three points tonight.  Although they haven’t won any of their last six games amazingly Yeovil are unbeaten in six on their travels, so maybe the draw 7/2 (Sportingbet) does have a little chance of popping up at a decent price.

At a price of 2/5 (Paddy Power) Sheffield United are just about the right price, given how good their home form is and the home win really is the only selection we can give. We’re predicting a 3-1 win for Sheffield United at 11/1 (Coral).

League Two

Hereford and Bristol Rovers are both near the foot of League Two and finding wins a little scarce. Hereford did manage to win last time out and with home advantage tonight might be a better betting option than opponents Bristol Rovers, but only narrowly.

Rovers are without a win in their last eight games in the league and their price of 9/4 (Stan James) for the away isn’t one we will be rushing to back. Our tip is going to be a win for Hereford 6/5 (Blue Square ) by a 1-0 scoreline 9/1 (Betfair).

It was still a surprise QPR decided to sack Neil Warnock and his backroom staff yesterday as the team hasn’t been playing too badly despite their lack of points of late. The team’s slump from ninth position to just outside the bottom three obviously had a bearing on yesterday’s decision with a run of eight matches without a win deemed serious enough to justify the sacking of the manager.

It’s likely the decision was taken while the transfer window is open so that whoever takes over can use the transfer fund available to bring in his own players and try to rejuvenate a side that is in a slump at the moment. This would seem to indicate that a replacement will be in place sooner rather than later and that the powers that be at QPR maybe had someone in mind or maybe even someone in the wings ready to take over.

Mark Hughes is the man bookmakers believe will be given the task of trying to keep QPR in the Premier league and he is as short as 1/10 (William Hill) to become the new manager although you he is available at 1/4 (Stan James) to fill the post. Hughes is out of the game at the moment since leaving Fulham in June last year and will be available immediately. With no compensation needing to be paid to any other club and just terms with Hughes needing to be agreed it is easy to see why bookmakers believe Hughes will take charge.

Whoever QPR appoint will probably be free to join immediately and that seems to rule out anyone in place at another club at the moment. Alan Curbishley 16/1 (Bet Fred)  is looking to get back into the game and is available, while Sven Goran Eriksson might suit owner Fernandes’ profile and vision for the club we wouldn’t totally rule him out at 33/1 (Betfair).  Ex West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola 5/2 (Ladbrokes) has also been linked to the vacancy and in our opinion looks the main rival to Mark Hughes. Other names being bandied about ion the grapevine include Rafa Benitez 10/1 (Paddy Power), Walter Smith 16/1 (William Hill) and Steve Bruce 22/1 (Stan James) although the appointment of any of the three would be a surprise in our opinion.

In the Rangers match we are forecasting a 5-1 win for Rangers 22/1 (Sportingbet) with Some Aluko 5/1 (Ladbrokes) our choice to be first goalscorer. We are selecting the 3-0 correct score in the Celtic match at 13/2 (Bet Fred) with Scott Brown 12/1 (Ladbrokes) worthy of a small bet to score the first goal.

ITV are showing two matches and they start with the Manchester derby between City and United. After their 6-1 mauling from City in the league United will be gunning for revenge this lunchtime, but after two defeats in a row will probably be happy just to get any sort of result. City are free scoring at home and the over 2.5 goals bet at 10/11 (William Hill) has to be worthy of a few quid. Today’s match could well be a close run thing and it will be interesting to see how much City will miss the players who are off to play in the African Nations Cup.

We don’t envisage the match to be dominated by any one side and we are sitting on the fence a bit and selecting the draw 13/5 (VC Bet) to be the outcome. Our money is going on a 2-2 result 31/2 (Betfair).

Later on ITV fans can see a rejuvenated Sunderland take on Peterborough in what could be a very entertaining match. Both teams to score 4/6 (Ladbrokes) is a bet to consider along with a Sunderland win Evens (Stan James).  We are predicting a 3-1 win for Sunderland 16/1 (Bet Fred).

Chelsea are a very short price at 2/9 (Paddy Power) to beat Championship side Portsmouth. That isn’t surprising when you consider that Chelsea haven’t lost any of their last 20 home FA cup ties. Portsmouth have shown improved form lately but getting a win today looks to be beyond them and even at odds of 14/1 (Coral) they don’t look worth risking to cause an upset. Chelsea to win to nil Evens (William Hill) is our pick of the bets in this game.

Championship front runners West Ham might not have things all their own way in their match away to Sheffield Wednesday. The Hammers haven’t won any of their last three away games and with Wednesday showing formidable home form this season –they remain unbeaten in the league- a mini upset could happen We are having a bet on Sheffield Wednesday to win at a price of 19/10 (Paddy Power) by a 2-1 scoreline 10/1 (Ladbrokes).

SPL side Hibernian haven’t won any of their last 10 matches and could be ripe to be on the wrong end of a cup upset. The Confidence of the Hibs players will be low and they won’t be relishing the thought of a visit to Central Park to face Cowdenbeath. At 4/5 (Totesport) Hibernian are favourites to come through against the Division Two leaders, but Cowdenbeath are unbeaten at home and we’re tipping an upset and are selecting Cowdenbeath at 4/1 (Paddy Power) to run out shock winners. We suggest a small bet on a 3-1 scoreline 50/1 (Stan James).

Division One leaders Ross County should prove to be too good for Stenhousemuir, who have found away wins rare in Division Two this season. The over 2.5 goals bet at a price of 5/6 (Stan James) should provide some winnings along with the home win at 4/9 (Bet Fred).

There’s an all SPL tie when Inverness play hosts to Dunfermline. Inverness are third bottom of the table and Dunfermline bottom of the SPL and wins are few and far between for both of them. They have met twice in the league this season with both matches ending all square. You can get 14/5 (VC Bet) on todays tie being a draw. But Inverness have had a couple of half decent result s of late and with home advantage we are taking them to come out on top and get a win 8/11 (Ladbrokes). Both teams to score 7/10 (William Hill) and Richie Foran 8/1 (Ladbrokes) to be first goalscorer are other bets we suggest for this match.

Aberdeen have been on the wrong end of a few shock cup results in recent seasons nut you would expect them to get a win against Division Two side Forfar who have been in poor form this term. Aberdeen 4/9 (Paddy Power) look a banker bet to get a win.

Partick have only lost two of their last 10 matches against Queen of the South and with home advantage in this tie should come out on top. Bet on a home win 4/5 (William Hill) and the 2-0 correct score 8/1 (Betfair).

St Johnstone3/10 (Bet Fred) and St Mirren 4/7 (Bet Fred) should both get home wins.

There’s a local derby at Fleetwood Town where they take on neighbours Blackpool. We’re sure Fleetwood will be up for this match, but Blackpool should have the experience to avoid an upset. Blackpool to win 4/5 (Betinternet) is our selection. We are also selecting the 3-0 correct score 14/1 (Coral) in this match.

Premier League Fulham are as short as 4/9 (Paddy Power) to get a home win over League One leaders Charlton, but we feel if there is to be an upset on the day this match could provide it. Charlton have a real winning mentality and have gone 11 matches undefeated away from home in the league. It is true today’s opposition will be a lot tougher, but the7/1 (VC Bet) on offer for a Charlton win seems to be too good to ignore. In this match take both teams to score Evens (Ladbrokes) and have a small bet on a 2-1 win for Charlton at a price of 25/1 (Betfair).

Derby and Crystal Palace both go into their tie in decent form. The league match between the two teams at Derby ended all square and we can see a draw 12/5 (Totesport) being the outcome again in a game between two closely matched teams. We’re forecasting a 1-1 result 11/2 (Betinternet).

We think QPR are on offer at a decent price to get the away win over Milton Keynes Dons. Despite the dons only losing one of their last nine league matches we think the premier league side will prove too strong and should be backed at 6/4 (Bet Fred) to win.

The all Premiership clash between Newcastle and Blackburn should provide goals and the over 2.5 goals bet at 8/11 (Ladbrokes) is a bet we suggest placing. Both teams are likely to make team changes for this match but our money is going on a Newcastle win 8/13 (Paddy Power). We also suggest a first goalscorer bet on Leon Best at 11/2 (William Hill).

With the form of Nottingham Forest so poor at the moment they have to be opposed and Leicester City 7/5 (Blue Square ) are our pick to win this tie.

It could pay to bet on the draw 23/10 (Ladbrokes) in the tie between Swindon and Wigan. Swindon are going well in the league at present and with Wigan struggling to see off teams the League Two side could nick a draw and get a replay. Both teams to score 7/10 (Betfair) is another recommended bet in this tie.

Other Saturday bets to consider include wins for Millwall 4/5 (Betinternet), Southampton 21/20 (VC Bet) and Reading 1/2 (Sportingbet).

Liverpool have a good record against Manchester City losing only one of their last 13 meetings and are no forlorn hope tonight at 7/2 (Bet Fred) to get the three points. It will be interesting to see how City respond to a couple of matches without a win and they might just be a bit nervous going into this one.

Our prediction is for the match to end in a draw 5/2 (Ladbrokes) and we are tipping a 1-1 result 13/2 (William Hill). Andy Carroll is our selection to be first goalscorer 11/1 (Stan James).

Although West Brom are unbeaten in three away, they went down 3-1 t at home to Tottenham earlier this season and will need Tottenham to have an off night if they are to win this. You can get odds of 8/1 (Coral) on a West Brom win, but that’s not a bet we will be taking. A win for Tottenham tonight will take them to within three points of the leaders and cement their title challenge.

We can’t see Tottenham losing tonight and they have to be backed at 4/11 (Totesport) to see off the Baggies. We are tipping Tottenham to win to nil 11/8 (Ladbrokes) and think a small bet on a 3-0 correct score 8/1 (Sportingbet) might pay off.

In tonights other match Wigan and Sunderland meet in a basement battle. Both teams have shown improved form over the last four or five matches and this will be a close encounter. One thing in Sunderland’s favour could be the fact Wigan have failed to win any of their last seven home matches. A run like this can make the crowd nervous and with Sunderland probably happy to soak up pressure and try and hit on the break the tension in the crowd could transmit itself to the home players.

A point probably won’t help either team much, but we feel that’s what they might have to settle for. Bet on a draw 23/10 (VCbet) and the under 2.5 goals 4/5 (Totesport).