Monte's Multiple / Jaymes Monte / 24 February 2009 /

For those of you who didn't follow the snooker last week, Mark Selby was issued with a writ by his former manager at the beginning of his quarter final match against Anthony Hamilton. I now live in fear that I may suffer similar consequences from Monte's Multiple followers after yet another week without success.

Ding Junhui got us off to a good start winning his match, then Villa could only manage a draw after dominating their UEFA Cup tie and Wayne Mardle secured his first win of the Premier League. This week we've got football, darts and cricket to try and turn the tide...

Bet One: Football - English FA Cup
Hull find themselves with an unwanted FA Cup replay either side of two very important 'six pointers' in their battle to avoid relegation. After losing to Spurs on Monday night it's nearly do or die stage for the Tigers.

Hull fielded a relatively strong side in the first tie between the two teams, but I'd be very surprised to see them do so on Thursday. With the added possibility of extra time, Phil Brown will be looking to have players fit for Sunday and even if he does start with a full strength team I wouldn't count on them exerting themselves at 100%. The home fixture against Blackburn on Sunday is of far greater significance for Brown. Although they have picked up a couple of draws in previous weeks, they have now gone ten league games without victory.

Sheffield United are on the cusp of the Championship play-offs, tied on 52 points with both Burnley and Cardiff for sixth position. They lost star striker James Beattie to Stoke in the January transfer window but have not suffered in the goal scoring department since, defender Greg Halford surprisingly filling that void with three goals in four games.

The Blades played on Saturday, so have had an extra two days to recover and as a result their league commitments won't take as much significance as their Premier League opponents. United were more than worthy of earning a replay and with Hull's thoughts possibly elsewhere I'm looking to take them on.
Selection: Lay Hull @ [2.2].

Bet Two: Darts - Premier League
Wayne Mardle has done me up like a kipper! I thought the man was gone at the game, but fair play to him (that hurts to say) he's thrown some good darts in the past few weeks and made some massive checkout shots. He's undefeated in his last two matches and I will be staying clear of betting on his games for a short while at least.

Last week's round of matches threw up some shock results; none more so than Terry Jenkins deservedly taking a point and a 7-7 draw against Phil Taylor. He threw four maximums and an average just under 100 at 99.36 to make it three draws out of three so far in this year's Premier League.

Although it is still early days in the league, not many would have predicted that Raymond van Barneveld would be bottom of the table after three matches. However, that is where he is and deservedly so. His form has taken a dip since the World Championships and he is going through one of those periods in his career which he invariably encounters. This is not the first time he has claimed to be losing his hunger for the game; he has threatened to take an extended break from Darts in the past.

Jenkins plays Barney this week and on current form I don't see why the Dutchman is favourite, his odds are falsified on the pretence that he may return to form. Since he is playing the draw master we'll keep the 7-7 score line on side and take on Barney with a lay.
Selection: Lay van Barneveld @ [1.8].

Bet Three: Cricket - West Indies v England - Fourth Test
After the debacle of the 'second' West Indies v England test match, England were one perfect ball away from victory in the third. A test match which England controlled from start to finish and were never in danger of losing came down to a simple equation of England needing one wicket from what turned out to be ten overs. The aftermath saw Andrew Strauss come under intense scrutiny for decisions made throughout the match.

England go into the fourth test without Andrew Flintoff who has been ruled out with a muscle strain. His most likely replacement will be Essex all-rounder Ravi Bopara who went straight into the side to play BCA Presidents XI, and despite suffering from jet lag hit an unbeaten 124 from 125 balls in the first innings. Bopara will be expected to contribute with both bat and ball if selected and could be instrumental in England's attempt to level the series.

England won by eight wickets on this ground back in 2008 and although they don't have the same bowling attack as they did back then, I'm backing them to come away with a result which will level the series.
Selection: Back England @ [2.7]

:

:

:

?

: