So far, Cardiff's Dave Jones has been very coy in relation to his quotes with the national media. He was however, a studio guest on local radio last Friday and came across in a very positive frame of mind. Conversely, in his latest interview Harry Redknapp talks of "enjoying the occasion." Could a shock be on the cards?

The preparation for both sides this week will be very different when compared to a league game, but particularly for the Championship side, most of whom will be experiencing this level of media coverage for the first time. It is the sporting event of the weekend and everyone will want a piece of the manager and his players. It will be a relaxing week, probably at a Hotel and Country Club within a three iron of the M25. The training sessions will be low intensity with the emphasis on the pattern of play and shape they will be adopting come Saturday. I would expect them to place heavy emphasis on set-plays as this looks likely to be a very tight game. Of course, there is also the dreaded penalty shoot out to prepare for.

The toughest part of all for the manager will probably be after the final training session. It is at that point that Dave Jones will have to walk up to three of his players, put an arm around their shoulder and tell them they are not in the squad for the Wembley final. It is a horrible thing to have to do, I have had to do it myself. It's not much fun but it goes with the territory.

Players are inconsolable after having been told they have not made the squad. A player I left out of a Wembley final came up to me at curfew time in the teams' hotel the night before the game and asked if he could stay up and have a couple of beers with the directors. I told him he could as long as he didn't make a racket. I'll never forget the look of abject dejection and irony on his face as he said to me "that's a pity - I'm in such a party mood I was just going to go and get my Ukulele!"

I think it is going to be a very tight game. Cardiff are not a typical Championship side, they like to get it down and play and I can see them causing an out of form Pompey a problem or two. I recommended backing Cardiff to lift the cup at [6.0] before the semi finals and I'm sticking with that selection. They are now priced at [3.75] and I still think that represents value. The other market I like the look of is the total goals and I can see them being very hard to come by. Consequently I'll be backing under 1.5 goals at [3.0].

I'll continue to watch the interviews and hope that Dave Jones stays positive. If he needs cheering up he can always look at Portsmouth's recent league results which shows a return of only one point from fifteen. Failing that he can always get one of his players who are left out of the squad to play him a tune on the ukulele!

More than any other year in living memory the road to the 127th FA Cup final has been difficult to predict and Cardiff or Portsmouth will be the first team, outside of the Premiership's "Big Four", to triumph since Everton in 1995.

While the best traditions of the FA Cup are associated with giant-killing these upsets are usually confined to games prior to the final. A look through the list of recent winners confirms that FA Cup final upsets are as rare as finalists from outside the top-flight of football.

Nevertheless Cardiff fans should take heart - even in the world's oldest cup competition, there are examples of top tier teams being felled by sides from a lower division. One of the most famous cases involved one of the world's biggest clubs.

Southampton caused a huge upset in 1973 when defeating Manchester United 1-0. Bobby Stokes' 83rd minute winner sealed one of the most memorable victories in any FA final as Lawrie McMenemy's side were still in the old Second Division. As a former Saints manager, Dave Jones will be only too happy to channel Lawrie McMenemy and shoplift a victory for Cardiff City.

Other teams from outside the top-flight have reached finals in the past (Millwall, lost to Manchester 3-0 in 2004) but in recent decades Southampton remain one of only two teams to have triumphed. While Jones has an association with one team of giant-killers, Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp is linked to the only other non-top flight team (in the modern era) to win the FA Cup: West Ham's 1-0 defeat of Arsenal in 1980.

Perhaps this upset was even more impressive than Southampton's victory. Manchester were a good side in 1973 but Arsenal were at the height of their powers in 1980 and had reached the final for the third consecutive year. Ignoring pedigree, Trevor Brooking's header was enough to seal victory in this London-based FA Cup classic.

Another group of plucky Londoners produced an FA Cup final upset when Wimbledon beat the mighty Liverpool 1-0 in 1988. Admittedly Wimbledon were in the top division at the time but they defeated the dominant side of the 1980's in a final that was packed with incident. Lawrie Sanchez's headed goal sent shockwaves through millions of TV sets before Dave Beasant saved a penalty... the Crazy Gang proved that, occasionally, unlikely dreams come true in FA Cup finals.

Both Cardiff and Portsmouth have some history of success in the competition but it's unlikely any fans will remember these old triumphs first hand. Pompey won the FA Cup in 1939 beating Wolves 4-1 to register their only triumph to date.

Cardiff became the first and only club from outside England to win in 1927. It was their second final after a 1-0 loss to Sheffield United in 1925 so they've had to wait a little for their third appearance.

So what are the chances of a new instance of giant-killing? You can back the Welsh team to win at [5.5] which seems like great value to me. This year the competition hasn't gone to form so I fancy a fairytale ending for the Championship side. All three cases detailed above were won 1-0 so get some cash on a Cardiff 1-0 win at [12.5].

The weekend certainly didn't start as planned, though. We were running late thanks to TWO car fires on the way down. After checking in at the hotel (and parking the car - the hotel car park was a ten minute walk away; us Northern folk expect a hotel with a car park on site!), we then had to find the entrance at Wembley. Needless to say we turned left and walked all way round the ground when turning right would have saved both time and our legs. All this added up to us been over an hour late but our chaperones Joe and Robin were hospitable as we tucked into some of the best food I've ever eaten.

The game itself was a good advert for non-league football as Ebbsfleet hung on in for the first twenty minutes before finishing the half strongly and scoring the only goal on the game through Chris McPhee. He must have been a relieved man as he had missed a penalty only moments earlier. Torquay couldn't muster up the energy to put any real pressure onto the Ebbsfleet defence in the second half and they held out for a deserved victory. I very nearly didn't see the second half because the ribs and chicken served up at half-time (along with a cold beer) were going down all too well!

Wembley itself is a fantastic stadium, certainly the best in England. It seemed empty but there were over 40,000 people in attendance which still made for a great atmosphere. Each corporate box has its own kitchen, bar and butler who served the food and drink until we finally got kicked out by security!

We headed back to our hotel, worked out which train to get on, which is quite difficult for a pair of novices, and made the short trip into the West End. On the advice of our hosts we got off at Waterloo and walked back to where the main entertainment was. London is an outstanding place (if a little scary) and we walked for as long as our legs could to see Big Ben, Downing Street, Covent Garden as well as walking through Leicester Square and Trafalgar Square.

