Josh Taylor v Miguel Vazquez: Tartan Tornado gathering pace

<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is a question of how Josh Taylor will go 11-0, but Betfair's boxing writer Frankie Monkhouse expects a tough night for his countryman...</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Josh Taylor faces the biggest test of his career on Saturday when hosting Miguel Vazquez over 12 rounds - an opponent who has held his own with the game's elite, including Saul Alvarez and Timothy Bradley Jr. The supremely talented Scotsman is picked to get the win needed to stretch his record to a perfect 11, with punters asking how he'll do it, rather than if.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That suggests an easy night for Taylor, but nothing could be further from the truth. Vazquez is a fighter of 44 bouts experience, only 30 years old, and comes in on the back of a fourth-round knockout win. Does he have what it takes to upset the party at the Royal Highland Centre, Edinburgh? We'll find out live on Channel Five.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Taylor proved he's the complete package</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Josh Taylor recorded a personal best win over previously unbeaten Londoner Ohara Davies last time out in Glasgow. The 26-year-old - winner of a gold medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games - showed his class that night, boxing when he had to and biting down on the gumshield to fight when it was needed. Davies travelled north with high expectations, but was sent home to think again, stopped in the seventh round.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Taylor to win again, trades at 1/25 on the Sportsbook, 1.05 the Exchange and in turn offers next to no value. There's more to smile about in the method of victory market though, another KO/TKO yours at 8/11. That would have been a winning bet in each of the home hero's last two starts, South African Warren Joubert taken out in six earlier this year, his corner throwing in the towel to save their man from any further punishment.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Vazquez arrives on a winning run</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Miguel Vazquez arrives in Scotland's capital with a record of 39 wins and five defeats, but a flick through his previous makes for interesting reading if you're a lover of the noble art. He's lost to some of the best in the game, but hasn't suffered defeat since October 2015. Since going down to Argenis Mendez on points over 10 rounds, the Mexican has rhymed off four wins on the trot, two of those coming inside-the-distance.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last seen in his homeland vs Jose Daniel Ruiz, Vazquez blazed his way to an early night, declared the winner inside four rounds. He brings plenty of power into this one, and even more experience, making the 13.50 an interesting option. Taylor has not yet had his chin tested. Vazquez by KO/TKO is a heavyweight 33/1, market best price on the Betfair Sportsbook. Prefer to cover your back? This bout not to hear the final bell is 8/13.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mexican will give us value for money</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For me, Josh Taylor is one of the most exciting prospects on the circuit at the minute, and looks destined to go all the way. Ohara Davies is a skilled, hard-hitting opponent, but he looked out of his depth vs Josh, who appeared to have another gear or two in reserve. He's one of the most talented boxers I've watched come out of Scotland in a long time. A champion amateur, and a pro destined for the top.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's still very early in the favourite's career, and that's why I think his handlers have ploughed money into getting Vazquez over to Scotland. Experienced, dangerous, he has been in with some big names, and has never been stopped. If Taylor can get him out of there, he'll be making a massive statement. But I don't see it. Promoters will get value out of the Mexican. Take Taylor on points at 11/8 (Sportsbook). In a word - value.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Recommended Bet</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Taylor win on points @ 11/8 (Betfair Sportsbook)</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx-pfyzxTl9mqJ0prMuTrln6BqyiWrmw3UZNM-QJn8soC0dKI5KLN8eTzjZbsQ1EHpMGqItVW_YuPVvUcyCNbF8x4Cnzmre72O82QduR2Dn5tis4Op0-mNYszs95-EKA2gOP0Ua0GaZIw/s1600/632954934.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="417" data-original-width="620" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx-pfyzxTl9mqJ0prMuTrln6BqyiWrmw3UZNM-QJn8soC0dKI5KLN8eTzjZbsQ1EHpMGqItVW_YuPVvUcyCNbF8x4Cnzmre72O82QduR2Dn5tis4Op0-mNYszs95-EKA2gOP0Ua0GaZIw/s640/632954934.jpg" width="640" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>

Josh Taylor v Miguel Vazquez: Tartan Tornado gathering pace

This is a question of how Josh Taylor will go 11-0, but Betfair's boxing writer Frankie Monkhouse expects a tough night for his countrym...

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Graeme Le Saux: Chelsea victory was one of their finest of the season

<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Following Chelsea's victory at Stamford Bridge against Man Utd last week, Graeme Le Saux looks back on all the action and the Premier League title race...</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Chelsea answered critics resoundingly</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The multitude of concerns that I mentioned in my column last week surrounding Chelsea were resoundingly dealt with on Sunday against Man Utd. Along with the Champions League encounter in Madrid, it was one of their performances of the season. I think the balance they had in midfield was perfect, the trifecta of Kante, Fabregas and Bakayoko was set up in direct contrast to that of Matic, Hererra and Mkhitaryan.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Does midfield dominance justify Matic sale?</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In terms of whether that victory justifies the decision to sell Matic, I really think it depends on what system Antonio Conte chooses to play. Bakayoko is definitely more versatile, he can play further forward and if he can add more goals to his game then he'll be hugely valuable. Equally there will be games this season when they'll need to play with more structure defensively but remember they do have Drinkwater now to line up alongside Kante.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Luiz must respond positively</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The manager said the decision to leave him out was tactical but we've all seen how David Luiz has been playing recently and he's been going through a real dip in form. The problem for Antonio Conte, when making a decision such as this, is that it's made in public so if there has been a falling out, it's very hard to contain the issue. Vitally, Luiz will have to react positively, impress in training and work harder than anyone else because if you throw your toys out of the pram, the only person it's going to affect is you.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">City on front foot but Chelsea close behind</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I think at the moment we're all waiting for which team is going to be the second most consistent behind Manchester City. We've seen United regress somewhat from the open style of play they began the season with; they've now almost gone back to their default defense oriented way of playing which clearly didn't work for them against Chelsea.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I think the Blues still have the edge over them in that they're still trying to play creatively and through the pitch; you can say the same for Spurs. Most importantly for all these sides is clocking up as many points as they can over the next four weeks as the busy Christmas schedule and the suspensions & injuries that come as a result can define your season. </span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBOMthK8P_4zJGQZFdi0www1Lzuf8eExPoAldq5eX47KVhVr5UQNnZPnc36SriFoVZUzzsIfE6nop_zct994IWFixBQqTTgsTT3UGlnEIO91cTHtGrETOPfyyKy16AsxmpEyDXb-FyN6Q/s1600/nintchdbpict0002713655938.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="960" height="444" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBOMthK8P_4zJGQZFdi0www1Lzuf8eExPoAldq5eX47KVhVr5UQNnZPnc36SriFoVZUzzsIfE6nop_zct994IWFixBQqTTgsTT3UGlnEIO91cTHtGrETOPfyyKy16AsxmpEyDXb-FyN6Q/s640/nintchdbpict0002713655938.jpg" width="640" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>

Graeme Le Saux: Chelsea victory was one of their finest of the season

Following Chelsea's victory at Stamford Bridge against Man Utd last week, Graeme Le Saux looks back on all the action and the Premier Le...

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Autumn Internationals: England to have few problems against Argentina

