Today's Papers / Top Dog / 10 March 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 around 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:

It was a weekend of shocks - not least an ugly looking big hairy black dog winning Cruft's Champion. Top Dog reckons he should enter next year. He'd have as much chance as Barnsley of winning the FA Cup! Exits for Manchester United and Chelsea set the papers a challenge for where to put their Monday morning focus and the Sun probably managed it best. Portsmouth are now [2.0] favourites to win it with West Brom next at [3.95], although today's draw could change all that if the two sides come out together. Cardiff are [6.2] and Barnsley [9.8]

Cruft's:

Daily Mirror - The Cardiff miracle - Simon Bird's match report on Cardiff's win at Middlesbrough also puts a focus on their next big match, in the High Court tomorrow when a verdict against them could plunge the club into a massive cash crisis. A nasty thought, but ten points deducted for going into administration would put them in the bottom three and make [8.8] a tidy bet for the FA Cup semi-finalists to be relegated.

Daily Express - Barnsley Chop - Matthew Dunn reveals that the Chelsea top brass of Roman Abramovich, Peter Kenyon and Eugene Tenebaum all watched the FA Cup flop at Barnsley on TV and were fuming at another lacklustre display to follow their League Cup Wembley flop. Avram Grant must now win either the Premier League or the Champions League to stay in charge but his record in the big games is starting to raise question marks. After Arsenal's draw at Wigan the Blues are now [2.1] a top two finish, but [5.3] the title. They are [6.8] for European glory

The Sun - It Int over yet - Roberto Mancini gives Liverpool a warning that a two-goal lead won't guarantee anything at the San Siro tomorrow night. The Italians are a generous [4.2] to qualify, which looks a better bet than [1.92] for them to win in 90 minutes

Pedigree Chum:

Daily Mirror - Fergie falls foul of refs - Manchester man David McDonnell reveals that Sir Alex followed up his MUTV blast at Keith Hackett with a phone call to the refs' supreme to have another moan in person. But Hackett reminded him the FA appoint referees to their Cup ties. And Soho Square look certain to charge Fergie for his accusation that refs are biased against United

Daily Mirror - Home truths - James Nursey picks out the significance of Sunderland's defeat by Everton. Until now the Black Cats' home form has kept them safe but without it, and with a hellish run-in of fixtures, they look doomed. Roy Keane's side are now [4.8] to go down

The Sun - Curbs Anton storm - West Ham's manager Alan Curbishley named names among his defenders for the 4-0 collapse against Spurs, blaming Anton Ferdinand publicly for giving Dimitar Berbatov too much room. That's not a good sign at any club and after three four-goal defeats on the spin Curbs is now just [3.55] in the managerial change market

Daily Star - Tony: Let's bag double - West Brom boss Tony Mowbray made a significant change for the Cup tie at Bristol Rovers, telling the prettiest team in the Championship to go more direct. He says: 'We're going to play effective football. I don't want to have the tag again of being the best team in the Championship but not getting out of it'. The Baggies are [2.54] to come through and win the title

Daily Star - Andy gives Slack Cats the elbow - While the Mirror concentrated on the bottom end of the table at Sunderland, the Star looks at the top with Everton's David Moyes insisting his team can still catch Liverpool for fourth place. Only goal difference keeps them apart but while the Toffees are [3.35] a top four finish, the Reds are [1.55]

Dog' s dinner:

Daily Mirror - Ronaldinho snub for 'ugly' Chelsea -The Brazilian star is supposed to have said he would never sign for Chelsea because 'when I faced them in the Champions League they went to kick my feet before the ball'. But if the Mirror truly believed these quotes came from Ronaldinho himself they would be back page lead, not buried at the bottom of page 57.

Today's other headlines:

The Sun - You couldn't make it Cup - Avram's job peril - Life's a pitch for Wenger - I'm son of a preacher man - You've been out-Whitted - Fergie facing an FA storm - 28 page Super Goals pull-out - Oakwell the new theatre of dreams

Daily Express - Cardiff add to weekend of upsets - Hero Odejayi - Hat-trick hot-shot Miller books return ticket to Wembley - Queiroz and Ferguson to face FA rap - Harry really up for the cuppa - Roger and out for Southgate - Spurs cash in on Curbishley woes - Wigan's bumpy ride for Wenger - Reading go a Long way

Daily Star - Fuming Fergie facing rap - Eu must win it, Av - Cool-hand Luke finds it all too easy - Magic of Cup alive and kicking - 20 page Seriously Football pull-out - Jones bans Cardiff bubbly

Daily Mirror - Giant thrillers - Grant's battle to save his job - 20 page Mania pull-out - Wenger anger at Wigan pitch - Ode to joy - Fergie's Red whine - Stan Collymore column

Daily Mail - More magic of the Cup - Boro blow it big time - Miller the thriller puts paid to another giant-killer - Harry deserves his loyalty bonus - Tykes' divine upset - Wenger pitches in with Wigan whinge - Curb crawlers are hammered - Handyman Johnson

Tags: Champions league matches, FA Cup draw, Ronaldinho comments