After a spot of shopping on Oxford Street, it was time for something to eat. We plumped for Chinese so headed for Chinatown where we passed around 50 people with crazy ponytails chanting stuff about Hari Krishna. The last train back to our hotel passed the Wembley arch lit up in all its glory. Much has been said and written about the cost of building Wembley but for me it knocks spots of the Millennium Stadium although I'm not sure it justifies the difference in build costs.

There will be a slightly more important game at Wembley this weekend as it's the FA Cup Final. Cardiff have done brilliantly to get to the final but I think it will be one step too far as I can't see Portsmouth giving up the chance to play in Europe too easily. One of the main reasons for Portsmouth's success this season has been their defence. David James, Sol Campbell, Sylvain Distin and Glen Johnson have all had an excellent season so I'm going for a Portsmouth clean sheet at [2.16].

While congratulations are in order to the FA for freeing themselves from the stranglehold of the Big Four, however temporarily, does anyone know what to expect from the freakish pairing of Cardiff with Portsmouth? The Contrarian believes the open top bus will be needed in Wales....

Portsmouth suck at the moment

Perhaps Portsmouth's massive dip in form - one point from their last five games, culminating in four consecutive defeats - could be explained by their focus on the FA Cup, but once teams start losing it is hard for them to get out of the habit.

In the first 33 league games of the season Portsmouth averaged 1.70 points a game. Had they maintained this tempo they would have finished fifth instead of eighth, but they only managed a demoralising 0.2 points a game in their last five.

Cardiff have some momentum

Cardiff didn't let their semi-final win get to their heads anywhere near as much as Portsmouth and lost just two of their final six, despite having less at stake in the league than Pompey.

They also ended their season on a high with a 3-0 victory over Barnsley. Incidentally, the last four cup finalists to score three or more in their final league game before the final have gone on to win - Liverpool (2006), Arsenal (2003), Chelsea (2000) and Manchester United (1996).

Cardiff have the edge in attack

It seems odd to suggest the Championship side are more prolific but Portsmouth have only scored two in their last six (0.33 a game) compared to Cardiff's 12 and despite Portsmouth having a successful season, they failed to score in 10 of their 19 home games.

Just to show that Portsmouth's flaccidity in front of goal wasn't entirely down to facing tougher defences, both teams faced Premier League opposition once in the FA Cup, but Cardiff scored ten in five games compared to Portsmouth's six.

Of course, Portsmouth did find a solution...

Portsmouth's problems eased up in 2008 as Jermain Defoe arrived to score eight in his first seven games. Undoubtedly a shrewd bit of a business from Harry, but there's one small problem - he can't play in the FA Cup because he appeared for Tottenham in January.

And it's not like Portsmouth can turn to anyone else to fill the void because second-top scorer Nwankwo Kanu has grabbed just six goals in 30 games as a striker. Milan Baros arrived in January but has yet to score in 15 appearances while flop Dave Nugent has scored three in 21, two of which came in League Cup games. Maybe letting 12-goal striker Benjani move in January wasn't their best idea...

The Premier League-Championship pendulum

The Championship has gone toe-to-toe with the Premier League throughout this year's tournament and not flinched. There have been 17 Premiership-Championship ties in this year's FA Cup, and ignoring the matches that went to replays, both divisions triumphed seven times, with three draws.

What's more, the advantage has swung with the rhythmic precision of a Swiss timepiece. In round three the Premier League came out on top (6-2), in round four, the Championship (2-1). Then in round five it was the Premier League's turn again (2-1) before the Championship took charge in the quarters (2-0). Portsmouth's victory over West Brom handed the advantage to the Premier League in the semis, but now in the final it's the Championship's turn to win.

And if you want a lucky omen thrown in...

The last two big games at Wembley - the Community Shield and the League Cup Final - have been won by the team travelling the longer distance.

Top Dog says:

The Mail and Sun are both on the ball with gossip from Portsmouth that Harry Redknapp might be thinking of quitting after the FA Cup final. Friends say Pompey's boss is down and disillusioned after the police raid on his home and then the sudden death of his sister-in-law Pat Lampard. But, while the Mail leaves it to chief football writer Matt Lawton to speculate on Redknapp's future, the Sun has asked him direct and his response is: 'I want to go on as long as Alex Ferguson and I don't see why I can't.' Harry remains firm favourite to take the first major trophy of his long management career - Pompey are [1.35] to be Cup winners.

Crufts:

The Sun - Adebayor: I'm staying a Gunner - Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor insists he's not looking to follow Mathieu Flamini out of the exit door. 'I am off to Togo on Thursday but will return for pre-season training in July. I love Arsenal and will be here next season.' Good news at last for Arsene Wenger

Daily Mail - I'm a keeper so no wonder I'm misunderstood - Matt Barlow gets the best interview of the day, a long chat with Arsenal's departing Jens Lehmann about the science of goalkeeping, why they are all misunderstood, and his coaching ambitions. Germany are [5.3] favourites to win Euro 2008

Daily Express - Arsenal DO want Stan's sort now - Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood reveals he's changed his mind about the potential for American sports tycoon Stan Kroenke to join the board at The Emirates. Arsenal have got to resolve their problems behind the scenes and this suggests a first move to doing it.

Daily Mirror - Avram's turning into Jose - All the papers report Avram Grant's claim that Sir Alex Ferguson influences referees and got into the mind of Steve Bennett on the final day of the season. The Mirror headline sums up his rant best! He reckons Fergie won't be able to influence the ref in Moscow because he won't be English. Don't count on it!

Pedigree Chum:

The Sun - Drogba: I wanted to strike - More revelations from Didier Drogba's new book. He says he nearly refused to play in this season's Champions League in protest at the exit of Jose Mourinho. Just try telling him he can't play in the final now!!

The Sun - He's in with a squeak - Top Dog liked this story about how Cardiff defender Kevin McNaughton went to their FA Cup final record recording session dressed in a cartoon outfit. David Facey says he's been installed as the Bluebirds danger man - or at least their Danger Mouse! Cardiff are [3.8] to be the first Cup winners from outside the top flight since West Ham in 1980

Daily Star - Leo: It's a Mow-go zone - Poland boss Leo Beenhakker has told young midfielder Radoslaw Majewski not to join West Bromwich Albion because he fears a relegation fight won't help the 21-year-old's long term career. West Brom boss Tony Mowbray is in talks about a £1.5m move for the promising young star

Daily Star - Fans win SOS fight for Copp - The Star says Steve Coppell has agreed to stay at Reading because of the support he's had from fans who launched a special website pleading for him not to quit. Coppell's own quote is not quite so convincing at the moment: 'I am the manager and my overwhelming feeling is I have let people down, but I was touched by the reception I received.'

Daily Star - Lee driven by final agony - Bristol City's Lee Trundle recalls how he stayed on the pitch to watch Barnsley get their medals after losing a play-off final with Swansea to inspire himself not to suffer the same hurt again. Trundle's side are now [2.22] to be promoted, with Hull the [1.81] favourites.

Daily Mirror - Sven can spice up Mexico - Sven Goran Eriksson has been offered the chance to coach Mexico to the World Cup. The £4.5million a year deal is another option when the axe eventually falls at Manchester City

Daily Mail - Winning this Cup will bring Harry the respect he deserves - Ivan Speck gets a good, detailed interview with Tony Adams about his working life with Harry Redknapp. Interesting read.

Daily Express - O'Neill on warpath over Barry - Martin O'Neill warns he'll dig his heels in and refuse to let Gareth Barry move to Anfield even if he wants to, especially if Rafa Benitez won't improve his £10million cash and players offer.

Dog' s Dinner:

The Sun - Rafa eyes £10m Flo - Ian McGarry reckons Liverpool are trying to buy Florent Malouda from Chelsea. Don't count on it happening, especially as the story also says it depends on the Reds being taken over by Dubai International Capital to provide enough cash for the deal

Daily Star - Puyol's bait in Barca Fab bid - You'd think we've got enough of our own speculation without importing some from Spain. Danny Fullbrook recycles gossip from Barcelona that Carles Puyol will be used as bait in a swop deal for Cesc Fabregas. Don't believe a word

Today's Other Headlines:

The Sun - United title was reffin' fix - Roar power - Walter Euro woe - Some refs can be influenced - Trundle's pain gain - Barmby army - Rangers bid ends in heartbreak - Diarra Lassana interview.

Daily Express - Ref gave the title to Fergie claims Grant - Hull go marching on - Adebayer: I'm happy at Arsenal - Drogba thought of going on strike - Smith's men fall at final hurdle - Trundle magic can take City up - Ridsdale now hailed by McPhail

Daily Star - I knew ref would hand title to United - Hull Nick it - Gers flop - Cup final shows I was right to quit Guns says Lassana Diarra - Nicky gets Hull party going - Crouch key to Barry bid

Daily Mirror - Running Cardiff is more stressful than Leeds says Peter Ridsdale - The high of the Tigers - Walter robbed of Euro dream - Trundle's Wembley mission - Shevchenko a target for Fenerbahce - Yaya Toure could join brother Kolo at Arsenal

Daily Mail - Final farewell - Igor Blimey we lost - Fergie sways referees claims Grant - Rampaging Tigers end Aidy dream

The Betfair market has Leeds as favourites to win this evening's game, at odds of around [2.46]. I can totally understand why - but the [3.65] about the draw or [3.0] to back Carlisle to win at home both appeal more to me, frankly. If I had to come down on something, it'd be the draw, which would mean the Cumbrians taking their place at Wembley for a place in the Championship.

Team news is reasonably light with the reliable David Raven available after suspension for Carlisle, although I wonder whether they are really going to change a winning side? Jermaine Beckford, the Whites' top goalscorer, will play through pain in his ankle and veteran midfielder Alan Thompson might also be in the shake-up if boss Gary McAllister feels he needs to turn to experienced heads.

Leeds fans were superb near the end of the home leg, still getting right behind their side who'd disappointed them on the night. And that vociferous support will be in full choral order at Brunton Park tonight, willing their side on.

However I can't see a goal-laden affair with wily perma-tanned fox John Ward in charge of the home side. Under 2.5 goals is [1.83] to back in the Over/Under 2.5 goals stakes and that's my suggestion. It's about [2.16] for the Overs if, like last night's KC Stadium goal fest, you reckon an early one for either side might open the floodgates. The slightly illogical cover to that is to back Over 4.5 goals - a [7.2] shot - since if there's one there's likely to be a few more!

Freedman was the pick last time but I fancy Beckford might be in on the act at some point. Not in the best of touch, trends haven't seem to matter too much over these two-legged ties and I like the [3.15] you can get for backing him To Score at any time. He's a more generous [6.8] if you think he'll bag the first of the night.

For the hosts, meanwhile, Scott Dobie - enjoying some good karma in a second spell with the Blues after flopping everywhere else - is [5.0] to notch during the game and it'd be a good tale if he did. Things like that, like Nick Barmby helping get his boyhood club to Wembley, tend to happen in these games so include Dobie I reckon.

The Half Time/Full Time market is a tough place to invest - reflected by the fact that the shortest-priced back on there is Draw/Leeds at about [5.7]. Good luck if you're getting involved there - I think Something/Draw is the way to go so go with your hunch.

I've tipped up playing in the Sending Off market unsuccessfully a couple of times this week - but god loves a trier, eh? Let's have another go this evening as these two northern hard-nuts clash. It's [4.2] to see a red card brandished and a fiery opening start to the match would do us no harm if you join me in taking a chance on this scenario.

There's one other market I'd like to draw your attention to - especially if you're among those who feel Leeds can peg back this deficit but that the Cumbrians won't ultimately surrender: the Method of Victory list. The preserve of second legs such as this is knock-out competitions, which the play-offs effectively are, all the possible outcomes are covered.

So how about dabbling with penalties. Carlisle to prevail on spot-kicks is [14.0] to back while Leeds are [12.5] to do the same. If the Whites win by the odd goal and it goes through extra-time, you can relax in profit as you watch heroes and villains created. We haven't had a shootout yet - could tonight be the night?

Has a team ever reached the play-offs having won just once in their most recent 15 matches? Doubtful in the extreme - but it just shows what a scintillating start they had to the season, a beginning which ultimately proved sufficient for them to be playing a part in the end.

The Tigers, meanwhile, 2-0 up from the first leg, would appear to have their team coach half-way along the M18 en route to Wembley. Of course, their manager Phil Brown and some of their players came out with the normal clap-trap about it only being half-time, blah blah blah. But no team at this level has ever turned around a two-goal deficit away from home. Are Watford really about to win by two clear goals for the first time since New Year's Day?

The overriding favourites to progress, then, are Hull; but should they be considered the most likely winners tonight? Well over the year it's the Hornets who boast the most impressive away record and, even during their barren spell, they were still turning in rugged performances and collecting draws on their travels. But it's their lack of goals - just five in their last 11 games - which suggests they're going to struggle to pull this round.

The draw on the night, a [3.6] shot, looks to me the best of the three options, with a City home win backable at [2.24] and a Watford success priced at [3.5]. The Correct Score market sees 1-1 at [7.6] to back and, for me, that's the sort of scenario I can foresee at a rocking KC Stadium tonight.

It's well documented that Kingston-upon-Hull is the biggest city in Europe without a football team in its national game's top-flight, and there's probably a feeling of now or never about their challenge for a Premier League spot, especially on the back of 'form' team Crystal Palace losing at Bristol City last night.

City have no need to press too far forward and can even afford to lose the game by the odd goal but Brown will probably take the view attack is the best form of defence since Watford's rear-guard is far from impermeable. So perhaps a score like 2-2, at [21.0], or maybe the [14.0] about a 2-1 away win are other scores worth covering.

If you followed this website for the home leg, you might have included the suggestion of Dean Windass to score - albeit First Goalscorer was the tip. Have him on your side again in what will be a pressure-cooker atmosphere. He's well used to these situations and rates a [3.4] chance To Score at any time. Hornets' Player of the Season Tommy Smith is the man to side with for the visitors. Back him at [6.8], odds from the same list.

Watford know they've got to make a rip-roaring start to get the nerves fraying in the east riding of Yorkshire. If we follow their desire into our punting, perhaps the [4.1] about them leading at Half Time looks a touch of value, in my opinion.

There was a suggestion of getting involved in the Sending Off market for the City-Palace tie last night - and, truth be told, Betfair punters should have been collecting when the Eagles' Clint Hill lunged in studs up. However Howard Webb's a bit more lenient than Mark Clattenburg, tonight's referee, so have another go at backing a red card; [4.5] to happen at the KC cauldron this evening.

The Over/Under 2.5 goals market is again a tight read. Unders are at [1.74] and Overs about [2.32]. This is a tough call since it largely depends what approach the Tigers take. If you were going to dabble in the goals, maybe [4.4] might tempt you for Over 3.5 goals in that list but I can't necessarily see that myself.

Will there be that early goal? It's [5.7] to back it to happen from 0-10 minutes and that would be a cautious recommendation, however if Watford are to prevail you fancy almost a necessity.

This is going to be a cracker - the Hornets can't afford it to be anything else.

Top Dog says:

Cup Final week moves on and The Mirror's coverage is clever today. James Nursey was in Cardiff doing a shared interview with Robbie Fowler in which the former Liverpool legend blames David James for choosing to wear those horrible white suits in the infamous 'Spice Boys' final of 1996. Meanwhile, John Cross had an exclusive sit down with Portsmouth's goalkeeper who insisted he wasn't the man who committed football's most famous fashion crime. Pompey are massive [1.36] favourites to win the Cup, and [2.14] to keep a clean sheet. James looks certain to be fit despite missing the final day.

Crufts:

The Sun - You lied to me - Extracts from Didier Drogba's new book, on sale in France today, give a fascinating insight into Jose Mourinho's management. Drogba reveals he tried to set up a move to Milan in his early days at Chelsea and what happened when Mourinho found out.

Daily Mail - Pride of our Ally - The Mail are the one paper to give significant space to the UEFA Cup final. Odd that the others have treated as a Scottish event, given it's live on TV and will command a big audience. Andy Townsend's interview with his old ITV chum Ally McCoist makes good reading. Rangers look good value at [4.0] to win in 90 minutes and [2.62] to take the trophy

Pedigree Chum:

The Sun - Pay up or you'll kiss goodbye to Cesc - Arsenal legend Patrick Vieira delivers a damning verdict to his old boss Arsene Wenger on the potential break-up of the club's squad as others look to follow Mathieu Flamini for big pay days elsewhere. Worrying stuff for Gunners' fans.

The Sun - Gary's final fever - Many years ago all the papers produced West country editions but none of them do these days. So well done to the Sun who made use of their new printing presses to do a Bristol special as a one-off to give last night's play-off semi the full Premier League treatment. Andrew Dillon's match report makes good reading. City are now [2.24] to win the prize of promotion, though Hull remain [1.95] favourites.

Daily Mail - Drogba blast - More Drogba, this time pinched from an interview in French newspaper L'Equipe which was also done to promote his book. He says complacency in the last minutes of games with Aston Villa, Everton and Wigan - as well as Bolton on Sunday - cost eight points. Revenge is the aim in Moscow. Chelsea are [2.2] to lift the big old European Cup. United remain [1.82] favourites.

Daily Mail - Schwarzer is our man say Juventus - Claudio Ranieri has been quietly recruiting from the Premier League and Juventus say that Middlesbrough goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer will follow Aston Villa's Olof Mellberg by moving to Turin when his contract runs out. Bad news for Boro.

Daily Express - Kapo a £3m target for Bruce - Peace is slowly breaking out at Birmingham but there's still problems ahead for Alex McLeish. Steve Bruce will cherry pick the best of his old players for Wigan and is chasing former Juventus midfielder Olivier Kapo

Daily Star - Brown's 12 years of agony - Hull boss Phil Brown recalls that he's blown a 2-0 first leg play-off lead before when he was a player at Blackpool in 1996, losing the second game at home to Bradford. Watford are [3.45] to win in 90 minutes at the KC Stadium tonight. Hull are an incredibly short [1.09] to reach Wembley.

Dog' s Dinner:

The Sun - London's too noisy - More evidence of attempts by Arsenal stars to get away. Alexander Hleb's agent says his man wants to move because he's 'tired of the noisy and chaotic life in London.' He'll clearly be much happier living in traffic free, peaceful Milan.

Daily Mail - Hart and Robinson in keeper swap deal - Spurs are said to be lining up a bid for Manchester City's soon to be England goalkeeper Joe Hart. But why would anybody in charge of Manchester City agree to that? File under 'stories that won't happen'.

Today's Other Headlines:

The Sun - Keep white outta sight - Wemblee - Phil pain is Tigers gain - Ally's UEFA dream.

Daily Express - We threw title away says Drogba - Trundle is tops for City - Final shot suits Fowler - Cristiano is my guide says Utaka.

Daily Star - Wild Drog - Harry Redknapp interview - Utaka: I want to Ron riot - James made us look white stupid - We must keep Ashton says Rob Green - Evra revved up for glory - A nice pair of Bristols! - Walt: Let's win Scot prize.

Daily Mirror - Fergie will kop the lot says Roy Keane - Drog: We were too smug - Evra on the Champions League final - Smith aiming to upset the Advocaat - Vieira warns Wenger to splash the cash - A Wemb-Lee goal hero.

Daily Mail - Bristol City Trundle all the way to Wembley - Club by club review of the season - We're still motoring promises Evra - Zenit's racist fans cast shadow over final - Warnock so proud as Jagielka called up - Can Robbie add spice to final fling?

Throughout the latter part of the season a number of topics have been highlighted and discussed with the use of statistical data. A handful have been revisited below as they have been proven to find YOU winners and, what's more, they will do so time and again in the future.

Whether you're a backer or a layer. If it's in-running or ante-post you prefer, there's something for everyone in these articles. Read them at your leisure, come back to them later for updates as to your own betting techniques but do make sure to approach your betting on Betfair with some knowledge of these discussions. After all, being better informed than the next backer is what it's all about.

Below you'll see half a dozen previous features which cover different areas of football betting. Study them and see how they can generate money when applied to the markets which YOU regularly use on Betfair.

Consistently Inconsistent - Why Don't All Referees Act The Same Way?

We posed the argument that the number of cards shown in a match is determined more by the referee, than the match itself. Strange, we argued that some arbiters always seem to get 'quiet' games. We suggested that if the 'nice' Mark Halsey reffed the recent Liverpool v Man City match then the make-up of cards could very well be low. He did officiate this match. And the number of cards? None. See the figures for yourself.

Correct Score Trends - The Search For Reliable Form

By comparing the correct score results of teams in general week-to-week league play, with their previous head-to-head form with a specific opponent, we endeavoured to calculate the most likely results of certain matches. We chose one match from each division ... and made a profit. You too can use this technique to increase your chances of success when analysing league, cup of even international matches.

First Goalscorer - Are You Getting Full Value For Your Bet?

Again, simple analysis highlights good/bad value. The prime example in this market was Cristiano Ronaldo, a player constantly over-priced in the first goalscorer market. Yes, this may have been a 'freakish' run by the Portuguese player but it brought to light the simple fact that when you put statistics and betting markets side by side, often you'll see blindingly obvious value staring you in the face. Read more and see what you're missing!

Football Betting Really Is A Game Of Two Halves

The HT/FT bet is a favourite of many Betfair backers. However, it's another market to treat with caution. Do your homework and understand that whilst it may appear the easy way to turn a 90 minute win bet at [1.50] into a HT/FT bet that pays [2.5] it's not quite as easy as that. Even the best of sides don't win both halves as often as you'd expect and even the worst don't lose that many times either ...

The 'Top' And 'Bottom' Of Making Money This Weekend

There are many ways to assess matches - lineups, current form, previous meetings, home/away statistics etc. This line of investigation split the Premier League into two halves, top and bottom, and illustrated how Sunderland [3.3], Chelsea [1.8], Aston Villa [1.72] etc were the good things of the day. It's all about adding more layers of analysis to your betting and so making it better informed and more profitable!

Goals Change Games - But When Are They Scored?

A great article for you in-running backers. The spread of goals scored in matches, in terms of minutes, offers a great avenue for profit when you have the facts and figures at your fingertips. Did you know the highest percentage of goals are scored in the last 15 minutes of a game? And the lowest in the first 15 minutes. Read this article and see why so many Betfair markets are open to in-running trades, given the right information.

And the wonderful thing about football betting? The fact that after one season ends we don't have to wait too long until a new one swings into view.

The topics covered here are timeless and with just a quick refresher as to the current statistics they can make you money match-by-match, week-by-week, season-by-season.

Enjoy your football betting on Betfair ... but do make it pay!

The City of Manchester Stadium is the venue for this one so it's a relatively short journey for the team and also the 100,000 supporters who are expected to follow the side south.

The Russians are favourites in the outright market on [1.66] at present with Rangers out at [2.5]. This is a position Rangers will be comfortable with as they have been underdogs in each of the last four rounds against Panathinaikos, Werder Bremen, Sporting Lisbon and of course Fiorentina. Their opponents were also the outsiders as they manoeuvred their way past Villarreal, Marseille, Bayer Leverkusen and the mighty Bayern Munich so how will they cope with the not so familiar favourites tag?

They certainly won't be feeling tired since the Russian FA postponed all of their domestic fixtures between the semi-final 2nd leg thumping of Bayern Munich and the final. They did however play a friendly at the weekend in manger Dick Advocaat's native Holland and managed a 2-2 draw with AZ Alkmaar. Pavel Pogrebnyak came off the bench to net St Petersburg's second but the striker who is joint top scorer in the competition with Luca Toni on 10 goals is suspended for the final and this will be a huge boost for Rangers.

There was a fitness worry surrounding Kevin Thomson after the weekend but the midfielder should make it in time to forge a central trio with Brahim Hemdani and Captain Barry Ferguson. Steve Davis will provide drive from one of the wide positions and with Jean Claude Darcheville likely to be the lone man up front this could leave manager Walter Smith with only two remaining berths for Kirk Broadfoot, Steven Whittaker and Nacho Novo.

Novo has been an effective substitute this season but he has been a more regular starter recently. His contribution on Saturday's home game with Dundee United simply cannot be ignored, combining sheer effort and determination with the classy finish for Rangers second in the 3-1 win.

Whittaker is benefiting from a run in the team and has performed well in the last few rounds of this competition but if Novo starts the only place left for him would be in place of Broadfoot at right back. Smith likes a settled defence but he may be tempted to opt for Whittaker's pace here and slot him into a back four with regulars Weir, Cuellar and Sasa Papac. I would certainly like to see this happen.