<div class="entry-body__intro" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Simon Mail previews England's opening Autumn international and expects the hosts to claim a win over the Pumas at Twickenham...</span></div> <div class="entry-story" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 640px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">England v Argentina</strong><br /><strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Saturday, 15:00</strong><br /><strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Live on Sky Sports Action</strong></span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">England begin their Autumn international schedule with a home game against Argentina at Twickenham this weekend. It is the latest chance for <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Eddie Jones</strong> to assess his playing options as he continues to build towards preparing for the target of winning the World Cup in 2019. It has been a remarkable rise under the Australian and the focus will be on peaking in time for the tournament in Japan in two years time.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There is so much confidence within the England camp under Jones and there is no suggestion of any complacency despite their exceptional form. England have only lost to Ireland during his reign which brought a halt to a <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">record-equalling run</strong> of 18 consecutive Test wins. Back-to-back Six Nations titles underline England are the best chance of the home nations in ending New Zealand's stranglehold on world rugby.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">England are focused on improving all aspects of their game and this was emphasised by scrum-half Ben Youngs' comments on the team's aim of becoming the best attacking side in the sport. This is obviously a huge challenge when faced with surpassing the brilliance of the <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">All Blacks'</strong> offloading game but demonstrates the squad are not satisfied with being the second best team in the world.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jones wants improvement across the board and the decision to hold a <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">training session</strong>between the England and Wales forwards underlines no attention to detail is being spared. England are taking seriously the challenge of taking on Argentina especially up front. The session focused on the set piece with extensive work on the scrum and line-out ahead of their international against the Pumas.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The teams are very familiar with each other after two matches in <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Argentina</strong> during the summer. Jones selected a very inexperienced England squad, while the British & Irish Lions series was taking place, but still managed to come away with successive victories over the hosts. England edged to a thrilling 38-34 win in the opener before another 35-25 victory in the second match.<br /><br />Jones has opted to rest Saracens duo Owen Farrell and Maro Itoje for this weekend's game. Exeter back <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Henry Slade</strong> forms a new centre partnership for England alongside Jonathan Joseph. Elliot Daly is fit to start on the wing after making a quick recovery from his knee ligament injury. Bath flanker Sam Underhill makes his second senior international appearance. Seven players retain their places in the side which won in Argentina.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All the evidence points to a home win with England <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">dominant</strong> against Argentina. The last eight meetings have all been won by England and it is very difficult to make a convincing case for the Pumas. Jones has more options at his disposal than back in the summer and he has won every match in charge of the side at Twickenham. The handicap mark is pitched at 20 points with <span class="inline-odds" style="border-radius: 2px; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3px; position: relative; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" title="15/1">16.50</span><span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(187, 187, 187); border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><b> </b></span>shots Argentina given very little chance of success this weekend.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A home win looks a near certainty but England's last four wins over Argentina all failed to cover this weekend's handicap mark which suggests an alternative bet is merited. Joseph has a superb recent record at Twickenham with the Bath back scoring seven tries for England in the last five games at the stadium. Joseph will be a key attacking threat this weekend and looks generously priced to score at <span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(187, 187, 187); border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><b>15/8</b></span>.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Recommended Bet</span></strong></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Back Jonathan Joseph to score a try @ 15/8 (Sportsbook)</span></strong></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiuj8QxVtwxefyaWZV5CF58HbeilvEXHIe8w-9RWJS0onc3LewvMk5EIcbs0zeLFA7Ueia4oag5dlENIDe4hWn8nYEW2LAFcXx931ZHfImyikBoyrytku9HLf_V72-bsaihTYFt709kJs/s1600/eddie+jones.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="538" data-original-width="956" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiuj8QxVtwxefyaWZV5CF58HbeilvEXHIe8w-9RWJS0onc3LewvMk5EIcbs0zeLFA7Ueia4oag5dlENIDe4hWn8nYEW2LAFcXx931ZHfImyikBoyrytku9HLf_V72-bsaihTYFt709kJs/s640/eddie+jones.jpg" width="640" /></a><strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></strong></div> </div>

Autumn Internationals: England to have few problems against Argentina

Simon Mail previews England's opening Autumn international and expects the hosts to claim a win over the Pumas at Twickenham... Engl...

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Liam Smith v Liam Williams: Experience can be the key factor in grudge match

