Today's Papers / Top Dog / 18 February 2008 / Leave a comment " class="free-bet-btn" rel="external" onclick="javascript: pageTracker._trackPageview('/G4/inline-freebet');" target="_blank">Free Bet

Betfair's top dog sniffs out the truth behind the latest tabloid tales

Top Dog
Betfair's top dog sniffs around the truth behind the latest tabloid tales.

• Cruft's champion - Top stories that can dominate the news agenda
• Pedigree chum - Insights that tell you something you don't know
• Dog's dinner - Speculation, guesswork, or ideas that just don't come off.

Top Dog says:

Monday papers are not just about the Premier clubs, they are great for the chance to study all the details from the lower leagues. Here's a bet you have almost certainly missed, but it's not too late to get on. Hereford are two points behind MK Dons at the top of League Two with a game in hand yet are [6.2] to win the division while Paul Ince's lot are [2.38] favourites. They will go top if they beat bottom club Wrexham tomorrow night. What's more the Bulls have got a goalscorer. Alan Sleeman's match report in The Sun of their 2-0 win over Chesterfield points out that Dutch striker Sherjil MacDonald, on loan from West Brom, has got six goals in three games, once scored 12 in six in Holland, and wants to stay for the rest of the season if he can. Former Wolves and Aston Villa boss Graham Turner is owner and manager so has got the experience to close out the race.

Cruft's:

The Sun - Flog It - Expect this story to be denied by Newcastle owner Mike Ashley, but Top Dog reckons a joint by-line of Chief Football Writer Shaun Custis and his Manchester based brother Neil means it's true. They say Ashley's people approached another firm to try to get them to persuade Dubai International Capital to buy Newcastle instead of Liverpool. DIC turned it down and wanted to keep the Kop as their target. But it further undermines the Toon who play Manchester United this week and are [8.6] to get relegated. Kevin Keegan is [6.6] to be the next manager to change.

Pedigree Chum:

Daily Mirror - Win it or Kop it - Rafa Benitez will have to win the Champions League to keep his job in the summer after Saturday's FA Cup humiliation added to all the other League woes. That's the verdict of the Mirror's Mersey man David Maddock. But if you are backing Benitez at odds on [1.8] in the managerial change market be wary. Maddock, and Paul Joyce of the Express, both say he'll keep his job at least until the end of the season.

The Sun - We're after Lu, Avram - Lomana LuaLua now plays for Olympiakos and has a warning for Chelsea that their Champions League trip to Athens tomorrow will be a shock. "The noise is like nothing you've heard, it's frightening," says the former Newcastle and Portsmouth winger. The Blues are [2.06] to win despite the atmosphere, and it's [4.4] a home win and [3.4] the draw

The Sun - Thanks, ref! - The Sun's Andrew Dillon tracked down Barnsley FA Cup hero Brian Howard in his local boozer on Sunday night - and learned that referee Martin Atkinson helped make the the goal that rocked Liverpool. Howard only got the ball because he was out of position having chased after the ref to protest at having a penalty turned down!

The Sun - Kop flops don't fool me says Roberto Mancini - Inter Milan's boss was at Anfield to watch Barnsley's triumph but says he expects a very different performance from the Reds tomorrow. 'European nights are in the blood of Liverpool fans. They respond and the team responds with them. We will have to produce an incredible performance to get anything at Anfield'. Liverpool are [2.78] to get the home win.

Daily Mirror - Coleman heading for City - The Mirror's James Nursey says Coventry are ready to give Chris Coleman their manager's job and he could be unveiled today. Local reports this morning appear to confirm it

Daily Star - Wenger: United pitch will lose you the crown - The richest club in the world but Manchester United still can't organise a decent pitch to play on. Arsene Wenger makes an interesting point about the surface. 'United are a team with a high technical level and the quality of the surface evens that out. The pitch is a disgrace, the worst I have seen in 10 years coming here.' And he wasn't using it as an excuse for losing in the Cup, either. 'United were the better team'. Arsenal stay [1.8] favourites for the title, United are [3.05].

Dog' s dinner:

All the Sheffield United match reports - Two goalless draws with Scunthorpe and West Brom earned Bryan Robson the sack and endless column inches about how he didn't know what he was doing. Kevin Blackwell arrives and is hailed as a genius after facing Middlesbrough. The result? A goalless draw. No, Top Dog doesn't understand it either.

Today's other headlines:

The Sun - It's make or break for Rafa - James the super saver - Carra: Euro win won't erase Cup shame - Euro fight a big one for Fergie - 28 page Super Goals pullout - Long may he Wayne - Gilberto says Arsenal will get AC on rebound from Cup shock - Lamps landmark

Daily Express - Benitez on the brink - We will not blow up vows Gilberto - Another fine mess for Rafa - That's flippin' great - Lampard's milestone mission - James shows his class - Buzzing Baggies dream of glory - Championship match reports

Daily Star - Only Euro glory can save Rafa - Cart-breaker - Even Liver birds turn against Kop - Wenger men were happy to go out, they should stay out - 20 page Seriously Football pullout - Terry's bionic but Frankie is Tonderful - Super Rickie shows he's no Herbert - Roman tops DVD charts

Daily Mirror - Harry's Mann of the moment - Hero Steele's draw poser - Carragher: Even beating Inter won't make up for this shame - Big five turn screw on Scu - JT fit to conquer Europe - 20 page Football Mania pullout - Wayne too good for Arsenal - Cup Pompey - One ton Frank - Stan Collymore column

Daily Mail - Rotting Reds - Europe or bust for Benitez - Masterclass by Rooney - Carter's calamity - A ton of thanks from Lampard - Naked ambition inspires Rovers - I won't let Arsenal ruin my dream says Kaka

Tags: Champions League, Chris Coleman, football betting, Rafa Benitez