David Lenton

Reading come into this home tie against Chelsea having picked up the same amount of points (10) from their last 5 games as the Blues. They've won their last two against West Brom and Newcastle but face a much tougher challenge when Chelsea come to town. Brentford very nearly ended Chelsea's FA Cup run last weekend in a thrilling 2-2 draw and Rafa will very much want to get back to winning ways starting with this fixture. His tenue as Chelsea boss is looking less and less likely to continue beyond the end of the season as every weekend of fixtures pass. The Blues do however have one the top away records in the Premier League this season having picked up a total of 7 wins on the road coupled with 2 draws and 2 defeats. The prospect of playing Reading at Reading shouldn't be be worrying one for Chelsea supporters. Form Chelsea - WLWDW Reading - DWLWW *Form is taken from Premier League games only. Previous Line Ups Reading - Federici, Shorey, Mariappa, Morrison, Kelly, Karacan, Leigertwood, Robson-Kanu, Le Fondre, Hunt, McCleary Chelsea - Turnbull, Ivanovic, Cole, Cahill, Terry, Bertrand, Ramires, Lampard, Oscar, Marin, Torress *Previous line ups taken from FA Cup fixtures last weekend. Team News Reading come into the game against Chelsea without goalkeeper McCarthly who is out with a shoulder injury. Jason Roberts will also miss out with an injured hip. Robson-Kanu is a doubt and will face a late fitness test before he can be either ruled in or out of the game. Chelsea are still without Obi Mikel and Victor Moses who continue international duty in the African Nations. Romeu is still out and will be for the rest of the season due to a knee injury. Cech and Luiz will face late fitness tests to determine their level of involvement. Reading v Chelsea Betting Tips Im almost certain that Chelseas 2-2 result with Brentford last time out in the FA Cup killed plenty of accumulators last weekend. The Blues owe the general punting public a result and I think theyll come through for them tonight. Given their awesome away record I'm feeling pretty confident that Chelsea will pick up all three points against Reading but they are only priced a 1/2 to win the game which looks a bit short to be backing. I do however like the look of the half time/full time market and a Chelsea/Chelsea result. Basically this bet means that Chelsea will be winning at both half time and full time. This is priced up at best odds of 5/4 with BetVictor (full Betvictor Review here) and looks a solid prospect given Chelsea's hot away form this season. The other bet I like the look of here is for the game to have exactly 2-3 goals which is priced best at 21/20 with Bet65 (Bet365 review here). I can't see this game only having the one goal, although I don't see Reading finding the net, and I can't help but feel a 0-2 or 0-3 scoreline is on the cards. Tips Summary - Chelsea/Chelsea in half time/full time market at 5/4 with BetVictor. - Exactly 2-3 goals at 21/20 with Bet365. By David Lenton Click here to view the article