<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Six months after their controversial first meeting, the two Liams meet again. Ralph Ellis is looking forward to a good old fashioned grudge match.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Everybody loves a good grudge match. You know the talk. "Mostly it's just business but this time I want to really hurt the guy," says Boxer A of Boxer B.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It often brings a capacity crowd but normally ends with them hugging each other in the ring afterwards and talking about how much respect they have.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Every now and then, though, comes a battle where you suspect there really is no love lost between the two fighters. And Liam Smith's rematch with Liam Williams in Newcastle this Saturday night falls into that category.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They last met in Manchester in April and the insults have been going on since. Smith, from Liverpool, was declared the winner after Welshman Williams was pulled out of the contest by his corner in the 10th because of a cut to his eye that was pouring blood, and subsequently needed plastic surgery.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Smith, who had also been cut early in the contest, accused Williams of having no heart. Williams insisted the damage was done by a butt rather than a punch. "He should have been disqualified," he claimed. "It was no accident. The referee robbed me of my unbeaten record."</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are also questions over why Smith, who held the WBO light middleweight title from October 2015 to September 2016, failed to make weight for the first time in eight years. It meant a contest that should have brought the vacant WBO title to the winner was relegated to a non-title fight.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What happens next is even more muddled. Promoter Frank Warren believes the contest has the status of a WBO eliminator - but current champion Miguel Cotto has announced that his meeting with Sadam Ali in New York in December will be his last fight before retirement.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Williams, 25, who started his working life as a roofer in the Rhonda Valley, was winning on points before the stoppage and that's why he's 1.89 favourite in the Match Odds when they clash in Newcastle's Metro Arena.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He's probably the more skilful boxer of the two. After gaining a reputation in his amateur days as a bit of a scrapper, trainer Gary Lockett worked hard to teach him ring craft, and he's light on his feet.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But 29-year-old Smith's greater experience could be a telling factor. The Liverpudlian boasts a proud record of just one defeat in 27 fights, and that was to the brilliant Saul Alvarez, when he was knocked down in the ninth round. The Mexican needed to produce his best because, after a slow start, Smith had begun to look dangerous in rounds six and seven.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Since then he's rebuilt his confidence with a straightforward points victory over Spaniard Marian Cazacu before the first Williams fight.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You can argue about the rights or wrongs of how Williams got his cut, but the fact is that Smith somehow found a way to win even though he'd fallen behind on points, and he can do that again. That's why I quite like the 3.00 for him to win inside the distance in the Method of Victory market.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Whatever way it ends, though, you suspect there won't be too many hugs going on in the ring afterwards.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPENASYuN9aVR4mhuoztIs5ydMe0_l_KyIoskR-boDm803Y-gqMRiefkVbL8DOkuK1LNWalIGoZ3Eo3unNsrf6Ig-a1fLJhYAOc741BDkICeEtKCAfhdENqulCWTLRNN0DbCRAtlq4P8I/s1600/635437754.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="412" data-original-width="620" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPENASYuN9aVR4mhuoztIs5ydMe0_l_KyIoskR-boDm803Y-gqMRiefkVbL8DOkuK1LNWalIGoZ3Eo3unNsrf6Ig-a1fLJhYAOc741BDkICeEtKCAfhdENqulCWTLRNN0DbCRAtlq4P8I/s640/635437754.jpg" width="640" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>

Liam Smith v Liam Williams: Experience can be the key factor in grudge match

Six months after their controversial first meeting, the two Liams meet again. Ralph Ellis is looking forward to a good old fashioned grudge ...

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England v France: Has Bennett caught England's World Cup management madness?