Whether or not this match finishes in 90 minutes or not is anyone's guess really. There is value to be had if you have a hunch either way here as "favourites" Zenit sit out at [2.36] in the match odds with Rangers an even bigger [3.65] and those who fancy the match to go to extra time may like the look of the [3.25] on offer. For me the Asian Handicap Market offers the best value on Rangers however and I like the look of Rangers -0 at [2.49] as extra-time could well be required.

As a supporter the last thing I want to see is Rangers conceding first obviously - but it's paramount for the current side that they don't. Rangers' win are based on a sound defence, scoring the first goal and then hopefully nicking a second late on. With that in mind, the 2-0 is catching my eye in the correct score market at [23.0]. A 3-2 Gers win, just like in Barcelona, is certainly one for the nostalgic amongst us and might be worth a tiny nibble at [60.0] as history has a habit of repeating itself now and again.

The supporters really can be a 12th man for Rangers here. Ok, it's a bit of a football cliché but even ex-Rangers boss Dick Advocaat has admitted as much saying the match will be like a home game for Rangers. At home in this competition Rangers have played to concede nothing and snatch what they can up front and I don't see it being any different here.

Between now and the 08/09 league season commencing we've got a UEFA Cup Final, a Champions League Final, FA and Scottish Cup Finals, three play-off Finals, Euro 08, the Intertoto Cup, the Amsterdam Tournament, and an invasion of England's finest club teams to far out places like China and Los Angeles...all in the name of football, oh, and in some cases, money!

First up is the UEFA Cup Final on Wednesday evening, between Zenit St Petersburg (champions of Russia) and Rangers at the City of Manchester Stadium. After being matched at a high of [250.0], Zenit are now favourites to lift the trophy at just [1.66], while Rangers, who were matched at a high of [95.0], can now be backed at [2.5] to win their second trophy of the season in their quest to win an unprecedented quadruple - they are [1.82] to win the Scottish Premiership and just [1.11] to beat Queen of the South in the Scottish Cup Final.

If you're anything like me and a fan of football, then you won't care that a big English, Italian or Spanish team won't take to the field on Wednesday, after all, this match presents some real opportunities to make a profit.

This is because at first glance, the [2.34] about Zenit St Petersburg in the 'Match Odds' market looks very tasty indeed. A closer inspection taints my confidence slightly however, with the knowledge that Pavel Pogrebnyak (Zenit's main striker and the tournament's joint top scorer) is suspended for the final. The sensible option therefore is to lay Rangers in the same market at [3.75] because I don't believe that Walter Smith's men can pull this one off - not in 90 minutes anyway. If you disagree, Rangers can be backed at [3.7] with the draw likely to be a popular choice at [3.25].

The reason I'm so heavily swaying towards a Zenit St Petersburg triumph is because of two factors. The first being their hugely impressive two-legged victory over Bayern Munich in the semi-final. To go to Munich and get a score-draw against a re-emerging Bayern team (who are 10 points clear in the Bundesliga by the way) was an achievement in itself, but to demolish them 4-0 in the return leg was simply awesome.

The second factor that should point us towards a Zenit victory is freshness. The Russian Premier League allowed Zenit to cancel some fixtures to help them prepare them for this game - the SPL didn't allow Rangers the same privilege, and it seems that every time I switch the TV on, Rangers are playing someone. Adrenalin and the occasion should give the Rangers player a boost, but if at any stage they fall behind and need to chase the game I think their recent exertions will take their toll.

What we shouldn't underestimate is Rangers' ability to defend, with David Weir and Carlos Cuellar being outstanding throughout the campaign. Out of their eight UEFA Cup fixtures, Rangers have kept six clean sheets and had four 0-0 scorelines. It would make sense to cover any Zenit win bets with the [8.0] on offer about this match finishing goalless. Favourite in the correct score market is a 1-0 ([7]) win for the Russian team, closely followed by the 1-1 draw at [7.2].

Because of the amount of times Rangers have drew a blank, a Zenit clean sheet appeals at odds of [2.52] - for Rangers not to concede you can have [3.3].

I'm sure Walter Smith will allude to Zenit's sketchy form in the group stages in the build up to kick-off, but Dick Advocaat (who spent four years at Rangers of course) has seen his side improve dramatically in this competition of late, including that win over Bayern and an impressive 4-1 away victory at Bayer Leverkusen last month. Because of Zenit's ability to score, and Rangers' ability to defend, it makes the 'Over/Under 2.5 Goals' market very difficult to predict. 'Over' is available to back at [2.56], 'Under' is [1.61] - you decide!

With Pogrebnyak absent, Rangers will have to keep a careful eye on Zenit playmaker Andrei Arshavin who will be at the heart of all his team's attacks. If you must play in the first goalscorer market, then you will do worse than back the diminutive Russian at around [9.0] once the market takes shape.

You can watch Rangers road to Manchester and Zenit's demolition of Bayern (with commentary as it should be) by clicking the links below:

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=nrP9FWGKtM8
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=-zR1y2_amKo

Top Dog says: The action on the pitch in the Premier League might have finished, but that means the transfer window's open and the agents are clambering through it. This morning's papers are full of stories that have been set up by people trying to do business. Real Madrid have let the Mirror believe they've got £100million ready to sign Cristiano Ronaldo and there's a chance of it happening. Michael Owen's people have told the Mail he'll quit Newcastle rather than take a pay cut. Petr Cech's agent has suggested to the Sun that a top European club is ready to pay £32million for him if he doesn't get a thumping pay rise at Stamford Bridge. Meanwhile, Chelsea have got in first by completing the £16million signing of Portugal international Jose Bosingwa. That's a lot of money for a right back, especially when you've already spent upwards of £20million on left back Ashley Cole.

Cruft's: Daily Mail - Owen alert - Newcastle leaked the news last week that if Michael Owen wants a new contract he'll have to take a pay cut. Not surprisingly Owen's people are leaking back the view that he'll look for another club rather than drop £2million a year in earnings. It's the first shots in the summer contract negotiations, but does suggest that other clubs will be watching closely. Significantly Owen's people are suggesting he would move to another ambitious team outside the top four.

Daily Mail - Johnson's faith in the Palace old boy on line - Turns out that Darren Cann, assistant referee at Ashton Gate tonight, began his football career as an apprentice at Crystal Palace. City boss Gary Johnson says he's got no problem with that. He wouldn't have. After being outed as an ex-Eagle, Cann will be under pressure not to give any decision that might suggest bias towards Neil Warnock's side.

Pedigree Chum:Daily Express - Wary Redknapp is playing for time - Harry 'down to the bare bones' Redknapp is never slow to grumble about injury problems, but he could have a point. David James still hasn't trained, and Sol Campbell has a hamstring injury. Pompey have lost their impetus since reaching Wembley, but are still [1.8] to win the Cup in 90 minutes.

Daily Star - Jonno's our special one - Bristol City midfielder David Noble (did you see that sensational Selhurst Park goal?) says Gary Johnson is every bit as special as Jose Mourinho. He's got to prove it tonight by protecting a 2-1 play-off lead at Ashton Gate. City are [2.8] to win over 90 minutes, virtually the same price as Neil Warnock's palace. City are [3.3] to be promoted with Hull [2.1] favourites

Daily Star - Deano's in dark over deal - The Star were first to report that Dean Ashton is unsettled at West Ham, and stay on the ball with the story. Ashton wants talks with boss Alan Curbishley this week to know how he fits in the club's future plans.

Daily Mail - Queudrue showdown as the air turns blue - Birmingham owner David Sullivan went on Sky Sports News to accuse Steve Bruce of signing rubbish last summer and named Franck Queudrue as the worst of them. The former Middlesbrough defender rang a radio station to air his views about Sullivan. Not exactly a club going down with dignity!

Daily Mail - You can all go, rants Jewell - Master of motivation Paul Jewell told his team they could all leave for nothing at the end of Sunday's 4-0 drubbing by Reading. Neil Ashton has the lowdown on his dressing room explosion.

The Sun - Megs hits £750k jackpot - Here's the other side of the relegation coin. Gary Megson collected a cool three quarters of a million bonus for keeping Bolton in the top league.

Dog' s dinner: Daily Express - Moscow or die - Top Dog got a first edition of the Express and hopes somebody changed the back page headline, and story, later. Why lead on mundane quotes from Mikel John Obi about 'do or die' in the Champions League final on the day Chelsea had spent £16million on Jose Bosingwa.

Daily Express - £1bn deal as League cashes in on drama - Harry Harris pulls off one of his favourite tricks, making routine look like a story. Talks about the next foreign TV rights deal are due to begin next year and, guess what, Premier League boss Richard Scudamore will be looking for even more money for them!

Today's other headlines: The Sun - Chelsea beat United to £16m star - Giggs drove us to glory - Fergie: this side will get better and better - Ian Wright column - Leeds Doug out of a hole - Batch of beery blokes won't drive us out says Karren Brady

Daily Express - Cruellest cut hurts Ferguson - Alan Curbishley column - Distin out to avoid any more shocks - Fowler given a final deadline - Sullivan: My boys will have final say

Daily Star - Fergie's 7 'n hell - Blues steal in for £16m Bos - We'll be kicking lumps out of each other in Moscow says Ryan Giggs - You'll feel Ful force promises Bullard - I want to hit Cup final winner says Cardiff's Joe Ledley

Daily Mirror - Real chief: We'll sign £100m Ronaldo - You can Av it - Wags to riches - I can be United's supersub like Ole and Teddy in '99 says Ryan Giggs - Rubbish and a waste of space is Sullivan verdict on Bruce signings - Freedman gives Leeds hope - Spurs get Woodgate warning

Daily Mail - Class of 08 is best ever - Sir Alex puts the party on hold and aims for final - Chelsea go for another Jose - Carlisle hit top form to leave Leeds trailing

I made the point in the Leeds-Carlisle preview that no more than three goals had been scored in any of the games and the biggest winning margin was 2-0. Here we have a match-up poised on a knife-edge despite two late goals - one for each side - at Selhurst Park sending the Over 2.5 goals backers into ecstasy without materially changing the state of the tie. Away goals, thankfully, do not count double at any stage.

A bit of a cop-out it may be, but I'm finding it almost impossible to resolve in my mind the likely outcome of what will be a match played in a white-hot atmosphere after folk from both camps enjoyed a little dummy-throwing in the heat at Selhurst Park last Saturday lunchtime.

Normally I can see a scoreline - or at least result - in my mind's eye but I just can't get to that point with this one. The Match Odds reflect my indecision I feel, with City [2.84] to back, Palace [2.78] and the Draw at [3.35] - all 90-minute betting don't forget.

Lee Johnson's likely to return from injury for the hosts while defender Matt Lawrence could be available again for the visitors - neither piece of team news makes any real difference to proceedings so it's as you were in terms of squad strength, save for Palace being without the injured forward James Scowcroft.

It may pay to stay clear of selecting the likely victor and involve yourself in other markets surrounding this mouth-watering clash. I'm going to stick with my Eagles' goalscoring choice from leg one, teenage winger Victor Moses, to register on the night. He's at [4.7] in the To Score list, and a more unlikely [10.5] to be the First Goalscorer. I think the former offers enough of a return for your investment.

As for City, it's kind of the night someone with the mercurial talent of a Lee Trundle might shine - so let's put him in the mix from the To Score list at odds of [3.8]. Unlikely goal here Louis Carey, the City centre-half, is a fancy [22.0] to score at any time. The loyal Robins' servant couldn't double his season's tally, could he?

There is one result-driven market I'm prepared to have an interest on - the Half-Time result. Whilst there'll be plenty of blood & thunder early on at Ashton Gate, I think Gary Johnson will be keeping it unusually tight for him, happy to play on the counter-attack. Therefore can I point you in the direction of the Draw at around [2.14] to back. City are [3.15] and Palace [3.2] if, unlike me, you can see an interval leader.

Will there be lots of goals or not? Dunno, depends what happens early on. A quick one from the visitors gives them momentum and would probably force City out of their likely sit-and-wait game-plan. The 2.5 goals market is tight with Unders a [1.73] chance and Overs at [2.32]. I don't have a strong feeling either way for this, the first of the second legs, but both managers are by nature quite attack-minded so perhaps the Overs is where it's at.

Whatever the detail, this will be a fractious affair. On the Robins' website, Johnson's been cranking it up by suggesting the stuff Neil Warnock's saying is inspiring his players to do better. Whether that proves so or not, I really fancy a sending-off. Get stuck into the [5.0] available for at least one red card to be shown.