We've got quite the game in prospect between Chelsea and Arsenal at the Bridge to kick off Super Sunday. Both teams, and managers, are feeling the heat and a win for either should could really kick start their campaign. Chelsea come into this home fixture having only managed to win one of the last seven games they've played at the Bridge whilst Arsenal have lost only 3 of their previous 19 away fixtures in the Premier League. The same fixture last season produced a 5-3 thriller in which Arsenal came out on top. Whilst I can see the same kind of high scoring game taking place this time around I'm not sure it's the Gunners who'll be walking away with all three points. Form Chelsea: WWLWD Arsenal: WWWDL Last Meeting Arsenal 1-2 Chelsea - Premier League 29th September 2012 Previous Line Ups Chelsea: Chech, Cole, Luiz, Cahill, Azpilicueta, Ramires, Lampard, Mata, Oscar, Hazard, Ba Arsenal: Szczesny, Sagna, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Gibbs, Diaby, Wilshere, Walcott, Coquelin, Giroud Team News Chelsea are still without Romeu who isnt expected back any time soon and Victor Moses is unavailable for selection currently on international duty in the African Nations with Nigeria. Neither would be considered a huge miss for Chelsea. More importantly Ivanovic and John Terry both made the bench against Southampton in the week and both will face late fitness tests to determine their involvement against Arsenal. Arsenal welcome Koscielny back into their side after his one match ban picked up against Man City but are still without Arteta and Rosicky who both have calf injuries. Gervinho is also unavailable due to the African Nations. Chelsea v Arsenal Betting Tips I managed to nail my over 3.5 goals tip in the previous game against Southampton and Chelsea to win both halves was looking good until they capitulated in the second 45 of the match. Here are my tips for this week: Over/Under 3.5 Goals Given that Chelsea have been so rocky at the back lately and their home form has been so poor Im sticking with my over 3.5 goals prediction for this fixture. If last year is anything to go by then it could easily be way over 3.5. Also factored into this tip is the quality goalscoring form of new signing Demba Ba who clearly has what it takes to get the best of the Arsenal defence, scoring a brace last time he faced them in a black and white jersey. Best price on this is 7/4 with BetVictor. Demba Ba To Score Anytime: My second Chelsea v Arsenal betting tip is for Demba Ba to score anytime during the match. Currently the best odds youll find on this are at evens with Boylesports. Ba will certainly feature for Chelsea in this game and really does look the real deal. We know he can score against Arsenal and every time hes played in a blue shirt so far this season hes looked seriously dangerous. (If you're interested you can find our resident football tipster at Cheeky Punter Chris M's take on the game in our http://www.cheekypunter.com/tips/'>betting tips section.) Tips Summary - Over 3.5 goals priced best with BetVictor at 7/4 - Demba Ba to score anytime during the match at evens with Boylesports By http://api.viglink.com/api/click?format=go&key=b7d4b551128220b9f7ee7b7d7b551c3e&loc=http%3A%2F%2Fforum.talkchelsea.net%2Ftopic%2F15333-for-jim%2F%23entry589421&v=1&libid=1358552684403&out=https%3A%2F%2Fplus.google.com%2F105879536352210710829%3Frel%3Dauthor&ref=http%3A%2F%2Fforum.talkchelsea.net%2Findex.php&title=For%20Jim%20-%20Staff%20Room%20-%20Talk%20Chelsea&txt=https%3A%2F%2Fplus.google....0829%3Frel%3Dauthor&jsonp=vglnk_jsonp_13585526899854'>David Lenton http://www.talkchelsea.net/_/match-previews/arsenal-preview-betting-tips-r197'>Click here to view the article

I can't comment in too much detail on the game itself as I didn't get to watch it last night. I'll try to catch it on Sky Sports today as I'm certain they'll be replaying it - they normally do. From what I've read in various match reviews first half was textbook in terms of what I was expecting. Chelsea dominating, converting chances, scoring freely and the midfield creative and getting goals. By the sounds of it some better finishing in the second half and the game would have been out of sight? I'm also surprised Southampton were able to play a counter attacking style with success. Chelsea have good pace in midfield, especially in Ramiers even though he seems to have come under fire in this thread, but I guess the lack of Ivanovic and JT caused problems at the back. Pretty funny that Atkins would say 'We came with a game-plan to be compact and frustrate the opposition' in his post match interview. Pretty sure that went to shit in the first half and they got lucky in the second - tactical genius! Onward to Arsenal and I'm expecting a better result. As for my tips which were posted pre match here ... - Chelsea to win both halves (6/4) didn't come in even though it was looking good at half time. - Over 3.5 goals did come in, although admittedly not as I would have necessarily expected. Tips and a preview of the Arsenal game coming soon.