<div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(187, 187, 187); border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><b>England v France</b></span><br /><strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Sunday November 12, KO 10:00</strong></span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What is it with England managers and World Cups? Whatever the sport it seems the two put together are <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">a recipe for chaos</strong>.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Decent, competent, professional coaches with long solid records seem to <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">lose their way</strong> the moment the biggest tournament of the lot comes round.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Whether it was <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Roy Hodgson</strong> fielding a totally new line-up in Brazil, <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Stuart Lancaster</strong> not knowing his best half back pair on home soil, or <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Peter Moores</strong> changing his new ball attack in Australia, the record of absurd, panicky last minute decisions seems to go back years. Call it <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">World Cup madness</strong> if you will.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now it seems <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Wayne Bennett</strong>, manager of our Rugby League side, is the latest to catch the disease.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Aussie who I thought would be a wise old head has named <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Gareth Widdop at full back</strong>for Sunday's deciding group game with France, despite the fact <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">he hasn't played in that position since the Four Nations in 2010</strong>.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">By rights it shouldn't make too much difference - the French are a shadow of what they used to be and England are just <span class="inline-odds" style="border-radius: 2px; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;" title="1/33"><span style="border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><b>1.03</b></span></span> in the <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">match odds</strong><span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(187, 187, 187); border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><b>.</b></span></span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But after a <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">lacklustre display against Lebanon</strong>, in the game where Bennett badly needs his team to set their standard for the remainder of the tournament, he's gambling on something he's not tried before.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Of course it could go spectacularly right. England are <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">minus 34 points in the Handicap Betting</strong><span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(187, 187, 187); border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><b>. But there's also the danger it might sow seeds of uncertainty among the players in his squad, and after failing to meet the handicap line against Lebanon they really don't want to have another unconvincing display.</b></span></span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bennett, who has made <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">four changes including dropping Ryan Hall and Kallum Watkins</strong>, has previous here.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He changed his half back line-up in every match of last year's Four Nations, but you thought that was to give himself a settled plan for now. Instead after two matches in which Widdop and Luke Gale have not really clicked together, he is changing again.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thankfully the French have significant problems of their own. They put up a spirited display against World Cup hosts Australia but were still hammered 52-6. And Leigh hooker Eloi Pelissier has since been <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">sent home for breaking a team curfew</strong>.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But even so if England, who are now <span class="inline-odds" style="border-radius: 2px; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;" title="13/1"><span style="border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><b>14.50</b></span></span> to <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">win the trophy</strong><span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(187, 187, 187); border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><b>, are to dent</b></span> <span class="inline-odds" style="border-radius: 2px; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;" title="2/9"><span style="border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><b>1.22</b></span></span> favourites Australia they desperately need a big, confidence building win and Bennett is going into the unknown in his search for it.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At least England should make it to the knockout stages. Scotland, who play Samoa on Saturday, are heading home after shipping <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">124 points</strong> to Tonga and New Zealand.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Their chaotic campaign has included<strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Danny Brough, their captain of all people, getting sent home for being too drunk to board a plane</strong>. Luke Douglas takes over as skipper with the Scots <span class="inline-odds" style="border-radius: 2px; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;" title="14/1"><span style="border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><b>15.00</b></span></span> in the <strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Match Odds</strong><span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(187, 187, 187); border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><b>.</b></span></span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So far the Pacific Islands have provided much of the entertainment in the group games - watch for <span class="inline-odds" style="border-radius: 2px; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;" title="13/5"><span style="border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><b>3.65</b></span></span><strong style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Tonga to maybe spring a surprise against New Zealand</strong><span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(187, 187, 187); border-image: initial; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: initial; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: initial; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><b> </b></span><span class="inline-odds" style="border-radius: 2px; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 3px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;" title="2/5"><span style="border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><b>1.41</b></span></span> who have already qualified.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgUT1klS3PFc5JW1fwyHIA3vyuf7Nq7SzQnXjgeC7JUI4Jbq_egogpZCNexKMCOa9fcsNBPFVbzIBKh1EKLYu85KqBD0fbbTnyBMhacIdiTAqgSnCQp0y-WXmhChZobGJ5HrA-4e8NMYY/s1600/skysports-alex-walmsley-england-v-lebanon-world-cup_4147619.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="768" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgUT1klS3PFc5JW1fwyHIA3vyuf7Nq7SzQnXjgeC7JUI4Jbq_egogpZCNexKMCOa9fcsNBPFVbzIBKh1EKLYu85KqBD0fbbTnyBMhacIdiTAqgSnCQp0y-WXmhChZobGJ5HrA-4e8NMYY/s640/skysports-alex-walmsley-england-v-lebanon-world-cup_4147619.jpg" width="640" /></a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>

England v France: Has Bennett caught England's World Cup management madness?

England v France Sunday November 12, KO 10:00 What is it with England managers and World Cups? Whatever the sport it seems the two put to...

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Croatia v Greece: Greeks can hang tough

