The betting preview returns after enjoying Christmas and New Year off and gives our pundits a chance to look ahead to the travelling circus' trip to Blackpool and a weekend of sporting action elsewhere.

We will have a full run down of running totals and scores in the next column - it has been a little hectic today and working out the various winners and losers of Lewis' lucky 26 bet from the Sheff Utd column has proven a job too far. Full service resumed pre-Scunthorpe.

Brian Power
A combination between the weather and a bout of the flu prevented me putting together a column last week but before Christmas we had a correct score against Bristol City and a refund on first goalscorer means a £45 return. I managed to cover four of Hart's five games in charge in that column which just goes to show how ridiculous things have got at HQ.

A trip to Blackpool should be one of the highlights of the year for a Rangers fan. However the seaside in January against a team with a decent home record and us not having kept a clean sheet for months means a fruitless trip up north is in store in my view. Depending on who is in charge (At present Mick Harford is but that could change when the team bus hits the M6) I think they have got a job on their hands to motivate some of the so called professionals I have to place a bet on this game but I cannot put the cash down against us. I will have a couple of pounds on both our centre backs getting first/last goal as there is normally some value in this.

This weekend's other action all depends on the weather. Will the snow clear and if the thaw does kick in how will it affect conditions as we are also due rain and lots of it? All I know is I want some sport back this weekend as Soccer Saturday isn’t the same with six games in total. Stoke are a massive 5/1 to beat Liverpool who without Gerard and Torres look a very ordinary side and will struggle against Stoke's rough but successful tactics.

Norwich travel to Colchester and can avenge their opening day defeat. Paul Lambert has done a great job and the Canaries can beat their local rivals. God knows what Alex Mcleish has been putting in the tea at Birmingham but he has transformed them into a difficult side to beat and they also form part of my treble.

For the weekend:
£2.50 First and Last Scorers against Blackpool
D Stewart
K Gorkss

£15 Stoke to beat Liverpool 5/1

£3 trebles and £3 acca
Wolves 5/4
Sheff Utd 11/10
Dagenham and R Evs
Rochdale 1/2

£10 treble
Birmingham 15/8
Norwich 6/4
Hibs 17/10

Previously Advised:
Dallas Cowboys to win the Super Bowl, £10 at 20/1

Lewis Jones
Remember the days of Ian Holloway? I do. It was a time where I was proud to call myself a QPR fan. A time where despite lacking any financial ambition Queens Park Rangers still felt like a football club. How things change, another farcical week at HQ has left everybody flabbergasted, and Rangers players, fans and Mick Hartford will try and re-group for a tough looking test away at Sir Holloway’s Blackpool.

The Christmas break is hopefully going to stop the rot from a betting perspective and just between you and me; I’m feeling rather confident for this weekend.

Firstly the QPR game; throughout the season Holloway’s Blackpool have frustrated me greatly, somewhere along the line their incredible form must come to an end, but unfortunately it hasn’t. Now me being Mr. Stubborn and despite the fact they are playing a team who are a shambles off the field, I am willing to take on Blackpool this weekend once again, with QPR at 5/2 to win the game. There was many positive from the midweek game from an attacking perspective, and if Hartford can motivate the troops to match Blackpool on an energy level then QPR’s class should shine through.

Also, Faurlin knocked on the door on a couple of occasions on Tuesday night and looks an attractive price (22/1) to score 1st and 7/1 to score anytime.

For the weekend:
£20 on QPR to beat Blackpool – 5/2 Coral
£5 on Faurlin to score 1st - 22/1 Paddypower
£5 on Faurlin to score anytime – 7/1 Paddypower

£20 Accumulator
Stoke to win or draw vs Liverpool – 4/5 Expekt.com
Bolton +1 (Asian Handicap) vs Arsenal – Evs – Ladbrokes.com
Crystal Palace vs Plymouth (Under 2.5 goals) – 4/6 – Coral Portsmouth vs Birmingham (Half time result – draw) – 11/10 - Ladbrokes.com

Photo: Action Images

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