Monte's Multiple: Seize the opportunity at Upton Park

Monte's Multiple / Jaymes Monte / 09 February 2010 /

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Wade can take advantage of Barney’s short break from the game.

Back Birmingham to beat West Ham @ 3.5
Back Wade to beat Barney @ 2.3
Back Australia to beat West Indies @ 1.25
Treble pays @ 10.0

Premier League football and darts combined with international cricket make up this week's midweek treble....

Bet 1: Football - Premier League

Birmingham continued their assent up the Premier League table by coming from behind to beat Wolves courtesy of two Kevin Phillips goals at the weekend. They are now just four points behind city rivals Aston Villa and whisper it quietly but they could be pushing for a European spot if they can continue in this vein of form.

A trip to Upton Park is on the agenda this midweek and with Villa facing Manchester United it could present an ideal opportunity to close that gap. West Ham's trio of new strikers couldn't stop them from losing at the hands of Burnley at the weekend and slipping back into the relegation zone, although they did cause some problems for the Burnley defence. But the prices for this fixture just don't make any sense. It seems ludicrous to suggest that the Hammers are a [2.4] shot whilst high-flying Birmingham are [3.5] to take victory.

These sorts of opportunities don't come around very often so when they do we have to take advantage.

Selection: Back Birmingham to beat West Ham @ [3.5]

Bet 2: Darts - Premier League

Thursday nights will never be the same again, well not for the next few months anyway, as Premier League darts is back with a vengeance. The first round of fixtures is probably the pick of the lot and includes a repeat of this year's World Championship final between Phil Taylor and Simon Whitlock.

James Wade versus Raymond van Barneveld is also a very interesting one; Barney hasn't played since the World Championships where he looked extremely fatigued despite making it to the semi-finals. If the break has allowed him time to recuperate and rediscover his desire for the game, then this will be an extremely close affair.

But there are too many ifs and buts attached to the Dutchman to convince me that this is anything but a good opportunity to take him on. Wade was a little unfortunate when losing to eventual finalist Mervyn King at the recent Players Championship and will be keen to get off to a winning start in defence of his Premier League crown.

Selection: Back Wade to beat Barney @ [2.3]

Bet 3: Cricket - Australia v West Indies, 3rd ODI

Sometimes in betting you can try to look for something that just isn't there. I started off on that route when looking at this fixture, trying to find a reason to back the West Indies at unarguably juicy odds of [5.0], but the deeper I looked the quicker I realised that there just isn't anything to justify backing Chris Gayle' side, even at those seemingly inflated prices.

Australia have now taken a 2-0 series lead following on from their 5-0 demolition job of Pakistan. The only slither of concern for me here is that if Chris Gayle gets going then West Indies can challenge any ODI outfit in the world, but such is the reliance on him that when he doesn't fire, they do invariably collapse.

The Aussies have certainly completed their re-building task following the retirements of Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath and Matthew Hayden and are now once again the most feared force in limited overs international cricket.

Selection: Back Australia to beat West Indies @ [1.25]