<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Croatia v Greece</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thursday, 19:45</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Live on Sky Sports Mix</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Croats eye back door again</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Croatia have been here before. And yet play-offs hold no fear for them despite the agonising prospect of falling at the final hurdle.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They've faced this win-or-bust two-legged showdown on four occasions - twice in the World Cup and twice in European Championships - and gone through every time.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Their victims? Iceland twice, Turkey and Slovenia.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They're in this position again after winning six, drawing two and losing two of their 10 games, finishing runner-up in Group I to those familiar foes Iceland, who edged them out by 22 points to 20.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A 1-1 home draw with Finland proved their undoing and cost Ante Cacic his job. Zlatko Dalic has stepped in but for how long remains to be seen.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Having the midfield trio of Luka Modric, Ivan Rakitic and Ivan Perisic to call upon must be a comforting thought though - as is their home record.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Croatia are unbeaten since a 2-1 loss to Belgium in October 2013.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Greece yet to slip up</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Something has to give in this tie as Greece also have a 100% record in coming through play-offs.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's a route they've had to navigate in the last two World Cups, overcoming Romania 4-2 on aggregate in 2014 and edging past Ukraine 1-0 in 2010.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Their qualifying campaign produced five wins, four draws and just a single loss</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That defeat came against runaway group winners Belgium (2-1 at home) although they did hold the Belgians to a 1-1 draw in Brussels, Romelu Lukaka netting a late equaliser for the table toppers after Konstantinos Mitroglou put Greece in front.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Olympic Marseille striker fired in six goals in their 10 qualifiers, making him the joint eighth highest scorer from the European section.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Croatia big favourites</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Croatia have won two and drawn two of their home legs in play-offs and they're just 1.38 to take a lead to Athens on Sunday.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Greece are 14.00 to cause a surprise while the draw is 4.80. In the 'To Qualify' market, Croatia are 1.25 to Greece's 3.85. I think it will be much closer than that.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Greeks love the role of underdog and in their two previous away legs in play-offs they nicked a 1-0 win away to Ukraine and drew 1-1 in Romania.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They did their best work on the road in this campaign too, accumulating 11 of their 19 points after wins in Estonia, Cyprus and Gibraltar along with that draw against Belgium and a 0-0 in Bosnia and Herzegovina.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In fact, looking back over the last two years, they've lost just once in nine games on the road</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One thing worth pointing out in this tie is that no away fans will be allowed in either leg. It harks back to a Euro qualifier between the two teams in 2011 being marred by crowd trouble along with previous incidents in a Dinamo Zagreb v PAOK Salonika Europa League match.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Will it give the home side an extra edge? Or just make the visitors dig in even further?</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Overall, that price on the draw is definitely worth a play and it certainly doesn't hurt when looking at the head-to-heads to find that Greece have drawn all three away games they've played in Croatia - even if that's going back to 2010 (0-0), 2001 (2-2) and 1996 (1-1).</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Goals should be scarce</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Under 2.5 goals is predictably short at just 1.60 while Overs is 2.44.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's logical to think that both teams won't be too gung-ho in the first leg and, given the situation and their reputation for keeping in tight, Greece are a great team to have onside for Unders backers.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Unders would have landed in their two hardest away games in the group (1-1 in Belgium, 0-0 in Bosnia and Herzegovina) while it's also noticeable that Unders was the outcome in all five of Croatia's home games (2-0, 1-0, 1-1, 1-1 and 1-0).</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">History supports the bet too. The goal make-ups in Greece's two previous play-off ties away from home were 2 and 1 and, for Croatia at home, 2-0-2-2.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mitroglou main threat</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Croatians dominate the market with Mario Mandzukic (top scorer in qualifying with five) and Nikola Kalinic just 6/4 (Sportbook) to register but neither appeal in what I expect to be a low-scoring contest.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The closest I'd come to a bet is Mitroglou at 7/2. He's netted three times in Greece's last two games, has scored seven times in his last 10 starts at international level and was also on target for Marseille at the weekend.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Perhaps this could have a hint of 2004 about it with a reprise of Angelos Charisteas scoring in a 1-0 Greece win, something he did in the final against Portugal and in the quarters against France.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mitroglou to score in a 1-0 Greece victory is 95/1 and I'll have to roll the dice at that price!</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ref watch</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The fans don't like each other but does that spill onto the pitch too?</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was certainly a niggly affair when they last met in 2011, with Howard Webb flashing nine yellow cards whilst also suspending the game for three minutes due to crowd trouble.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Italian ref Gianluca Rocchi gets the dubious pleasure this time and he certainly doesn't mind reaching for his pocket.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In his last 10 matches Rocchi has shown 42 yellows and three reds. There's certainly scope then to go 45 and Over on the bookings points.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Recommended Bets</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">0.5pts Draw at 4.80</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2pts Under 2.5 Goals at 1.60</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">0.5pts Kostas Mitroglou First Goalscorer in a 1-0 Greece win at 95/1 (Sportsbook)</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1pt 45pts and Over Bookings</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS-0bwgOA3Hdp-h2FGJdI5FJzcB8x8qP-u2KExo7tKdasovHTGTw6joVAacDhw6Iw0yf9R67VLXshs1Gqd0d5USxPsY60tZ62b6BsJev-zAFWJEIBpfrEM_97apS69F4V6xYaOZvI42QQ/s1600/hns1-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="478" data-original-width="827" height="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS-0bwgOA3Hdp-h2FGJdI5FJzcB8x8qP-u2KExo7tKdasovHTGTw6joVAacDhw6Iw0yf9R67VLXshs1Gqd0d5USxPsY60tZ62b6BsJev-zAFWJEIBpfrEM_97apS69F4V6xYaOZvI42QQ/s640/hns1-1.jpg" width="640" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /> <br />

Croatia v Greece: Greeks can hang tough

Croatia v Greece Thursday, 19:45 Live on Sky Sports Mix Croats eye back door again Croatia have been here before. And yet play-offs hol...

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