My preview for tonights game is here along with betting tips if you guys are interested : http://www.talkchelsea.net/_/match-previews/southampton-preview-tips-r195

Before I begin my Chelsea v Southampton preview and betting tips article let me introduce myself. Im David L tipster, writer and chief editor for http://www.cheekypunter.com/'>cheekypunter.com Im an ex professional online sports bettor and poker player and now dedicate my time to running my website while betting sports on the side. Jim has kindly invited me onto TalkChelsea.net to write some match previews for upcoming Chelsea games and hopefully help you guys win a few quid as well. You can find out more gripping info about me on the Cheeky Punter about page but now onto the preview and my tips. Chelsea thrashed Stoke 0-4 at the Britannia last time out and if there's one thing they'll expect from this game it's to score goals and plenty of them. Three points against the Saints will pull the Blues within 4 points of second placed Man City and will close the gap to league leaders United to 11 points. After a rocky start to the season Southampton are no unbeaten in their last four league games managing a win and three draws to pull them out of the relegation zone into 15th place. A very questionable penalty got them over the line at Villa Park last time out but to be brutally honest they'll come to Stamford Bridge expecting very little out of the game. Form Chelsea: WLWLW Southampton: DDDLW Latest meeting Southampton 1 Chelsea 5 FA Cup Third Round Jan 5th 2013. Previous Line Ups Chelsea: Cech, Ivanovic, Cole, Luiz, Azpilicueta, Bertrand, Ramiers, Lampard, Mata, Hazard, Ba Southampton: Boruc, Clyne, Yoshida, Hooiveld, Shaw, Schneiderlin, Ramirez, Cork, Puncheon, Lambert, Rodriguez Team News Chelsea are without the on form Victor Moses who's now joined up with Nigeria for international duty at the Africa Cup of Nations. John Obi Mikel is also unavailable also on international duty with Nigeria. Romeu is out with a knee injury and isn't expected back any time soon. Southampton come to the Bridge without star man Adam Lallana who's out with an injured knee. Jose Fonte, defender, is also out with a knee injury for the Saints. Luke Shaw will face a late fitness test on a gashed leg injury and if fit will be welcomed back into the team at fullback with open arms. Chelsea v Southampton Betting Tips Chelsea are priced at 1/4 to pick up the win against Southampton so theres very little value in backing them to win the match outright. You can get 5/1 on draw and a massive 14/1 on a Saints win reflecting the fact that theyve got virtually no chance at the Bridge. (For additional tips check out this http://www.cheekypunter.com/tips/chelsea-v-southampton-betting-tips/'>Chelsea v Southampton tips article written by Christopher Morris Cheeky Punters main man for the Premier League) Over/Under 3.5 Goals The first bet Im going to recommend for the Chelsea v Southampton game is the over on 3.5 goals which is currently priced best at 5/4 with BetVictor. In the previous meeting between these two sides there were 6 goals with both teams getting on the score sheet. Chelsea managed to put 4 past Stoke away from home last time out, which is no mean feat, and will be licking their lips at the prospect of a home fixture against Southampton. With both Demba Ba and Fernando Torres to choose from and midfield which has produced goals all season long I can see Chelsea racking up a hat full against a weak Southampton side. To Win Both Halves This isnt a bet I would normally recommend but with all Chelsea players priced so short in the goalscoring markets Ive looked to the Win Both Halves market to find value. Chelsea are priced at 6/4 with Paddy Power to win both halves of this game. Before I saw the odds available I was expecting them to be an odds on price so naturally I cant help but feel this is a good value wager. Theyve certainly got the attacking power and defensive quality to win both halves of this game and with Torres and Ba both likely to feature at some point, one subbed for the other in the second half, Im expecting goals in both halves of the game for Chelsea. Tips Summary - Over 3.5 goals at best odds of 5/4 with BetVictor. - Chelsea to win both halves of the game at best odds 6/4 with Paddy Power. By http://plus.google.com/105879536352210710829?rel=author'>David Lenton http://www.talkchelsea.net/_/match-previews/southampton-preview-tips-r195'>Click here to view the article

Surprised to read some of the comments in this thread - I'm genuinely expecting a big win for Chelsea tonight. Not many teams put 4 goals past Stoke away from home and Southampton are a much weaker side. Chelsea to dominate in midfield and win the game comfortably for me.