Ultimately, though, after all my pontificating, there really is something special about Neil Warnock - and no, you don't have to like him to say that. So while it'd have to be a Palace victory to force this scenario, I can picture the man leading his side out at Wembley, that's just the way I see it. So I'm going to make my final selection Crystal Palace in the To Qualify match-up. They're priced at [3.3], which is too generous for a (albeit lop-sided) two-horse race, in my humblest of opinions. Good luck!

In top-flight English football history there has never been a wide player or winger who has scored 40 goals and yet created so many chances for others. An astonishing fact that cannot be truly valued or measured!

Ronaldo's game goes from strength to strength with every season as he gains more experience on the domestic and international stages. His repertoire of tricks and array of skills continue to leave opposition defenders and fans all over the world mesmerised. This two-footed player has taken his game to a different level with his surging runs and spectacular dribbling performed at blistering pace. Oh, and he will run his socks off for the sake of the team!

If Manchester United achieve the Champions League and the Premier League double Cristiano Ronaldo and his team mates will each get a bonus of £250,000. That was agreed by the club's owners last summer. I think they will collect this bonus. Current Betfair odds for the Champions League Final on 21 May 2008 show: Manchester United [2.66] Chelsea [3.15] Draw [3.15].

A word of disappointment for Manchester United fans is that Ronaldo will move to Real Madrid within the next two to three years. A bandwagon will appear on the skyline and it will gather momentum until Sir Alex will not be able to cope with the disruption, irritated he will concede the move! Ronaldo has always believed it is his destiny to play in the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.

At the other end of the scale I witnessed the worst team that have ever graced the Premiership - Derby County. How did they get there in the first place? Rumours of playing ringers during their promotion from the Championship are surely codswallop but the mind does boggle!

For the record, they have won once in 38 Premiership matches scoring 20 goals in total. They set a new record for the lowest points total in the Premier League era.

The danger for Derby County Football Club is freefall and Paul Jewell (now 25 games without a win) will have to work hard next season to arrest it. Despite finishing bottom they will bank £60m so beware a massive clear out of players starting this Monday morning. I advise them to forget about winning the Championship next year and consolidate with a sensible three-year plan.

Talking about relegation, Birmingham fans were furious with the board as they dropped out of the top flight after one season. McLeish struggled and failed to prove himself and now knows the difference between English and Scottish football. Congratulations had to go to Fulham and Roy Hodgson, what a Houdini act to escape the drop that was. I cannot remember anyone getting out of a concrete overcoat before! My sympathy goes to Steve Coppell and Reading, not sure they deserved to go down but then the League does not lie...

The under achievers for me were Liverpool. Although much loved on Merseyside, Rafael Benítez's team selections were bizarre. Along with his obsession of zonal marking he cost his club points if not a final in the Champions League. His neighbour David Moyes had proof that despite his best efforts it will be impossible for his team to break into the top four! There is a foray into the UEFA Cup to look forward to, but I am not sure where he goes from here.

Portsmouth did as well as could be expected, but expect them to struggle next season exchanging positions with Tottenham. Iffy Manchester City owner Thaksin Shinawatra humiliated Eriksson telling him 'he was not the right man for the job'. Fickle fans will wait for a new appointment before deciding on a backlash or not.

Once again the referees have taken centre stage this season for all the wrong reasons. It is a perennial thing but one that infuriates all spectators alike who crave consistency. Bad refereeing decisions can cost clubs championships, points, tens of millions of pounds and sometimes the manager's job. It is an area where we cannot seem to make progress.

Overall I believe the standard of officiating is no better today than ten years ago and it needs a root and branch overhaul. It has not kept pace with the game it is supposed to serve! We have 19 professional referees in the FA's select group earning £60,000 per year and I would suggest we need 30. Because the fans own football, performances with debriefing should be monitored and reported with transparency by the FA. The game deserves better!

Whatever happened to British doom and gloom, the sense of pessimism that serves us so well when the rest of the world is winning?

Well it will live on with poor old fashioned Torquay who have battled their demise from the Football League in the old fashioned way. Playing old fashioned football, entertaining the hordes by scoring goals with little care for what they might concede.

It was somehow inevitable that Ebbsfleet should prevail on Saturday and it's a sign for me of what is now to come. The following day, the FA Vase was won by a team who are instantly changing their name from the gloriously old fashioned Kirkham & Wesham to the hip and trendy FC Fylde. They will compete with the upward moving FC United, AFC Wimbledon et al in a football world where the despotic chairman is going the way of the dinosaur.

To hammer the point home, hot on the heels of the Wembley celebrations for Ebbsfleet and FC Fylde came the news that Halifax - that bastion of old fashioned football in the north of England - had finally bitten the dust. This was down to boardroom bungling at its mightiest, something the taxman will no longer tolerate.

This is the modern world. Football is flooded with money and if you cannot demonstrate your fiscal ability alongside your soccer skills, you are out mate!

Halifax's demotion from the Conference is sure to be confirmed this week which will be a sad day indeed for a club of proud tradition. Doubly ironic that Myfootballclub.com came close to purchasing the Shaymen rather than the Fleet. Presumably they were put off by the size of the financial black hole into which their internet moolah would likely disappear!

But one man's catastrophe is another man's Mecca. Altrincham look set for their third reprieve from relegation in three years. Some things don't change! The weird thing about watching Ebbsfleet at Wembley was the way the football was played. For all the sea change going on around the way the game is organised since the advent of the internet and the notion of Supporters trusts, the way the game is played on the pitch has varied little in a hundred years. Chris Mcphee could easily have been Tom Finney (if you ignored the shorter shorts!). There was even a moment when John Akinde barged the Torquay goalkeeper Martin Rice (who had a good game by the way) and the referee turned away without so much as a twitch toward his card pocket.

On the field, football remains consistent. Ebbsfleet's victory also secured a 37.5 point profit for the portfolios that I have published in this blog throughout the season so not everything is changing!

Be ready though for the sight of a few more Ebbsfleets in the years to come. I already have them on my shortest of shortlists for next season's Blue Square Premier championship and it will be worth keeping an eye on FC Fylde too. The fact that all the supporters trust teams are on an upward curve in non-league football is no coincidence. We are indeed at the beginning of a new era at grassroots level and it is looking likely that the Halifax experience - which has always dogged the game - could soon become a thing of the past.

* Catch The Boz's preview of the Blue Square Premiership play-off final between Cambridge and Exeter at Wembley on Sunday as the curtain comes down on another season of non-league football.